LPs
Minnesota SBI backs KKR's Asia fund
Minnesota State Board of Investment (SBI) is looking to commit $150 million to KKR’s fourth pan-Asian fund. This represents a step up from the $100 million it put into the manager’s previous vehicle.
Poor relations: Endowments and foundations in Asia
With a few exceptions, Asia’s endowments and foundations lack the scale, sophistication and appetite for alternatives of their US brethren. Structural and cultural barriers maintain the status quo
VC and age: No industry for old men
The trendy, shape-shifting world of venture capital is broadly seen as a young person’s game, although hard evidence to this effect remains in scarce supply
1955 Capital wins case against Chinese anchor LP
Cross-border technology investor 1955 Capital has emerged victorious in a legal battle with its Chinese anchor LP after a US court upheld an earlier arbitration ruling that the LP had no grounds for withdrawing from the fund.
CDPQ, Piramal commit $300m to India private credit
Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and an asset management division of Piramal Enterprises have jointly committed $300 million to an Indian private credit platform.
LP interview: Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is easing into its first Asian private markets drive with a focus on optionality. Private credit, infrastructure, and real estate are early areas of interest
Capital Dynamics loses Asia primaries head
Kazushige Kobayashi (pictured), a Tokyo-based managing director at Capital Dynamics and head of primaries coverage in Asia, is departing the firm after nearly 10 years.
India AIFs: A new phase
Locally domiciled Alternative Investment Funds have emerged as the structure of choice for India-focused private equity firms, but the system is still troubled by some imperfections
Australia's IFM poaches Future Fund CEO
David Neal, who has spent the last six years as CEO of Australia’s Future Fund, will succeed Brett Himbury as head of IFM Investors.
Caldera signs up French anchor LP for Southeast Asia fund
Caldera Pacific, a consumer-focused Southeast Asian private equity firm, has secured $250 million in commitments for its debut fund, with France-based investor Argenthal coming in as an anchor LP.
ADB launches venture arm
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a VC arm focused on climate change-related technologies and women’s empowerment in the region.
MBK wins US pension support for Asia fund
MBK Partners has picked up commitments from New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF), New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS), and Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) for its fifth North Asia fund.
LPs want to see how GPs learn from mistakes in Asia
GPs should be open and transparent with LPs about their previous difficulties in order to demonstrate an ability to learn from past mistakes, the Hong Kong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association’s (HKVCA) Asia Forum heard.
Fund focus: Unicorn prepares for turbulence in China's VC space
China-focused venture capital fund-of-funds Unicorn Capital Partners, which has raised $350 million for its latest vehicle, expects consolidation in the tech investment space as underperforming GPs flounder
To pastures new: Asia PE people moves
A selection of the transfers, promotions, arrivals and departures in the private equity community in 2019
Talking points: 2019 in quotes
What industry participants had to say at AVCJ events on co-investment, technology opportunities in Vietnam, what LPs want to hear from GPs, Indian buyouts, long-dated funds, and late-stage deals in China deployment during times of uncertainty, responding...
CPPIB to invest $225m in Bain, Piramal India distress fund
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has committed $225 million to India Resurgence Fund (India RF), a distressed assets investment platform established by Bain Capital Credit and Piramal Enterprises.
PE industry associations: The advocates
Private equity’s increasing politicization globally and its expanding role in economies across Asia has put pressure on industry networking associations to do more in terms of public engagement
LPs and secondaries: Subliminal stimulation
Global economic and political themes are exerting an almost invisible undertow on LP participation in the secondaries market. The boom in Asia will be touched but not redirected
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.
Hamilton Lane appoints Asia investment heads
Hamilton Lane has named Mingchen Xia (pictured) and Collwyn Tan as co-heads of the firm’s investment business in Asia. They already cover fund investments and co-investments, respectively, in the region.
LPs going direct 'not a front of mind issue' in Asia - AVCJ Forum
Large institutional investors pursuing direct deals on a solo basis represents a logical evolution of the private equity industry and shouldn’t necessarily be regarded as a threat, Asia-focused buyout managers told the AVCJ Forum.
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