GPs
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
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.
Due diligence: Behind the curve
Gaining an accurate impression of an industry is vital for investors, but this can be difficult in markets where information is patchy or unreliable. Those who hope to prosper must learn to judge data carefully
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.
500 Startups opens Australia office
US-based early-stage investor 500 Startups has agreed to establish its Australian headquarters in Melbourne after receiving financial support from the state government of Victoria.
Ex-MBK Greater China head to launch private equity firm
Kuo-Chan Kung, former head of Greater China at MBK Partners (pictured), is launching his own private equity firm called Nexus Point Partners.
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.
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
Profile: Venturra Partners' Stefan Jung
Stefan Jung has spent five years in Southeast Asia’s start-up scene, first as a leader at Rocket Internet and then as a VC investor. He believes the region is just beginning to unlock its potential.
CVC to open India office
CVC Capital Partners is planning to open its first India office as it aims to grow its business in the country, AVCJ understands.
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
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?
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.
Dual currency fundraising: Servant of two masters
A resurgence in renminbi fundraising has prompted GPs best known for US dollar funds to enter the local currency market. Addressing conflicts of interest in an increasingly complex industry will prove difficult
China NPLs: Great expectations
Foreign private equity firms are positioning themselves to address an anticipated surge in non-performing loan sales to third-party investors. Will the reality match the hype?
KKR sets $8.5b hard cap for Asia fund, schedules first close
KKR has set an institutional hard cap of $8.5 billion for its third pan-Asian fund, with the total expected to reach $9.2 billion including commitments from the firm’s balance sheet and management team. A substantial first close – of around half the hard...
China VC spin-outs: Daddy issues
Several managers in the latest generation of China VC spin-outs retain close ties to their former corporate parents. These relationships can deliver great deal flow, but also governance headaches
Australia's QIC closes global infrastructure fund at $1.8b
QIC, an investment manager controlled by the Queensland state government, has closed its global infrastructure fund at the hard cap of A$2.3 billion ($1.8 billion), beating the A$1.7 billion target.
Actis raises $2.75b for emerging markets energy fund
Actis Capital has closed its fourth emerging markets energy fund at the hard cap of $2.75 billion, after just seven months in the market. It will invest in Asia, Africa and Latin America.