Asia
Navis, Symphony buy French furniture brand Christian Liaigre
Navis Capital Partners and Symphony International Holdings have acquired Christian Liaigre Group, a French luxury furniture brand that is looking to expand in Asia, from Bridgepoint Development Capital for an undisclosed sum.
Sovereign funds increase alternatives allocations - survey
Global sovereign wealth funds have continued to cut their investments in bonds and increase their allocations to alternative asset classes, including private equity, infrastructure and real estate, according to a new survey.
The communicators: Investor relations in Asia
GPs in Asia are devoting more resources to investor relations in response to increased reporting requirements and a challenging fundraising environment. But finding the right IR formula is not easy
Corporate VC: A fine balance
Corporations in Asia increasingly see the merits of captive VC units, but they must be clear in their financial and strategic objectives in order to give teams the right combination of autonomy and guidance
CPPIB names Asia, international head Mark Machin as CEO
Mark Machin, head of international and Asia president at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), will become the pension fund’s next global president and CEO. The appointment comes as CPPIB’s annual report indicates a continued ramp up in its...
Profile: Navis Capital Partners' Nick Bloy & Rodney Muse
Nick Bloy and Rodney Muse have spent 18 years as managing partners of Navis Capital Partners. They see mutual respect, friendship and a consistent investment strategy as the key to this longevity
Hamilton Lane appoints three managing directors in Asia
Hamilton Lane has promoted three Asia-based professionals – Tomoko Kitao, Mingchen Xia (pictured) and Josh Jacob – to managing director.
LP interview: Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
As Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan fortifies itself for the future, the LP is focused on playing an active role introducing innovations and progress to Asia’s private equity sector
BlackRock eyes Asia with $630m global buyout fund
BlackRock has raised more than $630 million for a direct co-investment buyout fund aimed in part at investments in emerging Asian markets.
LPs slow new commitments to emerging markets PE - survey
Investor sentiment on emerging markets private equity appears to be weakening, with 40% of respondents in EMPEA’s global limited partners survey planning to increase commitments to fund managers in 2016, down from 46% last year.
New kids on the block: Accessing Asia's emerging LPs
Patience is a virtue when looking for allocations from Asian institutions that are either new to private equity or planning to increase commitments to the asset class
Asian LPs eye more alternatives – UBS
Large institutional Asian LPs are looking to boost allocations to alternative assets, including private equity, as they seek to diversify portfolios in response to economic volatility, according to UBS Asset Management.
Two thirds of Asia PE professionals expect pay rises in 2016 - survey
Nearly two thirds of private equity professionals in the Asia Pacific region expect an increase in base salary this year, with mid-level executives – vice presidents, principals and directors – the biggest driver.
The gathering storm: Preparing portfolio companies for a downturn
As warning signals of a global economic downturn become increasingly convincing, private equity portfolio companies are likely to come under pressure. Investors are advised to prepare carefully
Legacy issues: GP succession planning
Succession planning issues are relatively few in Asian private equity, but that will change - and what GPs do to retain the next generation leadership will increasingly come under the spotlight
Q&A: Advent International's Filippo de Vecchi
Following the recent closing of Advent International’s eighth global private equity fund at $13 billion, Filippo de Vecchi, the firm’s managing director and co-head of Greater China, explains how Asia fits into the strategy
1Q analysis: Hard times
Only the good prevail as LPs appear wary of China funds; investors continue to seek technology start-up exposure but the check sizes are falling; Korea delivers exits, but other markets fail to shine
Eleven Zulu launches $100m pan-Asian venture fund
US-based VC firm Eleven Zulu Capital has launched a $100 million fund targeting Asian technology and services-focused start-ups.
Bain rebrands Sankaty and Brookside, shuffles leadership
Bain Capital has rebranded its credit investment and public equities divisions – Sankaty Advisors and Brookside Capital – under the Bain Capital name and announced changes to its senior leadership.
Blackstone changes up Asia leadership
The Blackstone Group has appointed Chris Heady as chairman for the Asia Pacific region. He will retain his existing responsibilities as head of real estate in the region.
EIG hires KKR's Rex Chung as co-head of Asia
EIG Global Energy Partners has hired Rex Chung, formerly of KKR, as managing director and co-head of Asia. He will be based in Hong Kong.
KKR closes $3.3b global special situations fund
KKR has reached a final close of $3.3 billion for its second global KKR Special Situations Fund (KSSF), which will target investments in distressed or event-driven situations.
Asian outlier: Standard Chartered and secondaries direct
Over the past three years, Standard Chartered has completed Asia’s largest secondary direct deal and put its PE unit in a position to raise fresh capital. But it is not necessarily a harbinger of things to come
NewQuest reaches first close on Fund III, hires ex-CVC executive
Direct secondaries specialist NewQuest Capital Partners has reached a first close of just over $500 million on its third fund, beating the initial target for the entire vehicle.