Asia
OPIC funds head Jay Koh to return to private sector
Jay Koh, head of investment funds and chief investment strategist at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), will leave the group at the end of November to return to the private sector. He will relocate to New York.
Co-investment: Friends with benefits
Co-investment deals have been on the rise in recent years, enabling GPs to take on bigger deals and offer LPs fee-less returns. What is driving this trend and are such deals always a good idea?
LPs wary about raising Asia PE allocations above 10% - AVCJ Forum
Institutional investors are generally happy to deploy 10% of their private equity allocation in Asia, but they say it is difficult to justify increasing this portion until risk factors ease and local managers build up stable teams and more substantive...
China to remain world's leading emerging market – AVCJ Forum
Asia – and China in particular – will remain the preeminent emerging markets destination for private equity despite moderating growth and increased competition for deals, GPs told the AVCJ Forum.
AVCJ at 25: Turning points
To mark the 25th anniversary of Asian Venture Capital Journal, we highlight five key phases in the development of asset class in Asia and talk to the individuals involved. Two of the phases are births – of a sort – and the other three are crises, a reminder...
CPPIB targets larger deals, wants to boost emerging markets exposure
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is looking to target larger, more complex acquisitions as part of a wider strategy to increase exposure to emerging markets, particularly China. Mark Wiseman, the plan’s CEO, made the observations as CPPIB...
PE & PR: Private equity's public face
Private equity is more entrenched and better understood in some Asian markets than others. What do the various stakeholders - entrepreneurs, government, media, public - make of the asset class?
Asia fundraising: In Volcker's shadow
With the Volcker Rule and Basel III compliance forcing US financial institutions to pull back from private equity, some Asian GPs are in a state of flux. New fundraising strategies are required
Asia fundraising: Emerging LPs
Led by a clutch of sovereign wealth funds, Asia’s emerging LPs are looking to boost their alternatives exposure. Fund managers in search of allocations must find out what makes these institutions tick
Asia fundraising: A divided market
Global and local players are in the market trying to raise new regional and country vehicles. The former can rely on institutional relationships and IR might to get the job done. The latter face a resources squeeze
Q&A: Unitas Capital's John Lewis
John Lewis, chief investment officer at Unitas Capital, talks to AVCJ about the importance of reputation in Asia from fundraising through post-deal value-add to exiting portfolio companies to multinational buyers
Q&A: L Capital Asia's Ravi Thakran
L Capital Asia, a private equity firm sponsored by LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods company, was set up in 2008 and closed its first fund in 2010. Managing Partner Ravi Thakran tells AVCJ what makes the firm different
Alvarez & Marsal MD relocates to Hong Kong
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has relocated Managing Director Jacques Roizen from New York to Hong Kong to support the development of the firm’s Asia team. He has been with A&M for 10 years and was responsible for setting up the revenue enhancement practice...
AXA PE opens Beijing office, reaches halfway point on third Asia fund
AXA Private Equity has opened an office in Beijing as part of efforts to boost north Asia exposure as it seeks to raise $500-600 million for a third regional fund. With AXA Capital Asia II now 80% deployed, the firm reached a first close of $300 million...
How much is too much?
KKR had received commitments of $6.2 billion for its 11th North American fund as of the end of September. The vehicle, which entered the market in early 2011, has attracted about $700 million from LPs in the last six months and questions are being asked...
CVC names three co-chairmen to succeed Michael Smith
CVC Capital Partners’ chairman, Michael Smith, will retire in January and be succeeded by Donald Mackenzie, Rolly van Rappard and Steve Koltes. The announcement comes as the private equity firm prepares to launch its latest global buyout fund with a target...
FLAG buys Asian fund-of-funds Squadron Capital
Asia-focused fund-of-funds Squadron Capital has been sold to FLAG Capital Management. The acquisition will take US-based FLAG’s assets under management to $6 billion, up from $4.5 billion, and broaden its product offering across private equity, venture...
Ex-CIC real estate head to launch investment fund
The former global head of real estate at China Investment Corporation (CIC) has launched an independent investment fund. According to regulatory filings in Hong Kong, Collin Lau was appointed director of Bei Capital Partners in June.
Asian PE fundraising slips in 3Q as RMB vehicles struggle
Asian private equity fundraising reached $10.8 billion in the third quarter of 2012, continuing a downward trend that stretches back 12 months, according to provisional data from AVCJ Research. Renminbi-denominated fundraising experienced the most acute...
3Q analysis: The bottom falls out of RMB fundraising
China US dollar funds attract more capital than renminbi vehicles; trade sales and secondary buyouts continue to gather pace; positive early signs for China buyouts
Fund-level due diligence: More than ticking boxes
Corrupt deals, agreements with the dishonest and lackluster returns can all be avoided by doing sufficient due diligence on a GP. But advisers say LPs in Asia sill aren’t doing enough
Asia Alternatives' Alexa Zhang joins Wilshire
Investment consultancy Wilshire Private Markets has appointed Alexa Zhang as managing director, with responsibility for the firm’s Hong Kong office. Zhang joins from fund-of-funds Asia Alternatives where she served as a director, focusing on Greater China...
PE-backed M&A in Asia reaches $22b in first nine months
Private equity-backed M&A in Asia Pacific ex Japan reached $22.2 billion in the first nine months of 2012, down 17% year-on-year, according to Thomson Reuters. However, the third quarter was comparatively active, with total deals worth $11 billion, up...
MBK targets $2.25b for fund III
MBK Partners has launched its third buyout fund with a target of $2.25 billion, AVCJ has been told. It is the latest in a string of large-cap pan-regional funds to enter the market, joining the likes of KKR, TPG Capital, The Carlyle Group and RRJ Capital....