Asia
OCIO Partners Capital recruits Asia co-head
Global outsourced investment office (OCIO) Partners Capital has appointed Emmanuel Pitsilis, formerly a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, as managing director and co-head of Asia Pacific.
Asia credit fundraising: Middle muddle
Various structural tailwinds are driving the development of Asia’s middle-market private credit space. This doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to raise funds for the strategy
Blackstone in $3.1b first close on second Asia PE fund
The Blackstone Group has reached a first close of $3.1 billion on its second dedicated Asia private equity fund, which is already larger than Fund I.
Mobility: Gravitational shift
The automotive industry’s VC overtures might be in retrograde, but traditional carmakers are finding new ways to make a mark in mobility innovation. This creates new dynamics for financial investors
1Q analysis: American dreams
New York makes an unexpected reappearance as the preferred IPO destination for Asian companies; the growth-stage tech investment revival continues; KKR lights up lackluster fundraising environment
KKR reaches $15b final close on fourth Asian fund
KKR has closed its fourth pan-Asian fund at $15 billion – the largest US dollar-denominated private equity vehicle ever raised for the region and the largest raised by KKR globally by number of LPs.
Baring targets $8.5b for eighth pan-Asia fund
Baring Private Equity Asia is back in the market seeking $8.5 billion for its eighth pan-regional fund, less than 15 months after closing Fund VII at $6.5 billion.
Asian GPs prioritize portfolio resilience - Bain & Co
Three out of five GPs in Asia Pacific would be willing to forego at least 5% of near-term profit if that sum could be invested in making their portfolio companies more resilient across a range of metrics.
Q&A: OMERS' Ani Deshmukh
Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) recently backed a spinout of Olympus Capital Asia’s credit team as Orion Capital Asia. Ani Deshmukh, a director with the Canadian pension fund, explains its regional strategy
Deal focus: Temasek supports impact's giant leap
Impact specialist LeapFrog Investments will use Temasek’s financial backing to broaden its reach, in terms of sectors and geographies, as well as to anchor future funds
Shariah investors in PE: Tailored exposure
Employees Provident Fund’s $600 million shariah-compliant co-investment mandate suggests increasing institutional appetite for Islamic finance solutions in private equity. Is the industry ready?
Shaw Kwei recruits managing director in Hong Kong
Shaw Kwei & Partners has recruited Paul DeMand, who brings three decades of operational experience in the automotive, electronics, and precision machining industries, as a managing director.
SPACs in Asia: Out of the comfort zone
Several Asian stock exchanges will consider allowing SPAC offerings, but implementation may run contrary to their regulatory ethos – and there is no guarantee of a strong market response
L Catterton Asia raises SPAC for consumer deals
L Catterton Asia has raised $250 million for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that will focus on high-growth consumer technology assets within the region.
Temasek agrees $500m tie-up with impact investor LeapFrog
Temasek Holdings has committed $500 million to Asia and Africa-focused impact investor LeapFrong Investments, which will see it participate as an anchor LP in the firm’s future funds.
Buyout funds: Growth paradigm
Most traditional large-cap buyout funds have become hybrids in Asia, taking minority stakes in businesses to generate deal flow in certain markets and to harness regional growth trends
Baring Asia to make $1.1b partial exit from Lumenis
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to sell the surgical devices business of Lumenis, an Israel-headquartered company that counts Asia as its largest market, to Boston Scientific for $1.07 billion in cash.
GPs & SPACs: Filthy lucre?
The global SPAC craze is percolating into Asia, with private equity firms among the sponsors. LPs aren’t necessarily comfortable with the development, but there’s only so much they can do about it
ESG & operations: Compliance corner
Few mid-market private equity firms in Asia have dedicated ESG personnel and this is not necessarily an obstacle to progress. As compliance and reporting burdens increase, the status quo may change
Private equity & cybersecurity: Dark clouds
From fraudulent drawdown notices to ransomware, private equity firms and their portfolio companies are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Training and vigilance are paramount
TPG takes majority stake in NewQuest
TPG has agreed to take a majority interest in Asia secondaries specialist NewQuest Capital Partners, nearly three years after acquiring a minority stake in the manager.
Fundraising talent: New calls of duty
The trend toward more stringent due diligence in recent years has maximized fundraising complexity at a time when the professionals involved must adapt to unfamiliar virtual forums
COOs in Asia private equity: Horses for courses
The COO role is gradually becoming more prevalent in Asian private equity, but GPs struggle to find the right combination of financial skills and business acumen. The optimal candidate is often internal