Analysis
NFTs: Spirits in an invisible world
The use of blockchain to create digital assets has evolved from the mass circulation of ethereal, volatile, and interchangeable tokens into something that feels much more real
Corporate VC: Appetite for disruption
Banks across Asia are leveraging their capital and domain expertise to stay ahead of the curve on financial technology. Each aspect of the corporate VC ecosystem engages with start-ups in different ways
India family offices: Tech exposure
Demand for technology exposure among India’s most affluent is intensifying. Family offices may vary in profile, experience, and mode of access, but they all want a piece of the latest hot start-up
China education: Opportunity erased?
Private equity investors have pumped billions of dollars into Chinese online education platforms, notably in the K-12 space. A regulatory crackdown has left them wondering how they can get their money back
Southeast Asia fundraising: Indecision time
Southeast Asian GPs jockey for global attention with mixed results as the largest LPs continue to hesitate to commit to the region. A trickle of investment fuels theories about how to get more
India IPOs: A pleasant surprise
The lack of a reliable IPO channel is a longstanding exit obstacle for venture capital investors in India. Domestic listings may, unexpectedly, prove to be the answer
China beauty: Service with a smile
Beauty and wellness are at the vanguard of China’s fast-rising services sector. Investors see clear paths to growth, but size presents a plethora of problems in terms of standardizing service quality
Australia LPs: Revert to the mean
Engagement, efficiency, and accountability are the driving forces behind reforms to Australia’s superannuation system. But could private equity lose out in a race to the middle on returns?
Portfolio: Integral Corporation and Nitto FC
Japan’s Integral Corporation treads lightly in the conservative agriculture space as it helps fertilizer maker Nitto FC evolve from an owner-centric culture to a more distributed power structure
2Q analysis: Trouble in China
Efforts to rein in China’s technology giants have dampened investor sentiment, with India and Southeast Asia stepping into the void. China remains active for fundraising, but there are fears that US IPO activity could take a hit
GP profile: Unison Capital
Unison Capital hones its game and holds tight to its heritage as one of the pioneers of private equity in Japan, even as its tentacles begin to span the breadth of Asia
Asia fundraising: Fortune favors the bold?
LPs cannot survive indefinitely on re-ups and new commitments to managers they know well. Questions are being asked internally as to what it would take to back an Asian GP sight unseen
China beauty: Traffic jam
The impact of China’s internet-oriented emerging consumer brands is arguably more pronounced in beauty than anywhere else. Gaining a foothold is one challenge, keeping it is another
PE & gambling: Ante up
Private equity has exhibited consistent appetite for gambling-related assets amid pandemic-fueled uncertainty. Regulation remains a significant wildcard in Asia. Reputational risk, not so much
China: A controversial ESOP
An employee stock ownership plan introduced alongside Hillhouse Capital’s 2019 investment in Gree Electric Appliances has raised questions about enrichment and alignment
Portfolio: Mandala Capital and EFRAC
Mandala Capital is helping Indian food and pharma testing laboratory EFRAC distinguish itself against a field of ragtag competitors. Personnel, networks, and technology are the critical inputs
Japan activists: Enablers or destabilizers?
The corporate governance scandal at Toshiba underlines the increasing influence of activist investors in Japan. For private equity firms, there are two sides to the coin
Asia secondaries: Continuation conundrum
The rapid ascent of single-asset continuation vehicles in the US and Europe might be emulated in Asia, but investors are approaching the market with measured optimism
GP profile: Hosen Capital
From renminbi funds to US dollar funds and from growth equity to buyouts, Hosen Capital has been through several evolutions in its first decade. Meeting China’s food needs remains a constant
Carried interest: Safe in Hong Kong?
Tax treatment of carried interest has been an issue of contention in Hong Kong for several years. Just when it seemed to be resolved, draft implementation guidelines are causing disquiet
China IPOs: Regulatory rumblings
China’s Star Market has seen a drop-off in IPOs as regulators call for heightened scrutiny of listing candidates – to the point of asking PE and VC investors to identify the LPs in their funds
Myanmar: Asia's anguish
Myanmar has proven unique among Asia’s frontier markets in terms of volatility and risk. As its ongoing humanitarian and political catastrophe deepens, a sense of helplessness has taken root
China university start-ups: Campus creativity
From DJI to Ele.me, numerous successful start-ups have emerged from universities in Greater China. VC investors recognize the talent, but they are sometimes wary of the structures
Vietnam healthcare: Early days
Hospitals attract most of the capital and interest aimed at Vietnam healthcare. Macro tailwinds are benefiting other parts of the services ecosystem as well, but GPs don’t want to jump too early