Australasia
New Zealand's Soul Machines raises $40m Series B
Soul Machines, a New Zealand-based company specializing in emotionally responsive artificial intelligence (AI), has raised a $40 million Series B round led by Temasek Holdings.
PEP bids $517m for Australia's Village Roadshow
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has submitted a A$761.2 million ($517 million) bid for Village Roadshow, an Australian media company that operates cinemas and theme parks and has interests in film production and distribution.
Anacacia takes stake in Australia logistics business
Anacacia Capital has made an investment of unspecified size in Direct Couriers, a courier and logistics services provider that operates in Australia and New Zealand.
Australia's Blackbird completes Fund I strip sale
Australia’s Blackbird Ventures has completed a GP-led secondary transaction whereby StepStone Global and HESTA have acquired interests from its debut fund for approximately A$100 million ($69 million).
New Zealand impact fund backs sustainable packaging player
New Zealand’s Impact Enterprise Fund (IEF) has confirmed an investment in local sustainable packaging supplier Grounded.
GP profile: CPE Capital
CHAMP Private Equity became CPE Capital earlier this year, following a leadership transition. The Australian GP has also refined its middle market investment strategy, emphasizing functional expertise
Australia cybersecurity start-up receives $47.6m
Australia-based cybersecurity start-up Secure Code Warrior has secured a $47.6 million Series B round led by Goldman Sachs.
China-Australia biotech fund raises $31m
UniSA Ventures, a tech commercialization unit of the University of South Australia, has secured A$45 million ($31 million) from a group of Chinese investors for an Australia-focused biotechnology fund.
Pemba's exit from Australian insurance broker falls through
Australian insurance broker network AUB Group has terminated its agreement to acquire Pemba Capital Partners’ 49% stake in Coverforce Holdings, a transaction that was opposed by the company’s founder.
Carlyle offers $197m for Australian debt collector
The Carlyle Group is bidding to acquire Pioneer Credit, a listed financial services provider specializing in consumer debt collection in the Australia and New Zealand markets, for an enterprise valuation of approximately A$288 million ($197 million).
PSP buys Australian almond orchards, water rights
Schroder Adveq has sold 12,000 hectares of almond orchards in Australia to Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP) for an undisclosed sum. The pension plan has also agreed to pay Olam International A$490 million ($332.5 million) for permanent...
CDPQ takes 25% stake in Australian transport project
Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) has acquired a 24.9% stake in Sydney's nascent metro rail system as part of a A$167 million ($113 million) investment.
Australia launches $365m fund to support SMEs
The Australian government has launched a A$540 million ($365 million) growth fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with commitments coming from the country's largest banks.
Australia’s V2Food raises $35m Series A
Australian alternative protein producer V2Food has secured a $35 million Series A round led by Hong Kong’s Horizons Ventures and Australia’s Main Sequence Ventures.
Allegro acquires Australasian furniture retail portfolio
Allegro Funds has agreed to acquire a portfolio of Australian and New Zealand furniture and household goods brands – including Best & Less, Harris Scarfe, Postie, and Debenhams Australia – from South Africa-based retail holding company Steinhoff International.
Deal focus: BGH taps LP expertise for Australia, NZ dentistry deal
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is the sole LP co-investor in BGH Capital's acquisition of Abano Healthcare by virtue of its previous experience with dentistry chain assets
PAG, Centurium win firm of the year prizes at AVCJ Awards
PAG Asia Capital and Centurium Capital secured the two firm of the year prizes at the 2019 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards, while Renuka Ramnath of India’s Multiples Alternative Asset Management won the AVCJ Special Achievement Award.
PE & QSR: Ambition on a bun
Many private equity investors think they can make a fast buck from fast dining, but rolling out a Western-style brand in Asia requires discipline on valuation and competence in execution
Australia: VC in vogue
A handful of Australian superannuation funds have started investing directly in local start-ups as well as backing VC funds. Is buying a strip off one of these portfolios the next step?
CPE adds to Australian defense, aerospace assets
CPE Capital – formerly known as CHAMP Private Equity – has secured its second Australian defense sector deal in eight months with an agreement to buy Levett Engineering.
Fund focus: AirTree goes full service
AirTree Ventures raised $188 million for its third fund on the back of a hiring spree that has doubled headcount and added operational capabilities as the firm looks to nurture a new generation of Australian unicorns
TDM Growth leads $48m Series C for Australia's Rokt
TDM Growth Partners, an Australian GP that invests across public and private companies, has led a $48 million Series C round for local marketing technology supplier Rokt.
Kirwood leads Series C for New Zealand fintech player
Kirwood Capital, a private equity firm that makes growth investments in Australia and New Zealand-based companies with global expansion prospects, has joined a NZ$25 million ($16 million) Series C round or digital lending platform Harmoney.
Quadrant wins board approval for buyout of Australia's QMS Media
Quadrant Private Equity has agreed to buy Australian outdoor advertising business QMS Media Group for an enterprise valuation of A$571.6 million ($392 million) through a scheme of arrangement.