Weekly Digest
1Q analysis: American dreams
New York makes an unexpected reappearance as the preferred IPO destination for Asian companies; the growth-stage tech investment revival continues; KKR lights up lackluster fundraising environment
Korea retail: Digital or dead?
Coupang’s bumper IPO has underlined the appeal of a Korean e-commerce industry characterized by chaebols playing catch-up and PE and VC investors looking to profit at the margins
Portfolio: GL Capital & SciClone Pharmaceuticals
GL Capital has helped China’s SciClone Pharmaceuticals position itself for the future while continuing to monetize its key legacy drug. A Hong Kong listing was the reward
Asia-Middle East: Bridge builders
Back-and-forth investment and business building between Asia and the Middle East is a fertile theme for private equity. Such activity appears set to steadily increase rather than boom
China direct lending: Creative credit
A combination of improved collateral, rising yields and robust demand is drawing investors to China’s direct lending space. Opportunities abound, but local execution remains critical
Ares & SSG: Scale proposition
The merger of Ares Management and SSG Capital is among the largest ever seen in Asian alternatives. They are now pushing into new markets and segments, leveraging the combination of size and local resources
Private equity & credit: Seeking synergies
GPs are placing greater emphasis on Asia private debt strategies to capture deals that don’t work as private equity. Much can be achieved by pooling ideas and resources, but collaboration isn’t as straightforward as it seems
India NBFCs: Agreeable aftermath
India’s non-bank financiers remain attractive investment targets as a convergence of macro and systemic shocks tests the market. Sturdy underlying drivers provide confidence as models evolve
Shariah investors in PE: Tailored exposure
Employees Provident Fund’s $600 million shariah-compliant co-investment mandate suggests increasing institutional appetite for Islamic finance solutions in private equity. Is the industry ready?
ESG scoring: Measured approach
Investors are encouraged to keep experimenting in quantifying and qualifying the real-world outcomes of their sustainable investment programs. Every report is imperfect yet worthwhile
SPACs in Asia: Out of the comfort zone
Several Asian stock exchanges will consider allowing SPAC offerings, but implementation may run contrary to their regulatory ethos – and there is no guarantee of a strong market response
China regulation: Taming the giants
Recent regulatory reforms suggest that China will not let the growth of large technology companies go unchecked. The implications could be far-reaching, not least for VC investors and start-ups
India direct secondaries: Footprint freefall
A darker mood for Chinese investors in India is stirring expectations for a wave of direct secondary opportunities
GPs & SPACs: Filthy lucre?
The global SPAC craze is percolating into Asia, with private equity firms among the sponsors. LPs aren’t necessarily comfortable with the development, but there’s only so much they can do about it
ESG & operations: Compliance corner
Few mid-market private equity firms in Asia have dedicated ESG personnel and this is not necessarily an obstacle to progress. As compliance and reporting burdens increase, the status quo may change
Private equity & cybersecurity: Dark clouds
From fraudulent drawdown notices to ransomware, private equity firms and their portfolio companies are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Training and vigilance are paramount
Fundraising talent: New calls of duty
The trend toward more stringent due diligence in recent years has maximized fundraising complexity at a time when the professionals involved must adapt to unfamiliar virtual forums
COOs in Asia private equity: Horses for courses
The COO role is gradually becoming more prevalent in Asian private equity, but GPs struggle to find the right combination of financial skills and business acumen. The optimal candidate is often internal
India SaaS: Global first
India’s enterprise software start-ups have traditionally ceded the spotlight to their consumer-facing peers, primarily because of their outlook – and their VC backers – are US-oriented. That is now changing
China robotics: Automation nation
China is a global leader in robot manufacturing, but only in areas characterized by high volumes and low technology value. Can more start-ups climb from medium-tech to hard-tech?
AVCJ Awards 2020: Special Achievement: Lip-Bu Tan
Recognized as one of the pioneers of venture capital in Asia, Walden International’s Lip-Bu Tan still gets a kick out of leveraging his years of experience to help nascent start-ups
AVCJ Awards 2020: Exit of the Year - Large Cap: Velocity Frequent Flyer
Building a core competence in data analytics and a broader array of loyalty options underpinned Affinity Equity Partners’ 3.6x return on Velocity Frequent Flyer
AVCJ Awards 2020: Responsible Investment: Canvest Environment
Olympus Capital has guided China’s Canvest Environment from polluting waste-to-energy minnow to category leader in operational scope and sustainability credentials
Southeast Asia's shadow capital: Out of the darkness
Shadow capital – non-traditional pools of money held by sovereigns and corporates – has become a fixture in Southeast Asia’s tech space. Start-ups stand to benefit, but they must pick partners with care
