Australasia

Transurban rejects higher CPPIB/OTPP bid

Australian toll road major Transurban Group has rejected a higher takeover bid of A$7.2 billion ($6.4 billion) from the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), along with local fund manager CP2 Ltd....

Catalyst picks up Actrol Parts

Australia's Catalyst Investment Managers has 100% acquired Actrol Parts, a wholesaler and distributor of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and components, from parent GSA Industries, for an undisclosed amount.

Babson hires O’Keeffe for Asia Pacific sales/IR

Babson Capital Management, which recently announced the debut of its mezzanine-focused operation in Sydney, has announced the hire of Sue-Ellen O’Keeffe, hitherto with with Super Investment Management, to cover sales and IR duties across Asia Pacific.

CPP IB OTPP Transurban bid may fail on share sale

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP IB) and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP)’s joint A$6.8 billion ($6.2 billion) bid for Australian toll roads operator Transurban Group may fail due to the target's decision to sell A$542 million ($490.5...

  • LPs
Lazard Carnegie Wylie fund takes distressed hotel

The A$100 million ($91 million) Lazard Carnegie Wylie Private Equity Distressed Fund, which targets distressed Australian hospitality and pub assets, has bought the Steyne Hotel on Sydney's Manly Beach, reportedly for A$27 million ($24 million).

Quadrangle outbid for Oz AAPT

TMT specialist Quadrangle Group has emerged as the private equity firm bidding for AAPT, an Australian carrier network operator owned by Telecom New Zealand, but saw its bid trumped by Australia's TPG Telecom.

Highland rolls out in Oz, Korea

Highland Capital Management, a $27 billion asset management firm that invests in secured senior debt, bonds, structured credits and mezzanine, as well as equities, has opened new offices in Australia and South Korea to complement its existing Asia presence...

OZ ACT Treasury hires Towers Watson

The Australian Capital Territory Department of Treasury (ACT) has retained advisory and consulting firm Towers Watson to advise it on investing its A$3.5 billion ($3.24 billion) asset pool into private equity and other asset classes.

Citi hires Paton for Oz

Citi has announced the appointment of Brett Paton, formerly Chairman for Capital Markets at UBS, as a Vice Chairman for its Institutional Clients Group in Australia and New Zealand.

Advent exits SCADAgroup to Schneider

Australian mid-market private equity firm Advent Private Capital has announced the exit of its investment in waste and water systems integration business SCADAgroup to Schneider Electric, for around A$200 million ($185 million).

PEP, CHAMP in Loscam second round?

CHAMP Private Equity and Pacific Equity Partners have been instanced as potential buyers in a second bidding round for the putative A$500-700 million ($460-640 million) sale of Affinity Equity Partners Australian investee Loscam.

NZ Yellow Pages LBO debt in standstill deal

Bank lenders who provided the leverage for CCMP Capital Partners Asia (now Unitas Capital) and Teachers' Private Capital's 2007 LBO of New Zealand's Yellow Pages Group have agreed to a standstill on debt repayments until end May.

ATO delay ominous for Oz PE

The Australian Taxation Office has delayed two rulings on profits from private equity transactions until end May, indicative of a harder stance on the issue, according to some observers.

Riverside now open in Melbourne

Following on the commitment made in January 2010 by Stewart Kohl, its co-CEO, mid-market investment firm The Riverside Company has now opened its first Australia office, on Collins Street in Melbourne.

Anchorage closes debut Oz fund

Anchorage Capital Partners, a Sydney-based mid-market special situations and turnaround buyouts firm, has announced the close of its debut fund, Anchorage Capital Partners I, at A$200 million ($187 million).

PE stalking ANZ's AAPT?

At least one major private equity player has apparently been examining AAPT, an Australian carrier network operator owned by Telecom New Zealand.

Investec Wentworth FOF moves from wine to wires

Australian mid-market firm Investec Wentworth Private Equity, part of the Investec group, has repositioned its First Opportunity Fund (FOF), an ASX-listed vehicle hitherto known as the First Wine Fund, as a backdoor listing platform for unlisted wholesale...

Denham invests Trans-Tasman

Leading US specialist mining, energy and commodities investor Denham Capital Management has committed an unconfirmed amount for a 48% stake in New Zealand's Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd (TTR), a company focused on developing seabed iron sands deposits...

Telstra recruits Talevski from JANA

Australia's largest corporate superannuation fund, Telstra Super, has recruited Robert Talevski, hitherto a senior private equity specialist with its asset consultant, JANA Investment Advisers, to help manage its private equity program.

Siebert goes native with Macquarie

Mike Siebert, hitherto an associate at Partners Group, has been recruited as a portfolio manager for the private equity arm of Macquarie Funds Group, to build the group's European capabilities.

SFERS backs CHAMP III

US LP the San Francisco City and County Employees Retirement System (SFERS) is committing around $18.42 million to Champ III, the currently-raising fund from Australia's CHAMP Private Equity, as part of its latest round of private equity investments.