China ASEAN investment platform activity is accelerating as a USD1bn private equity initiative backed by sovereign investors reached a first close of USD520m. The Galaxy Orientis platform, supported by China Investment Corporation, Indonesia Investment Authority and the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan, targets opportunities across the China–ASEAN corridor. The China ASEAN investment platform will focus on industrials, healthcare, consumer, business services and technology sector

Asia private equity fund activity reached a record as EQT closed its BPEA Private Equity Fund IX at USD15.6bn, marking the largest Asia-Pacific-focused fund raised to date. The oversubscribed Asia private equity fund, with USD14.9bn in fee-generating assets under management, will target control investments across technology, healthcare, industrial technology and services. The close comes despite fundraising for Asian funds hitting a 12-year low in 2025 after four consecutive

AI investments family offices are accelerating across Asia despite concerns over elevated valuations in US markets. Wealthy investors deployed USD24.3bn into private AI deals in 2025, nearly tripling the previous year, with another USD950m committed by early April. The surge in AI investments family offices reflects strong demand for exposure to leading firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic, although access challenges and valuation risks are pushing some investors toward Asian s

Joe Tsai family office investment through Blue Pool Capital has led a Series A funding round in the Asian University Basketball League, as investors bet on the rapid growth of basketball across Asia. The family office-backed investor was joined by Avenue Capital Group, Nan Fung Group, HSG, Bolt Ventures and former Chinese Basketball Association chief Yao Ming, marking his first investment in an emerging sports league. The AUBL said its inaugural tournament in Hangzhou attract

Family offices March dealmaking slowed as ultra-wealthy investors pulled back on direct transactions during a month marked by market volatility linked to the Iran conflict, according to Fintrx data. Family offices made 39 direct investments in companies during March, down 25% from February after adjusting for the difference in month length. Even so, deal sizes increased, with a quarter of those transactions qualifying as mega-rounds of more than USD100m. Bezos Expeditions co-

Family offices Asia recycling fund backing helped Circulate Capital secure a USD220m first close for Circulate Capital Asia II, giving the Singapore-based investment manager more than 70% of its USD300m target for a vehicle focused on scaling circular supply chains and recycling businesses across South and Southeast Asia. Backers include Builders Vision, Stella, Clotho Family Office, Wire Group and Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco. The first close exceeds Circulate Capita

Blue Pool Capital private equity fund activity has entered a new phase as the Hong Kong-based multi-family office and investment firm co-founded by Alibaba billionaire Joe Tsai raised USD1bn for its first private equity fund, Riverside Fund, marking an expansion beyond multi-strategy investing. The firm was founded by Tsai and former Alibaba executives and is led by CEO Oliver Weisberg, a former Goldman Sachs banker and former Citadel partner in Hong Kong. Weisberg previously

Full Vision EnerVenue investment has led a USD300m Series B+ preferred stock financing round in US energy storage firm EnerVenue Holding, backing the battery maker it originally incubated as it expands manufacturing and commercial operations. The investment brings California-based EnerVenue’s total funding to USD445m. The company develops aqueous metal cell batteries for long-duration grid storage, a technology adapted from aerospace applications. Proceeds will support resear

Circulate Capital Asia fund has raised USD220m for the first close of its second Asia vehicle, defying a broader pullback in ESG investing. Singapore-based Circulate Capital said the first close of Asia Fund II brings total assets under management to USD480m. Backers include Builders Vision, the family office founded by a grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton, alongside existing corporate investors such as Coca-Cola and new institutional backers, including the Emerging Marke

China VC fundraising is on track for a record first quarter as Beijing channels more state-backed money into technology sectors such as AI, robotics and quantum computing. Newly committed capital to venture funds reached RMB86bn(USD12.5bn) in January and February alone, already above the previous quarterly high of RMB68.9bn set in Q3 2021, according to data from the Asset Management Association of China cited by Reuters. Nearly all of the biggest backers of new yuan-denominat

