Australia
Australia’s IFM assumes control of Hastings PE fund – report
Australia’s Industry Funds Management (IFM) will reportedly assume control of Hastings Private Equity Fund II from Hastings Fund Management. According to AVCJ Research, IFM is among the LPs in the $180 million vehicle, which closed in June 2005 and...
Hong Kong's Hanhong to invest in Sprint Siberia energy project
Hong Kong-based Hanhong has agreed to invest $11 million in Australia’s Sprint Energy to support development of a project located in the Tomsk region of the prolific West Siberian Basin.
Quantum seeks to remove Intrepid directors after Indonesia debacle
Quantum Pacific Investment is looking to remove directors at Australia's Intrepid Mines after the company lost control of a key Indonesian asset.
CHAMP, Headland Capital up stake in Miclyn Express
CHAMP Private Equity and Headland Capital Partners have raised their stakes in Miclyn Express Offshore, a firm which provides vessels to support exploration and production of oil and natural gas.
PE-backed Fusion Retail hires PwC to explore brand sales
Australian fashion group Fusion Retail Brands, which is backed by Nomura Private Equity Capital, Anchorage Capital Partners, NAB and Ice Canyon, has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to explore its sale options in the wake of weak consumer sentiment...
Aquiline Capital completes acquisition of UK's Equity Insurance Group
Aquiline Capital Partners, a New York-based PE firm focusing on investments in the financial services space, has completed its GBP87 million ($140 million) acquisition of UK motor insurer Equity Insurance Group (EIG) from ASX-listed Insurance Australia...
Korean group among bidders for Brookfield hotel asset - report
A South Korean group is said to considering a A$400 million ($411 million) bid for the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney as Canada's Brookfield Asset Management prepares to offload its Australian hotel portfolio.
Unitas patches up Australian auto parts firm
It seems counter-intuitive for a private equity firm to invest in inventory - if anything, they are known in the West for cutting working capital post-buyout - but this is what Unitas Capital did on acquiring Exego, a car parts supplier that operates...
L Capital buys 50% stake in Australian boot maker
L Capital Asia, the regional investment arm of luxury group LVMH, has acquired a 49.9% stake in Australian boot maker R.M. Williams for around A$52 million ($55 million).
Australia’s QIC looks to develop its direct China exposure
QIC, an Australian investment manager QIC with more than A$69 billion ($73 billion) under management for a combination of domestic and international clients, is stepping up its efforts to develop bilateral investment opportunities in China. The group...
eFront launches Sydney office
Financial software provider eFront, a leading supplier to alternative investment managers, has opened an office in Sydney. This is the company’s first foray into Australia but its fifth base in Asia Pacific, complementing existing locations in Beijing,...
MGPA announces second close on Asia real estate fund
MGPA has held a second close of EUR50 million ($65 million) on its latest Asia property fund with a further commitment from a German insurance company. The vehicle, MGPA Asien Speziafonds, which specifically targets German investors, has so far received...
CIC, ADM support buyout of Australian lithium producer
Chengdu Tianqi Industry Group, a Chinese lithium products manufacturer, has completed the acquisition of Australian miner Talison Lithium, with support from China Investment Corporation (CIC) and Hong Kong-based special situations group ADM Capital. The...
SBI in Series B round for Australia’s Panviva
A joint venture fund run by Japan's SBI Group and US-based Jefferies Group will provide A$4 million ($4.2 million) in Series B funding to Australian business software provider Panviva.
Sycamore proceeds on Billabong buyout with knockdown $300m offer
A consortium supported by US-based Sycamore Partners will enter exclusive negotiations to buy Australian surfwear company Billabong, but any deal will be priced at a substantial discount to the original offer tabled last December.
Unitas sees 3x return on Australia auto parts turnaround
Unitas Capital has secured a 3.3x return on its investment in Australian car parts supplier Exego, after selling the business to US-based Genuine Parts in two tranches worth a combined $950 million, including debt. The private equity firm was unable to...
Australia’s Anchorage closes Fund II at $260m hard cap
Australia-based special situations and turnaround specialist Anchorage Capital Partners has reached a first and final close on its second fund at the hard cap of A$250 million ($260 million). The vehicle, which came in oversubscribed, spent less than...
Billabong halts trading, PE firms said to cut buyout offer
Billabong International halted trading Tuesday amid reports that the two private equity consortiums bidding for the embattled Australian surfwear company would lower their bids.
TA, Updata to invest in Australian software specialist Nintex
TA Associates and technology-focused GP Updata Partners plan to make a significant investment in Nintex Group, an Australia-based software provider. The private equity firms will support Nintex in its global growth initiatives, including organic expansion...
Three Australian VC firms receive IIF backing
Venture capital funds run by M.H. Carngie & Co, GBS Venture Partners and Innovation Capital will receive A$100 million ($105 million) from the Australian government through the Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) scheme. This capital will be matched dollar-for-dollar...
Australia VC: New faces
A new generation of VC firms is emerging in Australia, despite little appetite for the asset class from domestic LPs. Success hinges on leveraging Silicon Valley networks and targeting particular market niches
AMP Capital increases stake in Australia Pacific Airports
AMP Capital has increased its stake in Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC) to 43% after exercising its preemptive rights to acquire an additional 3.5%.
Billabong says buyout talks continue, despite share slump
Embattled Australian surfwear manufacturer Billabong International has said that talks continue with two prospective buyers, seeking to reassure the market after the company’s stock price plunged to a record low on Thursday.
High-profile angel investors back Australian start-up Canva
Australian online design start-up Canva has attracted $3 million in seed funding from a group of high-profile angel investors, including Adrian MacKenzie, who left his position as head of CVC Capital Partners’ local operations late last year.