Australasia
APN agrees to exit advertising JV to Quadrant
APN News & Media has agreed to exit its interest in advertising business APN Outdoor to joint venture partner Quadrant Private Equity for A$69 million ($66.5 million).
PE-backed Nine raises $577m in Australia IPO
Australia's Nine Entertainment - which was saved from receivership by US hedge fund backers Oaktree Capital Group and Apollo Global Management - has raised A$631 million ($576.45 million) after pricing its IPO at the bottom end of the indicative range....
Anchorage-backed Dick Smith closes flat after $311m IPO
Shares in Australian electronics retailer Dick Smith Holdings, which is backed by Anchorage Capital Partners, gained 3.6% on their trading debut on Wednesday before settling back to A$2.20, the same as the IPO price. The offering earlier raised A$344.5...
Online fashion retailers Zalora, The Iconic raise $112m
Rocket Internet’s Zalora Group has raised $112 million in funding from US-based Access Industries, Scopia Capital Management and other unnamed institutional investors. Southeast Asia-focused Zalora.com and Australia’s The Iconic are part of Zalora Group....
Crescent-owned travel insurer to raise $475m in Australia IPO
Crescent Capital Partners-owned travel insurer Cover-More Group is targeting a A$521.2 million ($475 million) IPO on the Australian Securities Exchange.
L Capital acquire 40% of 2XU, Lazard sees 2x multiple
L Capital, the private equity firm backed by luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, has acquired a 40% stake of 2XU, an Australian sports apparel brand, for a reported A$75 million ($68.3 million). The transaction represents a partial exit for previous backers...
Blackbird leads round for Australian bitcoin start-up
Blackbird Ventures has invested A$250,000 ($227,645) to lead a A$500,000 round of funding for Melbourne-based CoinJar, a bitcoin wallet and exchange provider. Angel investors in the round include RetailMeNot founders Guy King and Bevan Clark and game...
Archer consortium scraps bid for NZ's Abano Healthcare
A consortium of investors including Archer Capital has scrapped its bid for New Zealand's Abano Healthcare Group. The group, which also featured Healthcare Industry Limited (HIL) and Steamboat Capital, cited a downgrade in the company's forecast profit...
AMP buys Australia schools project from RBS
AMP Capital will acquire a 100% interest in a portfolio of school buildings in Melbourne from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). The purchase is being made via the AMP Capital Community Infrastructure Fund, which invests in public-private partnership-style...
Blackstone, Carlyle to bid for Transpacific waste unit - report
The Blackstone Group and The Carlyle Group are said to be among suitors for Transpacific Industries Group's New Zealand waste management unit, with first round bids expected by December 6. Japan's Orix Corp. and New Zealand infrastructure investor Infratil...
Australia's Ansell buys PE-backed glove maker for $615m
US-based Odyssey Investment Partners has agreed to sell BarrierSafe Solutions International, a provider of disposable gloves, to Ansell for approximately $615 million.
KKR-owned Bis Industries acquires Powertrans for $27m
KKR-held Australian mining logistics company Bis Industries is to acquire mining haulage systems operator Powertrans for A$30 million ($27.46 million).
Providence-owned Study Group buys Australian college
Study Group, an education services provider owned by Providence Equity Partners, has acquired ANU College from Australian National University. Financial details were not disclosed.
Australian Tax Office warns foreign investors on compliance
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has written to 130 private equity firms offering to “assist with their compliance” as it scrutinizes the pipeline of upcoming IPOs to ensure foreign investors don’t avoid paying local tax.
Australia's HighPoint Capital invests in Brand New Media
HighPoint Capital has acquired a significant minority shareholding in Brand New Media (BNM), a Sydney-headquartered business that runs digital channels for brands and broadcasters. Its partners include Seven West Media in Australia, New Zealand’s national...
Oaktree ups stake in New Zealand's MediaWorks
Oaktree Capital has increased its stake in New Zealand broadcaster MediaWorks to 43%, after acquiring a 14.6% stake from Dutch lender Rabobank. The transaction took place the same day lenders completed their recapitalization of MediaWorks, reducing its...
Australia's PEP sells Link stake to Macquarie, ICG - report
Australia’s Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has reportedly sold a 25% stake in share registry and superannuation administration services provider Link Group to Macquarie Group and Intermediate Capital Group for around A$200 million ($187 million).
Starfish invests another $2.8m in Australia's DesignCrowd
Crowdsourced design marketplace DesignCrowd (DC) has raised another A$3 million ($2.8 million) from Starfish Ventures to expand into new markets.
KPMG's Australia PE head switches to Singapore role
Andrew Thompson, head of private equity at KPMG Australia, is relocating to Singapore where he will take up a Southeast Asia-focused position with the firm.
CHAMP-owned Accolade to acquire NZ wine brands
Accolade Wines, a winemaker owned by Australia's CHAMP Private Equity, has agreed to acquire a portfolio of wine brands from New Zealand counterpart Mud House Wine Group.
VC fundraising: Where angels flock
Venture capital fundraising has become difficult for all but the select few in Asia as LPs concentrate their resources on established names. Where will replacement investors come from?
Fundraising and pension reform: A slow-burn issue
Defined benefit public pension plans are one of PE’s biggest bank rollers, so the rise in defined contribution plans – that tend to favor liquid assets – is a long-term concern. There must be compromise on both sides
KKR targets $474m Bis Industries IPO – report
KKR is reportedly planning a December IPO for Australian mining logistics company Bis Industries, with marketing to institutional investors to begin this week.
Apollo, Oaktree-owned Nine Entertainment targets $658m IPO
Australian TV network Nine Entertainment - which is backed by US hedge funds Oaktree Capital Group and Apollo Global Management - is looking to raise up to A$697 million ($658 million) in its IPO set for December. The capital raised will be use to pay...