Buyout
WL Ross backs joint venture to acquire China steel assets
WL Ross & Co, the private equity firm founded by recently appointed US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, has announced its first China investment in over five years, backing a joint venture to acquire steel industry assets in the country.
Japan's Tokio Marine closes Fund V at $466m
Tokio Marine Capital has reached a final close of JPY51.7 billion ($466 million) on its fifth Japan mid-market fund on the back of strong support from domestic LPs, notably regional banks.
Q&A: CITIC Private Equity's Feng Zhai
CITIC Private Equity has sought to differentiate itself from other Chinese GPs with an operations-driven buyout strategy. Feng Zhai, managing director and head of the portfolio management team, explains the approach
Asia fundraising: Retail channels
Private equity firms keen to diversify their LP bases are looking to establish relations with Asia’s high net worth segment, and the private banks and wealth managers who facilitate access to this community
KKR secures $5.8b first close on third Asian fund
KKR has reached a first close of just under $5.8 billion on its third pan-Asian fund. The vehicle has an institutional hard cap of $8.5 billion, with a further $700 million in commitments from the firm’s balance sheet and management team.
Fund focus: Pioneer sees PE come of age in New Zealand
Pioneer Capital sees the closing of its third fund at the hard cap of $180 million as confirmation that private equity in New Zealand has become more mainstream
VIDEO: Mark Chiba, The Longreach Group
Mark Chiba, group chairman & partner of The Longreach Group, discusses mid-market buyouts in North Asia
Ex-MBK Greater China head to launch private equity firm
Kuo-Chan Kung, former head of Greater China at MBK Partners (pictured), is launching his own private equity firm called Nexus Point Partners.
Institutional investors and private equity: Cracks in the ice?
Competition is intense at the upper end of the global buyout space, with abundant dry powder and readily available debt pushing up valuations. LPs are keen to allocate to the asset class, but will they end up disappointed?
Platinum to buy Staples' Australia, New Zealand business
US-based private equity firm Platinum Equity has agreed to buy the Australia and New Zealand businesses of business products supplier Staples.
KKR sets $8.5b hard cap for Asia fund, schedules first close
KKR has set an institutional hard cap of $8.5 billion for its third pan-Asian fund, with the total expected to reach $9.2 billion including commitments from the firm’s balance sheet and management team. A substantial first close – of around half the...
New GPs will not shake Australia PE market dynamic - AVCJ Forum
The Australian private equity market has seen the emergence of a number of new GPs – including several spin-outs – but incumbent managers told the AVCJ Australia & New Zealand Forum that they do not expect much change in the competitive landscape.
Fund focus: Into the white space
The arrival of Odyssey Private Equity – a collaborative effort by former executives from two of Australia’s best known GPs – once again draws attention to the hole in Australia’s lower middle market
Q&A: Adamantem Capital's Anthony Kerwick & Rob Koczkar
After more than 25 years between them at Pacific Equity Partners, Anthony Kerwick and Rob Koczkar departed in 2014 to pursue other opportunities. They have now joined forces as Adamantem Capital
Ex-CHAMP Ventures, Quadrant executives raise $211m fund
Three former CHAMP Ventures executives have teamed up with George Penklis, a co-founder of Quadrant Private Equity, to raise a A$275 million ($211 million) Australia and New Zealand middle-market fund.
Fund focus: VIG steps up for Fund III
South Korea VIG Partners closed its third fund at the hard cap of $600 million, having won over LPs with its past history and future prospects in buying and building middle-market consumer businesses
Fund focus: Asian LPs back AGIC’s cross-border proposal
AGIC Capital is targeting up to three more deals in 2017 as its debut Asia-Europe fund closes at $1 billion, having received strong support from Asian LPs
Fund focus: CITIC rides the Japan wave
CITIC Capital raises $268 million for third Japan fund, benefiting from an upturn in investor sentiment that should prove to be a boon for Japanese GPs in general
Q&A: True North’s Vishal Nevatia
India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA) recently changed its name to True North and restructured its investment team along sector lines. Vishal Nevatia, the firm’s managing partner, explains why
VIG reaches $600m final close on third Korea fund
VIG Partners has closed its third Korea-focused fund at $600 million, with support from new and existing investors including Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS).
New Zealand's Direct Capital closes Fund V at $270m
New Zealand-based private equity investor Direct Capital has closed its fifth buyout and growth fund at NZ$375 million ($270 million).
Unigestion acquires European rival Akina
Switzerland-based wealth management firm and PE fund-of-funds Unigestion has acquired the Europe-focused private equity business of its rival Akina Partners.
Longreach achieves first close on North Asia buyout fund
The Longreach Group is understood to have reached a first close of approximately $200 million on its third North Asia-focused mid-market buyout fund, which has a particular focus on Japan. The full target is $650 million.
Q&A: STIC Investments' Hans Jung
STIC Investments has raised $530 million for a fund that will target restructuring opportunities involving Korean conglomerates. Executive Managing Partner Hans Jung explains the strategy