AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum 2023
Asia's premier private equity & venture event for the last 36 years
LIVE Broadcast & In Person
Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong & Online
ESG Outlook: The latest trends in private markets
Despite growing resistance from some quarters, and a rapidly changing investment landscape affected by geopolitical instability, rising interest rates and cost of living and energy security, ESG-related assets under management are rising and growing in importance. Although there is tighter ESG scrutiny, private market stakeholders acknowledge the significance of embedding ESG considerations into their investment decision making and LP scrutiny continues unabated. This shift in momentum, as well as how to address the key challenges for the private markets community in the region, will be discussed by our panel of industry leaders.
- What are the key ESG trends emerging in 2023/24?
- Have we seen increased ESG implementation in the region?
- What are the expectations on harmonisation of regulatory and reporting standards?
- How to address the risks surrounding transparency and accountability?
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Speakers keyboard_arrow_down
ERM
https://www.erm.comERM is one of the World’s Largest Pure-Play Sustainability Consultancy, with nearly 300 EHS, social and low-carbon consulting professionals in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Taipei offices. ERM (Shanghai) Limited was established in 1994 and is the headquarter of ERM China. We are the go-to consulting firm supporting corporate & investor clients on their Net Zero Transition journey, and uniquely placed to provide ‘Boots to Boardroom’ advisory services in China. Our services include ESG & Low Carbon Transition Strategy, EHS & Safety Operation, Green Finance, M&A & Value Creation, Sustainable Supply Chain, and Digital Solutions for building towards a sustainable future. ERM China holds a certificate for environmental impact assessment in China. More than 80% of ERM’s practitioners have overseas work experience and/or academic background, and are able to provide clients with both international and locally-tailored consulting services.
KKR
http://www.kkr.comKKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit us on Twitter @KKR_Co.
Bain Capital
http://www.baincapital.com/Bain Capital, LP is one of the world’s leading private investment firms with approximately $185 billion of assets under management that creates lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. Since our founding in 1984, we’ve applied our insight and experience to organically expand into several asset classes including private equity, credit, public equity, venture capital and real estate. We leverage our shared platform to capture cross-asset class opportunities in strategic areas of focus. With offices on four continents, our global team aligns our interests with those of our investors for lasting impact.
EmergeVest
http://www.emergevest.com/Formed in 2013, we are a global investment firm with US$850m+ of AuM that seeks to build great businesses, provide innovative capital solutions and generate value for all stakeholders.
We are active in cross-border mid-market M&A via our growth-oriented buy-and-build investment strategy. We invest at the intersection of supply chain, technology and finance, where we have proven domain knowledge and operational expertise. We employ the EmergeVest Operating System to drive value creation at our portfolio companies, with fundamental, operationally-led growth and sustainability strategies. Our flagship example of value creation is our portfolio company, EV Cargo, a global supply chain and technology leader.
For more information, please contact info@emergevest.com.
EQT
https://eqtgroup.comEQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization focused on active ownership strategies. With a Nordic heritage and a global mindset, EQT has a track record of almost three decades of delivering consistent and attractive returns across multiple geographies, sectors and strategies. Uniquely, EQT is the only large private markets firm in the world with investment strategies covering all phases of a business’ development, from start-up to maturity. EQT today has more than EUR 112 billion in assets under management including BPEA EQT across 45+ active funds within three business segments – Private Capital, BPEA EQT and Real Assets.
With its roots in the Wallenberg family’s entrepreneurial mindset and philosophy of long-term ownership, EQT is guided by a set of strong values and a distinct corporate culture. EQT manages and advises funds and vehicles that invest across the world with the mission to future-proof companies, generate attractive returns and make a positive impact with everything EQT does.
In October 2022 EQT combined with BPEA Asia to create BPEA EQT combines the private equity teams from Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) and EQT Asia, creating a comprehensive Asian private equity presence with local teams in eight cities across the region, a 25-year heritage, and more than USD 25 billion of capital deployed since inception.
Private Capital comprises six business lines: EQT Private Equity, EQT Future, EQT Ventures, EQT Life Sciences, EQT Growth and EQT Public Value. The Private Capital segment has grown rapidly and has EUR 68.2 billion in assets under management as of December 2022.
Real Assets – The Real Assets’ business segment comprises three business lines: EQT Infrastructure, EQT Active Core Infrastructure and EQT Exeter. The Real Asset segment has EUR 44.2 billion in assets under management as of December 2022.
