Advisory
Markus Ableitinger joins placement agent Pyramid
Markus Ableitinger, formerly an Asia-based managing director with Capital Dynamics, has joined placement agent Pyramid Private Equity Partners as an associate partner. He will continue to focus on Asia.
Asian GPs want training from fund administrators - survey
More than one third of Asia-based GPs would like fund administrators to provide additional training services, a demand that likely reflects growing concerns in the region about tax regulation, according to a survey.
VIDEO: Doughty Hanson's Adam Black
When Adam Black joined Doughty Hanson & Co seven-and-a-half years ago as partner and head of sustainability, the firm received 5-6 questionnaires per year from LPs on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. That number has since quadrupled
Made to measure: Customized co-investment
Growing appetite for co-investment among foreign and local institutions in Asia has given rise to a wider variety of advisors offering customized solutions to those with limited in-house resources
Monument promotes Niklas Amundsson to partner
Niklas Amundsson, who joined Monument Group from MVision last year as managing director of the firm’s Hong Kong office, has been promoted to partner.
GP communication strategies: Clearing the air
Communication strategies are becoming more important within PE as expectations for transparency grow. GPs must demonstrate an ability to maintain the trust of a range of stakeholders, not just LPs
Offshore service providers see regulation driving up costs - survey
The law firms, corporate service providers and accountants responsible for the offshore structures that underpin most private equity funds and transactions expect costs to rise as tighter regulations take hold.
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.