Australia
CHAMP Ventures in marine logistics buyout
CHAMP Ventures as acquired a majority interest in Sea Swift, an Australian marine logistics company that delivers supplies to remote island and coastal communities and resource development outposts. HarbourVest Partners is participating as a co-investor.
CVC backs Australia's Mantra in Asia expansion
CVC Capital Partners will back Australian hotel group Mantra as it expands into Indonesia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea.
CHAMP PE-backed oOh!media walks away from Eye Corp buyout
CHAMP Private Equity’s oOh!media portfolio company has decided not to proceed with its buyout of Eye Corp, Ten Network Holdings’ outdoor advertising business. This comes despite Ten’s denial earlier this week that the acquisition price would be...
CVC-backed Nine avoids receivership as lenders reach agreement
Lenders to CVC Capital Partners-backed Nine Entertainment, the beleaguered Australian TV network, have reached an agreement to save the company from being put into administration.
Australia’s Kaz Capital to launch venture fund
Australian boutique financial advisor Kaz Capital is planning a venture fund that will support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in need of expansion capital. The company claims to have received conditional regulatory approval to establish an...
China Private Equity restructures Australia securities platform investment
China Private Equity Investment Holdings (CPE), an AIM-listed vehicle that claims to offer European investors exposure to Chinese private equity without the limitations imposed by closed-end funds, has restructured its investment in Australian online...
Panorama leads Series D round for Skyfire’s Asia expansion
Panorama Capital has led a $10 million Series D round of funding for Skyfire, intended help the mobile video optimization and cloud solutions company expand in Asia.
Ten Network denies concerns over Eye sale to CHAMP
Ten Network has denied reports that proceeds from the sale of its Eye Corp subsidiary to CHAMP Private Equity’s oOh!media will be lower than expected due to concerns about the outdoor advertising business’ financial performance.
Discovery Metals rejects Cathay Fortune buyout offer
Australian copper miner Discovery Metals has rejected a A$830 million ($848 million) takeover bid from Chinese private equity firm Cathay Fortune Corporation (CFC) and state-sponsored China-Africa Development Fund (CAD).
TPG abandons Billabong buyout
TPG Capital has withdrawn its A$694 million ($709 million) buyout offer for Billabong, sending the Australian surfwear company’s stock plunging more than 16%. The announcement comes days after Billabong insisted that negotiations were continuing despite...
Hong Kong’s Chevalier targets Catalyst-backed Moraitis – report
Hong Kong-listed Chevalier International is said to be in exclusive talks regarding an investment in Australia’s Moraitis, a fruit and vegetable wholesaler backed by Catalyst Investment Managers.
CVC-backed Nine makes new restructuring proposal
The management of Nine Entertainment, the beleaguered Australian media company owned by CVC Capital Partners, has put forward a new proposal for restructuring its A$3.8 billion ($3.9 billion) in debt. Adrian McKenzie, CVC’s Australian managing partner...
Baker & McKenzie names new PE chair, confirms McNamara departure
Baker & McKenzie has appointed Simon Hughes as chair of its global private equity group, in place of Sydney-based Mark McNamara. A spokesperson for Baker & McKenzie also confirmed that McNamara is leaving the firm.
Billabong says TPG talks continue despite diligence concerns
Billabong said that buyout negotiations with TPG Capital continue after its stock plunged 20% on reports that the private equity firm was poised to walk away from the A$694 million ($709 million) deal. Trading was halted as the share price fell from A$1.30...
China’s Cathay Fortune in $848m takeover bid for Discovery Metals
Cathay Fortune Corp, a private equity firm founded by Chinese billionaire Yu Yong, has made a A$830 million ($848 million) takeover bid for Australian copper producer Discovery Metals. A fund set up by China Development Bank (CDB) is supporting the proposed...
Australian infrastructure: Changing tastes
Australia’s superannuation funds are active infrastructure investors, but the size and nature of commitments to the asset class are influenced by past experience, available resources and risk appetite
Founder of Australia’s Seek plans PE platform
Paul Bassat, co-founder of Australian job search site Seek, is looking to set up a private equity platform with Tony Holt, who recently left his position as a senior managing director with Macquarie Group in Hong Kong.
VIDEO: CHAMP Private Equity's John Haddock
The rise of Asian strategic buyers is creating a new exit channel for Australian private equity firms, according to John Haddock, managing director at CHAMP Private Equity. The GP has direct exposure to this trend, having exited Manassen Foods to China’s...
Anchorage buys Dick Smith Electronics from Woolworths
Anchorage Capital Partners will buy Australian supermarket chain Woolworths’ Dick Smith Electronics unit for an initial A$20 million ($18 million) plus a share of any upside resulting from the private equity firm exiting the asset. The divestment comes...
Australia’s CHAMP PE secures $206m Southeast Asia deal
CHAMP Private Equity has acquired a significant minority stake in shipping services provider Miclyn Express Offshore (MEO) from Macquarie Capital Group for around A$199 million ($206 million). It represents another step in the Australian GP’s strategy...
Australian Super CEO hits out at PE fees
The chief executive of Australia’s largest industry superannuation fund has criticized the level of fees charged by private equity fund managers and argues that their compensation model needs to change.
Baker & McKenzie's global PE head to join King & Wood Mallesons - report
Baker & McKenzie’s global head of private equity, Mark McNamara, is reportedly leaving the firm to join King & Wood Mallesons in a similar role.
TPG’s Billabong rival abandons bid
TPG Capital’s rival bidder for Australian surfwear company Billabong International has dropped out of the running. Billabong only identified the group that offered to match TPG’s A$694 million ($709 million) buyout bid as a private equity firm. According...
CVC’s Australia head resigns
CVC Capital Partners’ Adrian MacKenzie, the managing partner responsible for investments in Australia, has resigned. The move comes as the private equity firm prepares to write off almost the entire A$1.9 billion ($1.97 billion) in equity that was pumped...