Australasia
Affinity invests $314m in Virgin Australia frequent flyer business
Affinity Equity Partners will pay A$336 million ($314 million) for a 35% interest in Virgin Australia’s frequent flyer program in a move that allows the airline to shore up its balance sheet.
Fonterra to invest in PE-backed Chinese dairy firm
New Zealand dairy group Fonterra has agreed to acquire up to 20% of Beingmate Baby & Child Food, a PE-backed Chinese milk processor, for NZ$615 million ($515 million).
Australia's UOW launches $9m seed fund
Australia's University of Wollongong (UOW) has launched a A$10 million ($9 million) seed fund to support domestic start-ups.
Real assets not overpriced, if you know where to look - AVCJ Forum
There is no shortage of high-quality real assets available to private markets investors despite rising prices in certain areas, industry participants told the AVCJ Real Assets Forum. The onus is on investors to look beyond the obvious.
Australia's PEP in $541m partial exit from Veda
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has exited half its stake in credit-checking firm Veda Group in a deal worth around A$580 million ($541 million).
Resource Capital invests $3m in Australia's MZI Resources
Mining-focused private equity firm Resource Capital Funds (RCF) has invested $3 million in Australian Securities Exchange-listed mineral sands explorer MZI Resources after agreeing to add to an existing short-term loan facility of $4.5 million.
Advent supports Australia radiology merger
Advent Private Capital has created the fourth-largest radiology group in Australia by bringing together two independent diagnostics businesses, Lake Imaging and South Coast Radiology.
NZVIF, Taiwan NDF reach $75m first close on VC fund
The first VC fund to be supported by a co-investment partnership between New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) and Taiwan's National Development Fund (NDF) has reached a $75 million first close.
Australia infrastructure: Ideal owners
Australian pension funds are keen to invest in a raft of infrastructure privatizations, with some of the proceeds earmarked for new projects. But more can be done to get long-term capital into greenfield infrastructure
Pension funds in infrastructure: Ideal owners
Australian pension funds are keen to invest in a raft of infrastructure privatizations, with some of the proceeds earmarked for new projects. But more can be done to get long-term capital into greenfield infrastructure
KKR enters Australia real estate market
KKR and Australia Securities Exchange-listed Abacus Property Group have together agreed to buy a majority stake in three office towers that form part of Melbourne’s World Trade Centre (WTC) for A$120.4 million ($112.3 million).
TA makes partial exit as Speedcast IPO raises $139m
Satellite telecom provider SpeedCast is trading at a modest premium to its IPO price following an offering that raised A$150 million ($139 million) on the Australian Securities Exchange and facilitated a partial exit for TA Associates.
Next Capital exits NZ bus operator to Maori funds
Next Capital has agreed to sell New Zealand bus operator Go Bus to Maori investment funds Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation (NTHC) and Tainui Group Holdings (TGH).
Australia's Treasury Wines receives competing buyout offer
Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has received a buyout offer from TPG Capital that values the company at A$3.37 billion ($3.15 billion), matching a revised bid submitted by KKR and Rhône Capital last week.
KKR, Rhône make renewed $3.15b offer for Australia wine-maker
KKR, together with Rhône Capital, has made a revised A$3.37 billion ($3.15 billion) offer to acquire Australia Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed Treasury Wine Estates.
PE-backed Metro Glass gains 5.9% on NZ debut
Shares in Metro Performance Glass - the New Zealand glassmaker whose backers include Crescent Capital, Anchorage Capital and Sankaty Advisors - gained 5.9% on its first day of trading following its NZ$244.2 million ($227 million) IPO.
PEP sees sweet exit on Griffin's Foods
When Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) first came to acquire New Zealand-based snacks producer Griffin's Food in 2006 at an enterprise valuation of NZ$385 million (then $240 million), it represented the classic carve-out opportunity. The company - famous...
Shares in PE-backed Healthscope climb 5.2% on ASX debut
Shares in Healthscope,the Australian hospital operator backed by TPG Capital and The Carlyle Group, rose 5.2% to A$2.21 at the end its first day of trading yesterday following the largest Australian IPO in four years.
NAB offloads $1b UK loan portfolio to Cerberus
The National Australia Bank (NAB) has agreed to sell a GBP625 million ($1 billion) portfolio of mostly distressed UK property loans to New York private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management.
Founders Fund, Shasta Ventures back Australia's Canva
Founders Fund and Shasta Ventures have led a $3.6 million round of funding for Canva, an Australian website that allows amateur designers to create polished web graphics using drag-and-drop tools.
PEP exits Griffin's Foods to Philippines buyer for $608m
Australian GP Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is set for its fourth full or partial exit in two months after Philippines food and beverage conglomerate Universal Robina (URC) agreed to buy Griffin’s Foods for approximately NZ$700 million ($608 million)...
Control deals cast light on Asia GPs' value creation credentials - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors are seeing more control deals in emerging Asian markets traditionally dominated by growth capital, which in turn gives LPs greater visibility as to GPs’ operational capabilities.
PE firms circle CHAMP-backed Lorna Jane - report
Bain Capital and Advent international are said to be among the potential buyers for Lorna Jane, an Australian women's fitness and leisure apparel company backed by CHAMP Ventures.
KKR, PEP to make joint bid for Australia's Sai Global - report
KKR will reportedly team up with Australian private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) to bid for risk management and standards compliance business SAI Global.