Australasia
Quadrant-backed Summerset struggles on trading debut
Summerset Group, the New Zealand retirement village operator owned by Quadrant Private Equity, saw its stock open above the IPO price of NZ$1.40 on Tuesday, although it closed marginally below it. The price slumped a further 2.84% to NZ$1.37 on Wednesday.
Quadrant’s Summerset raises $99m through IPO
Quadrant Private Equity-owned Summerset Group, New Zealand’s third-largest retirement village operator, has raised NZ$123.6 million ($99.5 million) in the largest IPO seen in the country in two years. The company sold 88.3 million shares at NZ$1.40...
Anchorage exits NZ Burger King to Blackstone
It's a good time to be targeting turnarounds in Australasia. Private equity firms, hedge funds and investment banks are pursuing a host of opportunities in the consumer segment where companies have been hit hard by the seize-up in spending that followed...
Affinity buys Australian meats producer
Affinity Equity Partners has ramped up its consumer portfolio in Australia through a 70% stake acquisition in top deli meats producer Primo Smallgoods, for a price that values the company at A$740 million ($758 million).
Eaton Vance targets US loans through Australian fund
Eaton Vance Corp. aims to raise $1 billion in the next two to three years for an Australian fund targeting US leveraged loans. It will primarily look to secure capital commitments from Australian pension funds.
Blackstone appoints Costello chairman for Australia, New Zealand
Paul Costello, who stepped down as general manager of Future Fund late last year, has been appointed The Blackstone Group’s non-executive chairman for Australia and New Zealand. He will report to Tony James, the private equity firm’s president, and...
Affinity picks up 70% stake in Australia’s Primo Smallgoods
Affinity Equity Partners has finalized its acquisition of Australian meat products firm Primo Smallgoods in a deal that values the company at A$740 million ($758 million). Previous reports suggested that the valuation was at least A$900 million.
Blackstone buys NZ Burger King franchise from Anchorage
The Blackstone Group has agreed to buy Antares Restaurant Group, which operates the Burger King franchise in New Zealand, from Anchorage Capital Partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Archer sells Rebel to Super Retail Group
Archer Capital has exited Rebel Group, Australia’s largest sporting goods chain, to camping and auto parts store owner Super Retail Group for A$610 million ($630 million). The transaction is expected to close on October 31.
Affinity completes acquisiton of Primo Smallgoods
Affinity Equity Partners has officially acquired Australian deli meats producer Primo Smallgoods with the help of A$580 million ($563 million) in financing, sources told Reuters.
Asia buyouts struggle as banks clamp down on lending
Buyout deals in Asia are becoming more difficult as banks hold back on lending. Rising capital costs have made lenders wary of the risks tied to mispricing a loan, leaving private equity firms to increase the cash portion of buyouts.
BC Partners not ruling out an IPO for Fitness First
UK-based BC Partners still plans to list gym chain Fitness First in Asia if a buyer is not found, according to sources familiar with the situation. This comes one week after the private equity investor called off Fitness First’s planned IPO in Singapore...
Partners Group launches global fund in Sydney
Partners Group has set up a new global private equity fund based in Sydney, offering smaller institutional and retail investors access to deals normally only available to large institutions.
Australian Tax Office sees TPG-Myer court ruling overturned
An Australian Federal Court has overturned an earlier ruling that allowed the Australian Tax Office (ATO) to serve legal documents to TPG Capital’s country head as part of its efforts to settle a A$739 million ($784 million) tax bill arising from the...
Fund formation: Singapore asserts its onshore qualities
Asia-focused private equity players from the likes of India and Australia are becoming fans of Singapore’s tax-efficient offshore structures
Colorado Group gets back on its feet
Is there life after receivership? The owners of Colorado Group are banking on it, and have injected A$70 million ($68.7 million) to resurrect the retail brand in the hopes of finding longevity the second time around.
Partners Group in mezzanine deal with Archer Capital’s QSRH
Partners Group has provided a mezzanine loan to Australian Quick Service Restaurant Holdings (QSRH), the fast food chain that Archer Capital bought from Quadrant Private Equity for A$450 million ($474 million) in June.
MLC Private Equity invests in search engine Blekko.com
MLC Private Equity, a division of the National Australia Bank, has participated in a $30 million round of funding for search engine Blekko.com, alongside the likes of Russian internet company Yandex.
Quadrant seeks partial exit from New Zealand’s Summerset
Quadrant Private Equity plans to list Summerset, New Zealand’s third-largest retirement village company, in November but is likely only to exit 30% of its 97% stake in the company following recent market volatility.
Australia portfolio companies: Debt burdens
High profile debt woes among portfolio companies in Australia has put some private equity firms on the defensive – for now
Unitas on course to exit Exego to US-listed Genuine Parts
Exego Group, an Australian auto parts distributor owned by Unitas Capital, has sold a 30% stake in itself to US-listed Genuine Parts Company for around $150 million in cash. The transaction will take the form of a new share issue, with Genuine Parts carrying...
Affinity-backed Colorado Group emerges from receivership
Colorado Group, the Affinity-backed clothing retailer taken into receivership earlier this year, is set to emerge from administration under the name Fusion Retail Brands.
PEP set to approach potential buyers of Griffin’s Foods
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) will approach potential buyers for Griffin’s Foods in the next week or two, setting up a deal that has been valued at up to A$750 million ($735.7 million) including debt.
Australian private equity firms struggle to raise new funds
Australian private equity firms are struggling to raise new funds, with investors demanding lower fees and more information on portfolio companies.