Lucia Dore

Competition for Asia-Pacific deals will continue to be intense due to record amounts of funds ready to invest, forcing all players in the private equity industry to learn the lessons of the past and improve performance, according to the Asia-Pacific Private Equity Report 2015 by Bain & Company.

The Australian buyout firm has acquired five New Zealand privately education business through Archer Capital Fund V. The fund is an AUD 1.5 billion, 2011 vehicle that returned AUD 300 million to investors in November 2014.

Japanese corporate pension funds are set to increase their allocation to private equity, according to Tokyo-based global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management Akira Kunikyo. Allocations are expected to be targeted at local funds.

Some members of the local legal community are also expecting a public consultation on changes to limited partnership legislation that would allow private equity funds to be established on-shore.

The Singapore-based firm has already made four investments from the fund, which it plans to close in April next year.

Electra Partners Asia managing director John Levack tells Private Equity International that he is focused on its residual investments in Asia.

Clean Development Fund II will target $100 million for sustainable development and low-carbon growth opportunities.

The New Zealand-based firm's Pencarrow Fund IV is almost fully deployed.

Baring Asia Private Equity Fund VI closed in February on $4bn, but the firm is not in a rush to make acquisitions.

The firm wants to accelerate the pace of its technology investing.