professional services
Placement agent Forbes re-brands as FocusPoint
Placement agent Forbes Private Capital Group has re-branded as FocusPoint Private Capital Group following a management buyout from G2 Investment Group earlier this year.
Navegar commits $15m to Philippines-based TaskUs
Manila customer support outsourcing start-up TaskUs has received a $15 million series A round from the Philippines-based Navegar Fund.
Deal focus: Corporate services consolidation play
Each of the world's four largest corporate service providers, which assist with the formation and administration of companies, trusts and funds, has a private equity backer. They are supplying the firepower for a round of consolidation that could see...
VIDEO: LEK Consulting's Ken Chen
Consumer and healthcare are increasingly prominent among the China deals that LEK Consulting is working on as the economy transitions from an investment-led to a consumer-led model, according to Ken Chen, a direct and partner with the firm
CHAMP, Yorkway to buy Australian quantity surveyor
CHAMP Ventures and Yorkway Equity Partners are set to buy a majority stake in Australian quantity surveying company BMT Tax Depreciation in a deal that values the business at around A$65 million ($50.3 million).
Blackstone spins out Asia corporate advisory business
The Blackstone Group has spun out its Hong Kong-based corporate advisory business to Comprador, a new outfit led by Anthony Steains, the former head of Blackstone Advisory Partners Asia (BAPA).
Everstone buys Aon Hewitt’s Asia payroll business
India and Southeast Asia-focused GP Everstone Capital has acquired Aon Hewitt’s Asia Pacific payroll business for an undisclosed sum.
Weil recruits HK PE partner from Latham
Law firm Weil has hired Tim Gardner, formerly a private equity partner at Latham & Watkins, to join its Hong Kong office.
Greenhill to buy secondaries advisor Cogent
Boutique investment bank Greenhill & Co. has agreed to buy Cogent Partners, a global financial advisor specializing in the private equity secondary market, for up to $97.6 million.
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.
Navis exits Australia's Peoplebank to Recruit Holdings
Navis Capital Partners has sold Australia-based IT and specialist recruiting firm Peoplebank to Japan’s Recruit Holdings for A$68.6 million ($56.6 million).
Sequoia leads $20m Series B round for China’s HunterOn
Sequoia Capital has led a $20 million Series B round of funding for HunterOn, a Chinese online recruitment service provider, with participation from IDG Capital Partners.
Simpson Thacher adds fund formation partner in Asia
Adam Furber, a Hong Kong-based member of Simpson Thacher’s private funds practice, has been elected to partner. He was previously counsel at the firm.
Q&A: HEC's Oliver Gottschalg
Oliver Gottschalg, professor at HEC School of Management and head of research at PERACS, a quantitative analytics provider to the PE industry, explains why IRR is not the best judge of performance
Evercore adds to Asia private funds group
Boutique investment bank Evercore has hired Ian Bell from Credit Suisse to head up distribution and origination for its private funds group in Asia Pacific.
Japan's J-Star sees 8x return with first secondary exit
Japanese investor J-Star has exited Burn Holdings, a local repair business that primarily serves property developers, to Shinsei Corporate Investment and Creation Capital. The gross return multiple is said to be 8x.
Kirkland & Ellis boosts Asia private funds practice
Kirkland & Ellis has added two partners to its Asia private funds practice, with the promotions of Damian Jacobs and Jonathan Tadd. The firm now has four partners working on fund formation in the region.
SAI Global process ends with no full buyout offer
SAI Global, the Australian risk management and standards compliance business that launched a sale process after receiving a A$1.1 billion ($1 billion) buyout offer from Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), has received no final bids for the entire company.
PEP, KKR target SAI Global extends bid deadline
Australian risk management and standards compliance business SAI Global – which is subject to a takeover bid from Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and KKR – has extended the deadline for other offers.
State Street names new Asia alternatives head
State Street Corporation has appointed Bob Keogh as head of alternative investment solutions for Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, he will assume responsibility for servicing private equity, hedge fund and real estate managers.
Qiming leads $25m round for China job seeking site Lagou
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $25 million Series B round for Lagou.com, a Chinese job listing website focused on IT industry, with participation from Bertelsmann Asia Investment.
ZhenFund, Cloud Angel Fund back China Gllue
ZhenFund and Cloud Angel Fund have provided an angel round of funding for Gllue Software, a Chinese software developer.
OMM’s Collins joins Dechert, eyes new phase in Asia spin-outs
Dean Collins, formerly partner and head of the Asia fund formation practice at O’Melveny & Myers (OMM), has joined Dechert as managing partner of the firm’s newly-opened Singapore office.
KKR, PEP to make joint bid for Australia's Sai Global - report
KKR will reportedly team up with Australian private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) to bid for risk management and standards compliance business SAI Global.