Healthcare and technology start-ups remain hot property, but pandemic-fuelled uncertainty has led to lower valuations in some areas, such as travel-related platforms.
Its latest technology investment will boost the Chinese insurance group's auto insurance business. But, the VC fund head tells AsianInvestor, further gains are expected.
There is a feeling in some quarters that, in light of the huge demand for tech startups, successful venture managers are asking for too much in return for access to their funds.
Technology investing via venture capital has rapidly gained appeal among asset owners, but sovereign wealth funds, in particular, are focusing more on direct investments in this area.
Venture financing in Asia appears to have slowed sharply since a record 2018. But activity behind the scenes suggests this is simply a blip as early-stage tech investment gains traction.
The US pension plan has $3.5 billion allocated to early-stage fund firms and is adding to that. The head of the programme, Kirk Sims, explains how it assesses budding general partners.
Capital Group names new Japan president; Robeco replaces Singapore chief; Hillhouse Capital hires ex-Blackstone MD; Vontobel expands EM debt team; HSBC Global AM names Apac ETF sales head; Manulife creates new digital business role; Stanchart names CIO for wealth management; TMF appoints fund services exec in Shanghai; and more.
Experts say the country's debut sovereign wealth fund needs full investing independence to attract international assets, but this appears unlikely according to current plans.
The Korean public pension fund has split its global public market division and will hire 38 personnel across divisions as it looks to drastically increase overseas investments by 2025.
HSBC Global AM appoints new Asia fixed income chiefs; PAG names Japan PE co-heads; EquitiesFirst names Beijing office head; Noah Holdings CIO resigns; Pictet replaces Singapore chief; HKEX names interim CEO; Tahnoon Pasha departs Spencer Stuart and Asia; Newton IM poaches Aviva Investors' CEO.
The number of lenders reducing their Asian exposure is seen to be growing fast amid the coronavirus crisis, leaving asset managers keen to fill the financing gap.
In a recent webinar, AsianInvestor spoke to top experts on emerging market (EM) corporate debt to get a better sense of the opportunities, risks and rewards that investors should be familiar with. To continue the conversation, we followed up with panelists to further explore some key issues.
The past year has seen something of a growth spurt for green bonds, with the market heading toward the $1 trillion milestone, according to data from the Climate Bonds Initiative and Bloomberg. It has also seen the emergence of social bonds, used for social investments with aims such as expanding access to healthcare and education. As well as significant government bond launches, there has been increased issuance from the corporate sector and from a wider range of businesses and industries.
Taiwan’s state pension fund has pledged to regulate external managers more strictly after the bribery scandal, but the additional red tape could turn away some fund houses.
While sustainable investment themes and practices are making steady in-roads across the region, the pace would increase with greater asset choice and standardised data, finds the latest AsianInvestor / S&P Dow Jones Indices ESG poll.