Australasia
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...
Warburg Pincus completes $540m exit from Australia's Transpacific
Warburg Pincus has exited its one third holding in Australian waste management firm Transpacific Industries Group via the public market, generating proceeds of around A$570 million ($540 million).
New Zealand, Taiwan cross-border fund ups target to $70m
A cross-border fund launched by New Zealand-based Pan Pacific Capital and Taiwan's state-run Institute for Information Industry (III) has raised its target to $70 million and is nearing a first close.
Asia real assets: Need returns, will travel
Interest in Asian real assets has surged as investors look to higher growth emerging markets for income and upside. Opportunities run from real estate to infrastructure, and in some cases offer a bit of both
Schwarzman bullish on Blackstone's Australia prospects
The Blackstone Group is looking to increase its investments in Australian real estate and private equity, according to Stephen Schwarzman, the firm’s co-founder.
KKR considers bid for Australia's Regis Aged Care - report
KKR is said to be interested in buying Macquarie Group’s take in Regis Aged Care, one of Australia's largest private senior care home operators. There is significant private equity interest in the aged care space, which is seen as ripe for consolidation.
PEP-backed Veda Advantage targets IPO
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is hoping to raise as much as A$340 million ($326 million) through a sale of new shares as it looks to launch the Australian IPO of credit-checking firm Veda Advantage this December.
Startive Ventures-backed Freelancer targets small-cap IPO
Online jobs marketplace Freelancer.com has filed for its initial public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange with a view to raising A$15 million ($14.43 million). Startive Ventures owns 42% of Freelancer, chief executive Matt Barrie has 50%...
Quadrant to buy APN's share of advertising JV for $67m
Quadrant Private Equity is set to buy joint venture partner APN News & Media's interest outdoor advertising venture APN Outdoor for A$69 million ($66.5 million).
Australia’s Future Fund hikes private equity allocation
Australia’s Future Fund increased its private equity allocation from 6.3% to 7.2% over the 12 months to September 2013 as overall assets grew to A$91.7 billion ($88.5 billion).
Quadrant eyes aged care consolidation
Quadrant Private Equity completed its exit from New Zealand retirement village operator Summerset last week but demographics remain a prominent theme in the firm’s portfolio with the acquisition of Estia Health, an Australian aged-care provider.
Quadrant plans IPO for Australia’s Burson Auto Parts – report
Quadrant Private Equity is reported to be planning an IPO of Burson Auto Parts, two years after acquiring the company.
Australia’s IFM changes name, opens Tokyo office
Industry Funds Management has changed its name to IFM Investors. The move comes shortly after the Australia-headquartered group consolidated its private equity and private assets divisions into one team and as it expands its presence in global markets,...
Quadrant exits Summerset, buys Estia Health
Quadrant Private Equity has fully exited New Zealand retirement village operator Summerset via the public market, generating an estimated return multiple of more than 3.7x. In the same week, it acquired a majority stake in Australian aged-care operator...