Fundraising
Japan's J-Star closes fourth fund at $443m
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has closed its fourth middle-market fund at the hard cap of JPY48.5 billion ($433 million), up from JPY32.5 billion in the previous vintage.
Australia launches $365m fund to support SMEs
The Australian government has launched a A$540 million ($365 million) growth fund to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with commitments coming from the country's largest banks.
India middle market: Polarization point
Increased deal flow towards the top end of India’s private equity market is stretching the capacity of mid-tier local managers. What are the implications for co-investment and fund size?
MBK sets $6.5b hard cap for fifth North Asia fund
MBK Partners is looking to become the sixth pan-Asian private equity manager to cross the $6 billion threshold, having set the hard cap for its fifth fund at $6.5 billion.
China's MSA Capital, Bahrain bank launch $50m VC fund
Beijing-based MSA Capital and Al Salam Bank-Bahrain have set up a $50 million VC fund that will target cross-border opportunities between China and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
China targets $7b security industry fund
China Reform Holdings, a state-owned fund manager with RMB700 billion ($100 billion) in assets under management, has launched a RMB50 billion fund that will make investments in the security industry, with a particular focus on technology-enabled services....
Chinese guidance fund secures $21b in LP commitments
China’s Ministry of Finance has rallied state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and local governments to support a RMB147.2 billion ($20.9 billion) fund that will drive a transformation of the country's manufacturing sector.
Norwest raises $2b for latest global VC fund
Norwest Venture Partners, a US-headquartered investor with a strong presence in India, has closed its latest global VC fund at $2 billion. It is the firm’s largest vehicle to date.
KKR targets $12.5b for fourth pan-Asian fund
KKR is looking to raise $12.5 billion for its fourth pan-Asian fund. It is likely to be the largest-ever Asia-focused, US dollar-denominated fundraise, surpassing Hillhouse Capital’s $10.6 billion close last year.
NewQuest collects $1b for Asia secondaries fund
NewQuest Capital Partners has closed its fourth secondaries fund at the revised hard cap of $1 billion, comfortably exceeding the $540 million raised in the previous vintage.
Uncertain times: The outlook for Asia
Private equity activity is lagging in Asia across fundraising, investment and exits as a result of political and economic headwinds. But there is still appetite for new managers and strategies
Fundraising gap impedes mid-market exits – AVCJ Forum
Polarization in fundraising has left middle-market investors with difficult options for realizing exits, according to industry participants at the AVCJ Forum.
Asian outposts: LPs see value in a local presence
Few institutional investors have the scale, resources or mandate to establish private markets platforms within Asia. Those that do are looking to make it pay off through co-investment
Primavera raises $3.4b for third China fund
Primavera Capital Group has closed its third China fund at $3.4 billion, having extended the fundraising period by six months.
PAG, Centurium win firm of the year prizes at AVCJ Awards
PAG Asia Capital and Centurium Capital secured the two firm of the year prizes at the 2019 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards, while Renuka Ramnath of India’s Multiples Alternative Asset Management won the AVCJ Special Achievement Award.
Q&A: Teacher Retirement System of Texas' Eric Lang
Eric Lang, senior managing director of external private markets at Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), discusses co-investment, strategic partnerships, and Asian expansion plans
Indian Angel Network closes VC fund at $53m
Indian Angel Network (IAN) has closed its first venture capital fund with INR3.7 billion ($53 million) in commitments. The target was INR3.5 billion.
Singapore's Tembusu seeks $287m for China liquor fund
Singapore private equity firm Tembusu Partners has received a strategic commitment of up to RMB670 million ($96 million) for a RMB2 billion fund targeting the liquor industry in China’s Guizhou province.
CICC, AstraZeneca launch $1b China healthcare fund
China International Capital Corporation (CICC) and global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca are looking to raise $1 billion for a fund that will back Chinese healthcare companies as well as international players looking to enter the country.
SoftBank founder admits to lapses on WeWork
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son admitted to a lapse in judgment on WeWork while disclosing that SoftBank Vision Fund and SoftBank Group have written down their positions in the beleaguered co-working space provider by a combined $7.7 billion.
Eastern Bell closes first US dollar fund at $365m
China’s Eastern Bell Capital has closed its first US dollar-denominated fund at $365 million, exceeding the target of $350 million.
Investcorp backs $500m Asia food fund
Investcorp has teamed up with China Resources and Fung Investments, the private investment arm of the founding family of Hong Kong consumer goods and supply chain conglomerate Fung Group, to raise a $500 million Asia food fund.
China Everbright, Investcorp deepen China tech partnership
China Everbright and Investcorp have agreed to combine their respective China technology-focused investment teams and co-manage a recently launched fund targeting the sector.
German VC firm DTCP opens Korea office
DTCP, a Germany-based VC firm controlled by Deutsche Telekom and Korea’s SK Telecom, has opened its first Asian office in Seoul.