Opinion
Asia fundraising: Demand and supply
Capital is pouring into the asset class, globally and in Asia, to the benefit of brand-name buyout managers. Deploying a large fund in Asia means squeezing as much deal flow as possible out of each jurisdiction
Korean culture plays: Sitting pretty?
Private equity is riding the 'Korean wave' by investing in cultural assets - from music to TV dramas to beauty products – that have international appeal. Success hinges on execution as much as macro trends
Big beast: The SoftBank Vision Fund
SoftBank's global technology fund is significant enough to redraw the private equity investment opportunity in certain industries, if not to redraw the industries themselves
Vietnam: Improving sentiment
With regional and global GPs showing greater interest in Vietnam, local managers have an additional exit option - and an opportunity to show that country funds can perform across multiple cycles
China retail: Engagement factors
Hillhouse Capital's efforts in using technology to support Kidswant may offer pointers regarding its plans for buyout target Belle International. But is it enough to turnaround the fortunes of one of China's largest retailers?
Southeast Asia VC: Common tastes
Venture capital investors increasingly view Southeast Asia as a single market as start-ups focus their attentions on a handful of large cities whose young populations have similar consumption habits
Private to public: Indonesia taps PE talent for government
Saratoga Capital's Sandiaga Uno is the latest Indonesian PE professional to enter public service following his election as deputy governor of Jakarta. This trend is a function of a relatively shallow talent pool
Indonesia investment: Venture rising
Venture capital has come to the fore in Indonesia, propelled forward by the attractions of a youthful population, rising disposable incomes and growth in smart phone adoption
The devil you know: PE and Southeast Asian entrepreneurs
Due to a shortage of companies in Southeast Asia that have proved themselves capable of working private equity, when GPs identify a group they like it is not uncommon for them to work together more than once
Park life: Chinese investors target theme parks
From Wanda Group to Walt Disney, China is filling up with theme parks. Investors see it as an opportunity to marry real estate development with the evolving consumption patterns
LPs going direct: In the shadows
While appetite for co-investment among LPs continues unabated, the notion of going solo on deals is more talked about than acted on in Asia. But shadow capital still poses a threat to managers
Institutional investors and private equity: Cracks in the ice?
Competition is intense at the upper end of the global buyout space, with abundant dry powder and readily available debt pushing up valuations. LPs are keen to allocate to the asset class, but will they end up disappointed?
Business cycles: China bike-sharing start-ups
Mobike and Ofo are engaged in a battle of private equity-fueled one-upmanship as they strive for supremacy in China's bike-sharing space. Will they die off, merge or become differentiated (and profitable)?
Information issues: Fund administration in Asia
Private equity firms in Asia are increasingly willing to outsource fund administration, but they appear to be slower than their global counterparts in embracing more sophisticated middle office functions
Soft middle: Australia's underserved lower middle market
Fewer GPs are targeting Australia's lower middle market as a result of increasing fund sizes and the difficulties local LPs have writing small-ticket checks. The arrival of new PE firms is encouraging, but they aren't necessarily positioned to fill this...
Buyouts: More trouble in Taiwan
The collapse of a Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia-backed bid to acquire CNS from MBK Partners once again underlines the challenges facing buyout investors in Taiwan, on entry and exit
China logistics: Time to deliver
The pursuit of Global Logistic Properties (GLP) is a natural consequence of more private capital entering China's transportation and logistics sector - indeed, GLP itself is managing a sizable portion of this capital
IDG Capital: Jack of all trades
IDG Capital has agreed to buy its parent, International Data Group's investment unit. It is the latest in a string of bold moves as IDG Capital looks to broaden its business - but how broad is too broad?
China fundraising: Venture rising?
With the pace of fundraising picking up in China's venture capital industry, offshore LPs face challenges keeping up with the latest developments
Faster food: PE and restaurant franchising
Franchising out restaurant chains - one of the major objectives for the new PE-backed McDonald's China partnership - is a popular ploy for investors across Asia as they pursue scale. But it is not without risk
China-US: Outbound angst
Controls on capital outflows imposed by Beijing and concerns about a more aggressive trade policy out of Washington mean Chinese investment in the US is unlikely to match 2016's highs, but this is not necessarily bad for Chinese PE investors
Five trends for 2017
AVCJ looks at how its 2016 predictions turned out and identifies some key themes for the year ahead
Hong Kong PE: Institutional outpost
Hong Kong's regulatory approach can cause headaches for GPs, but the territory offers investors a number of advantages as well
Cash in hand: India's demonetization policy
India's demonetization policy means short-term headaches for private equity, but probably long-term gains