Australia
Anchorage wins rival's backing for buyout of Australia's Affinity
Anchorage Capital Partners has won the support of rival bidder G8 Education for its acquisition of Australian childcare business Affinity Education after submitting an improved offer.
Super funds support Blackbird's $143m Australia VC vehicle
Australia-based venture capital firm Blackbird Ventures has raised A$200 million ($143 million) for its second fund, winning support from local superannuation funds First State Super and HOSTPLUS.
Crescent submits takeover bid for Australia's Cardno
Crescent Capital Partners has submitted a takeover offer for Cardno, a listed Australian engineering company that focuses on developing physical and social infrastructure projects.
Oaktree supports bankrupt Australian surfwear brand Quiksilver
Oaktree Capital Management will contribute to a $175 million restructuring package for Australian surfwear brand Quiksilver, which has voluntarily taken its US business into bankruptcy.
Australia's Blue Sky buys stake in Origo Education
Australia-based Blue Sky Private Equity has acquired a significant minority stake in Origo Education, a mathematics tuition provider for primary school students.
CHAMP PE to make partial exit from Accolade Wines
Australia-based CHAMP Private Equity is set for a partial exit from Accolade Wines after agreeing to sell its 50% stake in UK-based drinks wholesaler Matthew Clark to Conviviality Retail, owner of a franchised off-license chain in the UK.
CHAMP PE, Sigdo Koppers pull plug on Bradken deal
CHAMP Private Equity and Chilean conglomerate Sigdo Koppers have abandoned merger discussions with struggling Australian mining industry supplier Bradken.
Australian SME lender Prospa raises $41m
Prospa, an online platform that focuses on lending to Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has raised A$60 million ($41 million) in a funding from a string of private equity firms.
Australia's Future Fund contiues to ramp up PE exposure
Australia’s Future Fund continues to boost its exposure to private equity, with 10.8% of its assets – or A$12.6 billion ($8.8 billion) – deployed in the asset class as of June 2015. This follows an increase from 7.7% to 9.5% over the course of 2014.
PEP completes exit from Australia-listed Spotless
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has completed its exit from Australian cleaning and catering contractor Spotless Group – which it privatized in 2012 and re-listed last year – through a A$374.3 million ($268.6 million) block trade.
Australia’s Anchorage agrees $150m Affinity Education deal
Anchorage Capital Partners has agreed to buy Affinity Education for A$208.3 million ($150 million) after the Australian Securities Exchange-listed company spurned a rival offer from G8 Education.
TPG’s Ben Gray to start his own PE firm
Ben Gray, managing partner at TPG Capital, is preparing to set up his own private equity firm focused on investment opportunities in Australia.
Australia’s QIC in $735m first close on global infrastructure fund
QIC, an investment manager controlled by the Queensland government, has reached a first close of more than A$1 billion ($735 million) on its global infrastructure fund. The overall target is A$1.75 billion.
Riverside invests in Australia’s IPAR Rehabilitation
The Riverside Company has acquired in IPAR Rehabilitation, an Australia-based provider of injury prevention and management and rehabilitation services that minimize the impact of workplace injury and illness.
Australia's Autopilot raises $7m round
US cloud computing firm Salesforce has a led $7 million round for Australian marketing platform Autopilot, alongside Stage1 Capital. Existing investors include Rembrandt Venture Partners, Blackbird Ventures, Southern Cross Venture Partners, Garnett Ventures...
Australia's NAB to invest $36m in fintech start-ups
National Australia Bank (NAB) will set up a A$50 million ($36 million) fund to invest in start-ups that help enhance its financial services product offerings.
Costa slips below IPO price after $401m Australia offering
Costa Group, an Australia-based fresh fruit and vegetables producer controlled by Paine & Partners, is trading below its IPO price following a $550 million ($401 million) offering.
Allegro buys controlling stake in New Zealand’s Carpet Court
Australasia distress specialist Allegro Funds has announced the third investment from its second fund with the acquisition of a controlling stake in Carpet Court, a New Zealand-based flooring retailer.
Australia’s Heron Resources gets backing from Greenstone
Mining and metals investor Greenstone Resources has committed up to A$20 million ($14.6 million) to Heron Resources, an Australia-listed company currently developing a zinc-copper project in New South Wales.
Australia's PEP to sell Energy Developments for $1.4b
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has agreed to sell Energy Developments, an Australia-based provider of distributed power to the mining industry, to utilities business Duet Group for an enterprise valuation of A$1.92 billion ($1.4 billion).
Australia's tech founder launches $37m VC fund
Victor Jiang, the founder of Australian professional services platform Skillsapien, is seeking to raise A$50 million ($37 million) for his new Sapien Ventures fund.
Australia's PE-backed Nintex acquires US-based Drawloop
Nintex Group, an Australian software provider backed by TA Associates, has agreed to acquire Drawloop Technologies, a US-based software platform that offers automated document services.
Q&A: Allegro Funds' Chester Moynihan
Australia’s Allegro Funds has been dealing in distress for 10 years – as advisor, replacement GP and now manager of its own fund. Founding partner Chester Moynihan explains how the firm’s approach has evolved
Ex-Telstra Super PE executive turns agribusiness investor
Robert Talevski, previously head of private markets portfolio manager at Telstra Super, has set up an investment firm that will source and execute deals in Australian agribusiness, taking advantage of strong cross-border demand for exposure to the space.