Industry
Investors question eligibility for HK carried interest tax concession
Fund-of-funds and family offices could be excluded from Hong Kong’s proposed carried interest tax concession, industry participants have warned.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Fundraising of the Year - Mid Cap: Ascendent Capital Partners
A $500 million investment in Wumart is the exception rather than the rule for Ascendent Capital Partners’ third China fund, but the digital transformation theme is a constant
Fund focus: Novo Tellus closes second Southeast Asia fund at $250m
Although its second fund is considerably larger than its first, Novo Tellus Capital Partners expects to target the same kind of Southeast Asian industrial technology businesses that have succession and expansion issues
Tower Capital hits first close on Southeast Asia fund
Tower Capital, a Singapore-based GP that previously operated on a deal-by-deal basis, has achieved a first close of approximately $250 million on its first Southeast Asia-focused private equity fund.
Sinovation sharpens focus on healthcare-plus-AI
Healthcare, rather than “rocket science,” represents the biggest opportunity for artificial intelligence (AI) applications, according to Kai-Fu Lee, chairman and CEO of China’s Sinovation Ventures.
COVID-19 changing conduct as much as tech usage
Experiences vary across geographies as Asian GPs adapt to pandemic working conditions. Technology use is up, but the most lasting changes may be more cultural in nature.
Monument Group recruits Japan representative
Placement agent Monument Group has appointed Hiroshi Nishimuro, formerly of Morgan Stanley, as its Japan representative to lead fundraising efforts and manage GP relationships in the country.
Pathway promotes head of Hong Kong office
Simon Lau, who has led the Asian operations at fund-of-funds Pathway Capital Management since 2012, has been promoted to managing director.
Asia PE investment ends 2020 on a tear
A fourth-quarter surge in growth-stage deal-making took Asia private equity investment to $198.5 billion in 2020, comfortably surpassing the previous year’s total despite the strictures of COVID-19.
Asia fund administration: Odd jobs
COVID-19 is the latest in a growing list of drivers causing private equity firms to outsource various operations. The trend is implacable but inherently flexible
Lake Bleu raises $560m for Asia pre-IPO healthcare fund
Lake Bleu Capital, a Hong Kong-based private equity investor focused on healthcare, has raised $560 million for a pre-IPO fund targeting Asia with an emphasis on Greater China.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Fundraising of the Year - Venture Capital: Ince Capital Partners
A year after leaving Qiming Venture Partners, J.P. Gan raised $351.9 million for his debut fund at consumer internet-focused Ince Capital Partners
China's Firstred targets $500m US dollar fund
Firstred Capital, a Chinese private equity firm established by M&A veteran Xiaodan Liu, is looking to raise approximately $500 million for its debut US dollar-denominated fund.
SEAF hits first close on Southeast Asia women's fund
The Southeast Asia division of US-headquartered impact private equity firm SEAF has reached a first close of at least $16 million for a women’s economic empowerment fund.
Olympus-sponsored SPAC raises $130m
Olympus Capital has raised $130 million for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), which it is sponsoring via its fifth pan-Asian fund.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Firm of the Year - Large Cap: Warburg Pincus
Whether it is building a logistics platform, backing a take-private or anchoring a growth round for a tech start-up, Warburg Pincus prioritizes local partnerships in Asia
Hong Kong regulation: Carry on
The proposal to place a 0% tax on carried interest has been welcomed in Hong Kong, but PE industry participants are quietly looking to Hong Kong Monetary Authority to ensure balanced execution of the policy
Fund focus: Oceanpine opens to external capital
Technology and healthcare-focused Oceanpine Capital sees the large GP commitment to its fund and the network of its founder as key differentiators in a competitive Chinese market
Silver Lake raises $20b for global tech fund
Silver Lake has closed its sixth global buyout fund at the hard cap of $20 billion as the US tech investor exhibits a growing appetite for mega-deals in Asia. Its prior vintage raised $15 billion in 2017.
Ascendent founder sponsors SPAC targeting global deals
A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Liang Meng, founding managing partner of China’s Ascendent Capital Partners, has raised $300 million for global consumer technology investments.
Singapore bourse to consider SPAC listings
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) will consider allowing listings by special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) on the back of a spike in fundraising activity for these structures in the US.
Fund focus: Asian LPs amplify Mekong's ambitions
Travel restrictions forced Mekong Capital to look closer to home when raising its latest fund, but the manager was already building out a more Asia-centric LP base
China's CICC raises $650m for biomedical fund
CICC Capital has reached a second close of RMB4.2 billion ($650 million) on its latest healthcare fund - the first in China to receive fast-track approval for its role in addressing COVID-19.
Hong Kong's ORI hits first close on Fund II, exits Kymab
Hong Kong healthcare-focused VC firm ORI Capital has reached a first close of $112 million on its second fund and exited its largest investment, UK biotech developer Kymab, as part of a $1.1 billion deal.