Fundraising
China tightens domestic private fund supervision
The Asset Management Association of China (AMAC), a self-regulatory organization for the PE industry set up by the securities watchdog, has tightened rules on domestic fund managers’ registration, with a view to cracking down on financial scams.
Black Soil’s Chang Sun postpones China agri fundraise
Chang Sun, the former Asia managing director at Warburg Pincus who co-founded Chinese agriculture start-up Black Soil, has delayed plans to raise a $1 billion PE fund and will instead focus on individual deals.
Japan Post Bank prepares for PE investment
Japan Post Bank plans to start making commitments to private equity funds in the first half of this year, according to Katsunori Sago, the bank’s vice president in charge of asset management.
China Everbright, Catalyst raise $200m for Israel fund
Catalyst CEL Fund, which is managed by Hong Kong-based asset manager China Everbright and Israel’s Catalyst Private Equity, has beaten its initial target of $200 million.
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
India VC: Smooth waters ahead?
India’s government has made promising signals about its willingness to engage the venture capital community. GPs are optimistic, but reservations remain about the details
Fund focus: SBCVC moves with the times in China
Having raised $459 million for its latest venture capital fund, SBCVC is tracking the latest developments in China technology with a focus on robotics and advanced industrial applications
Sequoia closes fifth India fund at $920m
Sequoia Capital has closed its latest India fund – which has a minority allocation to Southeast Asia – at $920 million, comprising an $875 million institutional corpus and a GP commitment of $45 million.
Corstone closes $124m Korea fund
US-based private equity firm Corstone Capital has closed a South Korea-focused fund at KRW150 billion ($124 million).
Rakuten launches $84m Japan venture fund
Rakuten Ventures, the corporate VC arm of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, has launched a JPY10 billion ($84 million) fund targeting start-ups in Japan.
LP interview: Hamilton Lane
In addition to an advisory business that targets large-scale LPs, Hamilton Lane has a discretionary portfolio geared towards the middle market. It expects Asian GPs in this space to adapt to changing dynamics
Late starter: Hong Kong boosts innovation support
Hong Kong is following in Singapore’s footsteps with the announcement of meaningful support for technology start-ups. Why is the government moving on the issue now, and what difference can it make?
Indonesia's Kejora adds partner, targets $100m fund
Indonesian venture capital firm Kejora Group has hired Eri Reksoprodjo, formerly of Saratoga Capital, as a partner as it looks to raise up to $100 million for its first institutional fund.
Black River PE team goes solo as part of Cargill spin-out
The private equity team of Black River Asset Management, an independently managed alternative investment unit of agribusiness giant Cargill, has spun out to form Proterra Investment Partners.
Qiming closes fifth China VC fund at $648m – update
Qiming Venture Partners has announced that it has closed its fifth US dollar-denominated China VC fund at $648 million.
China's Innovation Works seeks $250m for Fund III
China-based early-stage investor Innovation Works, which was founded by former Google China head Kai-Fu Lee, is looking to raise $250 million for its third fund.
Principle targets $350m for China fund
Principle Capital, a Chinese private equity firm that has previously raised around RMB4 billion ($608 million) for renminbi-denominated funds, is targeting $350 million for its debut US dollar vehicle.
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.
Asia PE returns will rise as GP skills develop
Distributions from private equity funds in Asia, which have in the past been lackluster compared to those in certain developed markets, are expected to rise as the industry matures and GPs develop their skill sets.
Hony reaches $1.25b mark on latest China fund
Hony Capital has reached a first close of $1 billion on its new Greater China-focused fund and raised an additional $250 million towards a second close.
NZVIF, Taiwan's NDF to anchor another VC fund
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) and Taiwan’s National Development Fund (NDF) will each commit $7.5 million to a cross-border technology-focused fund.
Hong Kong's Future Fund: Securing the future
Hong Kong’s new Future Fund has initial capital of $28 billion and a remit to invest aggressively in alternatives. To understand its approach, one must understand the Hong Kong Monetary Authority
China Cocoon Network launches $720m European tech fund
London-based Cocoon Networks, which is backed private equity firms China Equity Group and Hanxin Capital, has launched a GBP500 million ($720 million) venture fund to invest in UK and European technology start-ups.
Hong Kong to launch $256m fund to invest alongside VCs
The Hong Kong government will create a HK$2 billion ($256 million) fund that will co-invest in start-ups alongside venture capital funds on a matching basis. It is one of a number of initiatives intended to bolster innovation and technology in the territory.