Australasia
TA backs Australia ETF manager BetaShares
TA Associates has added to its Australia and New Zealand financial services portfolio with an investment in BetaShares, an Australia-based exchange-traded fund (ETF) manager.
Odyssey backs Australia mountain bike business
Odyssey Private Equity has acquired a significant stake in MTB Direct (MTBD), an Australia-based online retailer specializing in mountain bikes, replacement parts, and cycling clothing and accessories.
My Food Bag completes largest New Zealand IPO in seven years
My Food Bag, a cook-your-own meal kit delivery service backed by Waterman Capital, has raised NZ$342.2 million ($245.5 million) in New Zealand’s largest IPO since 2014.
Platinum exits Australia's Sensis to US strategic
US-based Platinum Equity has exited its control position in Sensis, best known as the operator of Australia’s White Pages and Yellow Pages directories, in a deal worth $200 million.
Rocket Lab to go public via SPAC merger
Rocket Lab, a US-based space technology company that operates primarily in New Zealand, as agreed to merge with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise valuation of $4.1 billion.
PAG acquires Australia’s Unispace
PAG Asia Capital has acquired Australia-based Unispace with a view to expanding the office design and construction consultancy across Asia.
Australia's Employment Hero gets $35m Series D
Australian online human resources services start-up Employment Hero has raised A$45 million ($35 million) in Series D funding led by domestic recruitment business Seek.
ESG & operations: Compliance corner
Few mid-market private equity firms in Asia have dedicated ESG personnel and this is not necessarily an obstacle to progress. As compliance and reporting burdens increase, the status quo may change
Blackbird, King River lead Series B for Australia's Lexer
Blackbird Ventures and King River Capital have led a A$33.5 million ($26 million) Series B investment in Australian retail industry data services provider Lexer.
LeapFrog names co-head of healthcare
Asia and Africa-focused impact investor LeapFrog Investments has recruited Biju Mohandas as a partner and global co-lead for healthcare.
COOs in Asia private equity: Horses for courses
The COO role is gradually becoming more prevalent in Asian private equity, but GPs struggle to find the right combination of financial skills and business acumen. The optimal candidate is often internal
Waterman set for $140m windfall from My Food Bag IPO
New Zealand’s Waterman Capital will realize up to NZ$193.9 million ($140 million) through the IPO of My Food Bag, a home delivery service that provides customers with ingredients and recipes to cook their own meals.
Deal focus: Potentia exits Ascender, closes debut fund
Potentia Capital's debut fundraise was given extra impetus by an impending exit from Australia-based software provider Ascender, which delivered a 30x return
Quadrant becomes first Asia GP to make HEC top 10
Quadrant Private Equity has become the first Asia Pacific-based manager to make the top 10 in the HEC-Dow Jones Private Equity Performance Ranking.
MIRA makes $2.6b bid for Australia's Vocus
Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets (MIRA) has offered to acquire Australian broadband internet provider Vocus Group for about A$3.4 billion ($2.6 billion). It follows a string of abandoned bids.
Indigenous New Zealand LP backs pathology business
Te Puia Tapapa (TPT), a PE investor serving New Zealand indigenous groups, has backed a pathology business owned by New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZ Super) and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP).
AVCJ Awards 2020: Exit of the Year - Large Cap: Velocity Frequent Flyer
Building a core competence in data analytics and a broader array of loyalty options underpinned Affinity Equity Partners’ 3.6x return on Velocity Frequent Flyer
NZ Super to back Pioneer's fourth fund
Auckland-based private equity firm Pioneer Capital has received a cornerstone commitment of NZ$100 million ($72 million) for its fourth fund from New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZ Super).
US strategic to buy PE-backed Australia payroll business
Ceridian, a US-based human resources technology provider has agreed to acquire Australian payroll software specialist Ascender, setting up exits for Potentia Capital and Five V Capital.
New Zealand's Oriens Capital acquires biosecurity specialist
New Zealand private equity firm Oriens Capital has agreed to acquire a 70% position in IVS Group, a local biosecurity services specialist, for an undisclosed sum.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Operational Value Add: Nexus Day Hospitals
Having formed Australia-based Nexus Day Hospitals by merging two smaller operators, Mercury Capital led a wholesale expansion and professionalization of the business
4Q analysis: Growth spurt
Technology-enabled businesses in China and India are the beneficiaries of a resurgence in growth capital deal flow; Japan is the sole stand-out in fundraising; IPOs continue to shine as overall exits struggle
Riverside to buy Australian insurance broker
The Riverside Group has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Australian disability insurance broker Altius from Sydney-listed AUB Group for A$57 million ($44.3 million) in cash.
Asia PE investment ends 2020 on a tear
A fourth-quarter surge in growth-stage deal-making took Asia private equity investment to $198.5 billion in 2020, comfortably surpassing the previous year’s total despite the strictures of COVID-19.