Australasia
Australia's AVCAL appoints local LP as new chair
The Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (AVCAL) – which will be known as the Australian Investment Council from next year – has appointed its first chairperson from the local institutional investor community.
Affinity to acquire Australia's Scottish Pacific for $446m
Affinity Equity Partners has agreed to acquire Australia-listed debt and trade finance provider Scottish Pacific in a deal worth approximately A$612 million ($446 million).
Anacacia sells Australian chilled food business
Anacacia Capital has exited Yumi’s Quality Foods, an Australian chilled food manufacturer that it acquired in 2014, to George Weston Foods (GWF) for an undisclosed sum.
Bain abandons buyout of Australia's BWX
Bain Capital Private Equity has abandoned its bid to acquire Australian skin and hair care product manufacturer BWX for A$810 million ($613 million).
CHAMP exits Australian forex broker Pepperstone
CHAMP Private Equity has exited Australian foreign exchange broker Pepperstone following a buyout by its founders, senior management and Fiona Lock, a managing director at the PE firm.
Partners Group agrees $142m Australia wind farm acquisition
Partners Group has agreed to pay Macquarie Capital and Renewable Energy Systems (RES) A$200 million ($142 million) for a construction-stage wind power project in Australia.
Accel-KKR backs New Zealand's Seequent
Accel-KKR, a US-based private equity firm created by Accel Partners and KKR, has made a growth-stage investment of undisclosed size in New Zealand data visualization software provider Seequent.
Australia's NAB commits $36m to VC fund
National Australia Bank (NAB), has committed an additional A$50 million ($36 million) to its venture capital unit for investments in financial technology companies through 2020.
Venture debt: The loan rangers
Venture debt providers are confident that the asset class is set for growth in Asia, though momentum is slow in most markets. Lenders must adapt their strategies to meet local needs if they are to be successful
AustralianSuper, CPPIB back $6.7b Sydney toll road deal
AustralianSuper and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) have joined a consortium that will acquire a 51% stake in Sydney’s WestConnex highway system from the New South Wales government for A$9.3 billion ($6.7 billion).
Adamantem to buy Australia's Zenitas Healthcare
Adamantem Capital has agreed to buy Australia-based Zenitas Healthcare in a deal worth approximately A$122 million ($88 million), including debt. It is working with Liverpool Partners, an investment and advisory firm with extensive experience in healthcare....
New Zealand's Genesis launches $20m PE fund
New Zealand’s Genesis Private Equity has launched its second fund focused on local small to medium-sized companies with a target of NZ$30 million ($20 million).
Australia's Simple gets $17m expansion round
Australian marketing platform operator Simple has raised $17 million for global expansion in a round led by local investor BBRC Private Equity. It is the GP’s first investment.
US VC leads $15m round for Australia's Flare
US-based VC Point72 Ventures has led a A$21 million ($15.4 million) round for Australian staff management technology provider Flare.
Crescent raises $586m for sixth Australia, New Zealand fund
Crescent Capital Partners has closed its sixth Australia and New Zealand mid-market fund at A$800 million ($586 million) after less than three months in the market.
Adamantem buys its second Australia horse feed business
Australian middle-market private equity firm Adamantem Capital has agreed to pay A$59.5 million ($43.2 million) for poultry producer Inghams Group’s Mitavite animal feed business. It is a bolt-on acquisition for horse feed producer Hygain Holdings.
Brookfield, Macquarie to exit Australia's Quadrant Energy for $2.2b
Australian oil and gas supplier Quadrant Energy has agreed to a $2.15 billion buyout offer from domestic peer Santos that will provide a full exit for its private equity backers, including Brookfield Asset Management and Macquarie Capital.
Asia data center player raises $621m
AirTrunk, a Singapore-based data center provider focused on Australia, has raised A$850 million ($621 million) in senior debt financing and capital from existing investors Goldman Sachs and TPG Capital.
Singapore's Qualgro reaches $60m first close on second fund
Qualgro, a Southeast Asia and Australasia-focused VC firm that spun out from Singapore asset manager Gordian Capital, has secured a first close of $60 million on its second fund.
Wattle Hill bids for Australia's Capilano Honey, targets China growth
Wattle Hill RHC, a private equity firm that targets Australian businesses with products and services that appeal to Chinese consumers, has won board approval for a A$189.7 million ($138 million) privatization of honey producer Capilano Honey.
Singapore's Keppel to launch Australia retail investment fund
Keppel Capital, the asset management arm of Singapore-based Keppel Corporation, has partnered with Australia-listed property developer Vicinity Centres to launch an investment fund targeting assets in Australia’s retail sector.
Australia's OneVentures launches $74m venture debt fund
Australia’s OneVentures has partnered with Israel-based Viola Credit to launch a A$100 million ($74 million) venture debt fund that is said to be the first vehicle of its kind in Australia.
BGH hires Blackstone Australia executive
BGH, the Australia and New Zealand-focused private equity firm set up by former TPG Capital Asia co-head Ben Gray, has hired Jonathan Chamberlain, a managing director at The Blackstone Group, as a partner.
Australian SME lender Judo Capital raises $104m
Australian financial services start-up Judo Capital has raised A$140 million ($104 million) to provide loans to domestic small to medium-sized enterprises (SME).