LPs
Malaysia's Khazanah names EPF CEO as managing director
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has appointed Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, CEO of state-controlled Employees Provident Fund (EPF), as its new managing director.
PE and tech investment: The late show
Private equity firms are participating in late-stage rounds in Asia’s technology space as they look to gain a toehold in start-ups with the potential to transform economies. But do the valuations make sense?
Capria targets $100m for emerging markets fund-of-funds
Capria Ventures, a US impact investor sponsored by Unitus, has launched a $100 million fund that will focus in part on developing regions within Asia.
Q&A: Future Fund's Raphael Arndt
Australia’s Future Fund is responding to disruption by investing in venture capital, factoring technology risk into investment decision making, and upgrading internal systems. CIO Raphael Arndt explains the rationale behind this approach
Sovereigns in alternatives: Watch the throne
Sovereign wealth funds are said to be pulling back from unlisted assets, a move motivated by intense competition and high valuations, as well as target allocations being reached
Khazanah's entire board offers to step down
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has confirmed that its entire board of directors is willing to resign. It comes as a newly elected government looks to curb corruption in state investment programs.
LP interview: Korea's POBA
Korea’s Public Officials Benefit Association is expanding its private equity exposure and global footprint. Maintaining this diversification within the firm’s traditional risk profile requires a gradual approach
US CIOs must see Asia if they are to get comfortable with it - AVCJ Forum
Alternatives investment officers from US institutions should involve their senior leadership teams in site visits to Asia if they want to push ahead with emerging markets investment programs, LPs told the AVCJ USA Forum.
GIC advises caution, predicts rising global volatility
GIC Private’s investment performance declined for the third consecutive year, with the sovereign wealth fund once again warning of uncertainty driven by high asset valuations, increased risk of monetary policy tightening, and international trade tensions.
CIC's international portfolio generates record-high return
China Investment Corporation (CIC) posted a record-high return of 17.59% on its international portfolio in 2017 – compared to 6.22% the previous year – as the sovereign wealth fund’s total assets reached $941.4 billion.
Temasek’s portfolio reaches $235b in 2018
Temasek Holdings saw its net portfolio value reach S$308 billion ($235 billion) as the Singapore government-controlled investment fund stepped up its investment activity in the 12 months ended March 2018.
IFC plans $273m Southeast Asia distress JV
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed a partnership with Philippines-based Altus Capital to invest up to $272.5 million in distressed assets in Southeast Asia.
Unicorn raises $250m for second China fund-of-funds
China-focused venture capital fund-of-funds Unicorn Capital Partners has closed its second fund at the hard cap of $250 million.
Pantheon opens Tokyo office to service Japanese LPs
Pantheon has opened an office in Tokyo, having won separate account mandates from the likes of Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF).
Outsourced CIO: Secret sauce
Teams spinning out from US endowments are competing in an increasingly competitive market for outsourced investment mandates from institutions. Scale and differentiation are the key selling points
Q&A: Eaton Partners' Chris Lerner
Chris Lerner, a partner and head of Asia at placement agent Eaton Partners, discusses why LPs are allocating more capital to private equity in the region and who are the biggest beneficiaries
NZ Super buys 27% stake in domestic food player
New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) has invested an undisclosed sum to take a 27% holding in New Zealand Gourmet, a company that farms and markets a range of fresh produce.
Japan VC: Acorns to oaks
Japan Post Investment Corporation seeks to fill the late-stage investment gap in Japan's venture capital market that local VC investors lack the capacity to address
Temasek and CFOs: PE to the people
It has taken Temasek Holdings four secondary transactions over 12 years to create a product that allows retail investors to participate in its private equity portfolio. Will others follow suit?
NZ Super names Whineray as new CEO
New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) has appointed its CIO Matt Whineray as CEO following a global search process.
Japanese LPs emphasize portfolio diversification - AVCJ Forum
Diversification – by vintage, geography, and strategy – is the priority for Japan’s largest institutional investors as they develop their private equity programs, but they accept that portfolio-building can be challenging.
LP interview: Cbus' Kristian Fok
Recognizing that strong cash inflows were working against a solely outsourced manager strategy in the alternatives space, Australia’s Cbus picked its key asset classes and devised a direct solution
Japanese LPs value site visits with infrastructure managers
Japanese corporate pension funds are looking to increase their allocations to infrastructure, but they value the opportunity to visit managers before committing capital.
Japanese LPs: Stirring giants
Japan’s LP landscape is in a state of flux as several large-scale investors ramp up their alternatives programs. The industry must prepare itself, in terms of personnel, structures, and expectations