Investments
Nature vs nurture: Training PE professionals
With private equity’s traditional training tools coming under increased scrutiny, some are calling for standardized qualifications - before outside forces take matters out of the industry’s hands.
India classifieds business Quikr buys CommonFloor
Indian classifieds site Quikr has bought property search website CommonFloor for an undisclosed amount. Both companies have received VC funding.
VC-backed SE Asia e-commerce sites to merge
Moxy and Bilna, two VC-backed Southeast Asia e-commerce sites focused on female customers, have agreed to merge.
Affiliated Managers Group invests in Baring Asia
Affiliated Managers Group (AMG), a US-based global asset management company, has acquired a 15% stake in Baring Private Equity Asia for an undisclosed sum.
Q&A: Sankaty Advisors' Jonathan Lavine
Jonathan Lavine, managing partner at Sankaty Advisors, explains the firm’s strategy in Asia and globally. The following is taken from an interview for AVCJ TV conducted in the summer of 2015
CPPIB, Goodman re-up in China logistics partnership
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Goodman Group have committed another $1.25 billion to their China logistics joint venture. The JV will also buy nine projects from Goodman with an end build-out value of more than $650 million.
Actor Hugh Jackman invests in L Capital-owned RM Williams
Australian actor Hugh Jackman has invested in bootmaker R.M. Williams, alongside majority shareholder L Capital Asia.
The debate: Are LPs even LPs any more?
A group of top-level LPs of varying sizes came together at this year’s AVCJ Forum to discuss what they want from co-investment, how they prefer to participate, and ensuring alignment of interest with GPs
AVCJ Awards 2015: AVCJ Special Achievement: Ta-Lin Hsu
As founder and chairman of H&Q Asia Pacific, Ta-Lin Hsu has played a key role in the development of private equity in Asia. He continues to look for ways to spread innovation
CPPIB, Temasek join $7b pre-IPO round for China's PSBC
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Temasek Holdings have participated in a RMB45.1 billion ($7.5 billion) pre-IPO funding round for The Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC)
Q&A: IDFC Alternatives' MK Sinha
M.K. Sinha, CEO of IDFC Alternatives, explains how the firm has been focusing on private equity exits, gradual accumulation of assets in infrastructure, and opportunistic openings in real estate
Offshore service providers see regulation driving up costs - survey
The law firms, corporate service providers and accountants responsible for the offshore structures that underpin most private equity funds and transactions expect costs to rise as tighter regulations take hold.
Premji, Temasek pay $296m for stake in ICICI's life insurance unit
PremjiInvest - the family office of Wipro Enterprises chairman Azim Premji - and Singapore's Temasek Holdings have agreed to pay INR19.5 billion ($296 million) for a 6% stake in the life insurance unit of ICICI Bank.
India's PE-backed CarTrade buys rival CarWale
CarTrade, an Indian online used car portal backed by Warburg Pincus and Tiger Global Management, has bought a majority stake in online automotive sales platform CarWale from its owner, German media conglomerate Axel Springer.
CDH-backed Dali Foods seeks $1.3b HK IPO
Chinese food and beverage manufacturer Dali Foods Group, which is backed by CDH Investments, has launched a Hong Kong IPO with a target of HK$10.4 billion ($1.3 billion).
Co-investments strengthen GP-LP bond - AVCJ Forum
LPs that pursue co-investment opportunities alongside their portfolio GPs can build a stronger relationship with the managers, LPs told the AVCJ Forum.
Southeast Asia investments reward prepared GPs - AVCJ Forum
Southeast Asia has a lot to offer GPs who can handle its unique challenges and capabilities, recent economic volatility and the impact of China's slowdown notwithstanding, investors told the AVCJ Forum.
Asia co-investment: The waiting game
Large-scale co-investment will take time to get traction in Asia
ADB, IFMR partner for India microfinance loans
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has joined with IFMR Capital, an Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC), to provide local currency loans to Indian microfinance institutions (MFIs).
CMC secures $1.3b China football rights deal
CMC Capital Partners, a China-focused PE firm that specializes in media and entertainment investments, has agreed an RMB8 billion ($1.3 billion) deal to broadcast matches in China’s domestic football league.
Asia PE 2015: Guarded optimism
Private equity deal flow this year has been fed by several big auction deals, a healthy dose of co-investment, and ever larger late-stage tech rounds
PEP-backed Link gains on Australia debut
Link Group, the Australian financial data and fund administration services provider backed by Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), is trading above its IPO price following the company's A$946.3 million ($674 million) offering.
China travel sites Ctrip, Qunar agree merger
China-based travel services companies Ctrip and Baidu-controlled Qunar have agreed an all-share merger that will create a single dominant player in the domestic hotel and air ticket booking market.
PE-backed Coffee Day to raise $177m in India IPO
Indian coffee shop and restaurant chain Cafe Coffee Day has fixed a price for its upcoming IPO that will put the offering on course to meet its target of INR11.5 billion ($177 million).