Australia
CHAMP Ventures exits Australian Portable Buildings
CHAMP Ventures has agreed to sell Australian Portable Buildings (APB) to two Canadian companies, Black Diamond Group and Britco, for A$72.5 million ($75.2 million). The Australian private equity firm acquired a near 80% stake in the company in February...
Equity Partners buys majority stake in New Zealand’s AHM
Equity Partners has acquired a stake of around 70% in New Zealand camping and gardening product distributor Amalgamated Hardware Merchants (AHM).
Nine Entertainment targets listing within 18 months
Nine Entertainment is expected to list on the Australian Securities Exchange within 18 months following its A$3.4 billion ($3.5 billion) recapitalization, according to court documents submitted this week. The company reached an agreement with its creditors...
Riverside-owned Retail Zoo completes Australia bolt-on
Retail Zoo, an Australia-based restaurant chain backed by The Riverside Company, has completed the bolt-on acquisition of Cibo Espresso, a franchiser of espresso bars in South Australia and Queensland.
KKR, Providence battle for Australia’s NextGen – report
KKR is said to have joined Providence Equity Partners and TPG Telecom in the bidding for NextGen, the fibre-optics business being sold by Australian contractor Leighton Holdings.
Billabong receives $555m buyout offer - UPDATE
Billabong International has received a A$527 million ($555 million) buyout offer from Paul Naude, a director at the firm, with US-based Sycamore Partners participating as a cornerstone equity investor.
Ascalon's Chuak Chan promoted from Asia head to CEO
Ascalon Capital Managers has appointed Chuak Chan as CEO. He joined the Australia-headquartered firm last year as head of Asia, having previously worked at Hong Kong hedge fund Segantii Capital Management, ING Investment Management and Bankers Trust in...
Anchorage approaches $263m close on Fund II – report
Anchorage Capital Partners will reportedly reach a final close on its latest fund at A$250 million ($263 million) as early as next month. The Australian private equity firm began fundraising in November.
Singapore named most attractive market for infrastructure investment
Singapore is the world’s most attractive market for infrastructure investment, according to a new report.
Insurance Australia sells UK business to Aquiline Capital
Insurance Australia Group has agreed to sell its UK business – Equity Red Star – to Aquiline Capital Partners for GBP87 million ($140 million). The transaction is scheduled for completion before June 2013.
2012: That was the year that was
The broad trends and particular highlights of private equity fundraising, investment and exit activity in Asia
Australia’s Harbart Private Equity buys Cardioscan
Harbert Australia Private Equity has bought an 85% stake in Melbourne-based cardiac testing service provider Cardioscan.
TA-owned SpeedCast buys Australian Satellite Communications
TA Associate Partners-backed SpeedCast has completed a buyout of Australian Satellite Communications (ASC). The company provides satellite-based communications solutions throughout Australia and surrounding regions.
BlackRock hires head of Australia alternatives
BlackRock has hired Andrew Landman as its new head of alternatives in Australia.
CHAMP-backed Shelf Drilling completes $1b acquisition
Shelf Drilling, the Dubai-based shallow water drilling services company backed by Australia’s CHAMP Private Equity, its US affiliate Castle Harlan, and Lime Rock Partners, has completed the acquisition of assets worth $1.05 billion. The PE investment,...
Sequoia, Canaan Partners invest $6.3m in Adnear
Sequoia Capital and Canaan Partners have invested INR350m ($6.3 million) in AdNear, a location-based mobile advertising platform, in a Series A round of funding.
Bain-owned MYOB to cut debt through notes offer
Accounting software firm MYOB plans to issue A$125 million ($131 million) in subordinated notes to pay down debt used to finance its acquisition by Bain Capital and also to return capital to the private equity investor. The notes will be issued on the...
Australia's Starfish Ventures invests in email company Atmail
Starfish Ventures has invested $2 million in Atmail, a Australia-based enterprise email and web communication company. The capital will help the Atmail scale-up its technical team and expand into overseas markets.
PEP separates Braiform from portfolio company Spotless
Australia’s Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has carved out coat hanger manufacturer Braiform from Spotless Group, the cleaning and catering contractor it acquired earlier this year. The company now reports directly to PEP.
Anacacia seeks Aussie SME buyouts
With the established participants in Australia’s lower mid-market having graduated to fund sizes of A$250 million or more as they progressed through the cycles, and many smaller players struggling to raise money, Anacacia Capital finds itself in less...
Australia's PageUp People gets $10m from Accel-KKR
Accel-KKR, a Silicon Valley-based PE firm, has invested $10 million for an undisclosed stake in PageUp People, an Australian firm that provides software for tracking worker performance.
Pension plans unsure about VC commitments
North American pension plans are exhibiting mixed feelings towards venture capital funds – some find GPs that were once refused to take meetings are now opening up to a wider range of investors while others are backing off from the asset class, blaming...
Australia’s Anacacia reaches $129m second close
Australian GP Anacacia Capital has arrived at a second close of A$125 million ($129 million) for its second fund. The private equity firm has already exceeded its target of A$100 million and is on course to reach its hard cap of A$150 million.
Australia’s PEP targets $3.6b for Fund IV
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is targeting up to A$3.5 billion ($3.6 billion) for its fifth fund, including A$2 billion of core equity and a further $1-1.5 billion earmarked for a co-investment pool.