Fundraising
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...
Foreign RMB funds suffer from LP access troubles
With state-backed firms hesitant to commit and wealthy individuals unreliable, overseas private equity firms face a long slog to raise their renminbi funds
COLI, ICBC raise $230m for second China property fund
China Overseas Land & Investment (COLI) and ICBC International Investment Management have raised $230 million in initial capital for their Harmony China Real Estate Fund II. The vehicle's full target is $500 million.
Chinese government backs Sino-Hollywood movie fund
The Chinese government will support a new private equity fund set up to finance movie co-productions with foreign players in China. It is the first-ever state-backed film investment fund.
Slow progress for foreign RMB funds
Renminbi-denominated private equity funds have been one of the most important trends in the last few years. The market has grown tremendously with more than US$24 billion being raised in 2011 alone. Most of this capital has gone to local firms, especially...
Elara Capital to launch India-focused healthcare fund
Elara Capital, a UK-based financial services company, is in talks with a counterpart in Dubai with a view to launching a private equity fund that will target healthcare investments in Asia and Africa. India will be a particular area of focus given Elara’s...
Sun Media, Harvest Fund to create $800m media fund
Chinese television production firm Sun Media Group has teamed up with Harvest Fund Management to create an $800 million private equity fund that will back local movies.
Lightspeed nears close of $200m China fund
Lightspeed Venture Partners is reportedly nearing a final close of a $200 million China fund, coming after it recently said it was seeking $675million for its new global vehicle.
TPG reaches first close of its two RMB funds
TPG Capital has reached a first close of its two China funds, having received commitments of RMB4 billion ($635 million). The private equity firm said that 90% of the capital raised came from private investors rather than government-linked entities. It...
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.
Holm plans to tap Indonesia's rich
There is no shortage of Indonesia-focused funds seeking capital. Of the established players, Northstar Pacific has already completed fundraising and Saratoga is on course for a final close this year. At least five other first-time GPs are currently in...
Q&A: Hony Capital's John Zhao
Hony Capital has raised a total of $4 billion for its latest renminbi and US dollar funds. John Zhao, CEO of the Chinese private equity firm, tells AVCJ how he plans on spending it
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?
SBI, Edelweiss create $100m India PIPE fund
SBI Holdings and Edelweiss Financial Services have agreed to set up a fund focused on investments in listed small and mid-cap companies in India. The vehicle, known as EW SBIH Crossover Fund and based in Mauritius, will have initial capital of $100 million,...
E&Y: India is world's fourth most attractive FDI destination
India is the fourth most attractive investment destination globally, after the US, China and the UK, according to an Ernst & Young survey. Investors are drawn by the strong potential of the country’s domestic market, cost competitiveness and access to...
Lok Capital's second fund closes at $65m
Mumbai-based venture capital Lok Capital has closed its second fund at $65 million, a social venture capital vehicle targeting microfinance providers directly as well as companies that support the microfinance ecosystem.
India Infoline raises a $100m real estate fund
India Infoline Venture Capital Fund, the venture capital arm of the India Infoline group(IIFL), has raised a INR5 billion ($100 million) real estate fund. It is the brokerage's first foray into the private equity business.
IFC considers investment in Indian SME-focused fund
International Finance Corp. (IFC), the World Bank’s investment arm, may invest up to $20 million in Pragati India Fund, a vehicle targeting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in India’s low income states. The fund is aiming to raise $75-100 million...
Japan's Unison Capital cuts fund due to limited deals - report
Japan’s Unison Capital has reportedly cut the size of its third fund by one quarter to JPY107 billion ($1.4 billion) due to limited deal flow.
Red Fort closes second real estate fund at $500m target
Red Fort Capital has completed a final close of its second real estate fund at $500 million, coming mere weeks after the firm said it was targeting this amount from investors.
L Capital in talks with Indian ethnic wear chain
L Capital Asia, the private equity arm of luxury goods giant LVMH group, is in talks to acquire a minority stake in Fabindia, an Indian ethnic fashion retailer.
Goldman Sachs to launch first energy-focused fund
Goldman Sachs plans to raise $2-3.5 billion for its first energy-focused private equity fund. The global vehicle, known as Broad Street Energy Partners, will target the oil, gas and power industries.
Hony's bumper raise sparks concerns about China fund sizes
How much is too much? Hony Capital set the benchmark for the string of large China-focused funds expected to launch in the next year or so as it closed its fifth vehicle at $2.4 billion. Hony Capital Fund V took barely four months to complete its fundraising,...
China targets illicit PE fundraising
Horror stories of individual investors being talked into committing capital to suspect private equity funds have prompted regulatory intervention in China. But progress is slow and the road is long.