Australasia
CalSTRS commits $500m to IFM’s infrastructure fund
California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) has committed $500 million to Australia-based fund-of-funds Industry Funds Management (IFM). The capital will be placed in the firm’s Global Infrastructure Fund, which principally targets assets...
PEP conducts due diligence on Spotless
Australia’s Spotless Group has done an about-turn and allowed Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) to conduct due diligence into the cleaning services company. This comes despite the firm previously saying it would only open its books to PEP if it increased...
Ironbridge mulls IES SBO
Ironbridge Capital is reportedly among the private equity suitors looking to participate in the secondary buyout of CHAMP Private Equity’s International Energy Services (IES).
TPG eyes PacBrands takeover
TPG and a syndicate of banks are reportedly preparing a takeover bid for listed Australian clothing and related consumer brands wholesaler Pacific Brands (PacBrands).
Wolseley exits Freshmax to Maui Capital
Wolseley Private Equity has fully exited Australian fruit and vegetables supplier Freshmax through a secondary sale to Maui Capital, an Auckland-based private equity firm. The deal closed before the end of 2011, giving Wolseley enough time to return money...
Carlyle promotes three Asia professionals to MD level
The Carlyle Group has named 13 new managing directors, including Hiroyuki Otsuka in Tokyo, Matthew Hunter in Sydney and Wayne Bannon in Hong Kong, as part of a raft of promotions that saw 41 professionals elevated to senior positions.
CHAMP PE-backed Accolade Wines in China acquisition
Accolade Wines, a portfolio company of CHAMP Private Equity, has purchased a majority stake in Chinese wine distribution business Shanghai CWC Wine Trading. The acquisition is intended to serve as a platform for Accolade’s expansion into the fast-growing...
Norton Rose Australia PE head joins Sparke Helmore
Nick Humphrey, former head of private equity for Norton Rose Australia, has joined Sparke Helmore Lawyers as the legal firm’s national corporate practice group leader.
IPO woes: Looking for an exit
With the public markets all but closed for IPOs, what other exit routes are available to investors?
Nine Entertainment’s creditors draw up plan to push out CVC
Creditors of Australia’s Nine Entertainment have put together a proposal to convert their debt to equity which would wipe out the majority of current owner CVC Capital Partners’ interest in the firm. Hedge funds Oaktree Capital and Apollo Global Management...
CHAMP PE in exclusive talks for VIP Petfoods – report
CHAMP Private Equity has won exclusivity on the sale process of VIP Petfoods, Australia’s largest producer of fresh chilled pet food for dogs and cats, the Australian Financial Review reported. The deal under discussion could reach the high A$300 millions.
Apollo joins Carlyle in $2b race for Brambles Recall unit
Three buyout firms, including Apollo Global Management, have joined The Carlyle Group in making bids worth more than $2 billion for Recall, the document management business of Australian firm Brambles.
SCF and Vibernum in Vautron buyout
US private equity firm SCF Partners and Australia’s Viburnum Funds have acquired a majority stake in the newly created Vautron Group as part of a buyout transaction.
PEP to stick with $730m offer for Spotless
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) said its $730 million bid is a compelling offer for Spotless Group, in a move which appears to rebuff the cleaning services company’s demand for a higher price.
KKR in takeover bid for Australia’s PacBrands
KKR has launched an unsolicited takeover bid for listed Australian clothing and related consumer brands wholesaler Pacific Brands (PacBrands).
Catalyst could sell Aperio for $256m by February
Catalyst Investment Managers could complete the sale of its packaging business Aperio Group to a trade buyer by February, according to a source.
Sabre sells Australia’s Fudge hair care to PZ Cussons
Sabre has sold Australia’s Fudge hair care brand to PZ Cussons, the company behind Imperial Leather Soap, for GBP25.5 million ($39.5 million). The acquisition is intended to increase PZ Cussons’ exposure to the male grooming sector. Its product portfolio...
Carlyle shortlisted for Brambles Recall unit - report
The Carlyle Group has reportedly been shortlisted as a potential suitor for Recall, the document management business put on the block by Australia’s Brambles last spring.
Archer secures $1.5b for fifth fund
Projections for Archer Capital's fifth fund continued to increase even as the capital-raising environment in Australia got tougher. A target of A$1.2 billion ($1.2 billion) soon became A$1.4 billion and finally A$1.5 billion, which is where it closed...
India’s GVK to sell minority stake in Australian business
GVK Power & Infrastructure plans to sell a minority stake in its Australian unit in order to retire debts and fund operations. Private equity investors and strategic partners, working independently or in tandem, are seen as likely buyers.
PE firm approaches Australia's PaperlinX
An unnamed private equity house has made a takeover bid for listed Australian paper manufacturer PaperlinX.
MediaWorks is latest Oz debt-to-equity target
The phenomenon is known as “loan to own.” Investors buy up companies’ debt on the secondary market and negotiate with the boards to secure what are in effect controlling positions.
Archer Capital closes fifth fund at $1.5b
Australia’s Archer Capital has closed its fifth fund at A$1.5 billion ($1.52 billion), having spent less than four months in the market. The vehicle, which counts domestic and international institutions among its investors, was significantly oversubscribed.
Arctic-backed Living & Leisure receives $244m takeover bid
Living & Leisure Australia Group (LLA), the tourist attractions operator part-owned by Arctic Capital, has received a A$244 million ($244 million) takeover bid from private equity-backed Merlin Entertainments.