Advisory
China’s Fangda poaches Freshfields partner to lead HK office
Chinese law firm Fangda Partners has hired Freshfields litigation partner Peter Yuen to head up its new office in Hong Kong, which is set to open in June. This will be the firm's first location outside of mainland China.
Blackpeak appoints ex-Control Risks executive in Shanghai
Risk advisory firm Blackpeak Group has opened an office in Shanghai and appointed Max Hirsch to head up its operations in the city. Formerly a member of Control Risks’ corporate investigation practice, Hirsch will work with Nick Blank and Jack Clode,...
WSGR hires PE-focused partner in Shanghai
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR), the US-based law firm specializing in technology and life sciences, has hired Zhan Chen as a partner in Shanghai. Her practice focuses on private equity, privatizations and M&A.
Tata Capital to offer private investment banking in Singapore
Tata Capital will set up a private investment banking business in Singapore with a view to starting operations within two years. It plans to focus on private equity and fund management capabilities as well as wealth management and securities broking.
Blackpeak adds Nicholas Blank in Hong Kong
Risk advisory firm Blackpeak Group, which focuses on corporate, private equity and hedge fund clients, has appointed Nicholas Blank as a director based in Hong Kong.
Bain: GDP doesn’t indicate private equity capacity
The number of large companies in a country, not the size of its economy, is the most important indicator of a market’s capacity to absorb private equity capital, according to Bain & Company. Other key factors include the depth and liquidity of capital...
China business leaders join 3i’s advisory board
3i Group has appointed two Chinese business leaders and one academic to its newly formed advisory board for the country. The new recruits are Frank Ning, chairman of food conglomerate COFCO, Dr Bing Xiang, founding dean of Cheung Kong Graduate School...
Vistra launches fund administration services in Asia
Vistra Fund Services has launched an Asian unit to complement existing operations run out of Jersey and Luxembourg. Based in Hong Kong, the new unit will provide fund administration and associated services to fund managers throughout Asia.
VSG to facilitate LP direct investment in India
VSG Capital Advisors, a new investment bank, has been established in India to advise on domestic and cross-border deals. The move comes at a time when pension funds and sovereign wealth funds are tipped to raise their direct investment allocations to...
NEA hires Carmen Chang as advisor
Venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA) has appointed Carmen Chang to the role of special senior advisor. Chang joins NEA from US law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR).
Norton Rose Australia PE head joins Sparke Helmore
Nick Humphrey, former head of private equity for Norton Rose Australia, has joined Sparke Helmore Lawyers as the legal firm’s national corporate practice group leader.
India Awards: Financial Advisor of the Year – Ernst & Young
Ranjan Biswas, national director for transaction advisory services for Ernst & Young India, looks at the role financial advisors can play in facilitating private equity transactions.
India Awards: Legal Advisor of the Year – Khaitan & Co
An effective legal advisor needs TO be on top of the latest regulatory developments. In India this is perhaps easier said than done. In the past six months, various regulators have move forwards then backwards on put and call options, taken PE firms to...
Pension funds still committed to pan-Asian, global funds
Institutional limited partners are becoming more nuanced in their appreciation of private equity opportunities in the region but this doesn’t necessarily signal a wholesale shift away from pan-Asian or global funds.
China forestry assets: A due diligence nightmare
Opaque regulation and uncertainty about ownership in China’s forestry industry represent a challenge to strong investor oversight.
China due diligence: Suspicious minds?
The quality of private equity firms’ China due diligence has been called into question over the last 12 months - growth capital players may have too little time and too much money.
Towers Watson hires professionals from Squadron, Navis
Professional services provider Towers Watson has appointed Richard Tan and Agnes Lee as senior private markets consultants in Hong Kong. As part of the company’s private markets research team, they will focus on helping private equity firms and other...
HSBC hires Glenn Kennedy to head regional alternatives sales
HSBC Securities Services has appointed Glenn Kennedy as regional head of sales and relationship management for the alternatives sector. Based in Hong Kong, he will be responsible for new and existing client relationships throughout Asia Pacific, with...
Former CalPERS manager sets up legacy asset consultancy
A former senior portfolio manager at CalPERS has launched a company focused on helping institutional investors maximize value from non-core and underperforming legacy alternative investments.
CIC, KIC chairmen named to high-profile RDIF advisory board
The chairman of China Investment Corp. (CIC), Lou Jiwei, has been named to the international advisory board of the Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Choi Chong Suk, chairman of Korea Investment Corp. (KIC), will also serve on the board alongside Bader...
Investors demand greater transparency from GPs - survey
Institutional investors are increasingly turning to private equity for returns, but they expect greater transparency from GPs. According to a survey report released by SEI in collaboration with Greenwich Associates, fund management need to demonstrate...
Russia’s sovereign wealth fund seeks Chinese partners
Russia’s first sovereign wealth fund, the $10 billion Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which was set up in June, is seeking Chinese partners to co-invest in deals, Caixin reported.
SEC backs rule change requiring PE fund adviser registration
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday approved legislation mandating registration for private equity and hedge fund advisers. Under a measure that features in the Dodd-Frank Act, advisers will have to disclose information on their...
HSBC makes new debt appointments for Asia Pacific
HSBC has announced two new senior appointments in its Asia Pacific Debt Capital Markets (DCM) team, with the appointment of Mark Mallia as Head of Debt Syndicate, Asia-Pacific, while Sean Henderson, previous incumbent in the role, will move to Australia...