Asia
PE firms lag behind VCs in adopting social media
Venture capital firms have long embraced social media for everything from networking with entrepreneurs to sparking dialogue about industry trends. Why are private equity players so slow to join in?
DLA Piper appoints Bob Charlton as head of Asia Pacific
DLA Piper has appointed Bob Charlton as managing director for Asia Pacific. He is replacing Alastair Da Costa, who is returning to the UK after five years heading up the law firm’s business in the region. Charlton will start his new role on May 1 and...
ADIA hires Axa executive for emerging markets PE
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has poached Axa Private Equity COO Christophe Florin to head up its emerging markets private equity team. He led Axa’s Asian operations between 2005 and 2008.
European GPs seek exits to Asian corporates
The trend for European GPs to set up portfolio teams in Asia helps expand their companies into new geographies. But forming local joint ventures offers significant exit prospects as well
Comply or die? GPs, technology and reporting standards
Fund managers are dealing with the challenges of an increasingly demanding LP base. Asian GPs looking for institutional money must invest in compliance or rely on their track records to carry them through
First quarter analysis: Asia struggles to locate its exits groove
Little to cheer in the exit landscape; China growth deal pipeline continues to weaken; India telecom tower buyout not a sign of things to come
Direct investment: Silent partners?
Limited partners are attracted by the low costs and potentially high returns of direct investment opportunities in Asia. Those with a finger on the market’s pulse are likely to prevail, provided they don’t get too greedy
Axiom closes third fund in just four months
Regional fund-of-funds player Axiom Asia says that strong investor demand for fund three, despite a difficult fundraising environment, is an endorsement of the firm’s consistent approach
PineBridge names David Jiang as CEO
David T. Jiang has been appointed CEO of PineBridge Investments, having previously spent seven and-a-half years as head of BNY Mellon Asset Management’s Asia Pacific operations. Win J. Neuger, Jiang’s predecessor, has assumed the role of vice chairman,...
Abraaj acquires emerging markets SME specialist Aureos
When Omar Lodhi took charge of Abraaj Capital’s Asia business, the idea was to pursue organic growth. The private equity firm opened an office in Singapore early last year and then one in India, where it already had a joint venture with Sabre Capital...
Operating partners: The social network
Operating partners now form the backbone of most private equity firms, in a variety of different guises. Samena Capital’s take on this concept recognizes the importance of relationships in Asia
Asia, Middle East LPs put up 30% of BC Partners' buyout fund
Asian and Middle East investors contributed 30% of the capital for BC Partners’ latest European fund, which has closed at EUR6.5 billion ($8.6 billion) after 18 months in the market. LPs from these regions only accounted for 10% of the private equity...
Abraaj Capital buys Aureos to boost emerging markets exposure
Abraaj Capital has acquired Aureos Capital, creating an entity with approximately $7.5 billion in assets under management and 150 investment professionals across 30 countries. The purchase enables Dubai-headquartered Abraaj, which focuses on the Middle...
Washington State commits $400m to KKR's Asian fund
Washington State Investment Board has committed $400 million to KKR’s second Asia fund, which is seeking to raise up to $6 billion. The investment was disclosed alongside those made to Oaktree Capital Management’s newest distressed debt fund and Cinven...
CPPIB hires Goldman's Mark Machin as Asia president
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has appointed former Goldman Sachs executive Mark Machin as Asia president. He will be based in Hong Kong and take responsibility for the pension fund’s investment strategy and programs throughout Asia Pacific....
Vistra launches fund administration services in Asia
Vistra Fund Services has launched an Asian unit to complement existing operations run out of Jersey and Luxembourg. Based in Hong Kong, the new unit will provide fund administration and associated services to fund managers throughout Asia.
State Street hires BoAML's McNicholas as head of sales
State Street Corporation has appointed Dan McNicholas, formerly of Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BoAML), as head of sales for its alternative investment division in Asia Pacific.
KKR promotes Clifford Chiu to partner level
Clifford Chiu, who leads KKR’s investor relations, capital raising and capital markets activities in Asia, has been promoted to member, equivalent to partner level. He was previously a managing director at the firm.
Kerogen backs sub-Saharan energy player
To the uninitiated, oil and gas assets in Congo-Brazzaville and Kurdistan might seem too risky for private equity. Energy-focused investor Kerogen Capital, however, takes a different view. The Hong Kong-based firm invested $125 million to become the largest...
Asian fund-of-funds: In the balance
Do Asian fund-of-funds have the scale and selling points to survive in an increasingly complex and competitive market?
IPO woes: Looking for an exit
With the public markets all but closed for IPOs, what other exit routes are available to investors?
Private equity and Asia's new rich
On two occasions last week, fund managers told me they were looking to attract capital, but not from the standard institutional LP. Is this a coincidence or the start of a new trend? It’s not yet clear. But one contributing factor of which we can be certain...
Actis moves closer to full management buyout
The UK government is moving closer to the sale of its remaining stake Actis, with the private equity firm’s management team the most likely buyers after a 12-month search failed to deliver any rival bidders. However, deep divisions remain over the price...
Kelvin Chan leaves Partners Group's Asia PE team
Kelvin Chan has stepped down as a managing director with Partners Group’s Asia Pacific private equity team. The global private markets player, which makes primary, secondary and direct investments, has appointed Kelvin Yu in his place.