Analysis
Taiwan LPs: Hare and tortoise
GPs are watching with interest as Taiwan restructures its labor pension fund system, thinking of potential LP commitments. But insurers remain the most active players in the market, and they want to do more
Asian start-up hubs: Global mandates
Innovation hubs have traditionally been defined by the size of their immediately addressable market. But with better access to capital, information and technology, some Asian jurisdictions are going global
Private equity firm names: A brand apart
As private equity becomes more of a mainstream asset class, brand-consciousness kicks in. Finding a suitable name can be a challenge, particularly when operating in multiple markets and languages
Succession-planning deals: A matter of legacy
Long a feature of the developed markets private equity, succession-planning opportunities are beginning to pop up in emerging Asia. Regardless of geography, convincing a founder to sell his business is a challenge
Asia PE performance: Special measures
Asian private equity has, by some accounts, failed to meet LP expectations in terms of risk-adjusted returns. With GPs under pressure to show they can be company builders, is specialization the inevitable end game?
Mobile payments: Breaking down barriers
Driven by strong demand from consumers underserved by traditional payment channels, VC and strategic investors are increasingly active in Southeast Asia mobile payment. It is too early to identify winners.
Infrastructure: Building partners
LPs are seeking to boost their exposure to Asian infrastructure through direct investment, either independently or alongside GPs. In a highly varied regional market, there is no one-size-fits-all approach
Australia education: Study your market
In Study Group, Australian tertiary education has a strong example of how PE can support cross-border expansion. But now the smart money is going into vocational and early learning services
The Philippines: SE Asia's next big thing?
The Philippines has emerged from relative obscurity to become private equity’s latest nascent consumer play in Southeast Asia. Deal flow is slow and uncertain as investors get to grips with the opportunity.
3Q analysis: The IPO genie
Real and paper windfall for PE investors in Alibaba spurs exit environment; the latest round of fundraising for pan-regional mega vehicles draws to a close; growth capital dominates the investment numbers
China online finance: Money to the masses
The rise of peer-to-peer lending businesses in China is good for small companies that can't get bank financing and VC firms looking to ride the next wave. But concerns remain over regulation and reliability
Portfolio: First Reserve and KrisEnergy
In backing oil and gas start-up KrisEnergy, First Reserve put its faith in a rare commodity in Southeast Asia – an independent team that knows where the plumb assets are and how to access them
Family ties: Asian family offices as LPs
As wealth in Asia has grown, so has the number of family offices. As these investors become more institutionalized, what can they do for private equity and what can private equity do for them?
China QFLP funds: Back from the brink?
Moves by Japan’s Nomura Asset Management and Singaporean lender OCBC to enter Chinese private equity through the Qualified Foreign Limited Partnership program are unlikely to spark a broader revival
China downside protection: Parachute play
All PE investors want downside protection in China, but they prefer to use it as leverage in amicable negotiations rather than pursue full enforcement. Knowing the entrepreneur and the business is crucial
Southeast Asia e-commerce: Logistics logjam
Southeast Asia is expected to see rapid growth in e-commerce over the next five years. But are there enough competent logistics providers to deliver the goods in a timely and cost-effective fashion?
Cross-border e-commerce: The final frontier
Rocket Internet and Alibaba Group are preparing to go public and have ambitious growth plans. But how suited are their respective models to cross-border e-commerce expansion?
Crowdfunding: Herd dynamics
More start-ups are tapping crowdfunding platforms for capital. How well prepared are Asian markets to accommodate the phenomenon and what does its emergence mean for venture capital investors?
Portfolio: YPX and China casual dining
YPX Cayman was born out of an idea for a tech-style start-up in China's casual dining space. Backed by a string of investors, the firm is making headway with Cloud 9 and preparing to launch new concepts
Secondaries: Deal flow spike
Secondary deal flow has reached record breaking levels in 2014. Regulatory reform and economic recovery have helped, but that is not the whole story - the maturing market is arguably more important
Korean LPs: A targeted market
From the National Pension Service downwards, Korean institutions are increasingly courted by international GPs on the fundraising trail. Building ties with these groups, formally or informally, can be difficult
Korea VC: Seoul-searching
The South Korean start-up community is flourishing as early-stage investors flock to the country in search of opportunities. What is driving this renewed interest and can it last?
Korean outbound M&A: Satisfied partners?
Korea’s National Pension Service wants private equity to help local corporates expand overseas. Three years after its inception, the Corporate Partnership Fund has yet to prove it is the answer
China regulation: Circular progress
China’s foreign exchange regulator has issued new rules simplifying the use of offshore special purpose vehicles for investment purposes. It’s good news for VCs but questions remain about implementation