LGT Capital Partners
https://www.lgtcp.comLGT Capital Partners is a leading alternative investment specialist with over USD 80 billion in assets under management and more than 600 institutional clients in 43 countries. An international team of over 650 professionals is responsible for managing a wide range of investment programs focusing on private markets, liquid alternatives and multi-asset class solutions. Headquartered in Pfaeffikon (SZ), Switzerland, the firm has offices in New York, San Francisco, Raleigh, Dublin, London, Paris, Vaduz, Frankfurt am Main, Luxembourg, Dubai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney.
Morrison Foerster
https://www.mofo.comWith over 1,000 lawyers across 17 offices, Morrison Foerster is a global law firm that has been active in Asia for over 40 years, with 50+ dedicated Private Equity/Mergers & Acquisitions (PE/M&A) lawyers in Asia.
Ranked as a Band 1 law firm for Asia Pacific: Corporate/M&A: Private Equity by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024, and a Tier 1 law firm for China: Private Equity by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, we have handled over 200 PE/M&A deals in Asia with an aggregate asset value of over US$265 billion in the past five years. Additionally, we have over 20 years of unrivaled experience in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, helping clients with sustainable investment strategies to reflect their impact goals and increase profitability.
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Navis Capital Partners
https://www.naviscapital.comNavis Capital Partners (“Navis”) was founded in 1998. It has over two decades of experience in partnering and growing distinctive companies in Southeast Asia. Navis has made over 90 control growth buyout investments and over 80 follow-on investments. Our 25 years of investing experience, focused on transforming and growing middle market businesses with a distinctive competitive advantage, has delivered top quartile returns.
Navis manages several private and public equity capital commitments totalling over ~USD 5 billion, and whose investors include a number of well-known US, European, Middle Eastern and Asian institutional investors and family offices.
Navis operates 6 offices across the region and has over 100 professionals comprising of 15+ nationalities. This strength in numbers and longevity in the region results in all of Navis’ companies to be leaders or near leaders in their fields. Industries/segments in which Navis has invested include healthcare, education, food processing, F&B, industrial products amongst others.
The firm contributes both capital and management expertise to its portfolio companies with the objective of directing strategic, operational and financial improvements, typically through initiatives that drive growth, margin improvement and asset efficiency. 80% of Navis’ realised returns have been driven by revenue and EBITDA growth.
Navis’ investment model places a low reliance on leverage to drive its equity returns.
Navis has launched its Navis Asia Credit platform to leverage on the firm’s extensive and deep sourcing capabilities in the region, and will seek to provide liquidity solutions to high quality middle market family owned businesses.
Nio Capital
http://www.niocapital.comEstablished in 2016, NIO Capital seeks to invest in the extensive opportunities created by innovative technologies and business models that are reshaping the mobility, energy, logistics and other adjacent industries in a transformative manner. The firm’s investment approach combines value investing with comprehensive industry resources, deep knowledge and hands-on portfolio management. NIO Capital has assembled an experienced and multi-disciplinary team with solid skillsets and blue-chip backgrounds hailing from top investment and professional services firms, internet giants and automotive companies. The firm is headquartered in Shanghai, China, with additional offices in Beijing.
“Eve ONE” is the flagship USD-denominated VC strategy vertical of NIO Capital. The inaugural fund in its series, Eve ONE Fund I, was established in 2018 with support from global blue-chip institutions, including sovereign wealth funds, global insurance companies, pension funds, fund-of-funds, corporates, and family offices. Fund I has demonstrated top-quartile performance with early investments into category leaders such as Momenta, Pony.ai, Innovusion, Inceptio, etc.
Starquest Capital
http://www.starquestcap.com/enFounded in 2017, Starquest Capital is one of the largest RMB private equity funds in China, which is managed by several highly experienced entrepreneurs and investors with over 20+ years investment, deal making experience. Starquest Capital focuses on New Economy through direct investment and FOF investment with initial AUM of around RMB 30 billion.
Focusing on opportunities in Healthcare, Digital Consumer, Intelligent Manufacturing and Technology in the new economy, Starquest Capital is on the lookout for future unicorns and for private equity investment opportunities across the entire value chain. Starquest deploys capital through reputable GPs and leading firms in various industries. With a purpose to create value for every stakeholder in the private equity industry, Starquest operates an investment process informed by its proprietary system of big data analytics and artificial intelligence and is supported by a localized professional team with global experience in direct investment and fund of funds management.
Starquest highly values green investing and sustainability principles. It was the first RMB FoF/PE investor to have joined the UNPRI and to become a signatory of the Green Investment Principles (GIP) for the Belt and Road, initiated by the China Green Finance Committee. Starquest is committed to long-term and sustainable development of the Chinese private equity industry.
