Opinion
VC and supercomputing: Access denied
VCs continue to shun the field of supercomputing despite new commercial upside related to the rise of artificial intelligence. Asia, however, could offer a relatively competitive launchpad for start-ups in the segment
Japan VC: Acorns to oaks
Japan Post Investment Corporation seeks to fill the late-stage investment gap in Japan's venture capital market that local VC investors lack the capacity to address
Hong Kong biotech IPOs: Capital injection
The move to allow zero-revenue biotech companies to list in Hong Kong has spurred investor interest in healthcare. But valuations are high and success in this capital-intensive space is by no means guaranteed
Activist investors in Japan: Governance gambit
Japan's governance reforms have given activist investors more leverage over underperforming companies. PE firms are well positioned to offer solutions to these targets in the form of carve-outs, privatizations, or partnerships
Japanese LPs: The long walk
PE firms have been trying to open up the Japanese LP market for years. Now that local institutions are showing a greater appetite for alternatives, it is unclear who will manage their investment programs
China VC: Selection issues
China's venture capital space is increasingly popular among LPs, overpopulated by GPs, and generally difficult to navigate
US pension funds: Going direct
California Public Employees’ Retirement System's (CalPERS) decision to launch a private equity direct investment strategy sets it apart from its counterparts, but the plan will need conviction and focus to succeed
Vietnam: Growth agenda
Comparisons with the dynamics in China a decade ago are often used to illustrate Vietnam's potential. The country may replicate some of its larger neighbor's success, but patience and reform remain paramount
Tech entrepreneurs and family offices: Collective might
Investment firms are emerging in Asia that leverage the collective wealth, knowledge and networks of the region's most successful internet entrepreneurs. These are family offices, but not necessarily in the traditional Western model
Corporate divestments: Time to sell?
Asia Pacific companies are increasingly willing to consider non-core asset sales as they seek to shed dead weight and re-focus on major business areas, especially as technology threatens to overturn established practices
EV in Asia: Easy riders
Higher scooter and motorcycle use rates in Asia suggest an opening for the region to take the lead in clean mobility. Early investors in electric two-wheelers have outlined the opportunity
China-Indonesia VC: Biding their time
Investments by China's tech giants becoming more prominent in Indonesia's tech space, but Chinese VC investors continue to tread cautiously in the country for the most part
Alibaba vs Tencent: Trench warefare
Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings have different approaches to M&A but the same objective of achieving pre-eminence in China's internet industry. Other companies are obliged to take sides
Impact investment: A new breed
Global GPs have the potential to draw fresh sources of capital to Asia's impact investment funds
Asia risk: Bullish on the brink
Investors appear to be discounting Asia risk in the face of rising political concerns, ranging from North Korea to Myanmar
Southeast Asia: Wary voices
LPs are likely to remain reluctant on Southeast Asia funds until GPs can demonstrate a consistent ability to generate positive returns from the region
Hong Kong IPOs: Open season
Hong Kong is proposing to loosen its listing requirements - with a view to attracting Chinese technology IPOs - in a measured way. However, changes of such significance are rarely implemented smoothly
Privatizations: Big ambitions
A boom in take-private transactions could indicate that the buyout market in Asia has reached a peak
Specialization: Buying better
Should the next-generation Australian private equity firm be doing more to differentiate itself from the competition - in the eyes of potential investees as well as investors?
Sovereign wealth funds: Size matters
GIC Private is an example of a sovereign wealth fund that has developed wide-ranging private equity capabilities. More of its peers have been boosting exposure to alternatives, highlighting the prospect of increased direct investment, but establishing...
Secondary buyouts: Second time lucky?
PE secondary buyouts are becoming more accepted in Asia as GPs increasingly look to other fund managers for exit opportunities
China private equity: A question of control
Is investor appetite for China's emerging buyout opportunity matched by an ability to run companies once they have been acquired?
Technology: Auto ambitions
Private equity firms and strategic investors are driving an automotive technology arms race in Asia
Buyouts: Courage of conviction
Buyout firms are responding to higher valuations by doing more to ensure they can bring about transformation in portfolio companies. They are also being more careful in terms of sector selection and leverage