ESG
Singapore's Azalea launches sustainability fund-of-funds
Temasek Holdings-owned Azalea Investment Management has launched its first sustainability fund-of-funds, which will target opportunities that deliver positive environmental and social outcomes alongside private equity-style financial returns.
Leveraged finance: ESG sells
Private equity firms in Asia are increasingly willing to consider sustainability-linked credit facilities, and banks are generally happy to provide them. Speed is currently delaying standardisation
Q&A: Amasia’s John Kim
John Kim, co-founder of Singapore and US-based Amasia, explains how a climate impact thesis “swallowed up” his generalist VC firm and shifted its focus from technology to behaviour
Livingbridge gets ESG-linked credit facility in Australia from Ares
Livingbridge has secured AUD 280m (USD 206m) in sustainability-linked credit facilities from Ares Management to support its acquisition of Australia-based waste management services provider Waste Services Group (WSG).
AVCJ Awards 2021: Responsible Investment: The Arnott’s Group
In taking ownership of an iconic Australian brand like Tim Tam, KKR was conscious of the need to be a market leader on sustainability. Progress is being made across sourcing, emissions, and packaging
Q&A: Sylvan Group’s Gerald Leong
Gerald Leong, a 25-year veteran of Asian private equity, believes returns-focused impact investment is the future of the industry. His new firm, Singapore-based Sylvan Group, will attempt to prove it
Deal focus: ADV’s Asia hygiene platform play
ISS Environmental Services is well-positioned as Hong Kong’s preferred provider of portable toilets. But ADV Partners has acquired the business with a view to executing a regional roll-up strategy
IFM's decarbonisation credentials attract Australian LPs
Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has committed AUD 80m (USD 57.5m) to IFM Investors’ mid-market growth fund, which achieved a second close of AUD 380m at the end of 2021.
Navis poised for 6x return on TES-Envirocorp
Navis Capital Partners is set to generate a 6x return on its investment in Singapore-based TES-Enivrocorp, following an agreement to sell the environmental services provider to Korea’s SK Ecoplant at a valuation of USD 1bn.
Singapore's Sylvan buys four local healthcare companies
Sylvan Group, a Singaporean private equity firm set up by Hyundai scion Kyungsun Chung, has acquired majority stakes in four local healthcare companies for USD 140.5m. These represent its first investments.
EQT exits Hong Kong ESG business Elevate
EQT has sold Elevate, a Hong Kong-based environment, social, and governance (ESG) and supply chain services provider it has backed since 2016, to LRQA, a larger peer in the assurance space.
EverSource closes India climate impact fund on $741m
EverSource Capital has reached a final close of USD 741m on what is being called India’s largest climate impact fund.
Diversity & inclusion: Acting with intent
GPs are looking to build teams representing different genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds as stakeholders call for more diversity and studies suggest it leads to better decision making
2022 preview: ESG
Keeping tabs on sustainability credentials at the portfolio and company level will become more data-driven and collaborative. Eventually, getting results will require greater sacrifices
OTPP joins KKR as investor in Australia's GreenCollar
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) has made an investment of undisclosed size in KKR-backed GreenCollar, an environmental services provider that helped establish Australia’s carbon credit market.
Diversity, inclusion agendas require patience - AVCJ Forum
Executing a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda in private equity requires intentionality, multiple areas of focus, and above all time, given the apprenticeship nature of the industry, the AVCJ Diversity & Inclusion Forum heard.
Circulate hits second close on climate tech fund
Circulate Capital, a Singapore-based GP dedicated to reducing plastics pollution, has reached a second close of $25 million on its second fund.
COVID-19 validates sector lens strategies – AVCJ Forum
COVID-19 has reinforced the argument for developing sectoral expertise that spans geographies, industry leaders told the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum.
Going green is delicate, incentives-driven work – AVCJ Forum
The integration of sustainable practices into private equity firms and portfolio companies is a "diplomatic process," investors told the AVCJ ESG Forum.
Investors get tough on diversity - AVCJ Forum
Investors are pressing GPs and portfolio companies to do more on gender and cultural diversity, pointing to evidence that greater parity boosts performance, the AVCJ ESG Forum heard.
Q&A: EQT’s Andreas Aschenbrenner and Sophie Walker
In the past month, EQT has launched an impact fund with a difference and adopted science-based targets for emissions reduction. Andreas Aschenbrenner, deputy head of EQT Future, and Sophie Walker, head of sustainability for private capital, explain why
Wavemaker launches Southeast Asia climate tech fund
Singapore-based Wavemaker Partners has launched what it calls a first-of-its-kind tech venture builder for Southeast Asia, including a fund targeting $25 million.
Baring Asia creates sustainability-linked credit facility
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) has secured a $3.2 billion loan to support its private equity platform with interest rate reductions linked to performance against a series of sustainability metrics.