Key Takeaways
- • Hamilton Lane's head of Southeast Asia, Kerrine Koh, says Asia's nonhomogeneous market can generate valuable private-equity opportunities even in a difficult environment, according to the Wall Street Journal.
- • Koh argues that Southeast Asia has capable managers capable of delivering strong distributions, but that manager selection is the key determinant of outcomes.
- • Asian investors have a strong home bias, often allocating 30-50% of their portfolios to Asian public equities, per a DealStreet Asia Q&A with Koh.
- • Hamilton Lane has expanded its Asia footprint, including launching the Asia Private Assets Fund (HLAPA), its first region-specific evergreen fund.
Summary
Hamilton Lane's Kerrine Koh, head of Southeast Asia for the private-markets firm, says the region's diversity, which can deter private-equity investors wary of complexity, is in fact the source of valuable opportunities in a difficult market. According to the Wall Street Journal, several large firms have nonetheless deepened their presence in Asia, and Koh contends that the nonhomogeneous character of the region is what creates these openings.
Koh has argued that Southeast Asia contains managers capable of delivering strong distributions, but that selection is critical. In a DealStreet Asia Q&A, she noted that Asian investors are known for a strong home bias, often allocating 30-50% of their portfolios to Asian public equities, even as they show growing eagerness to diversify into private markets.
Hamilton Lane has built out its regional platform accordingly. The firm launched the Asia Private Assets Fund (HLAPA), its first region-specific evergreen fund, designed to meet growing investor demand for Asian private-markets exposure. Koh also joined Hamilton Lane as Managing Director within its Client Solutions group, where she leads business development efforts, and the firm has appointed three additional managing directors in Asia, according to a company statement.
The broader backdrop is more challenging. Regional coverage has reported that Southeast Asian private equity was already slowing in the prior year, with fewer deals and weaker exits, pointing to a prolonged exit environment. Koh's comments suggest that manager selection and diversification within Asia will be central to generating returns in this market.
Koh has argued that Southeast Asia contains managers capable of delivering strong distributions, but that selection is critical. In a DealStreet Asia Q&A, she noted that Asian investors are known for a strong home bias, often allocating 30-50% of their portfolios to Asian public equities, even as they show growing eagerness to diversify into private markets.
Hamilton Lane has built out its regional platform accordingly. The firm launched the Asia Private Assets Fund (HLAPA), its first region-specific evergreen fund, designed to meet growing investor demand for Asian private-markets exposure. Koh also joined Hamilton Lane as Managing Director within its Client Solutions group, where she leads business development efforts, and the firm has appointed three additional managing directors in Asia, according to a company statement.
The broader backdrop is more challenging. Regional coverage has reported that Southeast Asian private equity was already slowing in the prior year, with fewer deals and weaker exits, pointing to a prolonged exit environment. Koh's comments suggest that manager selection and diversification within Asia will be central to generating returns in this market.
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