Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has closed an agreement to co-invest in Healthscope Ltd, a Melbourne, Australia-based private hospital operator, alongside the private equity group of Brookfield Asset Management.
CDPQ will invest more than A$300 million ($269 million) to hold a minority stake in the company.
In June, Brookfield completed its US$4.1 billion take-private acquisition of Healthscope, Australia’s second largest private hospital operator and New Zealand’s largest pathology services provider.
Toronto-based Brookfield has so far raised nearly US$8 billion ($10.6 billion) for its fifth private equity fund, PE Hub Canada reported earlier this month.
PRESS RELEASE
CDPQ closes investment in Australian private hospital operator Healthscope
MONTRÉAL, SINGAPORE and MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 29, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ – Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (“CDPQ”) announced today it has closed an agreement with Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (“Brookfield Business Partners”) and its institutional partners to co-invest in the acquisition of Healthscope Limited (“Healthscope”), the second largest private hospital operator in Australia and the largest pathology services provider in New Zealand. CDPQ will invest over A$300 million and will hold a significant minority stake in Healthscope. Brookfield Business Partners previously announced it closed the acquisition of Healthscope last June.
Healthscope provides a range of specialist-oriented, multi-disciplinary healthcare services from acute care through rehabilitation and mental healthcare services within 43 private hospitals across all Australian states and operates 24 pathology laboratories across New Zealand.
“We are delighted to support Healthscope, a world-class healthcare provider, in expanding its clinical care offering”, said Stephane Etroy, Executive Vice-President and Head of Private Equity at CDPQ. “This is an opportunity for CDPQ to invest in the Australian healthcare sector and support a company that provides essential services to the benefit of the communities.”
CDPQ’s presence in Australia
In addition to its investment in Healthscope, CDPQ collaborated with the founders of Greenstone in 2016, to acquire a 44% interest in this leading Australian insurance distributor. CDPQ is also a shareholder and a long-term partner of Plenary Group, having invested in several Plenary-originated Australian projects since 2012. CDPQ also acquired close to 25% of Transgrid, the electricity transmission network of the State of New South Wales, and close to 30% of the Port of Brisbane.
ABOUT CAISSE DE DÉPÔT ET PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at June 30, 2019, it held CA$326.7 billion in net assets. As one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers, CDPQ invests globally in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter @LaCDPQ or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.
For further information: International: Cesaltine Gregorio, +1 514 847-5493 / +1 212 596 6314, cgregorio@cdpq.com; Canada: Jean-Benoît Houde, +1 514 847-5493, jbhoude@cdpq.com