Fundraising
LP interview: Adveq
Active in Asia for about two decades, fund-of-funds Adveq has a preference for China and India, and a relatively strong bias towards VC. Jun Qian, head of China investment, explains what he wants in a GP
HighLight seeks $250m for second China healthcare fund
Chinese healthcare-focused GP HighLight Capital, which was set up by Steven Wang, formerly of CDH Investments, is targeting $250 million for its second US dollar-denominated fund.
India's Intex launches VC fund, backs local mobile player
Indian electronics manufacturer Intex Technologies has launched a technology-focused venture capital fund and made its first investment in online media platform Rooter.
Fund focus: Square Peg goes formal with $180 fund
In response to rising LP demand, Square Peg Capital left its deal-by-deal days behind and raised a formal VC fund. The firm is targeting start-ups in Australia, Southeast Asia and Israel
Australia's Vantage achieves first close on fund-of-funds
Vantage Asset Management has reached a first close of A$20 million ($15.2 million) on its third Australia-focused fund-of-funds. The vehicle, which launched in February 2016, has an overall target of A$100 million.
India's Kaizen reaches $44m first close on second fund
Indian education-focused GP Kaizen Private Equity has reached a first close of $44 million on its second fund.
LPs going direct: In the shadows
While appetite for co-investment among LPs continues unabated, the notion of going solo on deals is more talked about than acted on in Asia. But shadow capital still poses a threat to managers
Fund focus: Pioneer sees PE come of age in New Zealand
Pioneer Capital sees the closing of its third fund at the hard cap of $180 million as confirmation that private equity in New Zealand has become more mainstream
IFC set to back India's Pi Ventures
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a commitment of $3 million to the artificial intelligence (AI)-focused debut fund of Indian VC investor Pi Ventures.
Australia's Square Peg raises $180m for debut VC fund
Square Peg Capital, an Australian venture capital firm set up by Paul Bassat, co-founder of job listings site Seek, has closed its debut fund at A$234 million ($180 million), exceeding the A$200 million target.
Australian seed investor launches $50m global fund
Australia-based VC investor Followtheseed has launched a $50 million fund to invest in global early-stage start-ups.
OCP Asia raises $200m direct lending fund
Hong Kong and Singapore-based hedge fund manager OCP Asia has raised a $200 million direct lending vehicle to make private equity-style credit investments in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
Australia's SproutX closes $8m agritech fund
SproutX, an Australian accelerator focused on agricultural technology, has raised A$10 million ($7.7 million) for a venture capital fund. Artesian Venture Partners will act as investment manager.
China launches $21.7b SOE restructuring fund
Guangzhou Industrial Investment Fund Management, an investment arm of the Guangzhou government, has partnered with China Reform Holdings and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to launch a state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring fund with a target size...
Fund focus: Actis leverages energy experience
Having hit the hard cap of $2.75 billion on its fourth global energy fund, Actis will deploy most of the capital in platform-style investments for emerging markets renewables
Fund focus: Hosen wins support for China food thesis
China agriculture investor Hosen Capital has completed its evolution from a corporate-sponsored GP into an independent player with a $440 million fundraise from institutional and industrial LPs
Fund focus: Apis seeks to make specialization count
Apis is relying on its team's financial services expertise and networks to deliver the goods in South Asia and Africa. LPs have given them $287 million with which to prove the thesis
VIDEO: Lorna Chen, Shearman & Sterling
Lorna Chen, partner and head of the Asia asset management and investment funds practice at Shearman & Sterling, discusses China outbound investment
Institutional investors and private equity: Cracks in the ice?
Competition is intense at the upper end of the global buyout space, with abundant dry powder and readily available debt pushing up valuations. LPs are keen to allocate to the asset class, but will they end up disappointed?
CMC, Sequoia launch sport fund, back China kickboxing business
CMC Holdings – a unit of media-focused GP CMC Capital Partners – and Sequoia Capital China have formed a sports investment fund and led a Series A round of funding for Wanmingyang Media, which organizes and video streams kickboxing events in China.
Platinum to buy Staples' Australia, New Zealand business
US-based private equity firm Platinum Equity has agreed to buy the Australia and New Zealand businesses of business products supplier Staples.
Pioneer hits $180m hard cap on third New Zealand fund
New Zealand’s Pioneer Capital has hit the hard cap of NZ$260 million ($180 million) on its third growth fund, beating the target of NZ$210 million. It follows the first investment from the new vehicle in Havelock North Fruit.
Dymon reaches $20m first close on VC fund
Singapore-based hedge fund Dymon Asia Capital has reached a first close of $20 million on its debut venture capital vehicle.
IFC proposes $25m investment in Carlyle Asia fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a commitment of up to $25 million to The Carlyle Group’s latest Asia growth fund, which has a target of $1 billion.