Asia Alternatives raises over $1.5B

Asia Alternatives raised more than $1.5 billion in new funds to invest into fund managers across Asia.

Around 75 percent of its existing investors committing to the new funds, underlining the continuing appetite for Asia growth.

The firm has already invested in 36 managers in Asia, including China's Hony Capital, CDH and CITIC Private Equity and Asia fund RRJ Capital.

Asia Alternatives, a fund of funds that invests capital in private equity fund managers, invests in Greater China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India and Australia, and across buyout, growth, venture capital and special situations funds.

Co-founder and managing partner Melissa Ma said that the firm is predominantly North Asia focused, and plans to maintain its strategy of investing in domestic consumption-focused funds, which has proved more recession resilient.

"Our portfolio is very heavily weighed in that direction, so our managers tend to be investing in more the local consumption sectors," Ma said.

Investors in the Asia Alternatives funds include state and corporate pension funds and insurance companies in the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia, including Church Pension Fund, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co, Oak Hill Investment Management and Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System.

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