Asia
Baring Asia executives forgo salary to support COVID-19 efforts
Baring Private Equity Asia’s (BPEA) investment committee, including CEO Jean Eric Salata, will contribute 100% of their annual base salaries to a COVID-19 relief fund. The $5 million vehicle will also include commitments from the firm’s balance sheet...
Zerobridge highlights Asia distress opportunities
Distress and special situations investors will see plenty of opportunities in Asia’s middle market as companies struggling with coronavirus-driven liquidity issues consider restructuring options, according to debt advisory firm Zerobridge Partners.
LPs worried about denominator effect as capital calls rise - survey
LPs are receiving more capital calls from private equity firms following the coronavirus outbreak, with the concurrent drop in public market valuations prompting concerns about overallocation to the asset class, according to a survey by the Institutional...
1Q analysis: Impact winter
As the coronavirus outbreak escalated into a global pandemic, what was a problem for China investors quickly spread into other geographies. Fundraising, investment and exits inevitably took a hit
Coronavirus & capital calls: Time to draw?
With GPs and LPs placing a premium on liquidity, there is more scrutiny of capital call processes. Some managers are pushing for changes to documentation, but will investors relent?
Asia PE investment falls to six-year low in first quarter
Private equity fundraising, investment and exits all fell to multi-year lows in the first quarter of 2020 as the economic fallout from coronavirus outbreak forced investors to focus on existing portfolio exposure and made them wary of making new commitments.
Roc Partners hits $120m third close on fourth Asia fund
Australia-based private equity firm Roc Partners has reached a third close of $120.1 million for its fourth Asia Pacific fund-of-funds.
CVC closes fifth Asia fund at $4.5b
CVC Capital Partners has closed its fifth Asia fund at the hard cap of $4.5 billion. The firm said the step up from $3.5 billion for Fund IV reflects an expansion in its regional investment capabilities.
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
Retail investment in PE: Common stock
Signs are converging that increased retail investor participation in private equity is inevitable. Myriad roadblocks around access, alignment, and infrastructure will inhibit the transition
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.