Asia
The gathering storm: Preparing portfolio companies for a downturn
As warning signals of a global economic downturn become increasingly convincing, private equity portfolio companies are likely to come under pressure. Investors are advised to prepare carefully
Legacy issues: GP succession planning
Succession planning issues are relatively few in Asian private equity, but that will change - and what GPs do to retain the next generation leadership will increasingly come under the spotlight
Q&A: Advent International's Filippo de Vecchi
Following the recent closing of Advent International’s eighth global private equity fund at $13 billion, Filippo de Vecchi, the firm’s managing director and co-head of Greater China, explains how Asia fits into the strategy
1Q analysis: Hard times
Only the good prevail as LPs appear wary of China funds; investors continue to seek technology start-up exposure but the check sizes are falling; Korea delivers exits, but other markets fail to shine
Eleven Zulu launches $100m pan-Asian venture fund
US-based VC firm Eleven Zulu Capital has launched a $100 million fund targeting Asian technology and services-focused start-ups.
Bain rebrands Sankaty and Brookside, shuffles leadership
Bain Capital has rebranded its credit investment and public equities divisions – Sankaty Advisors and Brookside Capital – under the Bain Capital name and announced changes to its senior leadership.
Blackstone changes up Asia leadership
The Blackstone Group has appointed Chris Heady as chairman for the Asia Pacific region. He will retain his existing responsibilities as head of real estate in the region.
EIG hires KKR's Rex Chung as co-head of Asia
EIG Global Energy Partners has hired Rex Chung, formerly of KKR, as managing director and co-head of Asia. He will be based in Hong Kong.
KKR closes $3.3b global special situations fund
KKR has reached a final close of $3.3 billion for its second global KKR Special Situations Fund (KSSF), which will target investments in distressed or event-driven situations.
Asian outlier: Standard Chartered and secondaries direct
Over the past three years, Standard Chartered has completed Asia’s largest secondary direct deal and put its PE unit in a position to raise fresh capital. But it is not necessarily a harbinger of things to come
NewQuest reaches first close on Fund III, hires ex-CVC executive
Direct secondaries specialist NewQuest Capital Partners has reached a first close of just over $500 million on its third fund, beating the initial target for the entire vehicle.
Markus Ableitinger joins placement agent Pyramid
Markus Ableitinger, formerly an Asia-based managing director with Capital Dynamics, has joined placement agent Pyramid Private Equity Partners as an associate partner. He will continue to focus on Asia.
Asian pension funds to boost alternatives exposure - survey
Pension funds in Asia Pacific expect to increase their allocations to alternative assets over the next three years as part of efforts to boost returns and cover their liabilities, according to a new survey.
Asian GPs want training from fund administrators - survey
More than one third of Asia-based GPs would like fund administrators to provide additional training services, a demand that likely reflects growing concerns in the region about tax regulation, according to a survey.
Direct exposure: Family offices and co-investment
Wary of blind pools and keen to play a more active role in private equity, family offices are considering direct investment opportunities. Strategies and capabilities vary, as does the level of risk
Ex-CLSA Capital Partners CEO joins TRG as partner
The Rohatyn Group (TRG) has hired Christopher Seaver, formerly CEO of CLSA Capital Partners, as a partner based in its Hong Kong office.
Deal focus: EQT leverages corporate compliance
EQT Partners is backing Elevate's audit-plus model to deliver differentiated value in a global testing, inspection and certification market that is already supported by strong tailwinds
Made to measure: Customized co-investment
Growing appetite for co-investment among foreign and local institutions in Asia has given rise to a wider variety of advisors offering customized solutions to those with limited in-house resources
Q&A: KKR's David Liu and Ming Lu
David Liu and Ming Lu, who head up KKR’s private equity operations in Asia, discuss dislocation in China and its neighboring markets, engineering cross-border deal flow, and how GPs can differentiate themselves
Fund focus: New name, same agribusiness strategy
Following a spin-out from Cargill, the PE unit of Black River Asset Management has been renamed Proterra Investments Partners. The agriculture-focused remit is unchanged
Nature vs nurture: Training PE professionals
With private equity’s traditional training tools coming under increased scrutiny, some are calling for standardized qualifications - before outside forces take matters out of the industry’s hands.
Black River PE team goes solo as part of Cargill spin-out
The private equity team of Black River Asset Management, an independently managed alternative investment unit of agribusiness giant Cargill, has spun out to form Proterra Investment Partners.
JC Flowers to buy Chi-X's Asia trading platforms
J.C. Flowers has agreed to buy the Australia and Japan businesses of Chi-X Global Holdings, an alternative equity trading platform that competes with primary exchanges, as well as the company’s Hong Kong-based technology services unit.
Monument promotes Niklas Amundsson to partner
Niklas Amundsson, who joined Monument Group from MVision last year as managing director of the firm’s Hong Kong office, has been promoted to partner.