Australasia
Asahi to buy Independent Liquor for $1.3b – report
Asahi Group Holdings is set to reach an agreement this week on the JPY100 billion ($1.3 billion) purchase of Independent Liquor, which is owned by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital, The Nikkei reported.
Collins shares drop 8% on trading debut
Australian fast-food group Collins Food, which was taken public by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), saw its shares drop 8% on its trading debut. This came despite the offering being priced at the bottom of its A$2.50-$2.92 range.
PEP, Unitas tipped to sell Independent Liquor to Asahi
Asahi Group Holdings has emerged as the leading candidate to purchase New Zealand drinks maker Independent Liquor, which is currently owned by Pacific Equity Partners and Unitas Capital. The deal could be worth up to NZ$1.4 billion ($1.2 billion), Dow...
Bondholders in CHAMP-backed Blue Star offered new deal
Blue Star bondholders have been offered the chance to participate in the printing firm’s restructuring on the same terms as major shareholder CHAMP Private Equity, The National Business Review reported. Should the latest proposal fail to win approval,...
Blackstone approved for Valad takeover
Shareholders in debt-burdened Australian real estate firm Valad Property Group have overwhelmingly approved Blackstone affiliates for an A$806 million ($883 million) takeover of the company.
Paine & Partners takes 50% of Australian fruit and vegetable producer
US-based private equity firm Paine & Partners has paid an undisclosed amount for a 50% stake in Costa Group, Australia's largest private producer of fresh fruit and vegetables. The transaction is slated to close later this year, with Costa management...
CHAMP looks to sell Australian fuel transporter for $400m - report
CHAMP Private Equity is reportedly looking to sell portfolio firm International Energy Services (IES) for A$375 million ($405 million), and has attracted interest from Australian and Asian logistics firms in the sale.
Collins rescues Angus & Robertson
Book, Entertainment and Stationary vender REDGroup Retail is a blot on Australia’s private equity landscape. With Collins Booksellers agreeing to buy a number of its bankrupt rival’s Angus & Robertson (A&R) franchises, perhaps the blot can finally...
Nine Entertainment meets with lenders on debt repayment
Nine Entertainment’s private equity owner, CVC Asia Pacific, has taken steps to refinance the company's A$3.6 billion ($3.8 billion) in debt, The Australian reported. This comes as Adrian MacKenzie, CVC's Australia head, starts preliminary negotiations...
LaSalle boosts Australia assets to $1.8b with acquisition of Trinity Funds Management
LaSalle Investment Management has agreed to acquire Trinity Funds Management(TFM) from Australian property groups Trinity Group and Clarence Property Corp for A$9.25 million ($9.9 million) plus the net assets of the business.
Affinity makes final bid for Australian meats firm
Affinity Equity Partners has submitted a final bid for a controlling stake in Primo Smallgoods, a source close to the deal has told AVCJ. Earlier reports suggesting that the bid for the Australian meat products company amounts to A$580 million ($622 million)...
PEP-backed Collins Food raises $216m through IPO
Collins Foods, the Australian fast-food group owned by Pacific Equity Partners, has raised A$201.8 million ($216.6 million) after pricing its IPO at the bottom of the indicative range, Reuters reported. It is still the largest domestic offering of the...
CHAMP wants Bright Food to pay $638m for Manassen
CHAMP Private Equity is looking to sell Australia’s Manassen Foods to China Bright Food Group for around A$600 million ($638 million), Dow Jones reported, citing people familiar with the matter. An IPO remains a possibility if the trade sale doesn’t...
Aberdeen launches real estate fund-of-funds in Asia
Singapore-based Aberdeen Asset Management Asia has launched a property fund-of-funds that is expected to raise up to $400million. It will help boost real estate exposure among institutional investors.
Collins Booksellers to take REDGroup’s Angus & Robertson franchises
Australian book chain Collins Booksellers has reached an agreement with REDGroup Retail’s administrators to take several Angus & Robertson franchises, according to local media reports.
Bright Food linked to Manassen Foods bid
China’s Bright Food Group is in negotiations to buy Manassen Foods from CHAMP Private Equity, Reuters reported, citing two people with knowledge of the matter. Australian firm Manassen, which was acquired by CHAMP in 2006, is best known for Jelly Belly...
Archer’s fifth fund could reach $1.5b
Archer Capital’s much talked-of fifth fund could reach A$1.4 billion ($1.5 billion), with Future Fund expected to sign up as an investor, The Australian reported. The fundraising target was previously said to be A$ 1.2 billion ($1.27 billion).
PEP-backed Collins Foods seeks to raise $255m through IPO
Collins Foods, the Australian fast-food group owned by Pacific Equity Partners, plans to raise up to A$238 million ($255 million) through an IPO. The firm will offer 81.6 million shares priced at A$2.50-2.92 apiece in what is potentially Australia’s...
Bright Food considers Treasury Wine bid - report
Shanghai-based food producer Bright Food Group is considering buying Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates, the brand that was spun off by beer maker Foster’s Group last month, Bloomberg reported.
Australia's PE-backed Barminco pulls IPO
Mining contractor Barminco, which is majority-owned by Gresham Private Equity, has pulled out of its $580 million IPO. It is the latest in a string of Australian companies to stall listing plans amid market volatility.
Castle Minerals issues shares for Ghana gold exploration
Castle Minerals has raised $4.8 million through an equity issue to Resource Capital Funds, a Denver-based PE fund focusing on the mining industry, as well as to existing shareholders.
Archer’s activity masks poor PE sentiment
The spate of deals done by Archer Capital in recent weeks suggests that Australia’s private equity industry is abuzz with activity.
Buyouts reassess their Australia risk
A hot currency and a degree of regulatory uncertainty are not turning investors away from Australia, but they may alter how buyouts do business there
PEP targets $263m IPO for Collins Foods
Collins Foods, the Australian fast-food group owned by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), is planning an IPO worth about A$250 million ($263 million). Deutsche Bank and UBS have been appointed joint lead underwriters and have already begun pre-marketing,...