Shanghai-based SME fund launched by Asia Alpha Private Equity

The fund expects to be a proactive investor in small and medium-size businesses who are participating in China and Asia's growth. The target is to be the first strategic investor in a dozen privately owned businesses with potential for market expansion before these companies grow and access other financing and liquidity channels.

James Hahn, one of the fund's managing partners, said, 'We invest in profitable businesses where we or our partners possess deep domain operational expertise, including alternative energy, education, financial services, healthcare, hospitality, and retailing sectors. As a value-add investor to our privately owned SME portfolio companies, we can assist with local business development as well as globalisation initiatives. The dominance of Intra-Asia trade, especially among China, Japan, and Korea, coupled with the ascension of China's urban-affluent middle-class consumers provide a solid foundation for companies servicing tomorrow's Asian middle class today.'

The fund's strategic China partner is an undisclosed conglomerate whose consumer-oriented businesses include energy, communications, financial products and services, hospitality and retail.

Asia Alpha has offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei.

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