Australasia
Australian state launches $200m cleantech program
The Australian government has launched a $200 million merit-based grants program designed to encourage businesses to find innovative ways of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Crescent Capital offers $225m for Australia's ClearView Wealth
Crescent Capital Partners has made a A$220 million ($225 million) takeover bid for Australian financial services company ClearView Wealth. Guinness Peat Group, which owns 47.8% of ClearView, said the offer was wholly inadequate and didn’t reflect the...
J.P. Morgan's Australia natural resources head to join PE firm
The head of J.P. Morgan’s Australia natural resources and infrastructure division, Alan Young, is leaving to join private equity firm Prostar Capital, a start-up private equity firm. He will remain with the investment bank until the end of the year.
PEP buys Nestle’s ice cream business
Australian private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has bought the Peters Ice Cream unit of Swiss food giant Nestle.
Advent Private secures GenesisCare exit through KKR buyout
KKR’s recent buyout of Australian healthcare firm GenesisCare secured an exit for mid-market investor Advent Private Capital. The domestic GP described the exit, which comes after a holding period of just three years, as “highly successful.”
Q&A: Pacific Equity Partners' Tim Sims
Tim Sims, co-founder and managing director of Pacific Equity Partners, argues that Australia’s strong fundamentals make it an attractive market for buyouts, while perceptions of an over-reliance on China are misplaced
Gresham in talks to sell Witchery to Country Road
Australia-listed fashion and homeware retailer Country Road has confirmed it is in talks with Gresham Private Equity about the potential acquisition of clothing brands Witchery and Mimco.
Anacacia Fund II reaches $75m first close
Australia’s Anacacia Capital has completed the first close of its Anacacia Fund II at $75 million within weeks of opening, raising 50% more than its original target. Superannuation funds, fund of funds and family offices from Australia and overseas...
Australia's Hastings raises $626m for infrastructure fund
Hastings Funds Management announced that its Utilities Trust of Australia (UTA) has reached a first close on its infrastructure fund with commitments of A$610 million ($626 million). The amount is in line with expectations outlined in January 2012 and...
EB Private Equity abandons David Jones takeover bid
Little-known UK-based investor EB Private Equity has withdrawn its takeover bid for David Jones, Australia’s second-largest department store chain. The group initially submitted an offer of A$1.52 billion ($1.55 billion) in May and later increased it...
CHAMP Ventures closes seventh fund at $483m
Australian GP CHAMP Ventures has closed its latest fund at A$475 million ($483 million) despite a challenging fundraising environment. The vehicle, which launched in August 2010, was oversubscribed, having initially targeted A$450 million.
Sprint Capital backs Australian coal miner
Sprint Capital has invested A$36 million ($36.4 million) for a 25% stake in Australian mining company Stanmore Coal. Capital from the Hong Kong-based private equity firm, which specializes in mining and natural resources sector transactions, will go towards...
Herbert Smith, Freehills announce merger
International law firms Herbert Smith and Freehills have announced they will merge to become the largest fully integrated law firm in Asia Pacific.
KKR takes majority stake in Australia’s GenesisCare
KKR has picked up a 63% interest in Australia’s GenesisCare, which provides services to patients with cancer and cardiovascular disease. It represents the latest in a string of healthcare sector deals by private equity firms, with TPG Capital and The...
New Zealand’s MOVAC closes third fund at $33m
New Zealand-based early-stage investor MOVAC has raised NZ$42 million ($33.2 million) for its third fund. It will invest sums of NZ$1-5 million in local companies with an established track record that require growth capital.
Billabong poised for takeover as share price tumbles
Australian surfwear retailer Billabong International saw its stock slump 36% when it resumed trading on Monday following a heavily discounted $225 million rights issue. The company is now worth less than one third of the value of TPG Capital’s A$841...
Carlyle seeks $1.9b Coates Hire refinancing
The Carlyle Group is in negotiations with banks to refinance the A$1.9 billion ($1.9 billion) in leverage used to purchase Australian equipment hire company Coates Hire.
KKR puts Bis Industries on the block
KKR has put its mining services and logistics business Bis Industries on the block. The Australian company has been valued at around $1.8 billion including debt.
PE-backed M&A picks up in second quarter
Private equity-backed M&A in Asia Pacific recovered during the second quarter of 2012, as deal value increased 32.9% to $5 billion from last quarter. This comes after consecutive quarterly decline since the start of 2011.
Singtel Innov8, Optus launch Australia start-ups program
SingTel Innov8, the venture capital arm of SingTel, has teamed up with Australian telco Optus to start a seed program to help Australian digital startups grow and expand into Asia.
Illiquidity putting Japan pension plans off PE
The liquidity constraints of negative cash flows are making private equity less attractive for Japanese defined benefit pension plans, according to a new survey.
Asiasons buys Australian pre-school show from CVC's Nine
Southeast Asian private equity firm Asiasons Group has acquired Australian pre-school television show Hi-5 from Nine Network Australia and Southern Star Entertainment. Nine Network is owned by the debt-laden Nine Entertainment Group, which is backed by...
Australian businesses don’t trust PE – PwC survey
Only 5% of small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia that are currently seeking funding would consider private equity as a source of capital, according to a survey published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Australia’s old media: Where did it all go wrong?
Traditional media in Australia has been colonized by buyout houses since 2006, but a number of these assets are now in distress. Can private equity use this situation to its advantage?