Advisory
ESG: Policy pitfalls
Environmental, social and governance management must be handled properly to leverage its promised performance improvements. Risks around poor execution cut across all aspects of private equity
Valuation standards: Counting their blessings
Asian GPs’ portfolio valuation practices remain largely opaque, despite the value of standard frameworks. LP demand will be key to moving the industry in a more transparent direction
Secondaries: Holding patterns
Advisory firms focused on private equity secondaries are confident that Asia will fulfill its potential as an expansion market for their services. They will not be able to effectively seize the opportunity remotely
Augentius appoints new Asia head
Fund administrator Augentius has appointed Jimmy Leong as managing director for Asia following the departure of Alexander Traub to Alter Domus.
Q&A: WisdomTree's Jesper Koll
Jesper Koll, head of Japan for WisdomTree Asset Management, summons 30 years of Japanese investment experience to predict a durable growth story where an aging population has its advantages
Cooley hires fund formation partner in Beijing
Cooley has hired Xun Zeng as a resident partner in its newly opened Beijing office. Zeng joins from Ropes & Gray in Hong Kong, where she was a counsel in the private investment funds group.
Asia private equity veteran Veronica John dies at 53
Veronica John, a longstanding emerging markets investor, has died following a battle with cancer. She was 53.
Lazard appoints head of Asia secondaries practice
Dominik Woessner, formerly head of Greenhill Cogent’s secondary advisory business in Asia, has joined Lazard to lead the origination and execution of secondaries transactions in the region.
Ex-SCPE China head Wei Zhu to join Accenture
Wei Zhu, formerly Standard Chartered Private Equity’s (SCPE) co-head of global private equity, has joined Accenture as its chairman for Greater China.
LPs demand integrated approach to ESG – AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors are focusing on policy implementation, team culture and transparency as environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices become an increasingly pervasive aspect of GP-LP negotiations.
Fund structuring: Change at the margins
While the Cayman Islands remains the go-to jurisdiction for PE firms seeking a domicile for Asia-focused funds, investor demand and regulatory remit mean structures are now more carefully considered
Q&A: Zhong Lun's Yun Zhou
Yun Zhou, a partner with Chinese law firm Zhong Lun, discusses the effects of Chinese government guidelines on outbound investment in terms of who will be doing these deals, and how
General Atlantic hires ex-ambassador to boost SE Asia coverage
General Atlantic has named its second Asia-based special advisor in a month with the appointment of John A. Prasetio (pictured) to help develop business opportunities in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Indonesia.
Hong Kong tax: Still no certainty
The Financial Services Development Council has criticized Hong Kong's tax exemption for offshore PE funds - and with good reason. It remains to be seen if regulators have the will to respond the group's proposals
Hong Kong advisory body criticizes ineffective PE tax policy
Hong Kong’s tax exemption for offshore private equity funds – introduced with a view to encouraging managers to expand their presence in the territory – has failed to deliver, according to the advisory body that made detailed proposals as to how...
AirTree leads Series B for Australia consulting marketplace
AirTree Ventures has led a A$13 million ($10.1 million) Series B round of funding for Expert360, an Australia-based online marketplace that connects small companies with independent consultants.
Financial institutions and fintech: Bouncing checks
Southeast Asia’s traditional banks have begun to take a strong interest in the financial technology environment, but their early-stage involvement in the ecosystem is still tentative
US LPs & co-investment: Risk appetite
There are various practical reasons - concerning legal, oversight and human reasons - why US pension funds are not as aggressive as their Canadian peers in private equity. A change in mindset would also be helpful
Q&A: BDA's Paul DiGiacomo
Paul DiGiacomo, a managing director with Asia-focused advisory firm BDA Partners, discusses the latest trends in M&A, from increasingly sophisticated Chinese buyers to more willing multinational sellers
Campbell Lutyens adds former GIC executive to advisory board
Placement agent and secondary transaction advisor Campbell Lutyens has appointed Kok-Peng Teh, formerly head of the special investments division at GIC Private, to its advisory board.
Placement agent First Avenue opens Korea office
Private funds and corporate placement agent First Avenue has opened an office in Seoul, adding to its existing Asia Pacific bases in Hong Kong and Sydney.
Morrison & Foerster adds fund formation partner in Hong Kong
Morrison & Foerster has hired Serena Tan, formerly an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton specializing in fund formation and fund management, as a partner in its Hong Kong office.
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
FTV Capital leads $56m round for Indian researcher
US venture investor FTV Capital has taken a minority stake in India-based industry research and consulting company MarketsandMarkets after leading a $56 million funding round.
