Asia
Equis raises $1.7b for Asia energy, infrastructure investments
Asia-focused energy and infrastructure GP Equis Funds Group has closed its second fund at $1 billion and also raised $300 million for a follow-on vehicle to Fund I and $400 million for two existing platform investments.
Asian GPs and AIFMD: Shades of gray
Many Asian managers are coming to terms with how the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers’ Directive might impact their fundraising plans. Unfortunately the legislation remains difficult to fathom
Clearwater's Petty becomes EMPEA chairman
Robert Petty, managing partner and co-founder of Asia-focused special situations and credit investor Clearwater Capital Partners, has been elected chairman of EMPEA.
Navis tops off Fund VII with shariah-compliant vehicle
Navis Capital Partners has reached a final close of $1.5 billion on its seventh fund with the addition of a shariah-compliant parallel vehicle. The bulk of the international LP commitments, totaling around $1.3 billion, came by February of last year....
Alvarez & Marsal adds transaction advisory to Asia services offering
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is expanding its Asia operations with the addition of a pre-investment due diligence unit to complement existing performance improvement, turnaround management and business advisory services.
L Capital Asia backs Saudi Arabia gourmet confectioner
L Capital Asia - a PE firm sponsored by luxury goods conglomerate LVMH - has secured its first Middle East investment with the acquisition of a minority stake in Bateel, a luxury confectioner based in Saudi Arabia.
First Eastern's Chu launches Nova Scotia fund
Victor Chu, chairman of Hong Kong-based First Eastern Investment Group, is leading a group of private investors that will create a C$50 million ($40 million) venture capital fund in Nova Scotia, Canada.
VIDEO: Bain Capital's John Connaughton
Global buyout deal flow reached $332 billion in 2014, the highest annual total in seven years according to Preqin, in part thanks to cheap credit in the US. However, John Connaughton, managing director at Bain Capital, argues that the market has yet to...
Western LPs still expect Asian PE to deliver a risk premium
Asia has become an established part of most North American and European LPs’ global private equity portfolios, but they still expect the region to deliver a risk premium over their home markets.
China PE returns stunted by public market performance
Returns over the past five years have been disappointing for Chinese private equity, say industry participants, but performance must be judged in the context of the region's public markets.
Deal-by-deal fundraising: Incremental approach
Deal-by-deal fundraising is on the rise in Asia, driven by the difficulties less experienced GPs face when raising a blind pool and LPs’ willingness to go direct. It’s a great strategy, provided you have momentum
Mobile app analytics firm App Annie raises $55m from VCs
App Annie, a mobile app analytics platform that was set up in Beijing but has since expanded globally, has raised a Series D round of funding worth $55 million, led by Institutional Venture Partners (IVP).
4Q analysis: Still selling
Trade sales keep the exit market ticking over; big ticket tech deals make their presence felt, but buyouts dominate the investment environment; weakness in China pegs back Asia fundraising
Carlyle promotes Hiroyuki Otsuka to partner in Japan
The Carlyle Group has promoted Hiroyuki Otsuka, a member of its Japan buyout team, to partner as part of global round of 59 appointments, including five in Asia.
EIG hires CIC's oil and gas head to lead Hong Kong office
EIG Global Energy Partners has hired Yangyang Liu, formerly of China Investment Corporation (CIC) as managing director in its recently-established Hong Kong office.
Q&A: HarbourVest Partners' George Anson
George Anson, a London-based managing director with HarbourVest Partners, on the importance of customization, scale and diversification in creating a sustainable global fund-of-funds business
December deals: A Christmas story
JKL Partners and a unit of South Korean conglomerate Harim Group were named by a local court as the preferred bidder for bankrupt shipper STX Pan Ocean on December 17. This was slightly more generous to those looking forward to a seasonal break than the...
VIDEO: Terra Firma's Guy Hands
European businesses are selling for higher multiples because financing has come back, but they are still quite reasonably priced compared to pre-global financial crisis levels, says Guy Hands, chairman and CIO of Terra Firma. The question for buyers is...
PE investors sell Pacnet to Australia's Telstra for $697m
Clearwater Capital Partners, Spinnaker Capital Group and Ashmore Investment Management have agreed to exit undersea cable provider Pacnet to Australia’s Telstra Corp. for approximately $697 million, including $400 million in debt.
Musical chairs: Asia PE people moves
A selection of the transfers, promotions, arrivals and departures in the private equity community in 2014
Q&A: Auda's Ernest Boles, Jacob Chiu & Lucian Wu
Auda is scaling up its operations in Asia, opening a Shanghai office and making several new hires. CEO Ernest Boles, Head of Asia Jacob Chiu, and Managing Director Lucian Wu explain how they are addressing the opportunity
2014 in review: A year of record-setting
Strong capital markets facilitate bumper exit activity; pan-regionals, venture capital dominate fundraising; China’s leads revival in growth capital investment, with Korea still buyout central