LPs
Private debt: Pulling uphill
Selling Asian LPs on private credit strategies remains difficult for the most part, but fund managers are generally confident that interest in the asset class is set to take off
IFC proposes $25m commitment to Maison's China fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering an investment of up to $25 million in Maison Capital’s debut US dollar-denominated China fund, which has an overall target of $200 million.
Multiples raises $690m for second India fund
Multiples Alternative Asset Management has reached a final close of $690 million on its second India-focused fund, beating the target of $650 million.
Sun Hung Kai appoints Sebastiaan van den Berg as CIO
Sebastiaan van den Berg, previously a managing director at HarbourVest Partners, has become CIO and head of principal investments at Hong Kong-based Sun Hung Kai & Co.
Australia VC: Interesting times
AirTree Ventures' successful fundraise underlines the growth interest in Australian venture capital, but the superannuation funds have yet to prove themselves to be a consistent source of capital
Q&A: Aberdeen Asset Management's Andrew McCaffery
Andrew McCaffery, head of alternatives at Aberdeen Asset Management, discusses the long-term impact of investors becoming more aggressive in their pursuit of returns, almost regardless of the risk
Secondaries: Stick or twist?
After several years of rapid growth, secondaries volumes slowed in the first half of 2016, while fundraising reached an all-time high. Opinion is divided on the prospects for an increasingly nuanced market
LPs want GPs to show comprehensive approach to ESG - AVCJ Forum
Private equity firms need to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into their investment strategies – and do so in a long term, end-to-end manner, LPs told the AVCJ ESG Forum.
PE exposure vital in weak global economy - Future Fund
Exposure to private equity and venture capital – where it is driven by true value creation rather than financial leverage or strong economic growth – has never been more important, according to Raphael Arndt, CIO of Australia’s Future Fund.
Korean LPs prioritize yield-generating alternatives - AVCJ Forum
Korean institutional investors are raising their allocations to alternative assets, but a need for yield means they favor assets like private debt and infrastructure over private equity.
Side letters: A little extra
The proliferation of side letter provisions submitted by LPs as conditional on their participation in a fundraise is adding to administrative workloads. Private equity firms must negotiate carefully
LP interview: QIC
Australia-based QIC is one of a handful of LPs able to co-underwrite investments alongside GPs. While there have been a few domestic solo deals, the group still sees itself more as partner than rival
IFC commits $15m to Philippines PE fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will invest up to $15 million in the debut fund of Philippines-based private equity firm Sierra Madre Managers.
CDH closes $525m renminbi mezzanine fund
China-based CDH Investments has closed its latest renminbi-denominated mezzanine fund at RMB3.5 billion ($525 million), exceeding a target of RMB2 billion.
IFC commits $45m to two China funds
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has committed $45 million between two Chinese PE funds.
CDPQ buys 20% stake in Plenary's Australia business
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) has agreed to acquire a 20% stake in Plenary Group Holdings, which controls the Australian operations of the global specialist infrastructure investor Plenary Group.
Q&A: CalSTRS' Christopher Ailman
Christopher Ailman, CIO of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), explains how his organization’s approach to ESG has evolved and what this means for portfolio managers
LP interview: PERA New Mexico
The Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico has seen its private equity portfolio outperform in recent years, but the program is still being revised. CIO Jonathan Grabel explains why
Fund T&C: Carrot and stick
Fee discounts and co-investment often dominate GP-LP discourse, but longer-term issues surrounding economics and governance are increasingly important to negotiations over some Asian GPs’ fund terms
Singapore's GIC expects weak returns in coming decade
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private saw its returns slow over the past year and warned the combination of high asset valuations, low interest rates and uncertain growth is likely to weigh on performance over at least the next decade.
China's Focus Media commits $150m to four investment funds
Focus Media, the Chinese outdoor advertising business taken private by a PE consortium and re-listed in Shenzhen last year through a reverse merger, is supporting four investment funds seeking to raise a combined RMB2 billion ($300 million).
QIC, Future Fund support AGL's Australia renewables fund
The QIC Global Infrastructure Fund and Future Fund have committed A$800 million ($598 million) to the Powering Australian Renewables Fund (PARF), a vehicle launched by domestic electricity provider AGL Energy to bankroll large-scale renewable energy projects....
China's CIC posts negative return on overseas investments for 2015
China Investment Corporation (CIC) posted a 2.96% loss on its international portfolio in 2015 – the first annual negative return in four years and the third since its inception in 2008.
GPs must be prepared to listen when pitching family offices - AVCJ Forum
Private equity firms must take the time to understand their audience when pitching funds to family offices, leading industry practitioners told the AVCJ USA Forum.