Industry
Profile: Aavishkaar's Vineet Rai
Vineet Rai’s career in impact investing started before the concept really existed. Spurred – but also slightly troubled – by mainstream awareness, he has big plans for India-based Aavishkaar Group
BRI reaches first close on Indonesia fund
BRI Ventures, a unit of Bank Rakyat Indonesia has reached the first close of IDR150 billion ($11 million) on its locally incorporated tech venture fund.
MDI, Finch launch $40m ASEAN fund
MDI Ventures, the corporate VC arm of state-controlled Telkom Indonesia, has teamed up with financial technology investor Finch Capital to form a $40 million fund targeting early-stage investments in Southeast Asia.
Hong Kong reaffirms carried interest pledge
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has reaffirmed the territory’s commitment to providing certainty on the tax treatment of carried interest as part of efforts to consolidate its position as a private equity hub.
Fund focus: Equis’ infrastructure overhaul
Swapping a traditional fund for a less familiar corporate vehicle represented a gamble for Equis, but the Asian infrastructure manager was confident its approach would make sense to a subset of investors
Taiwan & tech tensions: Silicon island
Taiwan’s technology sector must play an awkward balancing game amid US-China tensions. This could be a surprisingly favorable position for opportunistic investment and global diversifications
CDH hits first close on China data center fund
CDH Investments has reached the first close of RMB1.5 billion ($228 million) on a data center industry fund. Part of the Chinese GP's mezzanine strategy, the vehicle has a full target of RMB2 billion.
500 Startups launches Cambodia division
500 Startups has launched a Cambodian unit in partnership with Khmer Enterprise, a start-up ecosystem support arm of the local government’s Entrepreneurship Development Fund.
Aggression pays off in times of crisis - AVCJ Forum
Going on the offensive is the best response to COVID-19 - taking advantage of market uncertainty to make new investments and help portfolio companies complete bolt-on acquisitions - the AVCJ Forum heard.
COVID-19 credit strategies must be flexible – AVCJ Forum
COVID-19 has emphasized the need for patience and mandate flexibility in private credit, industry participants told the AVCJ Forum.
Warburg Pincus, Advantage honored at AVCJ Awards
Warburg Pincus and Advantage Partners triumphed in the firm of the year categories at the 2020 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards, with The Carlyle Group and Affinity Equity Partners also among the winners with two trophies apiece.
Large LPs willing to explore riskier growth options – AVCJ Forum
Institutional investors looking to diversify their growth portfolios are increasingly turning to technology and emerging managers, the AVCJ Forum heard.
Asia buyout managers see no shift in return targets - AVCJ Forum
Asia-focused buyout managers do not expect an economic downturn to impact the returns underwritten into investments at the portfolio level as long as leveraged financing remains competitively priced and new paths to liquidity continue to emerge.
Global LPs want more control in China – AVCJ Forum
North American and European LPs see promise in Asia, and China in particular, but remain wary due to a lack of control opportunities, especially in the context of COVID-19.
Asset allocation: So long, silo?
The total portfolio approach remains on the margins of asset management. Advocates of the model hope LPs will reconsider as they look for alpha beyond the areas where they normally find it
PE firms look to move fund management companies onshore - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors are willing to reconsider their options regarding the location of their fund management companies even as they remain wedded to the Cayman Islands as a domicile for funds, the AVCJ Forum heard.
Fund focus: Future Capital looks forward
Cloud-based infrastructure, logistics technology, mobility solutions and the internet of things are key themes for Future Capital as it begins to deploy its latest China-focused early-stage technology fund
GP longevity requires careful recruiting – AVCJ Forum
Culture, patience, personality, and complementary skills are key team-building considerations for private equity firms seeking longevity and sustainability, investors told the AVCJ Forum.
ESG reporting pressures pile on GPs, LPs – AVCJ Forum
Rising compliance standards and COVID-19 have heightened the need for detailed reporting on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, LPs told the AVCJ ESG Forum.
Q&A: British Columbia Investment's Jim Pittman
Jim Pittman, global head of private equity at British Columbia Investment Management, discusses the mechanics of building a co-investment heavy portfolio from Canada’s 12th largest urban center
Virtual AGMs & IR: Close encounters
The technology is available to facilitate informal discussions at virtual AGMs, but do these solutions present an acceptable substitute for physical interaction, and do GPs and LPs want to use them?
COVID-19 amplifies focus on societal issues - AVCJ Forum
Concerns that impact investment would get pushed to the margins in the chaos of COVID-19 have been confounded by a renewed emphasis on social issues created by the pandemic, according to industry participants.
Virtual AGMs & IR: Up in the air
Private equity firms are still finding their feet with annual meetings that no longer take place on the ground. Like it or not, virtual engagement is set to become a larger part of investor relations from now on
ADIA, OTTP invest $1.2b in renewables-focused Equis
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTTP) have confirmed a $1.2 billion investment in Asia-focused renewable energy owner-operator Equis Development.
