Industry
Dual currency fundraising: Servant of two masters
A resurgence in renminbi fundraising has prompted GPs best known for US dollar funds to enter the local currency market. Addressing conflicts of interest in an increasingly complex industry will prove difficult
Japanese accelerator launches $17.5m hardware fund
Darma Tech Labs, operator of Japanese hardware-focused accelerator Makers Boot Camp, plans to launch a JPY2 billion ($17.5 million) venture capital fund, with Kyoto Bank serving as the anchor LP.
China NPLs: Great expectations
Foreign private equity firms are positioning themselves to address an anticipated surge in non-performing loan sales to third-party investors. Will the reality match the hype?
Australia's Uniseed secures $15m for VC fund
Uniseed, a venture fund manager associated with the Australian government’s CSIRO research unit and a number of domestic universities, has secured A$20 million ($15.2 million) in fresh commitments for a new follow-on fund.
KKR sets $8.5b hard cap for Asia fund, schedules first close
KKR has set an institutional hard cap of $8.5 billion for its third pan-Asian fund, with the total expected to reach $9.2 billion including commitments from the firm’s balance sheet and management team. A substantial first close – of around half the hard...
China outbound M&A: Time will tell
Restrictions on outbound investment have China’s investor community scrambling to adapt, but devising a proper response depends on future decisions from notoriously opaque regulatory agencies
China VC spin-outs: Daddy issues
Several managers in the latest generation of China VC spin-outs retain close ties to their former corporate parents. These relationships can deliver great deal flow, but also governance headaches
Australia's QIC closes global infrastructure fund at $1.8b
QIC, an investment manager controlled by the Queensland state government, has closed its global infrastructure fund at the hard cap of A$2.3 billion ($1.8 billion), beating the A$1.7 billion target.
India's Pi Ventures reaches $13m first close on AI fund
Indian early-stage VC investor Pi Ventures has reached a first close of $13 million on its debut artificial intelligence (AI)-focused fund.
Actis raises $2.75b for emerging markets energy fund
Actis Capital has closed its fourth emerging markets energy fund at the hard cap of $2.75 billion, after just seven months in the market. It will invest in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
EDBI, Philips launch Singapore health tech investment platform
Singapore’s EDBI and Philips have formally launched an Asia-focused investment platform that targets companies in digital healthcare services.
IDG, Axilor launch India early-stage fund
IDG Ventures India has partnered with Axilor Ventures for a program that will discover and fund disruptive technology start-ups in the country.
Industry players warn of conflicts in evolving GP-LP relationship - AVCJ Forum
Institutional investors globally are looking to reduce the number of GPs in their portfolios with a view to writing bigger checks for – and having deeper relationships with – a smaller number of managers, but this lack of diversification in the LP base...
Quona, Accion close $141m global fintech fund
Quona Capital and emerging markets microfinance group Accion International have closed a $141 million global venture fund dedicated to financial technology. It will focus in part on India and Southeast Asia.
Hosen closes $440m China food and agri fund
China-focused food and agriculture specialist Hosen Capital has closed its third private equity fund at $440 million after eight months in the market. The target was $400 million.
LP interview: Tsinghua University Education Foundation
Tsinghua University Education Foundation is the first Chinese endowment fund to invest in private equity. It has developed a preference for managers with niche strategies
Information issues: Fund administration in Asia
Private equity firms in Asia are increasingly willing to outsource fund administration, but they appear to be slower than their global counterparts in embracing more sophisticated middle office functions
Family offices want flexible solutions from PE - AVCJ Forum
Australian family offices and high net worth individuals (HNWIs) represent a huge potential source of capital for private equity, but GPs must be flexible in terms of the products they offer.
Fund focus: ChrysCapital banks on reputation with Fund VII
Having fully realized its first four funds and returned more than 100% of the fifth, ChrysCapital had a strong exits story to tell in raising $600 million for Fund VII
GGV adds new managing partner Eric Xu
GGV Capital has appointed Eric Xu (pictured), former managing director of SIG Investment Asia, as managing partner in its Shanghai office.
New GPs will not shake Australia PE market dynamic - AVCJ Forum
The Australian private equity market has seen the emergence of a number of new GPs – including several spin-outs – but incumbent managers told the AVCJ Australia & New Zealand Forum that they do not expect much change in the competitive landscape.
Fund focus: Into the white space
The arrival of Odyssey Private Equity – a collaborative effort by former executives from two of Australia’s best known GPs – once again draws attention to the hole in Australia’s lower middle market
India: Draining the PIPEs
PIPE deals remain a significant part of private equity in India, but a slowdown in recent years has prompted investors to evaluate strategies and the place for public market deals in private portfolios
HPEF strikes incentive deal with LPs over Asia fund
HPEF Capital Partners – formerly known as Headland Capital Partners – has won LP approval for an incentive scheme that ties in a reconstituted team to manage the existing portfolio, and the principals still hold expectations of raising a successor fund...