professional services
Bain sues Big Four auditor over India kidswear deal
Bain Capital is taking legal action against EY – formerly Ernst & Young – in a US court, alleging that its now worthless investment in India’s Lilliput Kidswear was made on the basis of false financial statements that the accounting firm had audited.
Australia's PEP submits $1b take-private bid for SAI Global
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has launched a take-private bid for SAI Global that values the Australian Securities Exchange-listed risk management and standards compliance business at up to A$1.1 billion ($1 billion).
Lok Capital exits India BPO firm
India-focused VC firm Lok Capital has made a partial exit from Bangalore-based business process outsourcing (BPO) firm, RuralShores, generating a money multiple of 6x.
TRG’s Kaji moves to consultancy Accordion
Suneel Kaji has left The Rohatyn Group (TRG), where he was involved in private equity and special situations credit investments in US and the Pacific Rim, to become a managing director at Accordion, a US-headquartered consultancy.
Fund administrator Augentius hires Asia head
Augentius has appointed Alex Traub as managing director of its Singapore office from where he will manage the fund administrator’s existing client relationships in Asia and take the lead in business development.
Placement agent Monument Group opens in Hong Kong
Monument Group, a Boston-headquartered placement agent with a presence in the US and UK, has expanded into Asia, with a Hong Kong office now in operation. A Tokyo base will follow later this year.
India due diligence: Smoke and mirrors
A number of accounting scandals involving India-based private equity portfolio companies has contributed to the erosion of investor confidence in the country. Due diligence processes are being tightened in response
Alvarez & Marsal promotes Utamsingh to India co-head
Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has named Vikram Utamsingh, managing director responsible for its India transactions advisory group, as country co-head.
China’s SPD Bank launches PE exit consultancy service
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPD Bank) has launched consultancy service for private equity firms to exit from their investments.
Singapore vs. Hong Kong: Shifting sands
Fund administrators are seeing increased demand from GPs for back office services in Singapore. Hong Kong isn’t the definitive loser, but the territory’s lack of tax and regulatory certainty for PE is a factor
Accelerated Venture Partners opens in Hong Kong
Accelerated Venture Partners (AVP), a Silicon Valley-based private equity firm, has opened an office in Hong Kong to provide Asian companies with financing and help them go public in the US.
Held to account: The Big Four in China
A legal ruling might ban the Big Four accounting firms’ China affiliates from working on US-listed Chinese companies. VCs aren’t worried about IPO prospects, but there are longer-term concerns
Fund admin: In house or out?
Asian private equity is becoming institutionalized, with increasingly sophisticated and international LPs asking GPs to bulk up their back office capabilities. Third-party administrators sense an opportunity
Halifax-backed Envision Pharma acquires Australia's ProScribe
Envision Pharma Group, a scientific communication company backed by US-based private equity firm The Halifax Group, has acquired Australian medical writing firm ProSribe in a move to expand its Asian footprint.
State Street opens Shanghai office
State Street has opened an office in Shanghai to provide fund administration, accounting and related services to private equity, real estate and hedge fund clients with business development initiatives in China.
US judge imposes suspension on Big Four accounting firms' China units
A US judge has ruled that the China-based units of the Big Four global accounting firms should be suspended from auditing US-listed companies for the next six months. They are accused of failing to disclose information to US regulators investigating Chinese...
Weil hires Asia fund formation lawyer from Kirkland & Ellis
International law firm Weil has appointed Albert Cho as a partner in its private funds group in Hong Kong. He joins from Kirkland & Ellis, where he served as a partner in both the New York and Hong Kong offices.
Cogent promotes Jeffery Reece to director in Shanghai
Cogent Partners, a secondary market-focused investment bank, has promoted Jeffrey Reece to director in Shanghai.
Kroll in tie-up with India's BMR
Global advisory firm Kroll has formed an alliance with India's BMR Advisors to offer investigative and due diligence services in the country.
Sequoia backs China CRM platform Xiaoshouyi
Sequoia Capital has provided a Series A round of funding for Xiaoshouyi, a Chinese customer relationship management (CRM) platform.
BNRI agrees tie-up with China resources advisory firm
Barclays’ global resources-focused PE platform, Barclays Natural Resource Investments (BNRI), has formed a strategic partnership with Beijing-based corporate advisory firm Ilex Partners to develop its business in mainland China.
China due diligence: Playing it safe
The catalogue of deals gone bad in China is long and undistinguished. Private equity firms, and the third-party advisors that work with them, are rethinking their approach to due diligence
Blackpeak adds to Japan team
Blackpeak Group, an Asia-focused strategic advisor to corporate and investment clients, has appointed Kohtaro Miyagi as a senior consultant, based in Tokyo.
Alvarez & Marsal opens Korea office
Turnaround management and business advisory specialist Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has opened an office in Seoul and appointed Jay Kim as managing director to lead its business activities in South Korea.