Australia
Australia’s PEP reaches $1b first close on Fund V
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has reached a first close of just under A$1.1 billion ($1 billion) on its fifth fund. The Australian GP is targeting A$2 billion in core equity, which will be supplemented by co-investment from a handful of sophisticated...
Insight Venture commits $250m to Australia's Campaign Monitor
Insight Venture Partners has invested $250 million in Campaign Monitor, an Australian business that makes software for email-marketing campaigns.
1Q analysis: Big fish, small fish
Country fund stars, China VCs make their mark on fundraising; the trade sale spike won't be sustained and the IPO surge may falter too; South Korean buyouts continue to create headlines
Australia's PE-backed IPOs outperform wider market - study
Private equity-backed IPOs in Australia have out-performed comparable non PE-backed listings over both short- and long-term horizons, according to a new study.
Blue Star on consolidation path
It is difficult to capture the scale of Australia’s printing industry given the amount of activity that takes place outside of the traditional silos. The data points highlighted by the national industry association, however, do not make for comforting...
Standard Chartered backs Australia-listed manganese miner
Standard Chartered Principal Finance has provided a $50 million debt financing package for OM Holdings (OMH), an Australian Securities Exchange-listed mining company, and several of its affiliates.
Wolseley's Blue Star targets Australia printing consolidation
Blue Star Group, an Australian printing and communications specialist owned by Wolseley Private Equity, has agreed to merge with Independent Print Media Group (IPMG) to form the country’s largest printing company.
EQT scans I-Med opportunity
When EQT made its first move to acquire Australian radiology provider I-Med, the first challenge was to build trust with the company’s management. The business had already been through a number of financial investors’ hands and it had not been an...
A tale of two markets
“The IPO market around the world is inherently a cyclical entity and it is unwise and unrealistic to expect it to always be open,” H. Chin Chou, CEO of Morgan Stanley PE Asia, told an AVCJ webinar last year. “At some point the market will come back...
PEP, Unitas file counter claim over Independent Liquor sale
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital have filed a cross claim against two senior Asahi executives in Australasia regarding their involvement in the Japanese company’s purchase of Independent Liquor from the private equity firms in 2011.
CHAMP PE gets GE financing for Accolade Wines expansion
CHAMP Private Equity has secured $300 million in cross-border financing from GE Capital International for Accolade Wines, the firm behind mass-market brands such as Hardys and Banrock Station.
EQT confirms acquisition of Australia's I-Med
EQT Partners has confirmed its acquisition of Australian radiology provider I-Med Network Radiology alongside Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec of Canada and Singapore's GIC Private.
Australia’s Ironbridge drops staple from LP secondary exit deal
Ironbridge Capital has dropped its proposed stapled secondary transaction that would have allowed investors to exit or rollover their positions into a new vehicle with the option of making a commitment to a new primary fund. AVCJ understands the deal...
Kerogen enters PNG LNG space
Seven years after ExxonMobil began its feasibility study on commercializing gas resources in Papua New Guinea (PNG) through liquefied natural gas (LNG), the PNG LNG Project is poised to start delivering on its promise.
Macquarie to sell PE funds management unit - update
Michael Lukin, managing director at Macquarie Investment Management Private Markets, has confirmed that management will spin-out the unit from parent company Macquarie Group.
Kerogen makes Asia oil and gas play, eyes Fund II
Kerogen Capital has invested A$30 million ($27 million) in Twinza Oil, which has oil and gas interests in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Thailand. The energy-focused GP is also said to be preparing to launch its next fund later in the year.
TPG eyes quick return from Inghams property sale
TPG Capital is planning to sell a portfolio of real estate assets held by Inghams Enterprises that could more than cover the equity commitment it made when buying the Australian poultry producer last year.
Australia's CHAMP PE seeks London listing for Shelf Drilling
Shelf Drilling, a shallow water drilling services company set up by Australia’s CHAMP Private Equity in conjunction with its US affiliate Castle Harlan and Lime Rock Partners, plans to list on the London Stock Exchange in May.
Blackbird set for $22m close on Australia VC fund
Australian VC firm Blackbird Ventures will reach a final close on its debut fund by the end of April with around A$25 million ($22.7 million) in capital commitments. There will be approximately 90 LPs, predominantly the founders of Australian tech start-ups...
Australian LPs still struggling with co-investment - AVCJ Forum
Australian LPs are increasingly keen on direct investment for the most part alongside portfolio GPs but not all groups are able to build and retain the resources required to participate effectively.
KKR expands energy & infrastructure team into Asia
KKR has further bolstered its energy and infrastructure presence in Asia, appointing Tony Schultz as managing director in Sydney and relocating Ash Upadhyaya -a director with KKR's energy and infrastructure team in the US - to Singapore.
Australian super funds warn of regulatory impact on PE - AVCJ Forum
Australian superannuation funds that are not facing imminent payout deadlines remain committed to private equity, although managers say the more complex regulatory environment can hinder their approach to the asset class.
A story that sells
One of the observation's made in last week's Australia-themed viewpoint was that private equity fundraising tanked in 2013, although there was a caveat.
QIC PE unit invests in Australian building contractor
Australia’s QIC has bought a minority stake in Queensland-based Ostwald Construction Materials (OCM), the quarry and concrete solutions arm of Ostwald Bros. QIC acted through its private equity unit.