Funds
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.
China distress investor DCL launches debut US dollar fund
DCL Investments, a China-focused distressed debt and special situations manager set up by former executives at CDH Investments and Shoreline Capital, is targeting around $300 million for its first US dollar-denominated fund.
Japan's IMJ Investment rebrands as Spiral
Japanese GP IMJ Investment Partners has spun out from its corporate parent and changed its name to Spiral Ventures.
Morningside closes debut renminbi VC fund at $143m
Morningside Venture Capital, a China-focused early-stage VC firm that used to manage only US dollar-denominated funds, has closed its first renminbi vehicle at RMB1 billion ($143 million).
HighLight seeks $250m for second China healthcare fund
Chinese healthcare-focused GP HighLight Capital, which was set up by Steven Wang, formerly of CDH Investments, is targeting $250 million for its second US dollar-denominated fund.
India's Intex launches VC fund, backs local mobile player
Indian electronics manufacturer Intex Technologies has launched a technology-focused venture capital fund and made its first investment in online media platform Rooter.
Fund focus: Square Peg goes formal with $180 fund
In response to rising LP demand, Square Peg Capital left its deal-by-deal days behind and raised a formal VC fund. The firm is targeting start-ups in Australia, Southeast Asia and Israel
Australia's Vantage achieves first close on fund-of-funds
Vantage Asset Management has reached a first close of A$20 million ($15.2 million) on its third Australia-focused fund-of-funds. The vehicle, which launched in February 2016, has an overall target of A$100 million.
India's Kaizen reaches $44m first close on second fund
Indian education-focused GP Kaizen Private Equity has reached a first close of $44 million on its second fund.
China NPL securitization: Pass the parcel
China wants to use securitization and debt-for-equity swaps to address its non-performing loan problem. Even without structural concerns and political agendas, they are unlikely to supplant portfolio sales
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
IFC set to back India's Pi Ventures
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a commitment of $3 million to the artificial intelligence (AI)-focused debut fund of Indian VC investor Pi Ventures.
Australia's Square Peg raises $180m for debut VC fund
Square Peg Capital, an Australian venture capital firm set up by Paul Bassat, co-founder of job listings site Seek, has closed its debut fund at A$234 million ($180 million), exceeding the A$200 million target.
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.
Australian seed investor launches $50m global fund
Australia-based VC investor Followtheseed has launched a $50 million fund to invest in global early-stage start-ups.
OCP Asia raises $200m direct lending fund
Hong Kong and Singapore-based hedge fund manager OCP Asia has raised a $200 million direct lending vehicle to make private equity-style credit investments in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
China launches $21.7b SOE restructuring fund
Guangzhou Industrial Investment Fund Management, an investment arm of the Guangzhou government, has partnered with China Reform Holdings and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to launch a state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring fund with a target size...
Fund focus: Actis leverages energy experience
Having hit the hard cap of $2.75 billion on its fourth global energy fund, Actis will deploy most of the capital in platform-style investments for emerging markets renewables
Profile: Venturra Partners' Stefan Jung
Stefan Jung has spent five years in Southeast Asia’s start-up scene, first as a leader at Rocket Internet and then as a VC investor. He believes the region is just beginning to unlock its potential.
Fund focus: Hosen wins support for China food thesis
China agriculture investor Hosen Capital has completed its evolution from a corporate-sponsored GP into an independent player with a $440 million fundraise from institutional and industrial LPs