Australia
CHAMP-owned Accolade to acquire NZ wine brands
Accolade Wines, a winemaker owned by Australia's CHAMP Private Equity, has agreed to acquire a portfolio of wine brands from New Zealand counterpart Mud House Wine Group.
VC fundraising: Where angels flock
Venture capital fundraising has become difficult for all but the select few in Asia as LPs concentrate their resources on established names. Where will replacement investors come from?
Fundraising and pension reform: A slow-burn issue
Defined benefit public pension plans are one of PE’s biggest bank rollers, so the rise in defined contribution plans – that tend to favor liquid assets – is a long-term concern. There must be compromise on both sides
KKR targets $474m Bis Industries IPO – report
KKR is reportedly planning a December IPO for Australian mining logistics company Bis Industries, with marketing to institutional investors to begin this week.
Warburg Pincus completes $540m exit from Australia's Transpacific
Warburg Pincus has exited its one third holding in Australian waste management firm Transpacific Industries Group via the public market, generating proceeds of around A$570 million ($540 million).
Asia real assets: Need returns, will travel
Interest in Asian real assets has surged as investors look to higher growth emerging markets for income and upside. Opportunities run from real estate to infrastructure, and in some cases offer a bit of both
Schwarzman bullish on Blackstone's Australia prospects
The Blackstone Group is looking to increase its investments in Australian real estate and private equity, according to Stephen Schwarzman, the firm’s co-founder.
KKR considers bid for Australia's Regis Aged Care - report
KKR is said to be interested in buying Macquarie Group’s take in Regis Aged Care, one of Australia's largest private senior care home operators. There is significant private equity interest in the aged care space, which is seen as ripe for consolidation....
PEP-backed Veda Advantage targets IPO
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is hoping to raise as much as A$340 million ($326 million) through a sale of new shares as it looks to launch the Australian IPO of credit-checking firm Veda Advantage this December.
Startive Ventures-backed Freelancer targets small-cap IPO
Online jobs marketplace Freelancer.com has filed for its initial public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange with a view to raising A$15 million ($14.43 million). Startive Ventures owns 42% of Freelancer, chief executive Matt Barrie has 50%...
Quadrant to buy APN's share of advertising JV for $67m
Quadrant Private Equity is set to buy joint venture partner APN News & Media's interest outdoor advertising venture APN Outdoor for A$69 million ($66.5 million).
Australia's Future Fund hikes private equity allocation
Australia’s Future Fund increased its private equity allocation from 6.3% to 7.2% over the 12 months to September 2013 as overall assets grew to A$91.7 billion ($88.5 billion).
Quadrant eyes aged care consolidation
Quadrant Private Equity completed its exit from New Zealand retirement village operator Summerset last week but demographics remain a prominent theme in the firm’s portfolio with the acquisition of Estia Health, an Australian aged-care provider.
Quadrant plans IPO for Australia's Burson Auto Parts – report
Quadrant Private Equity is reported to be planning an IPO of Burson Auto Parts, two years after acquiring the company.
Australia's IFM changes name, opens Tokyo office
Industry Funds Management has changed its name to IFM Investors. The move comes shortly after the Australia-headquartered group consolidated its private equity and private assets divisions into one team and as it expands its presence in global markets,...
Quadrant exits Summerset, buys Estia Health
Quadrant Private Equity has fully exited New Zealand retirement village operator Summerset via the public market, generating an estimated return multiple of more than 3.7x. In the same week, it acquired a majority stake in Australian aged-care operator...
Blumont receives $200m injection to support Discovery Metals investment
Blumont Group has received $200 million in new funding from New York-based investment firm Platinum Partners, half of which will be used to buy convertible bonds in Australian copper miner Discovery Metals, previously a target of Chinese private equity...
Australia's CPA rejects $2.6b takeover bid from CPPIB, Dexus
The Commonwealth Property Office Fund (CPA) has rejected a A$2.7 billion ($2.6 billion) takeover bid from the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Dexus Property Group (DXS) to acquire the trust's Australian office portfolio.
OzForex shares jump on debut following $416m IPO
OzForex Group - an Australian online foreign exchange services provider backed by The Carlyle Group, Accel Partners and Macquarie Group - saw its shares jump nearly 30% on its first day of trading following a A$440 million ($416 million) IPO.
Australia's IFM consolidates private markets platform
Industry Funds Management (IFM) has merged its private equity and private assets groups into one team, creating a new investment platform to be headed by current head of the private assets division, Phillip Bower.
Australia's Ironbridge completes Bravura take-private
Ironbridge Capital has completed the take-private of Australia-based financial services administrator Bravura Solutions after minority shareholders approved a deal that values the company around A$173 million ($158 million).
Creador to take 20% stake in Malaysia's GHL, back e-pay acquisition
Creador will take a 20% stake in Malaysia-based payment services provider GHL Systems through a private placement of new shares. The capital will in part be used to finance GHL’s proposed acquisition of Australian Securities Exchange-listed e-pay Asia....
Blackstone buys Sydney home retail center - report
The Blackstone Group has reportedly bought the Home HQ North Shore shopping center from Charter Hall Retail REIT for A$72.5 million ($68.35 million).
Canada's OPTrust opens Sydney office
Canada’s OPSEU Pension Trust (OPTrust) has opened an office in Sydney, to focus on infrastructure and private equity investment across Asia. This is its second base outside Canada.