Analysis
India IT services: The digital divide
India’s IT services providers firms have moved beyond their humble beginnings to encompass a wide range of outsourced functions. Private equity backers will continue to be key to their evolution
India financial services: Proxy play
A sizeable portion of the PE capital entering Indian financial services has targeted wealth management as local players look to scale up their offerings on the back of growing private wealth
India tech M&A: Treading water
India’s internet giants are becoming more acquisitive, but they still play a minor role in VC firms’ planning. To raise their influence these companies first need to stabilize their own operations
Buyout approvals: Holding pattern
Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission has put forward guidelines intended to make the approvals process for PE-backed take-privates more transparent. Industry participants are cautiously optimistic
Taiwan VC: Marginal gains
Taiwan’s government has announced a slew of measures to encourage global venture capital funds to invest in local start-ups. Is it doing enough to create a robust VC ecosystem?
China-Taiwan M&A: Strait deals
For the past six years, capital has flowed relatively freely from Taiwan to China while deals going in the opposite direction have faced close regulatory scrutiny. Can wider economic realities redress the balance?
Taiwan consumer: Dining out
Various PE firms have found success supporting Taiwan consumer brands in mainland China. But the food and beverage segment is an example of how picking the team, theme and time can make all the difference
Family office fundraising: Face to face
Dealing with a family office can be uniquely challenging for GPs. Managers who want success have to be able to handle the unique dynamics of this situation
Evergreen funds: The long hold
The notion of patient or permanent capital draws interest from both GPs and LPs, but evergreen funds are rare in the US and even rarer in Asia. This state of affairs is unlikely to change any time soon
Southeast Asia cleantech: Shifting priorities?
Cleantech has struggled to establish itself in Southeast Asia due to lack of prioritization from both the public and private sectors. But investors can make headway if the projects appeal on a pragmatic basis
China exits: Open to alternatives
With China’s public markets still dogged by uncertainty – and, at time of writing, new share offerings suspended – PE investors are looking at other options. Trades in particular are getting more traction
Asia O2O services: The long tail
From taxi journeys to pedicures, online-to-offline services are changing consumption channels in Asia’s emerging markets. Some leaders have emerged, but much of the sector is still up for grabs
The billion-dollar club: Asia's tech unicorns
Asia accounts for one fifth of the global tech sector’s unicorn population as companies raise larger rounds at ever higher valuations. But as investor sentiment weakens, some of these behemoths should be concerned
Fundraising and co-investment: Friends with benefits
Co-investment is becoming more sophisticated as managers sharpen fundraising strategies and respond to the needs of large investors. It points to an increasingly customized and complicated GP-LP relationship
China shadow lending: In from the dark
China’s shadow lenders are an often-misunderstood part of the private debt sector. Investors say these unregulated institutions are not necessarily a threat, but they are hard to account for
Australian LPs and domestic VC: Toe in the water
Australian super funds are showing renewed interests in domestic venture capital, supporting firms that offer flexible structures with co-investment opportunities. Can this approach work for all GPs?
3Q analysis: Digital dreamers
Early- and growth-stage technology deals dominate the China investment charts; middle market fundraising enjoys a rebound; private equity investors turn to trade sales as the public markets flounder
Media-for-equity: Outside the box
Media-for-equity investing has become a well-established niche market in Europe. To take hold in Asia, the model requires the right investors and the right customers
Philippines private equity: Please be patient
Investors are flocking to the Philippines, but PE firms should invest time in building relationships with family-owned businesses and the government must deliver reforms if the country is to fulfil its potential
Singapore VC: Redressing the balance
Singapore wants local companies to set up VC funds as a means of cultivating start-ups in a wider variety of areas. Can the right balance be struck between innovation and corporate agendas?
Asia PE recruitment: Building blocks
As private equity continues to evolve in Asia, GPs want to recruit people with a wider array of talents – but industry participants are split on what skills these new hires should focus upon, and where to find them
Portfolio: LanzaTech and its VC network
New Zealand-based LanzaTech decided to monetize its anti-pollution technology by recruiting investors in target geographies. Local regulations remain a challenge, but the company is now beginning to scale
ESG in infrastructure: Laying the groundwork
Environmental regulations in Asia are not keeping track with the needs of local markets. PE professionals say investors can take the lead in developing and enforcing necessary standards
The long game: Merchant banking-style PE
Ascendent Capital Partners’ China strategy involves advising companies first and raising the prospect of investment second, perhaps with a sizeable gap in between. Does this signal change in the middle market?