coronavirus
PE-owned Fitness First winds down in Hong Kong
Private equity-owned Fitness First has wound down its Hong Kong business, which accounts for eight out of approximately 90 centres in a network that extends into Southeast Asia, as pandemic-related restrictions took their toll.
2021 in review: Boom time
Cheap debt and a desire for assets that deliver technology-driven growth have propelled Asia private equity investment to new highs and supported a resurgence in exits. But fundraising still fails to convince
Portfolio: Dymon Asia and AMES
For all the hubbub about digital businesses taking flight during the pandemic, few categories saw as much upside as traditional medical waste disposal. Dymon Asia Private Equity is enjoying the ride
Deal focus: Australia’s ENA hits COVID-19 in the nose
Australian investors see hope in ENA Respiratory, a nasal spray specialist aiming to complement global COVID-19 vaccine programs with an immune system-boosting product
Australia COVID-19 nasal spray maker raises $25m
ENA Respiratory, an Australian biotech company developing a nasal spray for the prevention of COVID-19, has raised A$32 million ($25 million) with support from local venture capital investor Brandon Capital.
China mRNA specialist Stemirna gets $200m in funding
Stemirna Therapeutics, which claims to be the first biotech company to bring an mRNA therapeutics and nanomedicine platform to China, has raised $200 million in funding.
Chinese COVID-19 vaccine developer Clover files for IPO
Clover Biopharmaceuticals, a Chinese pre-revenue drug developer that has raised $315 million across several funding rounds since 2011, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
Asian GPs prioritize portfolio resilience - Bain & Co
Three out of five GPs in Asia Pacific would be willing to forego at least 5% of near-term profit if that sum could be invested in making their portfolio companies more resilient across a range of metrics.
Buyouts in 2021: Winners and losers
Asia could prove to be a deal-rich market in 2021, but buyout investors are still figuring out the long-term implications of COVID-19 for companies that cater to changing consumer demands
Singapore's VC-backed GoBear to wind down
GoBear, a Singaporean financial technology start-up that received VC backing as recently as May, will cease operations and begin a phased closure of the business, citing pandemic-related disruption.
SIP brings PE value-add to COVID-19 hit HK social enterprises
Social Impact Partners (SIP), a Hong Kong-based venture philanthropy organization supported by several private equity firms, has been drawing on industry resources to support portfolio organizations that face financial and operational challenges because...
2020 in review: Surprise guest
The coronavirus pandemic has played havoc with Asian private equity, contributing to a resurgence in IPOs, increased bifurcation in fundraising, a rush for healthcare, and a generally staggered revival
Investor relations: Talk isn't cheap
The enforced adoption of virtual communications points to longer-term changes in investor relations, from annual general meetings to informal catch-ups. GPs must find ways to stand out
Aggression pays off in times of crisis - AVCJ Forum
Going on the offensive is the best response to COVID-19 - taking advantage of market uncertainty to make new investments and help portfolio companies complete bolt-on acquisitions - the AVCJ Forum heard.
COVID-19 credit strategies must be flexible – AVCJ Forum
COVID-19 has emphasized the need for patience and mandate flexibility in private credit, industry participants told the AVCJ Forum.
Asia buyout managers see no shift in return targets - AVCJ Forum
Asia-focused buyout managers do not expect an economic downturn to impact the returns underwritten into investments at the portfolio level as long as leveraged financing remains competitively priced and new paths to liquidity continue to emerge.
Global LPs want more control in China – AVCJ Forum
North American and European LPs see promise in Asia, and China in particular, but remain wary due to a lack of control opportunities, especially in the context of COVID-19.
Virtual AGMs & IR: Close encounters
The technology is available to facilitate informal discussions at virtual AGMs, but do these solutions present an acceptable substitute for physical interaction, and do GPs and LPs want to use them?
COVID-19 amplifies focus on societal issues - AVCJ Forum
Concerns that impact investment would get pushed to the margins in the chaos of COVID-19 have been confounded by a renewed emphasis on social issues created by the pandemic, according to industry participants.
Virtual AGMs & IR: Up in the air
Private equity firms are still finding their feet with annual meetings that no longer take place on the ground. Like it or not, virtual engagement is set to become a larger part of investor relations from now on
Asia consumer & technology: Multifarious merchants
Technology is changing the way consumers interact with retailers both concrete and virtual. Ramping up the sociability factor has become a priority amid increasingly pervasive mechanization
Asia consumer: Sale of the century
The traditionally slow-changing retail sector received an unexpected incentive to smarten up quickly this year. When the dust settles, shopping will never be the same again
Asia e-sports: Pumping up in a timeout
A recent slew of deals targeting e-sports in Asia has coincided with the live events that generate most of the industry's revenue going on hiatus. Investors appear happy to play the long game
Tech, flexibility indispensable in ASEAN logistics
Logistics operators navigating Southeast Asia’s challenging fragmentation against the backdrop of COVID-19 must embrace digital upgrades and flexibility in terms of service offering.