The Untapped Potential of Private Markets Data in Asia

Asia’s economic landscape is burgeoning, with private markets playing a significant role in driving growth and innovation across the region. For investors seeking to capitalise on this dynamism, the investment opportunities within Asia’s diverse range of private enterprises – from tech start-ups to family-held giants – are considerable.

However, venturing into this space presents a unique set of hurdles, primarily centred around accessing and analysing private market data. Unlike the readily available information for publicly listed companies, data on private entities is often fragmented, inconsistently reported, and difficult to obtain.

In this blog, we explore how Handshakes, one of Singapore’s data companies, can unlock the potential held within Asia’s private markets.

The Landscape of Private Markets in Asia

To truly grasp the investment opportunities within Asia’s private markets, it’s essential to first understand the diverse landscape across key countries in the region.

From the private equity ecosystem in Singapore, a hub for regional investment, to the rapidly expanding venture capital scene in Vietnam, fuelled by a young and dynamic population, and the sheer scale and diversity of the private sector in China, each market possesses its own unique characteristics and nuances. Malaysia and Thailand also present distinct emerging markets with their own sets of opportunities and challenges for private market investing.

Navigating this complex landscape requires more than just identifying potential companies; it demands a deep understanding of local regulations, cultural nuances, and the specific drivers of growth within each emerging market.

Furthermore, the very nature of private market data in these regions can vary significantly in terms of availability, reporting standards, and language. This inherent fragmentation and lack of standardisation create a significant hurdle for investors seeking to conduct thorough due diligence and make informed investment decisions. The need for reliable and comprehensive data, therefore, becomes paramount for those looking to successfully tap into the vast potential of Asia’s private markets.

Handshakes’ Private Market Data Solutions

Handshakes directly addresses the challenges of accessing and analysing private market data in Asia through its comprehensive suite of solutions, primarily the Handshakes DATAMART and Handshakes XPERT.

Handshakes provides extensive and continuously updated data encompassing millions of private companies across key Asian economies, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. This rich repository goes beyond basic directory listings, providing a wealth of crucial information, including detailed financials, intricate ownership structures, key executive profiles, and in-depth industry insights, offering a significant advantage over relying on disparate and often incomplete sources. Notably, Handshakes DATAMART, our self-service portal, offers users direct access to this vital private market data for Singapore and Malaysia.

Handshakes also understands that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when it comes to private market investing. Therefore, Handshakes XPERT provides customised research and due diligence reports specifically focused on private companies within the Asian emerging markets.

Whether an investor requires an in-depth corporate background check on a potential target in Vietnam, a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape within a specific private sector in Malaysia, or a comprehensive vendor screening services on a privately held supplier in Thailand, Handshakes XPERT leverages its extensive data access and expert analysts to deliver tailored insights that meet specific needs.

This approach significantly enhances the ability of investors and professionals to conduct thorough due diligence checks and make well-informed decisions in the often-complex realm of private equity in Asia.

Using Private Markets Data to Secure Investment Opportunities

The availability of comprehensive and reliable private market data through platforms like Handshakes is transformative for investors seeking to secure promising investment opportunities in Asia’s dynamic economies.

Identifying potential targets is just the first step; a thorough understanding of their financial performance is crucial. Handshakes provides access to key financial indicators, allowing investors to assess a private company’s revenue trends, profitability, asset base, and debt levels – critical factors in evaluating its long-term viability and growth potential within the specific emerging markets they operate in.

Beyond financials, evaluating risk is paramount in private market investing. Handshakes’ data solutions offer insights into a company’s ownership structure, including identifying ultimate beneficial owners, which is vital for understanding potential conflicts of interest and assessing governance risks.

Furthermore, access to litigation and enforcement data, often challenging to obtain for private entities, can reveal potential red flags and help investors avoid unforeseen legal or regulatory issues. The ability to conduct thorough background checks and screening services on private companies through Handshakes XPERT further enhances risk assessment capabilities.

Moreover, private market data can uncover hidden investment opportunities by revealing trends and patterns that might not be apparent from public information alone. For instance, analysing investment activity and shareholder movements within specific private sectors can highlight emerging winners and potential acquisition targets.

Understanding industry-specific financials and growth rates across a range of private companies can inform strategic investment decisions and identify underserved niches within emerging markets. The application of AI in asset management to this rich dataset can further enhance the ability to identify promising investment opportunities and optimise portfolio allocation within Asia’s burgeoning private markets.

Unlock Asia’s Private Market with Handshakes

The evolving private markets of Asia present a wealth of investment opportunities for those equipped with the right intelligence. The traditional challenges of accessing and analysing reliable private market data no longer need to be a barrier. Handshakes provides the comprehensive data, advanced analytical tools, and bespoke research capabilities necessary to navigate this complex landscape with confidence.

By offering access to financial data, ownership structures, and industry insights across key Asian emerging markets, coupled with the power of customised due diligence software and expert analysis, Handshakes empowers investors to move beyond speculation and make informed, data-driven decisions. Unlock the untapped potential of Asia’s private markets – explore the possibilities with Handshakes today.