Funds
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
Fund focus: Apis seeks to make specialization count
Apis is relying on its team's financial services expertise and networks to deliver the goods in South Asia and Africa. LPs have given them $287 million with which to prove the thesis
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?
CMC, Sequoia launch sport fund, back China kickboxing business
CMC Holdings – a unit of media-focused GP CMC Capital Partners – and Sequoia Capital China have formed a sports investment fund and led a Series A round of funding for Wanmingyang Media, which organizes and video streams kickboxing events in China.
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.
Pioneer hits $180m hard cap on third New Zealand fund
New Zealand’s Pioneer Capital has hit the hard cap of NZ$260 million ($180 million) on its third growth fund, beating the target of NZ$210 million. It follows the first investment from the new vehicle in Havelock North Fruit.
Dymon reaches $20m first close on VC fund
Singapore-based hedge fund Dymon Asia Capital has reached a first close of $20 million on its debut venture capital vehicle.
IFC proposes $25m investment in Carlyle Asia fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a commitment of up to $25 million to The Carlyle Group’s latest Asia growth fund, which has a target of $1 billion.
Apis closes South Asia, Africa fintech fund at $287m
Emerging market financial technology investor Apis Partners has closed its debut fund at $287 million. It has already deployed about $130 million across five deals in South Asia and Africa.
Dual currency fundraising: Servant of two masters
A resurgence in renminbi fundraising has prompted GPs best known for US dollar funds to enter the local currency market. Addressing conflicts of interest in an increasingly complex industry will prove difficult
Japanese accelerator launches $17.5m hardware fund
Darma Tech Labs, operator of Japanese hardware-focused accelerator Makers Boot Camp, plans to launch a JPY2 billion ($17.5 million) venture capital fund, with Kyoto Bank serving as the anchor LP.
China NPLs: Great expectations
Foreign private equity firms are positioning themselves to address an anticipated surge in non-performing loan sales to third-party investors. Will the reality match the hype?