LPs
Development finance: The great game
As the US overhauls its development finance institution in response to China’s growing infrastructure investment, the PE industry is preparing for a world in which politics goes hand-in-hand with capital
Australia co-investment: Too close for comfort?
Most Australian institutional investors want to participate in deals alongside private equity managers, but few have the bandwidth to do it effectively. Recruitment and risk controls are the key obstacles
Asia GP-led secondaries hit record high in 2018
An increase in GP-led transactions propelled Asia secondary market volume to $7.8 billion last year, and more of the same is expected in 2019 – once managers have adjusted their mark-to-market valuations following fourth-quarter volatility in the public...
Q&A: MLC's Jonathan Armitage
Jonathan Armitage, CIO of MLC, operator of Australia's largest retail superannuation fund, discusses the importance of a VC allocation, accessing overseas GPs, and increasing LP appetite for co-investment
StepStone adds partner in Beijing
StepStone Group, a provider of private markets advisory and asset management services to institutional investors, has promoted Beijing-based Vincent Hsu to partner.
Australia's Future Fund credits performance to private markets exposure
Australia’s Future Fund expanded its PE exposure by more than one third over the course of 2018, with the sovereign wealth fund citing carefully cultivated private markets exposure as one of the reasons it has comfortably outperformed superannuation...
PE holding periods: The optics of exits
Should you take a 3x return today or wait for a potentially larger exit next year? For GPs, this decision is complicated by fears of a downturn, the timing of future fundraises, and conflicting LP feedback
GP due diligence: Stones unturned
The expansion of private equity activity in developing markets is translating into greater due diligence pressure on LPs seeking reliable fund managers. Solutions are intuitive but difficult
CDC appoints new managing director
CDC Group has named Stephen Priestley (pictured) as a new managing director with a focus on South Asia and Africa.
Co-investment: Partners in time
The decision to commit due diligence resources to a potential co-investment balances complex factors around timing, strategy, and relational comfort. Efficiency and patience are indispensable virtues
Macro uncertainty: Mind games
A maze of strategies, philosophies, and preconceptions is underpinning a sense of confidence among alternatives investors as global economic uncertainty mounts. It must be navigated carefully
Australia's Funds SA hires Cameron Sinclair from Future Fund
Funds SA, which is responsible for investing on behalf of South Australia’s public-sector superannuation funds, has recruited Cameron Sinclair (pictured) from Future Fund to lead private equity and infrastructure activity.
Adrian Kerley leaves Australia's CSC for IFM
Adrian Kerley (pictured), the investment manager responsible for private markets at Australia’s Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) will join the private equity team at IFM Investors in February.
LP interview: PennSERS
Bryan Lewis, CIO of Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System, discusses accessing Asia, approaches to co-investment, and paring a bloated PE portfolio into a smaller set of strategic relationships
Baring Asia receives $25m LP commitment from LACERS
The Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS) has committed $25 million to Baring Private Equity Asia’s seventh pan-regional fund, the same amount it committed to the GP’s previous vehicle.
Investors turn to private markets amidst downturn fears - survey
Asian institutional investors are looking to increase allocations to private markets in order to mitigate the risks of a potential economic downturn, a new survey has found.
Singapore's Fullerton Fund Management creates PE team
Fullerton Fund Management (FFM), an Asia-focused multi-strategy investment firm controlled by Temasek Holdings, has appointed Huck Khim Tan to lead a newly established dedicated private equity team.
Axiom Asia completes $1.6b fundraise
Axiom Asia has closed its fifth regional fund-of-funds at $1.39 billion - beating the target of $1.01 billion - and also raised $210 million for its first dedicated co-investment vehicle.
Adams Street raises $824m for global fund-of-funds
Adams Street Partners has closed its latest global fund-of-funds with $824 million in commitments. It exceeds a target raise of $800 million.
New faces, old faces: Asia PE people moves
A selection of the transfers, promotions, arrivals and departures in the private equity community in 2018
Natixis merges regional PE units
The asset management business of Natixis has launched a global private equity firm by merging three existing PE affiliates, including Singaporean fund-of-funds Eagle Asia Partners.
ADB backs Creador’s Southeast Asia fund
Creador has raised $50 million for its fourth Southeast Asia and India-focused private equity fund from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Washington State commits $200m to China-focused Centurium
Centurium Capital, a private equity firm established by former Warburg Pincus China head David Li, has received a $200 million commitment to its debut fund from Washington State Investment Board.
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2019
Industry participants share their outlooks on some of the biggest economic drivers of the day, including fast-growing sectors and shifting deal making factors across Asia’s varied markets
