Asia
Coronavirus & take-privates: Opportunity knocks
With public equities prices sliding to multi-year lows across the region as a result of coronavirus disruption, GPs willing to take the leap might find value in privatizations
Fund focus: 8F reels in $358m
Singapore's 8F Asset Management is taking sector specialization to a new level with a $358 million fund that focuses exclusively on salmon aquaculture projects
Coronavirus & secondaries: Niche dilemmas
Anecdotal feedback from secondaries professionals reveals a quick onset of stagnation in the market due to COVID-19. Creative workarounds are not impossible, but almost
Coronavirus & leverage: Room to maneuver?
Economic disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak is likely to leave many private equity portfolio companies in breach of their leverage covenants. Borrowers and lenders are looking for a fix
Fund focus: Quona doubles down on financial inclusion
Financial technology player Quona's $203 million second fund is expected to feature more early-stage rounds, more 'adjacency' plays in previously inaccessible segments, and more start-ups outside of India and Indonesia
KKR appoints Asia technology investment head
Lucian Schöenefelder has been appointed head of technology investments in Asia. He previously performed a similar role for the firm in Europe.
Storm warning: Investors prepare for macro difficulties
The coronavirus outbreak appears to be fast-tracking a long-expected economic downturn. The situation is very different from the aftermath of the global financial crisis, but PE investors may still draw instruction from the events of 2008-2009
Ex-CPE Capital executive Shane Gong joins Evercore
Shane Gong, who previously led the Singapore office at Australia's CHAMP Private Equity, now CPE Capital, has been recruited by Evercore to head up its PE secondaries business in Asia.
PE targets sensual wellness: Good vibrations
A recent commitment by China’s CDH Investments to Wow Tech underlines how sensual health products such as vibrators are moving from the margins to the mainstream, globally and in Asia
Korea's Mirae leads $500m round for Impossible Foods
Korea’s Mirae Asset Global Investments has led a $500 million Series F round for Impossible Foods, a US-based food technology supplier pursuing an Asia expansion.
Europe's Eurazeo promotes Asian agenda
Eurazeo’s Europe-China fund – a joint effort with China Investment Corporation (CIC) and BNP Paribas – will come online at the end of this month with an initial EUR400 million ($445 million) in dry powder. It is the France-based GP’s latest milestone...
Coronavirus intensifies Asia exit, performance concerns - Bain
Asian private equity investors face considerable challenges in 2020 with the coronavirus outbreak likely to exacerbate existing concerns around an impending global downturn, a drop-off in exits and dwindling deal-making activity in China, according to...
Take-privates: Going large
Large GPs are screening public companies more carefully so they can get comfortable with elevated valuations for public-to-private deals. At what point does discomfort become the default option?
Coronavirus & fundraising: Caught in a bind
The coronavirus outbreak has implications for PE fundraising well beyond China. Many Asia-based managers are either unable to go and see LPs or LPs are not permitted to visit them
OrbiMed targets $750m for Asia healthcare fund
US-based healthcare investment firm OrbiMed has launched its fourth Asian private equity fund with a view to raising $750 million.
KKR looks to invest one-third of its impact fund in Asia
KKR expects to deploy one-third of its recently closed debut global impact fund in Asia and is adding dedicated resources in the region to work on deal sourcing and execution.
Coronavirus in Asia: Ongoing analysis
Coronavirus concerns among GPs not solely focused on China vary based on their direct or indirect exposure to China, but gauging private equity responses to the crisis is like chasing a moving target
Sequoia warns founders not to underestimate coronavirus impact
Sequoia Capital has advised founders and CEOs of its portfolio companies to “question every assumption” about their business in response to mounting global concern over the coronavirus outbreak, which it describes as the “black swan of 2020.”
Profile: Baring Asia's Jean Eric Salata
Jean Eric Salata has built Baring Private Equity Asia from a one-man-shop into a firm with $20 billion in assets, negotiating financial crises and changing economic realities. He has never been one to stand still
Translink joins $94m round for Germany's Volocopter
Translink Capital, a US-based VC focused on facilitating cross-border connections with Asia, has joined a EUR87 million ($94 million) for German flying car developer Volocopter.
StepStone promotes Australia-based Suzanne Tavill to partner
Suzanne Tavill, a Sydney-based managing director with StepStone Group, has been elevated to partner. It was one of four partner-level promotions made by the firm globally.
Minnesota SBI backs KKR's Asia fund
Minnesota State Board of Investment (SBI) is looking to commit $150 million to KKR’s fourth pan-Asian fund. This represents a step up from the $100 million it put into the manager’s previous vehicle.
Coronavirus: PE impact assessment
Existing analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on PE and VC in Asia is largely based on anecdotes and incomplete datasets. A detailed prognosis must wait - and then the broader implications for consumption habits will take even longer to emerge
Carlyle Asia secures exit as Permira buys Golden Goose for $1.4b
Golden Goose, an Italian luxury footwear brand acquired three years ago by The Carlyle Group’s Europe and Asia funds, has been sold to Permira for around EUR1.3 billion ($1.4 billion).