LPs
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
CDC backs Asia PE, VC funds
UK-based development finance institution (DFI) CDC Group has made commitments to several private equity and venture capital funds based in Asia as part of its global investment strategy.
Taiwan LPs: Increased exposure
As much as $10 billion could be released for investment in private equity following a hike in alternatives allocations for Taiwanese insurers. However, the major players will still deploy their capital with caution
NZ Super appoints Stephen Gilmore as CIO
New Zealand Superannuation Fund has named Stephen Gilmore (pictured), who was most recently chief investment strategist with Australia’s Future Fund, as its new CIO.
Lexington leads $1b stapled secondary for TPG Asia
Lexington Partners has backed a GP-led tender offer for TPG Capital’s fifth and sixth Asia funds, taking out existing positions held by LPs and investing new capital into the firm’s seventh pan-regional vehicle. The transaction represents a total...
Taiwan PE remains a tough sell for LPs – AVCJ Forum
Appreciation of Asia’s private equity has grown among LPs as commitments to the asset class pay off in developed and emerging markets, but investing in Taiwan is difficult to justify due to the absence of a strong local identity.
Secondary restructurings: Opportunistic delays
Creative secondary deals are presenting private equity investors with new options for extending exposure to prized assets. Although a modest trend, it evokes big questions about best conduct
Ardian opens Korea office
Ardian has opened an office in South Korea – its fourth in Asia – in order to service the needs of a growing investor base in the region.
Australia’s Future Fund loses private equity team - update
Three of the four most senior members of the private equity team at Australia’s Future Fund – including PE head Steve Byrom – have departed to set up their own consulting firm that will advise global institutional investors looking to build exposure...
Evolving India: Sophistication on demand
India's private equity market has reached a new level of maturity, and GPs must show they can keep pace with increasingly sophisticated entrepreneurs and LPs' expectations for returns
Taiwan loosens rules on PE investment by insurers
Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commision, which is responsible for the island’s securities markets, banking, and insurance sector, has increased the cap for Taiwanese insurers to invest in private equity.
India PE spin-outs: Standing tall
India provides fertile ground for spin-outs by increasingly confident PE veterans, but LP skepticism remains a major hurdle. Managers must demonstrate their investment skills quickly or risk being left behind
Family offices: Character actors
Family offices are driven by personalities and ideals that cannot be understood as part of an industry pattern. Relationship building is therefore more intimate than transactional
LP interview: Sweden's AP2
Swedish pension fund AP2 could be about to see a significant jump in its private equity allocation. Head of alternatives Anders Strömblad outlines what the organization looks for in prospective portfolio GPs
LPs still keen on Asia despite slow distributions - AVCJ Forum
Institutional investors remain committed to Asia even though distributions from funds targeting the region can be slower to come than those in the US and Western Europe, the AVCJ Forum heard.
GP stakes: Succession scenarios
Funds dedicated to acquiring stakes in alternatives managers represent a small but growing industry niche. They target GPs with strong records, stable fee streams and a need to address inter-generational change
Weathering cycles requires focus on fundamentals – AVCJ Forum
Private equity firms looking to maintain momentum across macro cycles must focus more on asset selection and value creation, industry participants told the AVCJ Forum.
LPs drive evolution in Asia back office practices – AVCJ Forum
Growing demand for information and reporting among a shifting LP base is leading Asian GPs to improve their back office structuring, investors told the AVCJ Forum.
GP stakes: A matter of ownership
Many private equity firms in Asia have been approached about selling a GP stake, whether it is to facilitate succession or in return for supporting a fundraise. Responses to such propositions are mixed
Q&A: Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation's Yup S. Kim
Yup S. Kim, a senior portfolio manager for private equity and special opportunities, at Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) discusses co-investment, accessing Asia, and allocating to permanent capital structures
GP-LP communication key to effective ESG policy – AVCJ Forum
Continued uptake of meaningful environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies in private equity will depend on fostering deeper dialogue on the subject between GPs and LPs, according to industry participants at the AVCJ ESG Forum.