Asia
HarbourVest adds managing director in Hong Kong
HarbourVest Partners has promoted Till Burges, who covers primary investments out of the firm’s Hong Kong office, to managing director.
Privatizations: Big ambitions
A boom in take-private transactions could indicate that the buyout market in Asia has reached a peak
Auto technology: Investment vehicles
New and old players are vying for market share as the global automotive industry experiences a multifaceted reboot. Investment inroads abound, but there is much uncertainty in the evolution
Baird buys stake in funeral services provider Nirvana Asia
Baird Capital has acquired a minority stake in Nirvana Asia, a funeral services business that was privatized by CVC Capital Partners in 2016 in conjunction with the company’s founder.
Asia takes emerging markets fundraising to post-crisis high - EMPEA
Emerging markets private capital fundraising – led by emerging Asia – reached its highest point since the before the global financial crisis in 2017, according to EMPEA, with capital dispersed more evenly across different strategies than ever before.
Cathay Capital to acquire German auto parts supplier
Cathay Capital Private Equity, a cross-border PE firm focusing on China, Europe and the US, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in German auto-parts maker E. Winkemann from Equistone Partners Europe.
Global investors seek more technology exposure - survey
Growth-stage technology has become an attractive investment theme for international LPs and GPs, with both groups planning to increase allocations and devote more resources to the sector, according to a private markets survey conducted by Hamilton...
Secondary buyouts: Second time lucky?
PE secondary buyouts are becoming more accepted in Asia as GPs increasingly look to other fund managers for exit opportunities
Baring sets $5.5b target for latest pan-Asian fund
Baring Private Equity Asia has set a target of $5.5 billion for its seventh pan-regional fund. The firm closed its previous vehicle at $3.98 billion in early 2015.
CITIC Capital leads Series D for Organica Water
CITIC Capital has led a $21 million Series D investment in Organica Water, a US-based environmental infrastructure company with extensive operations in Asia.
Asia private equity veteran Veronica John dies at 53
Veronica John, a longstanding emerging markets investor, has died following a battle with cancer. She was 53.
Lazard appoints head of Asia secondaries practice
Dominik Woessner, formerly head of Greenhill Cogent’s secondary advisory business in Asia, has joined Lazard to lead the origination and execution of secondaries transactions in the region.
Buyouts: Courage of conviction
Buyout firms are responding to higher valuations by doing more to ensure they can bring about transformation in portfolio companies. They are also being more careful in terms of sector selection and leverage
Carlyle promotes Australia buyout head to partner
The Carlyle Group has promoted David Bluff, head of its buyout team in Australia and New Zealand, to partner. He was previously a managing director with the firm.
Nissan, Mitsubishi, Renault set up $1b auto VC fund
Automotive giants Renault, Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors have launched a venture capital fund that will invest $1 billion in advanced car technologies with a strong presence in Asia.
Pantheon promotes Alex Wilmerding to partner
Pantheon has promoted Alex Wilmerding, who is responsible for client relationships across Asia Pacific and also sits on the regional investment team, to partner.
Affinity closes fifth Asia fund at $6b
Affinity Equity Partners has completed a first and final close on its fifth pan-Asian fund at the hard cap of $6 billion after approximately five months in the market.
MBK promotes COO to partner
MBK Partners has promoted Bryan Byungsuk Min, currently the firm’s COO, to partner.
Q&A: The Carlyle Group's David Rubenstein
David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, discusses the likelihood of a global economic slowdown, areas of interest in Asia, and the evolution of the private equity funding model
AVCJ Awards 2017: Firm of the Year & Fundraising of the Year - Large Cap: KKR
From raising the largest pan-regional fund ever seen in Asia to concluding Japan’s biggest PE buyout, KKR has enjoyed an eventful 12 months
He said, she said: 2017 in quotes
What industry participants had to say at AVCJ events on issues ranging from carve-outs in Japan to spin-outs in China and from addressing disruptive technologies to politics in the Philippines
Timeline: 2017 by numbers
A selection of the key fundraising, investment and exit events - presented in chronological order - from the past 12 months
Musical chairs: Asia PE people moves
A selection of the transfers, promotions, arrivals and departures in the private equity community in 2017
Five trends for 2018
AVCJ looks at how its 2017 predictions turned out and identifies some key themes for the year ahead