Vietnam venture capital funding could gain support from newly created state-backed funds, which industry executives said may help unlock more private capital for startups by giving foreign investors greater confidence in the market. Hanoi has set up a VND600bn(USD22.8m) fund, while Ho Chi Minh City launched a VND500bn vehicle, though executives said the sums remain modest relative to demand and far below the size of some regional funding rounds. ThinkZone Ventures said govern

China fund manager merger activity is set to deepen as Huaan Fund Management and smaller peer HFT Investment Management prepare to combine under rules that bar one company from controlling stakes in two mutual fund managers, according to a local media report. Both firms are controlled by Guotai Haitong Securities, and the final merger plan is expected later this month or in early April. The proposed China fund manager merger comes as regulators push wider consolidation across

Philippines private capital funding growth accelerated in 2025 as total capital raised rose 34% year on year to USD1.5bn, according to a Foxmont Capital Partners report. Debt financing jumped 144% to USD490m, while equity funding rose 10% to USD1.01bn. Although total deal volume fell, average deal size increased 64% to just over USD20m, indicating a shift towards larger transactions. Fintech remained the most active sector by deal count, while healthtech posted the biggest ri

Asia real estate private credit fund commitments have reached USD165m for Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management and Aravest Private Funds, marking the first in a planned pipeline of private credit products under SMBC Group’s private markets platform. The strategy launched in 2025 with USD120m and expanded after additional commitments, Sumitomo Mitsui DS said. The fund can invest across the property asset life cycle, including construction, bridge and stabilised stages. The laun

Asia Pacific private equity exits rebound in 2025 as exit value rose 24% to USD150bn and net distributions turned positive, according to Bain & Company. Bain said IPO and open-market exits jumped more than 70% from 2024, while trade exits rose 60%, helping ease pressure on distributions despite ageing portfolios from 2020 to 2022. Exit values increased across most regional markets, though Southeast Asia fell to USD4bn from USD6bn. Fundraising dropped 37% to USD58bn, marking a

Sumitomo Life private credit allocation is set to increase as the insurer considers investing about JPY300bn(USD2bn) in the asset class in the fiscal year starting April. The company already holds about JPY1.6tr in private credit, including CLOs, and sees the asset class as attractive due to higher spreads and long-duration matching with liabilities. It is also targeting about JPY700bn in ESG-related investments over three years. The Sumitomo Life private credit allocation hi

KKR Asia infrastructure investing remains attractive despite infrastructure not acting as a traditional crisis safe haven, according to the firm’s global head of real assets Raj Agrawal. Investors suffered losses during both the global financial crisis and the COVID‑19 pandemic as assets such as toll roads, ports and airports were closely linked to economic cycles. KKR has since shifted its strategy toward assets with contracted cash flows and stronger downside protection, in

Haitong Shaw Investment partnership aims to support Chinese companies expanding overseas and seeking access to global capital markets. Haitong International Securities has partnered with Singapore‑based Shaw Investment APAC, a single‑family office managing about USD3bn in assets. The collaboration will facilitate outbound investments and cross‑border financing opportunities while leveraging Singapore’s role as a regional financial hub. The Haitong Shaw Investment partnership

Family offices frontier science investing is accelerating as wealthy Asian families expand allocations to sectors such as space technology and longevity biotech. The Venture Network founder Lachezar Zanev said younger heirs are increasingly pursuing both outsized returns and social impact through emerging scientific industries. Lower launch costs and improving satellite capabilities, alongside biotech advances moving toward clinical applications, are widening the opportunity

China’s private equity exit drought deepened in 2025, with top global buyout firms failing to record a single publicly disclosed full divestment from mainland portfolio companies for a second straight year, the Financial Times reported. Citing PitchBook and Dealogic data, the FT said 10 major houses including KKR, Blackstone, CVC, TPG, Warburg Pincus, Carlyle, Bain Capital, EQT, Advent and Apollo posted zero completed exits, piling pressure on China teams and slowing capital