Advisory
Morrison & Foerster hires fund formation lawyer from Proskauer
Morrison & Foerster has hired Jason Nelms as a Hong Kong-based partner in its global fund formation practice. He joins from Proskauer in New York.
PE value-add programs still at early stage in Asia - survey
PE firms are increasingly aware of the importance of value creation at portfolio company level in Asia, but many accept that their programs in this area have yet to reach maturity, according to a new survey.
Placement agent First Avenue opens Hong Kong office
Private placement agent and advisory firm First Avenue has opened an office in Hong Kong. It will be led by Michael Henningsen, previously a managing director at Park Hill Group.
Placement agent Eaton agrees sale to Stifel
Placement agent and advisory firm Eaton Partners has agreed to be acquired by Stifel Financial Corp, a US-listed financial services holding company with a strong presence in investment banking and wealth management.
The long game: Merchant banking-style PE
Ascendent Capital Partners’ China strategy involves advising companies first and raising the prospect of investment second, perhaps with a sizeable gap in between. Does this signal change in the middle market?
Going green: PE's environmental value-add
The private equity industry's approach to environmental value-add is evolving. The Environmental Defense Fund, KKR and The Carlyle Group discuss the various partnerships that underpin these efforts
Mitsubishi UFJ to buy UBS' alternative fund services unit
MUFG Investor Services, the asset servicing group of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, will buy UBS Global Asset Management's Alternative Fund Services (AFS) business.
Placement agent Forbes re-brands as FocusPoint
Placement agent Forbes Private Capital Group has re-branded as FocusPoint Private Capital Group following a management buyout from G2 Investment Group earlier this year.
VIDEO: LEK Consulting's Ken Chen
Consumer and healthcare are increasingly prominent among the China deals that LEK Consulting is working on as the economy transitions from an investment-led to a consumer-led model, according to Ken Chen, a direct and partner with the firm
Blackstone spins out Asia corporate advisory business
The Blackstone Group has spun out its Hong Kong-based corporate advisory business to Comprador, a new outfit led by Anthony Steains, the former head of Blackstone Advisory Partners Asia (BAPA).
Weil recruits HK PE partner from Latham
Law firm Weil has hired Tim Gardner, formerly a private equity partner at Latham & Watkins, to join its Hong Kong office.
Over 60% of Asia PE professionals expect 2015 salary hike – survey
Growth in the Asian private equity industry has led to higher pay expectations among industry participants, with 64% of professionals anticipating an increase in their 2015 base salary compared with 2014, a new report claims.
Greenhill to buy secondaries advisor Cogent
Boutique investment bank Greenhill & Co. has agreed to buy Cogent Partners, a global financial advisor specializing in the private equity secondary market, for up to $97.6 million.
Alvarez & Marsal adds transaction advisory to Asia services offering
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is expanding its Asia operations with the addition of a pre-investment due diligence unit to complement existing performance improvement, turnaround management and business advisory services.
Simpson Thacher adds fund formation partner in Asia
Adam Furber, a Hong Kong-based member of Simpson Thacher’s private funds practice, has been elected to partner. He was previously counsel at the firm.
Q&A: HEC's Oliver Gottschalg
Oliver Gottschalg, professor at HEC School of Management and head of research at PERACS, a quantitative analytics provider to the PE industry, explains why IRR is not the best judge of performance
Evercore adds to Asia private funds group
Boutique investment bank Evercore has hired Ian Bell from Credit Suisse to head up distribution and origination for its private funds group in Asia Pacific.
Alea Consulting opens Mumbai office
India-headquartered risk management advisory Alea Consulting has opened a new office in Mumbai, its third in the country.
MVision hires two managing directors in Hong Kong
Placement agent MVision has hired Michelle Paisley and Dennis Kwan as managing directors in its Hong Kong office. They will join founder and CEO, Mounir Guen, who recently moved to Hong Kong to lead the firm's Asia expansion.
Kirkland & Ellis boosts Asia private funds practice
Kirkland & Ellis has added two partners to its Asia private funds practice, with the promotions of Damian Jacobs and Jonathan Tadd. The firm now has four partners working on fund formation in the region.
State Street names new Asia alternatives head
State Street Corporation has appointed Bob Keogh as head of alternative investment solutions for Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, he will assume responsibility for servicing private equity, hedge fund and real estate managers.
MVision CEO to move from London to Hong Kong
Mounir Guen, founder and CEO of placement agent MVision is relocating from London to Hong Kong in order to lead the firm’s expansion in Asia.
Asia trails the West on operational value-add - survey
Asian private equity firms lag behind their Western counterparts on operational value add, according to a new survey.
OMM's Collins joins Dechert, eyes new phase in Asia spin-outs
Dean Collins, formerly partner and head of the Asia fund formation practice at O’Melveny & Myers (OMM), has joined Dechert as managing partner of the firm’s newly-opened Singapore office.