Asia
B Capital launches SPAC
B Capital Group, a US-based venture capital firm with a presence in Singapore and a significant Asia portfolio, is looking to raise $300 million for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
Asia to play larger role in Eurazeo's second smart city fund
Asia is expected to feature more prominently – in terms of investors and investments – in Eurazeo’s second smart city venture capital fund, which has reached a first close of EUR80 million ($97 million).
Fund focus: TR raises $350m for China-heavy secondaries strategy
Having closed its fourth fund at the hard cap of $350 million, Asia secondaries specialist TR Capital expects to go deep into China fund restructurings, taking out renminbi investors onshore and offshore
EQT loses Singapore-based partner Tak Wai Chung
EQT has seen more turnover in its senior Asia team with the departure of partner Tak Wai Chung. The move comes as the firm looks to expand and reposition its business in the region.
Ravi Thakran's SPAC plans merger with aviation business
A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) launched by Ravi Thakran, formerly head of L Catterton’s Asia operation, plans to merge with Wheels Up – a US-based aviation business described as Uber for private jets – at a valuation of $2.1 billion.
Allen & Overy strengthens Asia fund formation capabilities
Allen & Overy has recruited James Ford from O’Melveny & Myers as a partner in its Asia Pacific funds and asset management group. He continues to be based in Hong Kong.
Sideline SPACs: Competing priorities?
Ties between private equity firms and special purpose acquisition companies are not uniform – some are direct relationships, while others involve certain individuals. But proliferation is likely to attract more LP scrutiny
EQT launches in Japan as part of regional buildout
EQT has formally entered the Japan market – striking a partnership with Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) to aid its local penetration – as part of a broader plan to increase its Asia private equity exposure.
GGV closes latest US dollar funds at $2.5b
GGV Capital has closed its latest set of US dollar-denominated funds with $2.52 billion in aggregate commitments. It represents the largest fundraising since the firm’s inception in 2000.
Deal focus: Olympus credit team spins out, gets OMERS backing
Olympus Capital Credit has rebranded as Orion Capital Asia, with OMERS replacing Olympus as the firm’s equity partner. The strategy is unchanged, with COVID-19 helping to drive deal flow
Asia family offices: Unfamiliar territory
The industrial backgrounds of family offices represent a strategic edge but also a potential hinderance to portfolio diversification. The same goes for principal-led governance structures
CVC recruits EQT's Asia mid-market head
Martin Mok has joined CVC Capital Partners as a Hong Kong-based senior managing director after spending nearly 20 years with EQT.
500 Startups appoints Asia regional director
500 Startups has appointed Ee Ling Lim, formerly the VC’s country lead for Singapore, as regional director for Asia Pacific.
Hopu founder backs China healthcare-focused SPAC
Fenglei Fang, founder and chairman of Chinese private equity firm Hopu Investments, is looking to raise $300 million for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that will target healthcare companies with a China focus or expansion prospects in the...
4Q analysis: Growth spurt
Technology-enabled businesses in China and India are the beneficiaries of a resurgence in growth capital deal flow; Japan is the sole stand-out in fundraising; IPOs continue to shine as overall exits struggle
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.
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
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
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.
Portfolio: MSPEA and Korres
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia helped ethical Greek cosmetics maker Korres beef up an underweight international presence with a plan that will see China become the main growth engine
Buyouts in 2021: Winners and losers
Asia could prove to be a deal-rich market in 2021, but buyout investors are still figuring out the long-term implications of COVID-19 for companies that cater to changing consumer demands