Australia
TPG eyes PacBrands takeover
TPG and a syndicate of banks are reportedly preparing a takeover bid for listed Australian clothing and related consumer brands wholesaler Pacific Brands (PacBrands).
Wolseley exits Freshmax to Maui Capital
Wolseley Private Equity has fully exited Australian fruit and vegetables supplier Freshmax through a secondary sale to Maui Capital, an Auckland-based private equity firm. The deal closed before the end of 2011, giving Wolseley enough time to return money...
Carlyle promotes three Asia professionals to MD level
The Carlyle Group has named 13 new managing directors, including Hiroyuki Otsuka in Tokyo, Matthew Hunter in Sydney and Wayne Bannon in Hong Kong, as part of a raft of promotions that saw 41 professionals elevated to senior positions.
CHAMP PE-backed Accolade Wines in China acquisition
Accolade Wines, a portfolio company of CHAMP Private Equity, has purchased a majority stake in Chinese wine distribution business Shanghai CWC Wine Trading. The acquisition is intended to serve as a platform for Accolade’s expansion into the fast-growing...
Nine Entertainment's creditors draw up plan to push out CVC
Creditors of Australia’s Nine Entertainment have put together a proposal to convert their debt to equity which would wipe out the majority of current owner CVC Capital Partners’ interest in the firm. Hedge funds Oaktree Capital and Apollo Global Management...
CHAMP PE in exclusive talks for VIP Petfoods – report
CHAMP Private Equity has won exclusivity on the sale process of VIP Petfoods, Australia’s largest producer of fresh chilled pet food for dogs and cats, the Australian Financial Review reported. The deal under discussion could reach the high A$300 millions....
Apollo joins Carlyle in $2b race for Brambles Recall unit
Three buyout firms, including Apollo Global Management, have joined The Carlyle Group in making bids worth more than $2 billion for Recall, the document management business of Australian firm Brambles.
SCF and Vibernum in Vautron buyout
US private equity firm SCF Partners and Australia’s Viburnum Funds have acquired a majority stake in the newly created Vautron Group as part of a buyout transaction.
INCJ expects more overseas deals in 2012
Innovation Network Corp of Japan (INCJ) has said that it plans to invest more in overseas acquisitions by Japanese companies this year.
PEP to stick with $730m offer for Spotless
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) said its $730 million bid is a compelling offer for Spotless Group, in a move which appears to rebuff the cleaning services company’s demand for a higher price.
KKR in takeover bid for Australia's PacBrands
KKR has launched an unsolicited takeover bid for listed Australian clothing and related consumer brands wholesaler Pacific Brands (PacBrands).
Catalyst could sell Aperio for $256m by February
Catalyst Investment Managers could complete the sale of its packaging business Aperio Group to a trade buyer by February, according to a source.
Sabre sells Australia's Fudge hair care to PZ Cussons
Sabre has sold Australia’s Fudge hair care brand to PZ Cussons, the company behind Imperial Leather Soap, for GBP25.5 million ($39.5 million). The acquisition is intended to increase PZ Cussons’ exposure to the male grooming sector. Its product portfolio...
Carlyle shortlisted for Brambles Recall unit - report
The Carlyle Group has reportedly been shortlisted as a potential suitor for Recall, the document management business put on the block by Australia’s Brambles last spring.
Archer secures $1.5b for fifth fund
Projections for Archer Capital's fifth fund continued to increase even as the capital-raising environment in Australia got tougher. A target of A$1.2 billion ($1.2 billion) soon became A$1.4 billion and finally A$1.5 billion, which is where it closed...
India's GVK to sell minority stake in Australian business
GVK Power & Infrastructure plans to sell a minority stake in its Australian unit in order to retire debts and fund operations. Private equity investors and strategic partners, working independently or in tandem, are seen as likely buyers.
PE firm approaches Australia's PaperlinX
An unnamed private equity house has made a takeover bid for listed Australian paper manufacturer PaperlinX.
Warburg Pincus-backed port seeks expansion into Australia
Gangavaram Port, the Warburg Pincus-backed owner of India's deepest seaport, is reportedly in talks to acquire several operational seaports in Australia and Africa.
Archer Capital closes fifth fund at $1.5b
Australia’s Archer Capital has closed its fifth fund at A$1.5 billion ($1.52 billion), having spent less than four months in the market. The vehicle, which counts domestic and international institutions among its investors, was significantly oversubscribed....
Arctic-backed Living & Leisure receives $244m takeover bid
Living & Leisure Australia Group (LLA), the tourist attractions operator part-owned by Arctic Capital, has received a A$244 million ($244 million) takeover bid from private equity-backed Merlin Entertainments.
CHAMP Ventures buys Australian specialist safety wear retailer
CHAMP Ventures has purchased a 79% stake in RSEA, Australia’s largest specialist safety retailer of hard hats, high-visibility wear and site signs. The remainder is held by company management, including 18% by Managing Director Brandon Chizik who will...
CVC, hedge funds exchange barbs over Nine debt
Negotiations over CVC-owned Nine Entertainment’s debt burden have descended into a war of words between the company and its hedge fund creditors. CVC stands accused of playing a “precarious game” by insisting it is under no pressure to restructure the...
CVC's second Asia fund sees value drop by 10%
CVC Asia Pacific’s second regional fund, which closed in 2005 at $1.975 billion, has reportedly lost 10% of its investment value due to failing portfolio companies such as Australian television network Nine Entertainment.
CHAMP secures $130m debt for oOh!media deal
CHAMP Private Equity has reportedly secured a senior debt package worth A$130 million ($130 million) to support its take-private of Australian out-of-home advertising firm oOh!media.