Australia
Investors eye Australian engineering carve-out
Australia-listed engineering firm UGL is weighing offers for its property service unit DTZ, just over two years after it bought the UK business from administrators in a GBP77.5 million (A$129.5 million) deal.
Israeli crowdfunding platform launches in Australia
OurCrowd, an Israeli equity crowd-funding platform set up by serial entrepreneur Jon Medved, has established operations in Australia.
Quadrant exits Australia, New Zealand home equity release assets
Quadrant Private Equity has agreed to sell Seniors Money International’s (SMI) New Zealand and Australian home equity release mortgage businesses to New Zealand’s Heartland Bank for NZ$87 million ($72.8 million).
Ex-PEP executive to lead Social Ventures Australia
Rob Koczkar, formerly a managing director at Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), has been appointed CEO of Social Ventures Australia (SVA), a non-profit organization that makes strategic investments designed to generate education and employment opportunities...
Adveq in $200m Australia almonds play
Adveq’s real assets division has completed the purchase of 18,000 hectares of almond orchards in Australia for A$211 million ($200 million) from commodities conglomerate Olam International. Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan and Danica...
Catalyst completes cool exit
Throughout last year's election campaign, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott pledged to repeal the country’s carbon tax on taking office. Five months on, he has yet to do it and the debate rumbles on as to whether the drop in emissions – 0.3% for the...
Sunsuper acquires remaining holiday parks stake, PE exits
Sunsuper, the Australian superannuation fund, has acquired control of Discovery Holiday Parks, paving an exit for Next Capital, Allegro Funds and Macquarie Funds. The deal, which values the asset at A$240 million ($215 million), will see Sunsuper raise...
Halifax-backed Envision Pharma acquires Australia's ProScribe
Envision Pharma Group, a scientific communication company backed by US-based private equity firm The Halifax Group, has acquired Australian medical writing firm ProSribe in a move to expand its Asian footprint.
Australia's Catalyst secures $245m Actrol trade sale
Catalyst Investment Managers has exited Actrol Group, a components and systems supplier to the heating, ventilation and refrigeration industry, to Reece Australia for A$280 million ($245 million).
GIC, Macquarie invest in Australian student accommodation
GIC Private and Macquarie Capital have formed a joint venture to acquire a majority stake in Australian student accommodation operator Iglu.
TPG, Carlyle assess exit options for Australia's Healthscope
Healthscope, an Australian hospital operator owned by TPG Capital and The Carlyle Group, looks set for an IPO that could generate proceeds of around A$4 billion ($3.5 billion).
Tempting offers: Australian IPOs
Following a prolonged drought, Australia has seen a recent spike in private equity-backed IPOs. Is this a flash in the pan or are public market exits on the cusp of a sustained comeback?
CHAMP Ventures plans IPO for SG Fleet
CHAMP Ventures is seeking to exit its 42% stake in Australian vehicle leasing and fleet management business SG Fleet Holdings by way of an IPO on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
ASA calls for Billabong delay over Oaktree, Centerbridge deal
The Australian Shareholders Association (ASA) has called on Australian surf wear company Billabong International to delay a shareholder vote on a decision that could give PE creditors Oaktree Capital Management and Centerbridge Partners as much as 40.8%...
Technology Crossover Ventures leads Series B for Australia's Siteminder
Australian hotel booking start-up SiteMinder has raised $30 million in funding led by Palo Alto-based Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV).
Q&A: Wolseley Private Equity's Richard Burrows
While other Australian GPs have moved on to larger transactions, Wolseley Private Equity remains resolutely lower mid-market. Richard Burrows, a director at the firm, explains why
4Q analysis: IPO awakening
Public market offerings return, or at least expectations of them; pan-regional players shore up weak fundraising market; growth deals to the fore as buyouts recede
KKR backs FIWA acquisition of CHAMP-owned Centric Wealth
KKR’s credit unit, KKR Asset Management, is partnering with Australia’s Financial Index Wealth Accountants (FIWA) in its takeover bid for CHAMP Private Equity-owned high net worth financial advisory Centric Wealth. KKR will provide acquisition funding...
Platinum buys Australia directories business Sensis
US private equity firm Platinum Equity has reached an agreement with Telstra Corporation, Australia's biggest phone company, to acquire a 70% stake in its directories business Sensis for A$454 million ($407.17 million).
Value Creation: Shock and awe?
Asian GPs are building up their operational resources to support portfolio companies, but the true value of expertise is knowing when and where to make influence count
Blackstone names Carnegie Australia PE head
The Blackstone Group has appointed James Carnegie as a senior managing director in its Sydney office from where he is expected to lead private equity activities in Australia.
Australia's Anacacia backs Yumi's Quality Foods
Anacacia Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in Australian snacks company Yumi's Quality Foods.
Crescent-owned insurer shares down 12.5% after Australian IPO
Shares in Crescent Capital Partners-owned Cover-More Group opened down 12.5% today following the travel insurer's A$521 million ($460 million) IPO on Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
Anacacia completes two deals in health and education
Australian private equity firm Anacacia Capital has completed two new acquisitions in the health and education sectors: healthcare equipment manufacturer Oxford Group and Careers Training Group - formed as a merger between vocational training firms Selmar...