Asia
PE-backed logistics platform ESR files for Hong Kong IPO
ESR, a pan-Asian logistics and fund management platform that was seeded by Warburg Pincus, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
PE holding periods: The optics of exits
Should you take a 3x return today or wait for a potentially larger exit next year? For GPs, this decision is complicated by fears of a downturn, the timing of future fundraises, and conflicting LP feedback
TPG closes seventh Asia fund at $4.6b
TPG Capital has closed its seventh pan-Asian fund at $4.6 billion after approximately two years in the market. The vehicle is already 40% committed across 12 companies.
1955 Capital leads Series A for sustainable foods specialist
1955 Capital, a cross-border PE firm that invests in US and European technologies with application potential in Asia, has led a $33 million Series A round for edible protein developer Sustainable Bioproducts.
Bain & Co's Suvir Varma joins Campbell Lutyens as advisor
Placement agent Campbell Lutyens has appointed Suvir Varma, until recently head of Bain & Company’s financial investor practice in Asia Pacific, to its global advisory board.
Asian PE pioneer Randy Kwei dies
Randy Kwei, one of the early movers in Asian private equity and more recently an advisory partner at middle-market buyout firm Shaw Kwei & Partners, has died at the age of 83.
Asia start-ups: Global reach
Asian start-ups are under increasing pressure to head off competition by pursuing global expansion agendas in their earliest stages of development. They must pay careful attention to social disparities
Profile: EmergeVest's Heath Zarin
Heath Zarin has taken EmergeVest out of the Asian private equity mainstream, leveraging a specialist strategy and operational expertise to create the UK’s largest private logistics business
Co-investment: Partners in time
The decision to commit due diligence resources to a potential co-investment balances complex factors around timing, strategy, and relational comfort. Efficiency and patience are indispensable virtues
Macro uncertainty: Mind games
A maze of strategies, philosophies, and preconceptions is underpinning a sense of confidence among alternatives investors as global economic uncertainty mounts. It must be navigated carefully
LP interview: PennSERS
Bryan Lewis, CIO of Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System, discusses accessing Asia, approaches to co-investment, and paring a bloated PE portfolio into a smaller set of strategic relationships
Baring Asia, Onex to list Clarivate through reverse merger
Baring Private Equity Asia will list Clarivate Analytics – an education business it acquired from Thomson Reuters in conjunction with Onex Corporation – through a merger with a special purpose investment vehicle that trades in New York.
4Q analysis: Defined by uncertainty
Korea comes to the fore as investment in China slows; venture capital and pan-regional players remain preeminent in Asia fundraising; IPO weakness reflects investor wariness
Asia PE investment hits $183b in 2018
Private equity investment in Asia slowed to $183.3 billion in 2018 – from $207.3 billion the previous year – as a decline in large-scale buyout activity offset a surge in late-stage rounds for technology companies.
Baring Asia receives $25m LP commitment from LACERS
The Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS) has committed $25 million to Baring Private Equity Asia’s seventh pan-regional fund, the same amount it committed to the GP’s previous vehicle.
Wooseok Jun to lead ICG Asia Pacific
Wooseok Jun, currently managing director and head of South Korea at Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), has been named head of Asia Pacific for the firm. He replaces Chris Heine, who retired at the end of 2018.
Fund focus: From Standard Chartered to Affirma
Standard Chartered's private equity team - now known as Affirma Capital - has finally secured its independence through a spin-out backed Intermediate Capital Group
EQT promotes Brian Chang to partner in Singapore
EQT has confirmed the promotion of Singapore-based Brian Chang to partner. He will be responsible for mid-market activity in Asia.
Venture capital: The battle to be different
VC fundraising has been on a roll in Asia as managers raise larger sums to address fast-growing investment opportunities. GPs must consider what – and how much – makes them stand out from the crowd
Investors turn to private markets amidst downturn fears - survey
Asian institutional investors are looking to increase allocations to private markets in order to mitigate the risks of a potential economic downturn, a new survey has found.
Axiom Asia completes $1.6b fundraise
Axiom Asia has closed its fifth regional fund-of-funds at $1.39 billion - beating the target of $1.01 billion - and also raised $210 million for its first dedicated co-investment vehicle.
CITIC Capital, FountainVest buy control of pallet leasing business
CITIC Capital Partners and FountainVest Partners have acquired a majority stake in China Merchants Loscam, a pallet and packaging business owned by Sinotrans, for RMB2.48 billion ($359 million).
AVCJ Awards 2018: Fundraising of the Year - Large Cap: Affinity Equity Partners
Communication and discipline helped Affinity Equity Partners complete a first and final close of $6 billion on its latest pan-Asian fund within four months
Timeline: 2018 by numbers
A selection of the key fundraising, investment and exit events - presented in chronological order - from the past 12 months