Articles by Brian McLeod
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan posts 14.3% rate of return
Canada’s largest single profession pension plan, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), announced that it had earned its largest value-add dollar amount ever in 2010, claiming C$13.3 billion ($13.9 billion) in investment income by the year’s end, representing...
PRC drug company Ascletis raises $100 million
Newly launched Chinese pharmaceutical company Ascletis Inc. – which aims to license high-potential drug products from Western companies and develop them into medicines for China’s fast- growing market – has raised $100 million in private funding tranche...
Qihoo shares break out big in NYSE IPO
The share price of Qihoo 360, China’s market-leading provider of internet and mobile security products, and third most popular company in the space by customer volume, more than doubled its already premium-plus $13.50-14.50 per ADS initial offering to...
GIC opens new office in Mumbai
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) announced its intent to open an India office in Mumbai March 31, its eighth overseas.
Apollo Global Management IPO flip-flops
Apollo Global Management LLC (APO) has raised $565 million on its recent IPO, selling 29.76 million shares, or 3.6 million more than it had expected. However, while the shares initially traded at top end of their $17-19 price range, Apollo’s performance...
India's VIA to take flight on $100 million fund raising
Bangalore-based travel services provider VIA moves even faster than its clientele, it would appear. Founded in 2006, the company boasts annual revenues of $500 million, and growth in the 60% p.a. range. And it has just announced it will raise up to $100...
Buy, buy, buy
While official data out of the PRC varies, most market observers report increasing M&A activity in all segments of the market. Consensus is this will continue for the foreseeable future, and that private equity will want to be more involved
China's PE boom
With M&A activity in China up an impressive 66% year-on-year in 2010, AVCJ drills down deeper to the drivers behind the deals, who’s buying what, and what it means for private equity
Carlyle takes 15% stake in Qube Logistics
Qube Logistics has announced that it has reached an agreement with Carlyle Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a unit of the international private equity giant Carlyle Group, through which the fund will subscribe to up to 91,388,476 shares – or about 15%...
Super funds and private equity
Historically, Aussie superannuation funds have been fairly consistent in the way they manage private equity programs, which is also why talk about pulling back from the asset class is making waves.
The heart of the RMB
With so many offshore investors now scrambling to launch RMB funds, the issues around the liberalization of the Chinese currency – which the US government is trying hard, with limited success to effect – longer term convertibility must be addressed.
Miracle or mirage?
International strategic and SWF investment in the country is ramping up, though private equity’s engagement remains tentative. But some early movers say that is changing.
ILPA polishes its private equity principles
New version incorporates more GP and LP input aimed at increasing focus, clarity and practicality on both sides of the private equity equation.
Squalls on the horizon
With the rising rate of Chinese inflation no longer a state secret, the gravity of the problem is clear. But, will the government’s moves be strong enough to curb the problem?
The restructuring expert
The Chairman of distressed debt investment giant Oaktree Capital spoke with AVCJ about market challenges, his firm’s relationship to private equity, and where the next wave of opportunities lie.
Frontier markets investments showcase growth and opportunity
Recent activity out of Cambodia showcases the opportunities in frontier markets, in spite of the risks and uncertainties that these countries also present. In January, Leopard Capital, through its Leopard Cambodia Fund, took a 33.7% stake in Intean Poalroath...
CHAMP Private Equity acquires Constellation Brands' UK and Australian business
Leading world premium wine purveyor Constellation Brands Inc. announced just before Christmas that it had reached agreement with Sydney-based CHAMP Private Equity to sell its UK and Australian interests (Constellation Wines Australia & Europe – CWAE)...
New horizons in Southeast Asia
Private equity investment in Indonesia surged in 2010; but the reality of investment opportunity in places like Indonesia and Vietnam requires more than macro growth numbers
The cleantech sector: renewable?
Since the COP15 debacle in Denmark nearly a year ago, it has been more or less all downhill for the clean/green sector that as recently as 2008 looked to be on the threshold of political and market breakthroughs – notably in carbon pricing – that most...
Quorumm Digital Venture Partners appoints Hasnain Zaheer senior partner for Australia
Third-generation VC Quorumm Digital Venture Partners – which has an investment war chest of some $500 million – has appointed experienced digital strategist and online marketing practitioner, analyst and trainer Hasnain Zaheer as senior partner of its...
Indian private equity's characteristics
Even though the Indian economy is booming as never before, the private equity market is facing several barriers to entry.
Chinese M&A lawyer Chow joins Davis Polk
Global law firm Davis Polk has announced that leading PRC and Hong Kong M&A lawyer Paul Chow will join the firm as a partner in their Hong Kong office.
Bery, JPMorgan reach amicable conclusion
JPMorgan and Varun Bery have jointly announced that they have reached an amicable resolution to their recent dispute, which will result in the latter providing private equity consultancy services to JPMorgan.
LPs back on course
While private equity funding sources continue to diversify, traditional limited partners remain the sine qua non of how the asset class survives and thrives.