Australasia
Blue Sky reaches $11.5m first close on Australia VC fund
Australia-based alternatives investor Blue Sky has reached a first close of A$15 million ($11.5 million) on its second venture capital fund. The vehicle has a full target of A$30 million.
Australia's Crescent to buy Healthscope pathology business
Crescent Capital Partners has agreed to acquire the Australian pathology operations of Healthscope for A$105 million ($80.8 million).
Australia's Anacacia takes majority stake in LED business
Anacacia Capital has acquired a majority stake in Australian lighting business LEDified Lighting Corporation for an undisclosed sum.
Tembusu invests $10m in New Zealand’s CricHQ
Singapore-based GP Tembusu Partners has committed $10 million to New Zealand’s CricHQ, a cricket-focused digital platform used by the sport’s administrative bodies as well as by clubs and fans.
Archer buys Dun & Bradstreet's Australasia credit-checking unit
Archer Capital has agreed to buy Dun & Bradstreet’s (D&B) Australia and New Zealand-based credit data business for A$220 million ($170 million).
Australia's MLC to open US office
MLC Private Equity, which is part of National Australia Bank's wealth management division, will open an office in New York to cover investment opportunities in North America and Latin America.
Australian former mining boss to launch resources fund
Hugh Morgan, the former chief executive of Australia's Western Mining Corporation, is looking to launch a new resources-focused fund.
Deal focus: Quadrant makes another premium pet play
Quadrant Private Equity's last foray into pet services was relatively short-lived. It bought City Farmers for A$93 million ($84 million) in September 2013 and within 10 months had agreed to sell the business to Greencross for A$205 million in cash and...
China’s Wanda Cinema Line confirms Hoyts acquisition
Wanda Cinema Line Corp, a subsidiary of Chinese property developer Dalian Wanda Group, has confirmed the acquisition of Australian cinema operator Hoyts Group from Pacific Equity Partners (PEP).
Quadrant buys Australia's VIP Petfoods for $313m
Quadrant Private Equity has agreed to acquire Australia-based VIP Petfoods, the world’s largest producer of fresh chilled pet food, for A$410 million ($313 million).
PE-backed SSI to acquire Australia, New Zealand marketing firms
Survey Sampling International (SSI), a US-based market research company backed by Palo-Alto PE firm HGGC, will acquire online research panels MyOpinions, of Australia, and SmileCity Limited, of New Zealand.
Institutional investors: Join the club
Tales of large pension funds and sovereign wealth funds gathering in five-star hotels to map out their ultimate dominance of private equity are legion, if perhaps overblown.
CalPERS, QIC agree $764m Asia infrastructure partnership
Australia-based QIC has teamed up with California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to create a A$1 billion ($764 million) Asia-Pacific focused infrastructure partnership.
Australia's PE Gateway Group backs messaging service
Australia-based Private Equity Gateway Group (PEGG) has invested in U&Me Communication, a subsidiary of Malaysia’s OM Technology that has developed a mobile messaging platform.
Macquarie consortium to buy Australia telecom tower business
A consortium led by Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets (MIRA) has agreed to buy Crown Castle International’s Australia telecom towers business for A$2 billion ($1.6 billion) in cash.
Venture to benefit from Australia investor visa reforms
The Australian government has finalized changes to its significant investor visa (SIV) program, which will see more capital funneled into domestic venture capital.
PAG targets $3b for second Asia fund
PAG Asia Capital has launched its second pan-regional fund and is looking to raise $3 billion. The GP, which is led by Weijian Shan, formerly of TPG Capital, closed its maiden fund at $2.5 billion in 2012.
EMR serves as cornerstone for Highfield Resources placement
Australian resources-focused investor EMR Capital has served as cornerstone investor for listed mining company Highfield Resources' A$120 million ($101 million) share placement.
Australia backs crowdfunding scheme, offers start-up tax breaks
The Australian government has allocated A$7.8 million ($6.2 million) to develop crowd-sourced equity funding (CSEF) and offered tax breaks for start-ups in its latest federal budget.
Deal focus: Canva’s simple design wins VC support
When Australian entrepreneur Melanie Perkins taught design in schools, she noticed that students struggled when using traditional software such as Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. Clearly there could be a simpler solution.
Australia's Tank Stream raises $15.8m to back start-ups
Australia's Tank Stream Ventures has raised a A$20 million ($15.8 million) fund to invest in local tech start-ups.
TPG, PAG-owned DTZ to buy Cushman & Wakefield for $2b
DTZ, a property services provider owned by TPG Capital, PAG Asia Capital and co-investor Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), has agreed to buy industry peer Cushman & Wakefield for an enterprise value of $2 billion.
Babson closes Asia mezzanine fund at $177m
Babson Capital Management has reached a final close of $177.2 million on its latest Asia-focused mezzanine fund.
Quadrant exits New Zealand lender Heartland
Quadrant Private Equity has exited Heartland New Zealand, selling its 8.75% stake in the lender for NZ$53.5 million ($40.1 million) through a block trade.