Analysis
ESG backlash: Turbulent tailwinds
The strong momentum behind sustainable and responsible investment policies globally has begun to ruffle feathers in the US. Asian private equity should recognise this as a relevant warning
Family offices: A role for Hong Kong?
Hong Kong’s package of incentives for family offices is intended to redress a balance that has swung in favour of Singapore. Geopolitics is dampening its competitive advantages
Cybersecurity: PE urged to go post-quantum
Private equity firms with masses of information, long histories, and long futures will be vulnerable to code-cracking quantum computers perceived as lurking on an inevitable near-term horizon
Portfolio: Gaja Capital and India’s Educational Initiatives
Educational Initiatives was not part of India’s pandemic-driven ed-tech explosion. The PE-owned company emerged from the chaos having reaffirmed its sustainable, school-facing business model
India healthcare: New momentum, new directions
Private equity has become comfortable with niche segments and regional sub-markets in Indian healthcare services. Technology-based business models are next
GP profile: Quona Capital
Financial innovation-focused Quona Capital operates across global developing markets with a compact team and a strict returns-focused impact agenda. Asia dominates the growth narrative
Indonesia VC: Institutional upgrade?
Having won early support from as assortment of local conglomerates, Indonesian venture capital firms must now demonstrate their independence when pitching international LPs
Generative AI in due diligence: Crunching new numbers
Private equity is rediscovering artificial intelligence as a due diligence tool in the wake of ChatGPT. Data security, legal, and technical risks have curbed uptake somewhat, less so for venture
China secondaries: Willing sellers?
Few, if any, LPs are so desperate to divest China exposure that they will sell fund positions at any price. The main sticking point for secondary transactions is a disconnect on valuations
The innovation game: China GPs play safe
China investors have abandoned their previous high-risk-high-return approach in favour of proven business models and profitability. Hotspots like autonomous driving, biotech, and SaaS are no exception
India edtech: Class dismissed
With investment all but evaporated and its champion in a tailspin of bad press, India’s massive online K-12 education space is in an awkward limbo. It’s a welcome correction though
Asia deal financing: A selective market
Regional buyout activity is weak but leveraged loans are available for the right kind of target – in Japan, Korea, Australia, and beyond – and with a suitably customised structure
GP profile: CCV
Formed through a spinout from KPCB, CCV claims to distinguish itself through a collaborative culture and a disciplined approach to portfolio construction, valuations, and landing scenarios
Creature comforts: Why PE likes pet care
Private equity investors have long championed the resilient characteristics of pet care globally. The pandemic helped solidify a similar value proposition in Asia
2Q analysis: Still scrambling
State-supported deals prop up Asia private equity investment; GPs hustle for liquidity in an unforgiving exit landscape; ex-China mid-market players gain some traction in fundraising
Frontier market fundraising: Roads less travelled
As fundraising slows globally, GPs in frontier markets are more dependent than ever on multilateral development banks. That’s not a major problem now, but in a long downturn, it could become one
Portfolio: True North and Integrace
True North has spent five years transforming Integrace from a low-margin drug portfolio into a broader, better-performing platform with digital capabilities. The M&A story isn’t finished yet
Japan M&A: Go digital, go global
Panasonic moved from hardware to software with the acquisition of Blue Yonder, a path that other Japanese corporates are expected to follow. PE investors can sell to them or work with them
Advanced computing: Niche or indispensable?
Investors are wary of rising data processing challenges in a rapidly digitising world. They must make do with the imperfect solutions of today without failing to embrace frontier technologies
China fundraising: Zombie apocalypse?
A pullback by US investors is exacerbating difficult fundraising conditions in China. Most managers are either delaying their return to the market or pulling every lever to secure commitments
GP profile: 500 Global
500 Global’s emergence as a preeminent seed investor in Southeast Asia has played out against the backdrop of a broader transformation from US accelerator into international multi-stage venture capital firm
Start-up banking: Filling an SVB-shaped hole
Silicon Valley Bank was arguably the only institution globally to comprehensively service the unique banking needs of start-ups. In its absence, a mix of players are rising to the challenge
