Industry
Australia's PEP hits $433m first close on secure assets fund
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has reached a first close of A$600 million ($433 million) on its secure assets fund, which invests in companies in Australia and New Zealand that generate annuity income but also offer opportunities for traditional private...
Fund focus: ADM aims for clarity in private debt
ADM Capital prioritizes transparency as it closes its latest Asia-focused secured lending fund. Environmental, social, and governance issues are also high on the agenda
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
Salesforce launches $100m Japan VC fund
Enterprise software giant Salesforce has launched a $100 million fund via its venture investment unit that will focus on cloud-based technologies in Japan.
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.
Värde collects $400m for debut Asia credit fund
Värde Partners has closed its debut Asia-focused credit fund with approximately $400 million in commitments. The vehicle launched about six months ago with a target of $250 million.
Morgan Stanley's Matsuyama joins Carlyle Japan
The Carlyle Group has named Tomofumi Matsuyama (pictured), a former executive at Morgan Stanley, as a managing director of its Japan buyout team.
Golden Gate commits $18m to Malaysia
Singapore-based Golden Gate Ventures has committed to invest MYR75 million ($18 million) in Malaysian technology start-ups and opened a new office in the country.
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 to...
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
Australia's Mercury closes Fund III at $439m hard cap
Australian mid-market private equity firm Mercury Capital has closed its third fund at the hard cap of A$600 million ($439 million).
Hong Kong's Ion Pacific raises $30m for PE secondary fund
Hong Kong-based merchant bank Ion Pacific has raised $30 million for a technology fund that will acquire secondary positions in venture and growth funds as well as take direct stakes in portfolio companies.
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.
AVCJ journalists win awards
Asian Venture Capital Journal was honored at the 2018 State Street Institutional Press Awards, Asia Pacific, winning three categories outright and receiving highly commended citations in two more.
ADM raises $178m for Asia secured lending fund
ADM Capital has closed its Asia Secured Lending Facility II (ASLF II) with $178 million for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Asia.
Cocoon launches $20m Southeast Asia VC fund
Singapore-based VC investor Cocoon Capital has launched its second early-stage fund with a target of $20 million.
Q&A: Tata Opportunities Fund's Paddy Sinha
Paddy Sinha, a managing partner with Tata Opportunities Fund, discusses macroeconomic and policy developments in India, the availability of buyouts, and the outlook for exits
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
India macro: Steady as she goes
India’s economy is expected to remain stable in the face of global volatility, but trouble spots remain. Investors must structure their portfolios carefully to ensure they are not caught off guard by sudden shocks
China Everbright sets up $288m fund with local government
China Everbright (CEL) has set up a RMB2 billion ($288.2 million) fund-of-funds with the local government of the city of Liyang in Jiangsu province.
Japan's NTT launches $500m global VC fund
Japanese telecommunications giant NTT Corporation has set up $500 million global venture capital fund that will focus on digital technologies.
Deal sourcing: Priority access
While proprietary deals are not always possible in Asian private equity, there are many ways for GPs to gain an edge even when competing with multiple bidders for the same asset
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