LPs
AVCJ Forum: More than meets the eye
In the June 22 edition of this column, I shared a conversation with a venture capitalist about the reasons why it makes sense for VCs to attend the AVCJ Forum (www.avcjforum.com) in November. Basically, senior partners of the larger private equity and...
CPP Investment Board announces 0.9% gain in fiscal first quarter
Canadian pension fund CPP Investment Board announced a 0.9% quarter-on-quarter gain for the three months ended June 30, primarily thanks to a strong performance from private market investments, Dow Jones reported.
Asian LPs and the US Debt Crisis
There has been a shift in the investor base of major private equity funds in recent years as Asia evolves from being just an investment destination to becoming a region for fundraising. Sovereign wealth funds, of course, are leading the way with the substantial...
Indonesia's GPs: Subscriptions wanted
Around 15 Fund-of-Funds LPs descended on Jakarta earlier this year to conduct due diligence on Northstar Pacific Partners’ third buyout fund. The Indonesian private equity firm set an initial target of $500 million but the final close is believed to be...
INCJ: Collaborator or competitor?
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has always divided opinion. The government-run entity, which operates with the support of local corporations, is intended to support new growth businesses.
IBK Capital Q to invest in Hankook Silicon
IBK Capital-Q Capital Partners, which is backed by The Korea Finance Corp. (KoFC), will invest KRW40 billion($38 million) in Hankook Silicon(HKS), the third-largest polysilicon manufacturer in South Korea, according to local media reports. The size of...
The Asian office: Regional, local or both?
I've said before that it's high time GPs based in US and Europe resume plans to set up offices in Asia. Before these ambitions were mothballed during the global financial crisis, I was often asked where in the region it is best to locate an office. The...
CIC announces 11.7% return on global investments for 2010
China Investment Corp. (CIC) saw a 11.7% return on its offshore investments in 2010, a year in which its exposure to alternative investments – such as private equity, hedge funds, real estate and infrastructure – increased sharply to 21% from 6% in 2009....
CPPIB makes first direct investment in Hong Kong real estate
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has acquired a 50% stake in Interlink, a Hong Kong building owned by Goodman Group, for approximately C$285 million ($301 million). The deal, which comprises an equity commitment of around C$205 million and...
You're only as strong as your brand name
I was surorised by the number of LPs at the recent AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum in the US that were familiar with the top tier private equity funds in Asia.
China funds: Cult of personality
Wang Gongquan's apparent departure from China’s private equity industry was nothing if not dramatic. An early-stage investment pioneer with IDG Venture Partners, Wang went on to found CDH Venture Capital, notably guiding Qihoo 360 to the US markets in...
Khazanah appoints QIA's Kenneth Shen as executive director
Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the investment holding fund of the Malaysian government, has appointed Kenneth Shen as executive director of investments. Shen was formerly adviser to the chief executive officer of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and a board member...
KIC's new CEO pledges to boost private equity exposure
Korea Investment Corp.’s (KIC) new chief executive has pledged to boost the sovereign wealth fund’s exposure to alternative investments such as private equity and commodities.
CalPERS, CalSTRS announce annual gains in excess of 20%
US pension fund CalPERS announced a 20.7% return for the year ending June 30, a 14-year high, while sister fund CalSTRS reported its best performance in 25 years with growth of 23.1%.
CIC appoints new CIO
China Investment Corporation (CIC) has appointed Li Keping as its new chief investment officer. Li, who was formerly vice chairman of the $130 billion National Social Security Fund, replaces Gao Xiqing, according to Reuters.
Horsley Bridge appoints Du Chai as MD
Fund-of-funds Horsley Bridge Partners has appointed Du Chai, head of private investments and real assets at Illinois-based Northwestern University, as managing director of its investment team.
Private equity, the ASEAN way
South East Asia has returned as a favored destination for private equity investors. With a population of over 600 million people and a combined GDP of $1.8 trillion, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – comprising Indonesia, Malaysia,...
Aberdeen launches real estate fund-of-funds in Asia
Singapore-based Aberdeen Asset Management Asia has launched a property fund-of-funds that is expected to raise up to $400million. It will help boost real estate exposure among institutional investors.
Thailand state pension fund may start investing overseas
Thailand Government Pension Fund (GPF), the sovereign wealth fund with assets totaling THB400 billion($13.2 billion), plans to invest overseas later this year. It is likely to target real estate funds, according to reports.
American LPs and Asia GPs: A meeting of minds
American LPs' LPS’ fastination with private equity opportunities in Asia is firmly rooted in macroeconomic fundamentals. The region accounts for 30% of global GDP and 50% of global growth – and ongoing urbanization industrialization in China and India...
Now is the time to open an Asian office
The last few years haev been among the most challenging for private equity. Armed with many of the best practices in the financial services, the industry emerged from the global financial crisis battered but not broken. And now, having turned the corner,...
Illinois pension fund earmarks $7b for private equity
The Teachers’ Retirement Board of the State of Illinois has won approval from its board of trustees for a plan that could see it invest up to $7 billion in private equity by 2016. The $37 billion fund wants to commit $900 million to $1.4 billion to the...
Korea's NPS selects GP investment partners
Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS), the world’s fourth-largest pension fund, has chosen eight domestic private equity and venture capital GPs to manage its newest, KRW900 billion ($840 million) Pan-Asian fund, according to Money Today.
LPs drive change in private equity
A new survey shows recovering confidence in private equity, but LPs are becoming more selective about their investments.