Australasia
Australia tech: Valuation conundrum
Valuation adjustments and down rounds are expected to proliferate in Australia’s technology sector in the next 12 months. Investors are busy scrutinising business models for signs of vulnerability
CDH exits New Zealand supplements brand to Nestle
CDH Investments has agreed to sell New Zealand-based supplements manufacturer The Better Health Company (TBHC) to Nestlé Health Science for an undisclosed sum.
Future Fund promotes private equity head to deputy CIO
Alicia Gregory, head of private equity at Australia’s Future Fund, has been promoted to deputy CIO with responsibility for private markets.
GPs must adapt to raise capital from HNWIs - AVCJ Forum
Australia’s high net worth individuals (HNWIs) are becoming a more important source of capital for mid-market private equity firms as superannuation funds face minimum cheque size constraints, but tapping this fundraising channel requires understanding...
Deal focus: Software Combined sees sense in aggregation
Backed by majority owner Navis Capital Partners, Australia-based Software Combined wants to reach up to USD 35m of EBITDA within three years through acquisitions of smaller B2B players
Fund focus: LPs endorse Potentia's software thesis
Potentia Capital took just four months to close its second fund on USD 438m, emphasizing the growing appeal of B2B technology opportunities in Australia and New Zealand
Australia's Infomedia entertains three buyout offers
Australia-listed automotive software supplier Infomedia has received its third buyout offer in the past two months, with PE-backed counterpart Solera proposing to acquire the business at a valuation of AUD 638.8m (USD 445m).
Infrastructure funds move towards software - Infralogic Forum
Software providers are set to become targets for infrastructure investors, provided companies can demonstrate sufficient customer stickiness to underpin consistent revenue streams, the Australia Infralogic Investors Forum heard.
Australia's Potentia closes Fund II on $438m
Australian technology-focused private equity firm Potentia Capital has achieved a first and final close of AUD 635m (USD 438m) on its second fund, hitting the hard cap and beating a target of AUD 500m.
Crypto: Something for everyone?
Traditional VCs are becoming more active in Asia’s blockchain and web3 space, despite structural and philosophical obstacles to participation. Can they withstand the crypto winter?
New Zealand deep-tech VC Pacific Channel seeks co-investors
Pacific Channel, which claims to be the largest deep-tech specialist in New Zealand’s venture capital industry, is seeking co-investors to support maturing portfolio companies that require additional capital.
Australia's Go1 raises $100m at $2b valuation
Australia-based workforce training platform Go1 has raised a USD 100m growth round featuring AirTree Ventures and SoftBank Vision Fund 2 at a valuation of USD 2bn.
Navis backs Australasia software aggregation platform
Navis Capital Partners has invested in Software Combined, an Australia and New Zealand-based aggregator of software providers that cater to specific niches or B2B verticals.
New Zealand's GD1 backs tech fund, incubator
GD1 has confirmed it is the lead investor in a new fund and incubation program from fellow New Zealand VC firm Phase One Ventures. The goal is to produce 10 tech unicorns by 2026.
Battery Ventures bids $471m for Australia SaaS player Infomedia
Battery Ventures is offering to buy Infomedia, a listed Australia software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for the automotive industry, at a valuation of AUD 658m (USD 471m).
Skip leads Series B for Australia utilities SaaS platform
Skip Capital, a private investment firm established by Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar, has led a USD 14m Series B round for Neara, an Australian software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that serves utilities.
New Zealand's Pushpay confirms PE approaches
Pushpay, a New Zealand and Australia-listed payments business specialising in donor management, confirmed it had been approached by prospective buyers but played down the significance of an agreement with BGH Capital and Sixth Street Partners.
Australian crop monitoring start-up gets $38m Series B
Regrow, an Australian-based sustainable agriculture start-up, has raised USD 38m in Series B funding led by Galvanize Climate Solutions, Rethink Impact, and Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff’s Time Ventures.
Deal focus: ICG finds alignment with doctor-shareholders
Intermediate Capital Group believes its flexible approach to deal structuring – and a willingness to share upside – helped win over doctors who are employees and part-owners of Canopy Healthcare
Australia take-privates: Going large
A combination of abundant dry powder and friendly financing conditions are encouraging global GPs to pursue ever-larger listed companies in Australia. For now, macro headwinds are no deterrent
Mitsui, Nomura acquire real assets manager New Forests
Japan’s Mitsui & Co. and Nomura Holdings have agreed to acquire 100% of New Forests, an Australia-headquartered sustainable real assets investment manager focused on forestry, land management, and conservation.
Vodafone New Zealand buys out PE partner in retail JV
Millennium Corp, a specialist technology, media, and telecom (TMT) investor operating in New Zealand and the Pacific region, has exited its 50% stake in Vodafone New Zealand’s retail stores.
Market volatility thwarts CVC pursuit of Australia's Brambles
CVC Capital Partners has abandoned its proposed acquisition of Australia-based container supplier Brambles, citing market volatility.