Australasia
Foster's rejects SABMiller
Foster's Group has rejected a takeover bid by US label SABMiller, branding the A$9.5 billion ($10 billion) as offer too low. The move comes one month after the Australian firm spun off its distressed wine brand - provoking considerable interest from private...
PEP considers Collins Food Group IPO
Pacific Equity Partners wants to take Collins Foods Group public before the end of the year with a target enterprise value of $400 million. According to the Australian Financial Review, Deutsche Bank and UBS are close to finishing pre-marketing research...
ING fund of funds profits from Quadrant's Australia fast-food sale
Australian fund of funds ING Private Equity Access announced that another of its private equity investments will be returning cash to the company. Quadrant Private Equity has sold Quick Service Restaurant Holdings (QSRH) to Archer Capital for approximately...
Propel exits Marstel to Norway's Stolt-Nielsen
Propel Investments has agreed to sell its 45% stake in Marstel Holdings, a bulk liquid terminal operator in Australia and New Zealand, to Norwegian firm Stolt-Nielsen for an undisclosed sum. Completion of the transaction is expected to take place in the...
Unitas, PEP may sell Independent Liquor stake to Chinese firm
China Bright Foods Group is among the potential bidders for a stake in Independent Liquor, a New Zealand beverages group owned by private equity firms Unitas and Pacific Equity Partners (PEP). The Shanghai-based company is keen to expand overseas through...
PE targets Australian healthcare
AT A TIME WHEN PROFITABLE EXITS in Australia are difficult to achieve due to the lingering effects of the global financial crisis, private equity firms continue to rely on healthcare for returns. This strategy received a ringing endorsement last week...
Lazard seeks Asian partner for Australia's Unibic
Lazard is looking for Asian partners interested in buying a stake in Australian biscuit manufacturer Unibic. The private equity firm wants a strategic partner for its portfolio company who can help develop the business and increase exports to Asia.
Archer Capital buys fast-food chains from Quadrant
Australia’s Archer Capital has bought Quick Service Restaurant Holdings (QSRH) – the company behind local fast-food chains Red Rooster, Oporto and Chicken Treat – from Quadrant Private Equity for A$450 million ($474 million).
Lazard PE unit to own up to 25% in Australia's Hastie Group
Lazard’s private equity unit will acquire between 16% and 25% of Hastie Group by participating in the struggling technical services firm’s A$170 million ($180 million) share offering. Lazard, which will be entitled to one board seat, has agreed to a 12-month...
PE-backed Royal Adelaide Hospital set for construction
The private equity backers of the SA Health Partnership have finalized the A$1.85 billion ($1.9 billion) construction of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, touted as one of the market’s largest public-private partnerships (PPP) to date.
Pacific Road seeks $500m for new mining buyout fund
Pacific Road Capital Management, which targets buyouts in the mining sector, is planning to raise $500 million for its second fund. The Australian firm, which has invested in approximately 11 mining companies through its $320 million Resources Fund I,...
Lazard PE arm invests in Australian oil and gas consultancy
The private equity arm of Lazard has become an investor in RISC, taking a 41% stake in the Australian oil and gas consultancy for an undisclosed sum. Under the deal, RISC will also form a strategic alliance with Lazard, giving the consultancy wider exposure...
Archer Capital wins race for Australian hospital group
Archer Capital has bought Healthe Care, Australia’s third-largest hospital group, from CHAMP Ventures for $240 million. Pacific Equity Partners was the only other serious bidder, with Quadrant Private Equity pulling out, the Australian reported.
AMP names Davies global head of infrastructure
Australia-based AMP Capital Investors has appointed former Macquarie Capital executive Scott Davies as its global head of infrastructure, replacing Phil Garling who is set to retire.
Is Australian private equity headed down under?
A recent report suggests that the high value of the Australian dollar against the US dollar is making life difficult – i.e. more expensive – for private equity funds, which tend to operate in the US currency. Taxes imposed by the government on asset sales...
AMP in line for UK infrastructure asset
A consortium comprising Australia’s AMP Capital Investors, London-based investment firm Equitix and infrastructure-services firm Balfour Beatty have been named the preferred bidder for Greater Gabbard Offshore Transmission Owners (OFTO) by UK electricity...
Vehicles of the state
Closely followed yet widely misunderstood, sovereign wealth funds are making a big impression on private equity in Asia
Distressed bookseller REDgroup Retail urgently seeks buyer
Pacific Equity Partners’ REDgroup Retail, the owner bookstore chains Borders and Angus & Robertson now under administration, is “urgently” looking for a buyer in order to continue operations.
Archer Capital to launch fifth fund this year
Australian private equity leader, Archer Capital, is reportedly planning to raise A$ 1.2 billion ($1.27 billion) for a new fund towards the end of this year, according to Reuters.
PE-backed Witchery to IPO in Oz
Australia’s Gresham's Private Equity is reportedly looking to list its mid-market clothing retail asset Witchery later this year in an effort to raise A$300 million. The move comes in a market where other PE-backed IPOs of Australian companies have largely...
Archer Capital takes majority of V8 Supercars
Sydney-based PE firm Archer Capital will take a 60% stake in V8 Supercars Australia, through its investee Australian Motor Racing Partners.
Australian government boosts renewable energy focus
The Australian government has upped its backing of the country’s renewable energy category via A$100m ($106 million) investment into the Renewable Energy Venture Capital Fund (REVCF), allocated from the federal budget.
New Zealand's Waterman Capital takes half of Working In
New Zealand-based Waterman Capital has reportedly acquired a 50% stake in Working In Ltd., an immigration and employment-information provider, for an undisclosed sum.
KKR invests in Oz recycling company
KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS (KKR) HAS invested approximately A$90 million ($96.9 million) in Australia Stock Exchange-listed recycling group CMA Corporation.