Australia
Southern Cross to run Australian state-backed VC fund
VC firm Southern Cross Venture Partners has secured the mandate to run the Australian government’s first renewable energy venture fund, the REVCF.
CHAMP PE approved for oOh!media buyout
CHAMP Private Equity has received unanimous approval by the board of directors of Australian out-of-home advertising firm oOh!media to purchase the company for A$163 million ($163 million), capping off the firm’s 2011 on a high and marking its first buyout...
Australia's Goodman, Canada Pension recapitalize China JV
Australian property and logistics firm Goodman Group and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have infused their joint venture, Goodman China Logistics Holding (GCLH), with an additional $250 million, doubling the JV’s capacity to a total of $500 million....
PEP in running for Petsfoods takeover
Pacific Equity Partners is reportedly the sole bidder left to take over Australian pet food maker VIP Petfoods after CHAMP Private Equity dropped out of the process.
CHAMP buys oOh!media for $163m
CHAMP Private Equity has acquired Australian outdoor advertising firm oOh!media for A$163 million ($163 million), receiving unanimous approval from the company’s directors after failing to receive a higher bid.
AMP Capital Investors divests 15% stake to Mitsubishi UFJ
AMP Capital Investors has divested a 15% stake in itself to Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ for A$425 million ($433.5 million), coming as the Australian fund manager looks to break into Japan.
CVC said to offer Nine's creditors second refinancing plan
CVC Asia Pacific has reportedly offered creditors another refinancing plan for the A$2.6 billion ($2.7 billion) of debt held by its Australian portfolio company, Nine Entertainment, coming after lenders rejected CVC’s proposal of granting the firm a two-and-a-half-year...
Nine's creditors reject debt restructure plan
The creditors of Australian media group Nine Entertainment have rejected a proposal to restructure the company’s A$2.6 billion ($2.59 billion) of senior debt, potentially jamming Nine’s private equity owner, CVC Asia Pacific, with nearly $2 billion in...
Australian supers drive secondaries
The Australian superannuation funds’ ongoing move away from private equity has undoubtedly been a drawback for primary fund managers. But what of the impact on the Asian secondaries market?
IIF program to invest $102m in Australian venture
The Australian government has announced plans to provide venture capital funds with up to A$100 million ($102 million) of capital via its Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) program.
The Founders Fund plans Australian startup fund
US venture capital firm The Founders Fund is reportedly planning to create a vehicle which will invest in Australia-based startup companies.
Hedge funds buy more of Nine's senior debt - report
A group of hedge fund investors has reportedly purchased about A$130 million ($133 million) worth of senior debt in CVC Asia Pacific-owned Nine Entertainment from BNP Paribas and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).
Advent makes first close of Advent 6 fund
Australia and New Zealand-focused Advent Private Capital has held the first close of its Advent 6 fund, and has confirmed commitments of nearly A$100 million ($102.3 million).
PEP raises bid for Spotless
Pacific Equity Partners has upped its takeover bid for Australian cleaning services firm Spotless to A$711 million ($727.7 million) from A$700 million, in an attempt at coaxing the company that has twice rejected its private equity suitors.
Private Equity Professional of the Year – Peter Wiggs
“It's been quite a year,” Peter Wiggs reflected as he collected the prize for Private Equity Professional of the Year at the 2011 Asian Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards.
KKR offer spurned by Transpacific
Private equity giant KKR has been rejected in its eleventh-hour attempt to subscribe to Australian waste manager Transpacific Industries Group's capital-raising initiative.
GE boosts CHAMP-backed Accolade with $234m loan
European lender GE Capital has provided Australia’s Accolade Wines, owned by CHAMP Private Equity, with a GBP150 million ($234 million) cross-border financing facility.
Centro to launch trust to avoid collapse
The financial backers of distressed Australian real estate owner Centro Properties Group have agreed to create an A$4.4 billion ($4.3 billion) listed property trust called Centro Retail Australia in order to keep the company afloat.
Archer, Ironbridge exit iNova Pharmaceuticals for $690m
Archer Capital and Ironbridge Capital have exited iNova Pharmaceuticals to Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth up to A$700 million ($690 million). Valeant will pay A$625 million up front plus a further A$75 million based on the success of...
CHAMP-backed Blue Star hires Unitas' Philip Bower
Blue Star, the New Zealand printing firm owned by CHAMP Private Equity, has hired Unitas Capital's Phillip Bower as its new managing director.
Lenders 'will reject debt plan' for CVC-backed Nine
CVC Asia Pacific's proposed debt restructuring plan for its portfolio company Nine Entertainment is expected to be rejected, following talks between the private equity firm and lenders on Friday.
Lazard acquires minority stake in 2XU
Lazard Australia Private Equity has acquired a significant minority stake in sports apparel brand 2XU.
Spotless rejects PEP's $700m takeover offer
Australian cleaning services company Spotless Group has rejected Pacific Equity Partners’ (PEP) A$698.3 million ($702 million) takeover offer, branding the bid as too low.
Australian private equity continues to outperform public markets - AVCAL
Australian private equity continues to achieve better returns than the country’s stock markets, according to research cited by the Australian Venture Capital Association (AVCAL).