A vehicle launched by Australia’s Anacacia Capital has been named the top performing fund globally by Pensions and Investments magazine.

Anacacia Partnership I, which closed in 2007, was judged to be the outstanding performer out of funds raised between 2006 and 2008, based on data collected by Preqin. The fund focuses on investments in small- and medium-sized enterprises and its next vehicle is likely to have a similar mandate.

Anacacia has also announced two new investments in height safety provider Roofsafe Industrial Safety Enterprises and hydraulics firm Planet Services Group, respectively.

Advisors on the transactions included Thomsons Lawyers, Keystone Lawyers, Ryan Lawyers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, HLB Mann Judd, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hanrahan and Marsh.

Responding to news of the award, Jeremy Samuel, Anacacia's founder and managing director, said: "It demonstrates that, even during tough times, Australia can generate the very best returns globally from private equity backed small-medium enterprises."

© Asian Venture Capital Journal September 2011