Asia
Baring Asia receives $25m LP commitment from LACERS
The Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS) has committed $25 million to Baring Private Equity Asia’s seventh pan-regional fund, the same amount it committed to the GP’s previous vehicle.
Wooseok Jun to lead ICG Asia Pacific
Wooseok Jun, currently managing director and head of South Korea at Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), has been named head of Asia Pacific for the firm. He replaces Chris Heine, who retired at the end of 2018.
Fund focus: From Standard Chartered to Affirma
Standard Chartered's private equity team - now known as Affirma Capital - has finally secured its independence through a spin-out backed Intermediate Capital Group
EQT promotes Brian Chang to partner in Singapore
EQT has confirmed the promotion of Singapore-based Brian Chang to partner. He will be responsible for mid-market activity in Asia.
Venture capital: The battle to be different
VC fundraising has been on a roll in Asia as managers raise larger sums to address fast-growing investment opportunities. GPs must consider what – and how much – makes them stand out from the crowd
Investors turn to private markets amidst downturn fears - survey
Asian institutional investors are looking to increase allocations to private markets in order to mitigate the risks of a potential economic downturn, a new survey has found.
Axiom Asia completes $1.6b fundraise
Axiom Asia has closed its fifth regional fund-of-funds at $1.39 billion - beating the target of $1.01 billion - and also raised $210 million for its first dedicated co-investment vehicle.
CITIC Capital, FountainVest buy control of pallet leasing business
CITIC Capital Partners and FountainVest Partners have acquired a majority stake in China Merchants Loscam, a pallet and packaging business owned by Sinotrans, for RMB2.48 billion ($359 million).
AVCJ Awards 2018: Fundraising of the Year - Large Cap: Affinity Equity Partners
Communication and discipline helped Affinity Equity Partners complete a first and final close of $6 billion on its latest pan-Asian fund within four months
Timeline: 2018 by numbers
A selection of the key fundraising, investment and exit events - presented in chronological order - from the past 12 months
Bain closes fourth Asian fund at $4b hard cap
Bain Capital has reached a first and final close on its fourth Asia-focused private equity fund at the institutional hard cap of $4 billion. Employees of the firm and related parties will contribute a further $650 million.
Five trends for 2019
AVCJ looks at how its 2018 predictions turned out and identifies some key themes for the year ahead
ICG backs spin-out of Standard Chartered Private Equity
Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) has agreed to support a spin-out of Standard Chartered’s private equity business, taking the majority of the remaining $1 billion in assets off the bank’s balance sheet.
New faces, old faces: Asia PE people moves
A selection of the transfers, promotions, arrivals and departures in the private equity community in 2018
Natixis merges regional PE units
The asset management business of Natixis has launched a global private equity firm by merging three existing PE affiliates, including Singaporean fund-of-funds Eagle Asia Partners.
Talking points: 2018 in quotes
What industry participants had to say at AVCJ events on deployment during times of uncertainty, responding to technological disruption, spin-outs in China, portfolio diversification, and VC exits
2018 in review: Volatility vortex
Pan-regional funds attract the bulk of capital while the renminbi space withers; mixed fortunes for internet IPOs and trade sales; big buyouts fail to deliver but growth-stage tech stays strong
Q&A: Bain Capital's Jonathan Lavine
Asia’s private credit markets are underdeveloped given the size of the regional economy. Jonathan Lavine, co-managing partner of Bain Capital and CIO of Bain Capital Credit, assesses the growth potential
Lexington leads $1b stapled secondary for TPG Asia
Lexington Partners has backed a GP-led tender offer for TPG Capital’s fifth and sixth Asia funds, taking out existing positions held by LPs and investing new capital into the firm’s seventh pan-regional vehicle. The transaction represents a total capital...
PE and aquaculture: Fishtech of the future
Rising consumer demand for high-quality products and the emergence of technologies that allow greater efficiency are driving investor interest in Asia’s previously overlooked aquaculture industry
Q&A: Impossible Foods' Nick Halla
Nick Halla became the first employee at Impossible Foods in 2011. Now leading the rollout of the PE-backed company’s plant-based meat substitute products, he explains the strategy for Asia
Secondary restructurings: Opportunistic delays
Creative secondary deals are presenting private equity investors with new options for extending exposure to prized assets. Although a modest trend, it evokes big questions about best conduct
Värde collects $400m for debut Asia credit fund
Värde Partners has closed its debut Asia-focused credit fund with approximately $400 million in commitments. The vehicle launched about six months ago with a target of $250 million.
Hong Kong's Ion Pacific raises $30m for PE secondary fund
Hong Kong-based merchant bank Ion Pacific has raised $30 million for a technology fund that will acquire secondary positions in venture and growth funds as well as take direct stakes in portfolio companies.