Industry
US pension funds: Going direct
California Public Employees’ Retirement System's (CalPERS) decision to launch a private equity direct investment strategy sets it apart from its counterparts, but the plan will need conviction and focus to succeed
Fund focus: Tapping the Alibaba talent seam
Vision Plus Capital looks to tap the entrepreneurial talent developing in Alibaba Group's ecosystem for its second US dollar and renminbi-denominated funds
Fund focus: Advantage set for Asia ex-Japan push
Advantage Partners aims to build on the firm's experience connecting Asian entrepreneurs with opportunities in Japan in its first Asia-focused fund
Hong Kong technology IPOs: Size matters
Hong Kong has altered its IPO regime to attract tech companies with unorthodox shareholding structures and biotech start-ups with no revenue. But only certain businesses are welcome to apply
Carlyle hires two Southeast Asia dealmakers
The Carlyle Group has hired Robby Winarta as a managing director for Indonesia and Long Hoang as a direct for Vietnam.
China's AlphaX raises $313m venture capital fund
AlphaX Partners, a Chinese venture capital firm established by Chuan Thor (pictured), formerly of Highland Capital China, has closed its first US dollar and renminbi-denominated fund with RMB2 billion ($313 million) in commitments.
Legend hits $156m first close on renminbi healthcare fund
Legend Capital has reached a first close of RMB1 billion ($156 million) on its second dedicated healthcare fund. A US dollar-denominated vehicle – also the VC firm’s second for the sector – is scheduled for launch in the third quarter.
San Francisco pension fund backs China's SBCVC - update
San Francisco City & County Employees’ Retirement System has committed $25 million to SBCVC’s sixth China fund, which has a target of $500 million. The GP closed its previous VC vehicle at $459 million in 2016.
CalPERS to launch direct private equity investment unit
California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest public pension fund in the US, plans to deploy up to $13 billion a year in direct private equity deals through two newly formed funds.
Japan Post Bank targets $76.5b alternatives portfolio
Japan Post Bank plans to increase the size of its alternatives portfolio more than fivefold in the next three years to JPY8.5 trillion ($76.5 billion). More than JPY2 trillion of this will be allocated to private equity.
CPPIB's Asia private equity exposure tops $13b
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) continues to ramp up its exposure to Asian private equity, with called and uncalled commitments rising 27% to C$17.1 billion ($13.3 billion) for the 12 months ended March 2018.
AVCJ daily bulletin returns May 23
AVCJ's daily bulletin will not be published on May 22 due to a public holiday in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's Arbor raises $178.5m for second VC fund
Hong Kong-based Arbor Ventures has received $178.5 million in commitments for its second financial technology-focused venture capital fund. The targeted corpus is $220 million.
Next 10 secures $50m for user-generated content fund
Next 10 Ventures, a US and Singapore-based GP headed by former YouTube and Warner Bros executives, has raised $50 million for a fund focused on user-generated media content businesses.
Vietnam GPs: Five's company
Vietnam’s incumbent domestic private equity firms have all been in operation for more than a decade. Do LPs have enough confidence in the market to support the launch of additional managers?
Indian incubator raises $12.5m for seed fund
Indian educational institution IIM Ahmedabad has raised $12.5 million for its on-campus start-up incubator and seed fund from investors including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Vision Plus raises $500m for China VC funds
Vision Plus Capital Partners, a Chinese venture capital firm set up by one of the co-founders of Alibaba Group, has raised $500 million for its second US dollar and renminbi-denominated funds.
Q&A: IDG Ventures Vietnam's Henry Nguyen
Start-ups are attracting more attention in Vietnam as technology-oriented business models take root and local success stories emerge. Henry Nguyen of IDG Ventures Vietnam maps out the landscape
Australia's Westpac invests $37m in Reinventure
Australia’s Westpac Banking Corp has committed A$50 million ($37 million) to the third fund of its venture capital unit Reinventure.
Japan's Advantage closes debut Asia fund at $380m
Japanese GP Advantage Partners has closed its first Asia-focused fund with total commitments of $380 million. Investments have already been made in China, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
Vietnam consumer: Trading up
Vietnam’s consumer economy is attracting a wider range of investors as deal sizes inflate and new openings emerge in a winding value chain. Private equity is positioned to exploit several vantage points
Tech entrepreneurs and family offices: Collective might
Investment firms are emerging in Asia that leverage the collective wealth, knowledge and networks of the region's most successful internet entrepreneurs. These are family offices, but not necessarily in the traditional Western model
Fund focus: HQ prepares for Asia secondary surge
Having raised $250 million for an Asia secondary fund, HQ Capital remains the only global multi-strategy firm with a vehicle dedicated to the region. It expects a significant uptick in deal flow over the next few years
Permira postpones Asia fundraise
Permira has put plans for a debut Asia fund on hold as it prioritizes managing existing portfolio companies in the region. The firm was talking to investors about raising $1.5 billion.
