Industry
Fund focus: Plugging the innovation gap
First State Super teams up with local VC player H2 Ventures to back Australia financial technology start-ups
2015 in review: Capital in abundance
Ample liquidity and a tech boom drive up investment activity; venture takes center stage in a relatively quiet fundraising environment; exits do not disappoint, but fail to match the highs of 2014.
Five trends for 2016
What do the next 12 months have in store? AVCJ has some ideas, but first here is a review of the predictions made for 2015…
The debate: Are LPs even LPs any more?
A group of top-level LPs of varying sizes came together at this year’s AVCJ Forum to discuss what they want from co-investment, how they prefer to participate, and ensuring alignment of interest with GPs
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2016
From Australia to China and buyouts to venture, industry participants give their perspectives on the year to come for fundraising, investments, and exits
New faces, old faces: Asia PE people moves
A selection of the transfers, promotions, arrivals and departures in the private equity community in 2015
Anand Prasanna leaves Morgan Creek
Anand Prasanna, a director with Morgan Creek Capital Management in Shanghai, has left the firm to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in India.
WuXi Healthcare closes second Sino-US VC fund at $290m
WuXi Healthcare Ventures, a corporate venture arm owned by China-based WuXi PharmaTech, has closed its second early-stage healthcare fund at $290 million, exceeding the target of $200 million.
Blackstone raises $18b for latest global fund
The Blackstone Group has reached a final close on its latest global private equity fund at $18 billion, with demand said to be well in excess of the $17.5 billion hard cap.
Northstar leads $1b financing deal for Indonesia's Salim Group
Northstar Group has led a $1 billion investment in Salim Group, one of Indonesia’s largest conglomerates, through a structured transaction. TPG Capital and Gateway Management also participated.
LeapFrog gets $200m as OPIC commits to emerging markets GPs
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has committed $200 million to LeapFrog Investments as part of a $1 billion financing drive for development-oriented funds in emerging markets.
Hunan TV & Broadcast backs Qihoo360 take-private project fund
Hunan TV & Broadcast Intermediary, a Shenzhen-listed TV producer, will invest up to RMB300 million ($46.7 million) in a project fund raised to support the take-private of Chinese internet security firm Qihoo 360 Technology.
Australia's Blue Sky targets $144m VC fundraise
Blue Sky Venture Capital, a division of Australia-based Blue Sky Alternative Investments, will raise a A$200 million ($144 million) fund focused on later-stage local start-ups.
AVCJ Awards 2015: AVCJ Special Achievement: Ta-Lin Hsu
As founder and chairman of H&Q Asia Pacific, Ta-Lin Hsu has played a key role in the development of private equity in Asia. He continues to look for ways to spread innovation
2015 AVCJ Awards supplement available for download
The supplement featuring winners of the 2015 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards that appeared with the December 8 issue of the magazine is now available for download.
AVCJ Awards 2015: Fundraising of the Year - Mid Cap: Ascendent Capital Partners
As corporate China adjusts to a slower growth environment, Ascendent Capital Partners’ strategy of providing advice alongside capital resonated with LPs
AVCJ Awards 2015: Fundraising of the Year - Venture Capital: Banyan Capital
Set up in 2013, Banyan Capital got busy quickly in China’s early-stage space and is now managing its second US dollar fund, which closed at $362 million
AVCJ Awards 2015: Fundraising - Large Cap & PE Professional of the Year: Jean Eric Salata
Jean Eric Salata, CEO and founding partner of Baring Private Equity Asia, on why fund and deal sizes are getting bigger
India: Out of the shadows
Anecdotal evidence from AVCJ Forums and research data are in agreement - India's private equity industry is returning to form
Australian government unveils incentives for start-ups
The Australian government has introduced a range of measures to boost local innovation and entrepreneurship.
Nexus announces $450m final close on fourth India fund
Nexus Venture Partners has closed its latest fund, Nexus Ventures IV, at $450 million, bringing its total capital under management to over $1 billion.
CPPIB, Temasek join $7b pre-IPO round for China's PSBC
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Temasek Holdings have participated in a RMB45.1 billion ($7.5 billion) pre-IPO funding round for The Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC)
IFC commits $25m to SBCVC's fifth China fund
The International Financial Corporation (IFC), the private investment arm of the World Bank, plans to invest $25 million in the latest fund raised by SBCVC, previously known as SoftBank China Venture Capital.
Thai Union abandons acquisition of Lion Capital's Bumble Bee
Thai Union Frozen Products’ $1.5 billion acquisition of Bumble Bee Seafoods from Lion Capital has been abandoned after the US Department of Justice informed the companies that it was concerned the deal would harm competition.