Australasia
PE Deal of the Year – Hyva
UNITAS CAPITAL’S BUYOUT OF DUTCH cylinder-maker Hyva earlier this year was a landmark private equity deal in that it was the first in Asia to be backed by a high-yield bond. Not only did the company’s $375 million bond issue set a precedent for other...
PE sees rise in post-deal disputes
Post-closing claims against PE firms have shot up since the global financial crisis, causing cash to be held back from exits and IRRs to suffer. What does it mean for Asia?
Fundraising of the Year – Baring Private Equity Asia
Global private equity majors including KKR, Bain Capital and TPG say that now is the time to raise Asian megafunds, but for Baring Private Equity, which closed its $2.4 billion fifth vehicle in just six months earlier this year, it’s good to get in...
Private Equity Professional of the Year – Peter Wiggs
“It's been quite a year,” Peter Wiggs reflected as he collected the prize for Private Equity Professional of the Year at the 2011 Asian Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards.
Archer, Ironbridge achieve iNova exit
It may have taken longer than expected, but Archer Capital and Ironbridge Capital have finally exited Australian portfolio company iNova Pharmaceuticals to a Canadian trade buyer two years after launching an auction for the company. A healthy return on...
KKR offer spurned by Transpacific
Private equity giant KKR has been rejected in its eleventh-hour attempt to subscribe to Australian waste manager Transpacific Industries Group's capital-raising initiative.
GE boosts CHAMP-backed Accolade with $234m loan
European lender GE Capital has provided Australia’s Accolade Wines, owned by CHAMP Private Equity, with a GBP150 million ($234 million) cross-border financing facility.
Centro to launch trust to avoid collapse
The financial backers of distressed Australian real estate owner Centro Properties Group have agreed to create an A$4.4 billion ($4.3 billion) listed property trust called Centro Retail Australia in order to keep the company afloat.
Archer, Ironbridge exit iNova Pharmaceuticals for $690m
Archer Capital and Ironbridge Capital have exited iNova Pharmaceuticals to Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth up to A$700 million ($690 million). Valeant will pay A$625 million up front plus a further A$75 million based on the success...
CHAMP-backed Blue Star hires Unitas’ Philip Bower
Blue Star, the New Zealand printing firm owned by CHAMP Private Equity, has hired Unitas Capital's Phillip Bower as its new managing director.
Lenders ‘will reject debt plan’ for CVC-backed Nine
CVC Asia Pacific's proposed debt restructuring plan for its portfolio company Nine Entertainment is expected to be rejected, following talks between the private equity firm and lenders on Friday.
Lazard acquires minority stake in 2XU
Lazard Australia Private Equity has acquired a significant minority stake in sports apparel brand 2XU.
CVC to meet with NINE's lenders
CVC Asia Pacific is reportedly to meet with the lenders of its Australian media company NINE Entertainment tomorrow to discuss refinancing opportunities.
Spotless rejects PEP's $700m takeover offer
Australian cleaning services company Spotless Group has rejected Pacific Equity Partners’ (PEP) A$698.3 million ($702 million) takeover offer, branding the bid as too low.
Neuberger Berman raises $720m
Investment management firm Neuberger Berman Group has raised $720 million for its private equity fund-of-funds, NB Crossroads 2010.
Australian private equity continues to outperform public markets - AVCAL
Australian private equity continues to achieve better returns than the country’s stock markets, according to research cited by the Australian Venture Capital Association (AVCAL).
PEP eyes Spotless buyout - report
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is reportedly looking to acquire Australian cleaning services company Spotless Group for as much as A$700 million ($715 million), coming months after the ASX-listed company rejected Blackstone’s A$657 million bid.
Archer sues UK's Sage Group over MYOB deal
Archer Capital has filed an A$130 million ($133 million) suit against British software company Sage Group for damages related to its decision to end acquisition talks for Australian software maker MYOB.
TPG and Carlyle circle MCAG’s Regis
TPG Capital Partners and The Carlyle Group are said to be interested in buying Australia’s second-largest private care home operator, Regis Group.
Quadrant sells Australian jeweler to Indian trade player
Quadrant has sold its Australian portfolio company The Jewellery Group to M Suresh Group DMCC, a global jewelry maker based in Mumbai.
Gresham seeks buyer for New Zealand's Noel Leeming Group
Australian PE firm Gresham has reportedly appointed Macquarie Group to advise on the sale of New Zealand appliance retailer Noel Leeming Group, an asset that it has owned for seven years.
Australian PE investment at ‘highest level for three years’
Private equity and venture capital firms contributed A$3.6 billion ($3.7 billion) of capital to Australian companies this year, representing the highest amount invested for three years.
PEP invests $670m in SCA's Australasian arm
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has invested $670 million in a joint venture with Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA) to develop the company’s Australasian arm, SCA Hygiene Australasia.
Navis acquires marketing units from Australia's Photon Group
Navis Capital Partners has purchased the field marketing and retail units of Australian marketing services firm Photon Group for $146.5 million, valuing the company at 7x EBITDA. According to Photon, the completed transaction would leave the company debt...