Fundraising
StepStone wins GPIF infrastructure mandate
Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) – the world’s largest pool of retirement savings – has awarded a global infrastructure fund-of-funds mandate to StepStone Group.
Nissan, Mitsubishi, Renault set up $1b auto VC fund
Automotive giants Renault, Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors have launched a venture capital fund that will invest $1 billion in advanced car technologies with a strong presence in Asia.
4Q analysis: Riding the wave
Chinese companies return in strength to US bourses as investors leverage public market highs; Australia a bright spot as Asia fundraising slows; 2017 sets new record for PE investment on back of big buyouts, tech deals
Hony launches $300m Belt and Road fund, invests in Kazakhstan
Hony Capital has partnered with its portfolio company China Glass Holdings (CGH) to launch a $300 million fund that will invest in glass production projects in countries covered by the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative.
Baidu, Singapore's AMI launch $200m auto tech fund
Chinese internet giant Baidu has launched a $200 million fund with Singapore technology conglomerate Asia Mobility Industries (AMI) that will focus on autonomous driving and intelligent transportation.
Chinese insurers barred from using PE to spur government borrowing
Chinese insurers have been banned from using their private equity units to lend capital to projects backed by local governments for fear that this will inflate already sizeable debt burdens and raise financing costs in the real economy.
Affinity closes fifth Asia fund at $6b
Affinity Equity Partners has completed a first and final close on its fifth pan-Asian fund at the hard cap of $6 billion after approximately five months in the market.
Orchid raises $1.3b for Fund VII – update
Orchid Asia has closed its seventh fund at $1.3 billion. The vehicle had initially targeted a final close of $900 million by November 2017.
AVCJ Awards 2017: PE Professional of the Year: Yichen Zhang
Yichen Zhang, CEO of CITIC Capital, discusses fundraising, working on outbound deals, the appeal of China divestments by foreign companies, and leading a multi-strategy firm
Fund focus: The need for speed
Quadrant Private Equity is deploying capital at pace in Australia’s middle market, raising A$1.15 billion ($863 million) for its ninth fund less than a year-and-a-half after closing its eighth vehicle
AVCJ Awards: Fundraising of the Year - Mid Cap: Kedaara Capital
Having proved an ability to return capital to LPs from its debut fund, Kedaara Capital took just three months to hit the hard cap on its second India vehicle
TPG Growth closes fourth fund at $3.7b
TPG Capital has closed its fourth global middle market and growth equity fund at the hard cap of $3.7 billion after four months in the market.
AVCJ Awards: Fundraising of the Year - Venture Capital: Lilly Asia Ventures
Lilly Asia Ventures’ rapid-fire $450 million fundraise reflects increasing LP interest in the opportunities offered by the Chinese healthcare sector
AVCJ Awards 2017: Firm of the Year & Fundraising of the Year - Large Cap: KKR
From raising the largest pan-regional fund ever seen in Asia to concluding Japan’s biggest PE buyout, KKR has enjoyed an eventful 12 months
Timeline: 2017 by numbers
A selection of the key fundraising, investment and exit events - presented in chronological order - from the past 12 months
Warburg Pincus raises $2.3b global financial services fund
Warburg Pincus has closed its first global private equity fund focused on financial services with $2.3 billion in commitments.
Five trends for 2018
AVCJ looks at how its 2017 predictions turned out and identifies some key themes for the year ahead
2017 in review: Peak of the cycle?
Large-cap buyouts take private equity investment to record high; KKR leads the way in fundraising, but renminbi vehicles still distort the market; IPOs flourish amid global public markets boom
Australia's Allegro closes Fund III at $218m hard cap
Australia-based turnaround investor Allegro Funds has reached a final close on its third fund at the hard cap of A$290 million ($218 million) as well as raising A$92 million for a sidecar vehicle.
Cathay Capital launches $227m China automobile fund
Cathay Capital Private Equity has launched a RMB1.5 billion ($227 million) China automobile sector fund with cornerstone investments from Yangtze River Industry Fund and French auto supplier Valeo.
NSI hits first close on Fund II, backs Singapore healthcare start-up
NSI Ventures has reached a first close of approximately $60 million on its second Southeast Asia venture capital fund and also participated in a $5 million Series A round for Singapore-based digital healthcare company Biofourmis.
IFC proposes $20m commitment to Lighthouse India fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a commitment of up to $20 million in the third India-focused vehicle of Lighthouse Funds.
China's GenBridge closes debut fund at $500m hard cap
GenBridge Capital, a private equity firm set up by former executives from Chinese online retailer JD.com and TPG Capital, has closed its debut consumer-focused fund at the hard cap of $500 million.
China's 6 Dimensions raises $844m for debut healthcare fund
China’s 6 Dimensions Capital, which was formed through the merger of WuXi Healthcare Ventures and Frontline BioVentures, has raised approximately $844 million for its debut healthcare fund.