Australia
Skybound Capital acquires Australia’s Fair Go Finance
Hong Kong-based private equity investor Skybound Capital has acquired a 60% stake in Australian online loans provider Fair Go Finance for A$20 million ($13.6 million).
Australia leveraged finance: Best blend?
Two years ago, unitranche structures were a novelty in Australia’s leveraged finance market. Now they are an integral part of it. For borrowers and lenders, there might be no turning back
Core-plus investment: Expectations game
Capital-flooded markets and rising pressures to deploy have precipitated more flexible investment strategies in private equity. GPs must be careful when crossing between asset classes
YBF Ventures, Honeywell launch real estate tech accelerator
Australia’s YBF Ventures and US conglomerate Honeywell have teamed up to launch a Sydney-based technology start-up accelerator for the real estate sector.
Affinity sells frequent flier stake back to Virgin Australia
Affinity Equity Partners has more than doubled its money on Virgin Australia’s frequent flyer business, having agreed to sell back a 35% stake to the parent company for A$700 million ($480 million).
Australia's Quadrant buys control of online beauty retailer
Quadrant Private Equity has completed the fourth investment in six months from its newly established growth fund, with the purchase of a majority interest in Australian online beauty retailer Adore Beauty.
Australian superfund consolidation to alter private markets strategies
Australia’s pension market is ripe for consolidation, which will see the emergence of a handful of mega superannuation funds that leverage their scale to bring more investment activity in-house, according to leading industry participants.
Future Fund stresses risk-reward balance in private market strategies
Institutional investors “should be thoughtful about balancing risk and reward” as they deploy more capital into private markets that present liquidity and valuation challenges, according to the deputy CIO of Australia’s Future Fund.
Quadrant to acquire Australia's Love To Dream
Australia’s Quadrant Private Equity has agreed to acquire a majority interest Love To Dream, a domestic baby care brand focused on swaddles and sleepwear.
QIC to acquire Australian marine logistics player
Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) has agreed to acquire 100% of Australian marine logistics provider Sea Swift, facilitating exits for CHAMP Ventures and HarbourVest Partners.
Sequoia leads $82m Series E for Australia’s Culture Amp
Sequoia Capital China has led an $82 million Series E round for Culture Amp, an Australian enterprise technology provider focused on human resources (HR).
CDPQ joins Brookfield buyout of Australia's Healthscope
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has agreed to join Brookfield Asset Management in its buyout of Australian hospital operator Healthscope, taking a significant minority stake for a consideration of more than A$300 million ($202 million).
Australia’s CHAMP PE rebrands as CPE Capital
CHAMP Private Equity, which makes growth and buyout investments in middle-market companies across Australia and New Zealand, has been renamed CPE Capital.
Australia's Future Fund hires TPG executive
Future Fund has appointed Sid Khotkar, who has spent the past 12 years working for TPG Capital in Australia, as a director in its private equity team.
Cerberus to assume control of Australia's Axsesstoday
Cerberus Capital Management has agreed to acquire the operating assets of bankrupt Australian equipment finance specialist Axsesstoday.
Sovereign investors and technology: Smart nations
Conservative sovereign wealth investors are increasingly comfortable making direct commitments to venture-oriented technology companies. The strategy appears to suit them but remains to be validated
Australia's PE-backed LBNCo acquired by strategic player
LBNCo, an Australian fiber optic network provider acquired last year by a consortium led by ROC Partners, will be sold to industry peer Uniti Wireless for A$100 million ($67.7 million).
PEP to acquire APAC business of US-based Horizon
Australia’s Private Equity Partners (PEP) has agreed to pay A$340 million ($230 million) for the Asia Pacific division of US automotive industry equipment supplier Horizon Global.
Bain to acquire Kantar Australia division for $114m
Bain Capital has agreed to buy the Australia and New Zealand businesses of market research and consulting company Kantar from the local branch of UK-based media conglomerate WPP Group for A$168 million ($114 million).
Partners Group invests Australian wind farm
Partners Group has made an investment of undisclosed size in an Australian wind power project. It is the firm’s fourth wind farm investment in the country in three years.
Australia's SpeeDx raises $15m from US-based Northpond
SpeeDx, an Australian developer of molecular diagnostics solutions, has raised $15 million from US-based VC firm Northpond Ventures across two tranches.
Macquarie buys Australia cotton farm stake from Chinese strategic
Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) has acquired a 49% stake in Australia’s largest cotton farm, Cubbie Station, primarily from Chinese fabrics maker Shandong Ruyi.
Pemba exit from Australia's Coverforce challenged by founder
Australian insurance broker network AUB Group has agreed to buy a 49% stake in Coverforce Holdings from Pemba Capital Partners with a view to taking full ownership, but the company’s founder is seeking to block the transaction.
KKR buys Australian biscuit business Arnott's for $2.2b
KKR has agreed to buy a portfolio of Asian assets – the most significant of which is Australian biscuit brand Arnott’s – from US-listed food multinational Campbell Soup for an enterprise valuation of $2.2 billion.