2020 presented unprecedented challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Like many other industries, the private equity (PE) industry was not immune to the resulting market volatility and uncertainty. However, PE firms have embraced the new reality by adjusting their operating models, strengthening their operational improvement capabilities and by leveraging skilled advisors to adapt business models to become more agile and resilient.
Throughout the crisis, the industry has proven its ability to not only navigate difficult market conditions, but to also position itself for accelerated growth. In Asia, General Partners (GPs) remain overwhelmingly bullish on the outlook for 2021, as demonstrated by the large amount of capital that continues to be raised and that is to be deployed in the Asia Pacific region. Limited Partners showed their confidence by continuing to allocate to alternative asset classes in record amounts, leading to the significant amount of investable capital in the region. The market opportunity for GPs is reflected in the increasing amount of deal activity and the increasing average deal size. While there have been some difficulties in originating new deals in the region during the pandemic, activity has continued to grow steadily, providing a bullish outlook for 2021.
The industry’s resilience has been further evidenced by several landmark transactions in 2020, with more expected to come to market this year. Despite the impact of Covid-19, valuations have also held up across most asset types as government support programmes were administered to steady economies. Many GPs spent significant time this year cultivating existing relationships for opportunities as travel restrictions made building new pipeline a challenge. A major theme for the year will be filling pipelines with new opportunities as travel restrictions seem likely to remain.
Another trend that built momentum during the year and should accelerate further is successful GPs diversifying into other alternative asset classes, such as private credit, real assets, distressed and special situations, ESG and social impact, as well as other thematic specialty funds. This product diversification has enhanced the ability of many funds to grow their assets under management.
Given the capital available, the wider range of asset classes that GPs can invest into and the ability of GPs to invest across the capital structure, coupled with PE’s value add partnering model, I am confident the industry will continue its strong growth trajectory in China and the rest of Asia in 2021.