Regulation
Private debt: Feet on the ground
Investors see growing opportunity in Asian credit, but the region has proven difficult for foreign managers to address. Local expertise, particularly in emerging markets, can unlock the best returns
Canyon Bridge founder charged with insider trading
One of the founders of Canyon Bridge Capital Partners – a private equity firm backed by Chinese LPs that was blocked from buying US-based Lattice Semiconductor earlier this year – has been charged with insider trading.
Singapore eases VC registration process
Singapore has dropped the requirement that venture capital managers must have at least five years of experience to qualify for local registration as part of wider reforms intended to attract more investors to the country.
China M&A: Common ground
Chinese outbound M&A is stigmatized at the moment due to concerns about regulatory barriers both foreign and domestic, but buyers and sellers can reach mutually beneficial compromises
Fund structuring: Change at the margins
While the Cayman Islands remains the go-to jurisdiction for PE firms seeking a domicile for Asia-focused funds, investor demand and regulatory remit mean structures are now more carefully considered
China-Australia: Communication breakdown
A couple of high-profile rejections of Chinese deals overshadow the fact that most foreign investments in the country receive approval. Prospective buyers are advised to engage with interested parties from the outset
Philippines confidence endures political strife – AVCJ Forum
The Philippines was praised for its political stability as investor wariness around President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on drugs became a recurring talking point at the AVCJ Philippines Forum.
Regulation: Dialogue in the dark
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the US has a huge a backlog of applications to process and a staffing shortage. Potential buyers have little choice but to be patient
Q&A: Zhong Lun's Yun Zhou
Yun Zhou, a partner with Chinese law firm Zhong Lun, discusses the effects of Chinese government guidelines on outbound investment in terms of who will be doing these deals, and how
China M&A: Outbound 2.0
Following the issuance of regulatory guidance, the aggression and opportunism that once characterized corporate China’s approach to overseas M&A will be replaced by moderation and consideration
Cathay’s mutual fund business to form local PE unit in Taiwan
Cathay Securities Investment Trust, Taiwan’s largest asset management business, is set to become the first local fund house to establish its own private equity unit.
Korea bans initial coin offerings
South Korea has initiated a ban on fundraising exercises known as initial coin offerings (ICO) which involve the unregulated sale of cryptographic tokens.
PE investors abandon Australia childcare merger
Outside school care providers Camp Australia and Junior Adventures Group (JAG), which are owned by Bain Capital Private Equity and Advent Partners, respectively, have abandoned plans to merge.
China-backed Canyon Bridge agrees UK semiconductor deal
Canyon Bridge Capital Partners – a private equity firm backed by Chinese LPs that was recently blocked from buying US-based Lattice Semiconductor – has agreed to acquire Imagination Technologies, a chipmaker headquartered in the UK.
Fosun revises bid for KKR-backed Gland Pharma
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical has altered the terms of its acquisition of a majority stake in India-based Gland Pharma – a deal that will facilitate an exit for KKR – as part of a long-running battle to win regulatory approval.
Trump blocks sale of Lattice Semiconductor to Chinese GP
US President Donald Trump has vetoed the sale of US-based chip maker Lattice Semiconductor to Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, a private equity firm backed by Chinese LPs, citing national security concerns.
Regulators seek to curb initial coin offerings
Start-up fundraisings via the sale of cryptographic tokens, also known as initial coin offerings (ICO), are set to experience elevated legal enforcement risk in Asia following regulatory pressure in China and Hong Kong.
China outbound M&A: Within the rules
Changes to China's overseas M&A guidance could mean changes for investors in the country seeking to purchase foreign assets
Korean fintech: Financial times
Korea’s financial technology sector is affording start-ups disruption opportunities based on an outdated infrastructure environment. Early movers are experimenting with a number of business models
Korea securities firms: Brokerage bonanza
Korean securities firms are building PE teams with a view to raising capital from third-party investors. There is government support for these efforts, but independent GPs aren’t worried about increased competition
Australian regulator questions Platinum's OfficeMax acquisition
Platinum Equity’s acquisition of OfficeMax in Australia and New Zealand – which came shortly after the GP agreed to buy the regional operations of Staples – has been flagged by Australian regulators due to concerns that it could lessen competition...
Australian regulator queries PE-backed childcare merger
Australia’s competition regulator has expressed concerns about the merger of outside school care providers Camp Australia and Junior Adventures Group (JAG), both of which are private equity-owned.
India's goods and services tax: A fair fight
While India’s new goods and services tax regime has caused temporary dislocation, private equity players are confident that their portfolio companies are set for long-term success
Hong Kong tax: Still no certainty
The Financial Services Development Council has criticized Hong Kong's tax exemption for offshore PE funds - and with good reason. It remains to be seen if regulators have the will to respond the group's proposals