Australasia
Australia’s Blackbird raises $173m for third fund
Australian venture capital firm Blackbird Ventures has reached a first close of A$225 million ($173 million) on its third fund - including a commitment from Future Fund, the country's sovereign wealth fund.
Ryan Shelswell to replace Chris Heine as ICG's Asia head
Ryan Shelswell has been named head of Asia Pacific at Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), succeeding Chris Heine, who will retire from the company.
CHAMP sells Australia's Accolade Wines to Carlyle
CHAMP Private Equity has agreed to sell Accolade Wines, which over the course of seven years it has turned into Australia’s largest wine producer, to The Carlyle Group for A$1 billion ($770 million).
Riverside secures exits in New Zealand, Australia
The Riverside Company has sold New Zealand-based animal health devices manufacturer Simcro, along with Work Health Group, an occupational rehabilitation services provider in Australia.
Macquarie closes Asia infra fund at $3.3b
Australia’s Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) has achieved a final close for its second Asia-focused infrastructure fund at the hard cap of $3.3 billion.
EMR Capital, Adaro agree $2.25b deal for Rio Tinto mine
Natural resources-focused GP EMR Capital and Indonesian energy firm Adaro Energy have agreed to buy an Australia coal mine owned by mining company Rio Tinto for $2.25 billion.
VCs invest $15m in Australian space, IoT start-up
Myriota, an Australian space technology company focused on orbital internet-of-things (IoT) connectivity systems, has closed a $15 million Series A round led by Main Sequence Ventures and Blue Sky Venture Capital.
Australia virtual data room provider gets $18.5m
Australia’s Ellerston Capital has led a A$24 million ($18.5 million) Series A round for Ansarada, a domestic business services company that provides virtual data rooms and artificial intelligence-enabled due diligence.
Australia's Five V agrees marketing carve-out
Five V Capital, an Australian GP established by Adrian MacKenzie, formerly a managing partner at CVC Capital Partners, has agreed to buy the contact center business of market services company Salmat for A$53 million ($41 million).
Singapore, Australia VCs team up for $125m fund
Singapore-based VC firm Hatcher and Australian accelerator BlueChilli will jointly invest a $125 million exchange-traded fund that will back 240 start-ups globally over the next three years.
Portfolio: Allegro Funds and Carpet Court
Carpet Court’s attractive growth plan was held back by its structural weaknesses. Under the ownership of Allegro Funds, the company has new focus as the leader in New Zealand’s fragmented flooring industry
Australia invests $12m in domestic agtech ecosystem
The state government of Victoria in Australia has confirmed a plan to invest A$15 million ($12 million) in the local agricultural technology sector.
TPG secures partial exit from Australian poultry player
TPG Capital has made a partial exit from Inghams Group, the Australian poultry producer it acquired in 2013 and took public in November 2016.
MDI leads $10m round for Australia's Whispir
MDI Ventures, the corporate VC arm of state-controlled telecommunications firm Telkom Indonesia, has led a $10 million funding round for Australian communications platform Whispir.
Australia's Future Fund creates chief technology officer role
Australia’s Future Fund plans to hire a chief technology officer (CTO), part of whose remit will be to work with the investment team to develop technology solutions that support investment decision-making.
Australia's Blue Sky raises $78m
Australia-listed private equity firm Blue Sky Alternative Investments has raised A$100 million ($78 million) through the sale of new shares.
LPs open-minded on multi-product managers - AVCJ Forum
The perception that private equity firms introducing additional strategies will boost their fee income but at the expense of overall returns is unfounded, provided expansion is conducted thoughtfully and alignment of interest is maintained.
TA Associates completes exit from Australia's SpeedCast
TA Associates has made a full exit from SpeedCast, the satellite telecommunications provider it acquired in 2012 and listed in Australia two years later.
Future Fund seeks Australia venture capital exposure
Australia’s Future Fund is close to making its first commitment to a local venture capital manager as part of ongoing efforts to take advantage of technological disruption in the global economy.
LP interview: Ngai Tahu Holdings
Ngai Tahu Holdings is the flagbearer for a rising LP base representing New Zealand’s native peoples. Few private equity players contemplate such lengthy histories and outlooks
Cerberus buys Bluestone’s Australasia operations
Cerberus Capital Management has agreed to acquire the Australasian division of international financial services company Bluestone Group in an all-cash transaction. It will facilitate an exit for a PE unit of Lloyds Bank.
New Zealand’s Maori to gain prominence in private equity
New Zealand’s indigenous Maori tribes, also known as iwi groups, are set to accelerate their growing exposure to local private equity in the form of LP contributions, according to industry participants.
NAB Ventures backs $7m round for Australia's BrickX
NAB Ventures, a unit of National Australia Bank (NAB), has joined a A$9 million ($7 million) Series A funding round for BrickX, a domestic financial technology start-up focused on the real estate sector.
Australia’s Foundry invests in Welleco
The Foundry, a private equity firm launched by executives from vitamin producer Swisse Wellness, has acquired a 25% stake in Welleco, a dietary supplement maker co-founded by supermodel Elle Macpherson (pictured).