Private equity

Australia's leading private equity firms value strong relationships with advisors who deliver superior commerciality, strategic advice and market intelligence to help them actively engage in market opportunities. With our unparalleled sector coverage we work with sponsors across the spectrum of deal sizes to achieve their strategic outcome.

Australia's leading private equity firms come to us for quality, commercial legal counsel and to help meet their key requirements in:

Fund formation and fundraising
Acquisitions including MBOs, MBIs, LBOs, public to private takeovers and secondary buyouts
Expansion capital
Bolt-on acquisitions
Exits through IPO or trade sale
Leveraged finance and refinancing
Taxation

In Australia, we are the dominant private equity and venture capital fundraising firm, having acted for approximately 75% of active Australian GPs. As a result, we have a thorough understanding of the mandates and objectives of private equity fund managers and deliver focused and commercially-realistic advice. We focus on our clients' key business drivers to work efficiently and identify the areas of legal risk most likely to impact on valuations and pricing.

We act for a number of high-profile domestic and offshore private equity funds including Allegro Funds, CHAMP Private Equity, Anchorage Capital Partners, Affinity Equity Partners, Baring Private Equity Asia, GIC Special Investments, Mercury Capital, Quadrant Private Equity, Next Capital, Adamantem Capital, OPTrust, ROC Partners, Bain Capital, Blackstone, Brookfield, Pemba Capital Partners, Global Forest Partners, Yorkway Equity Partners, M.H. Carnegie & Co, Advent Partners, Odyssey Private Equity and Tanarra Capital.

Recent developments

Experience

Transactions

Baring Private Equity Asia – AUD$1.24billion takeover of SAI Global Limited and its investment in Edu Co Australia

Anchorage Capital Partners – in relation to all its investments and disposals, including their acquisition of Affinity Education, TJS Services, Contract Resources and Little Zaks Chldcare

Blackstone – in relation to their investment in non-bank lender LaTrobe Financial and the acquisition of LendLease's New Zealand retirement living portfolio

Allegro Funds – acquisitions of Healthy Life Group, Everest Foods and Experience Australia. Also in relation to consortium arrangements relating to the sale of Great Southern Rail

Bain Capital – acquisition of Little Learning by investee Only About Children and investment into Hirepool Group

Adamantem Capital – in relation to their investment in HyGain Holdings

Next Capital – in relation to various transactions involving Infinite Aged Care, Forest Coach Lines, FunLab and Vitaco

ROC Partners – AUD$20 million investment in Australia’s Oyster Coast.

Yorkway Partners – coinvestments with Quadrant Private Equity in Fitzpatrics Private Wealth and Retirement Victoria, and investments in Insurance House and the One Investment Group

Affinity Equity Partners – in relation to the proposed take private of Vocus Communications Limited, the acquisition of MedicalDirector from Primary Health Care Ltd and the Tegel Foods IPO and Dual listing on NZX and ASX

Advent Partners – investment in SILK Laser Clinics

Fundraising

Quadrant Private Equity – AUD$1,150 million Quadrant Private Equity No. 6

Allegro Funds – AUD$400 million Allegro Fund III

Odyssey Private Equity - AUD$300 million Odyssey Private Equity Fund I

Next Capital – AUD$256million Next Capital Fund III

Anchorage Capital Partners – AUD$350 million Anchorage Capital Partners Fund III

Intermediate Capital Group Australia – AUD$400 million ICG Australia Senior Loan Fund

Advent Partners – AUD280 million Advent Partners Fund 2

RMB – the secondary transfer of the entire private equity portfolio to Pemba Capital (a new $650million fund including a new investment by HarbourVest)

Private equity

Recent developments

Experience

Transactions

Fundraising

Lead contacts

Nathan Cahill

Riccardo Casali

Andrea Frank

Glen Sauer

Chris Allen

Enhancing the effectiveness of in-house legal teams