Weak market conditions crimp private equity exits in 2018

Singapore

PRIVATE equity, including venture capital, in South-east Asia faced its toughest year for exits in a decade last year, with weak market conditions dampening the appetite for initial public offerings (IPOs) and trade deals.

Both volume and aggregate value of exits took a dive, says a report released by global management consultancy Bain & Company. The report covered both private equity and venture capital activity in the region.

Exit count fell 59 per cent from 2017 and 52 per cent from the five-year average; exit value fell 72 per cent from 2017 to US$5 billion and 48 per cent from the five-year average. Among the six regions included in Bain's…