VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Sydney, Australia-based investment manager AMP capital invested $100 million in subordinated financing for the fully operational Astoria Project Partners power plant in New York, USA.

Japan-based food and beverage giant Kirin Holdings Ltd has no plans to sell its 9.99% holding in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Ltd to Canadian firm Saputo Inc as it wants to secure a cheese supply agreement with the latter.

Chinese conglomerate Shenhua has dropped out from the bid for New South Wales (NSW) power generator Macquarie Generation (MacGen), leaving only three bidders, according to a report.

Texas, US-based private investment firm TPG Capital is in a tussle with two other potential buyers of the Australian assets of Netherlands-based petrol and refining firm Royal Dutch Shell, according to a report.

Private equity firm Blackstone Group, which has yet to do an Australian deal, has appointed it senior adviser James Carnegie as the new senior managing director of its Sydney office. Carnegie will be replacing Paul Costello, who resigned last year.

Australia-based private equity group Champ Ventures plans to exit its 42% stake in fleet management and leasing firm SG Fleet via initial public offering (IPO) by the end of 2014's first quarter.

Japan-based trading house Marubeni Corp sold its 30% interest in Australia-based Milmerran Power Station to a buyer in South Korea for under A$200 million ($179 million), according to a source familiar with the deal.

Petroleum companies Royal Dutch Shell and BP are reportedly looking to sell its oil refineries and petrol stations in Australia to generate cash for their energy production business segments. Chevron Corp. reportedly may follow suit and exit its service stations in the country.

United Dairy Power, the biggest privately owned milk supplier in Australia, is looking to dispose a stake in the firm to an Australian diary investor for an undisclosed sum.

Tech giant Apple has purchases Australia-based startup SnappyLabs, a one-man team behind the photo app that augments iPhone's camera, according to earlier reports by TechCrunch and Recode.

Australia-based wireless network provider BigAir Group plans to add telecommunications firm Anittel Communications Pty Ltd (ACPL) from Anittel Group Ltd in a deal valued at $6.5 million.

The State Grid Corp of China officially completed the $7.5-billion purchase of interests in Australian power firms SP AusNet and Jemena from utilities group Singapore Power.

Australia-based protective clothing manufacturer Ansell Ltd has completed the purchase of US-based firm BarrierSafe Solutions International in a deal valued at $615 million (A$692.29 million).

The initial public offering (IPO) pipeline of Australia is set to improve along with merger and acquisition activity in 2014 despite poor performances this year, according to investment bank UBS.

Australian construction firm Leighton, is buyout out Welspun Group's 40% stake in the company in a $100-million deal (INR62 crore), according to a person directly familiar with the matter.