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Ben Ridley is an accomplished sustainability and ESG practitioner with a blend of 30 years’ expertise across environmental consulting, corporate ESG advisory and sustainable finance. He is a Partner at ERM focussed on supporting clients in the financial sector. Ben was Asia Pacific lead for ESG financing and advisory at Credit Suisse with roles in first and second lines from 2008-2023, and Board Director and East Asia environmental consulting leader at BMT group up to 2008. He has academic and professional qualifications in ecology, environmental management, and finance. Ben remains involved with impact finance as advisor to two funds. He lives in Hong Kong with his wife and their three grown children.
Mr. Zhao founded InnoVision Capital (known as the “Firm”), in 2016. Mr. Zhao sits on the investment committee of the Firm and is responsible for sourcing proprietary investment opportunities and overseeing execution of new investments and exits as well as the Firm itself.
Mr. Zhao also acts as the primary partner where he serves as the head of portfolio companies’ management committees, in addition to serving on their boards, and leads the close monitoring of their operational and financial performance.
Prior to Founding InnoVision Capital, Mr. Zhao was a Director at KKR Asia where he spent over 10 years, responsible for investments in the consumer, service and technology sector in Greater China. Mr. Zhao started his career at Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia.
Mr. Zhao earned a B.A. in Mathematics and Physics from Tsinghua University.
Dr. Virginia Alzina is a Managing Director of EmergeVest, where she is Head of Sustainability and is responsible for leading our ESG strategies. She is also the Chief Sustainability Officer of EV Cargo, an EmergeVest company with more than $1 billion of annual revenues and global operations.
Dr. Alzina has over 25 years of global experience across Environmental and Social Governance matters with a particular focus on sustainability, resource efficiency, climate change, sustainable production and pollution control. During her 12 years in Hong Kong and Myanmar, she successfully developed sustainability strategies and applied resource efficiency to improve company performance. Prior to EmergeVest, Dr. Alzina was Group Head of Sustainability at Yoma Strategic Holdings, Managing Director of Environ Myanmar, Managing Director of the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production of Mediterranean countries, and Senior Environmental Specialist at the InterAmerican Development Bank.
Dr. Alzina has a Ph.D. in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering from George Washington University, a M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a Licenciatura in Sociology and Political Sciences from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca.
Mr. Octoman is a Senior Partner at Navis and an Investment Committee member.
Mr. Octoman joined Navis in 2000. His primary responsibility is to manage the Navis Asia Credit Fund, as a senior member of the team, and to ensure that synergies with Navis’ Private Equity platform are optimized. He also oversees the ESG Portfolio Operations team and drives the strategic focus of ESG at Navis. He has extensive private equity investment experience across multiple Navis funds investing in the ASEAN region and was previously the Chief Operating Officer of Navis, overseeing the Navis Private Equity Funds’ Investment Committee decision-making process, the Portfolio Operations group, human capital, and Navis’ strategic banking relationships.
Prior to joining Navis, Mr. Octoman worked with Price Waterhouse Coopers with a focus on capital market transactions and financial due diligence in emerging markets. Mr. Octoman also worked for KPMG in Australia and Canada in Business Advisory services.
A lifetime resident of Australasia, having been raised and educated in Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accountancy from the University of South Australia and is an Australian qualified Chartered Accountant. He is also a member of the UNPRI PEAC committee.
Joining BCI in 2022 and based out of New York City, Evan leads the ESG program for the Private Equity asset class. BCI’s ESG strategy focuses on improving the sustainability and integrity of global capital markets, while creating favorable economic conditions and long-term value for our clients and the communities we invest in.
Prior to joining BCI, Evan was the Senior Managing Director & Global Head of ESG at S&P Global, where he led the implementation of their ESG Strategy, and oversaw M&A transactions and operations. Evan’s efforts at S&P Global significantly contributed to establishing S&P Global as a preeminent provider of ESG and climate solutions to corporates and capital market participants.
Prior to joining S&P Global, Evan contributed to the development of the ESG and Impact Investing Platform for Deutsche Bank’s Asset and Wealth Management vertical in the America’s and was responsible for the continuous oversight of the program. Evan brings over 20 years of Private Equity investing with focus on ESG, alternative markets, financial services, and M&A across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Evan graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Markets and completed his MBA at Harvard Business School.
BCI’s Private Equity program has grown to $24.8 billion in privately held companies and funds with long-term growth potential. The program includes a talented team of over 60 investment and operational professionals with specialized in-house asset management expertise, contributing to the growth of the total fund exposure, increasing direct and co-sponsor deals, and extending the portfolio global reach. BCI’s Private Equity program is a significant contributor to the corporation’s $211.1 billion in assets under management, making BCI one of the largest institutional investors in Canada.