39th AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum

Morrison Foerster is proud to once again sponsor the Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ) Private Equity Forum, the most influential and largest gathering of private equity and venture professionals in Asia. Curated by Mergermarket, the four-day conference will be held in a hybrid format in Hong Kong, at which the Co-Head of our Asia M&A/PE practice, Randy Laxer, and our Hong Kong M&A/PE partner Xiaoxi Lin will moderate panel discussions covering a range of themes, including the evolving private equity landscape in Japan and deal origination, value creation and exits in the Asia middle market.

Investment Summit – Day 1 | Middle Market Mastery: Origination, Execution, Transformation

November 18, 2026, 12:25 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Moderated by Xiaoxi Lin, this panel will include Nicholas Bloy, Managing Partner at Navis Capital Partners; Kyle Shaw, Founder and Managing Partner at ShawKwei & Partners; Anthony Kerwick, Managing Director at Adamantem Capital; and Brian Lam, Portfolio Manager, Private Equity at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. The speakers will explore the following topics:

• What factors are contributing to increasing carve-out deal flow regionwide?
• How are succession transactions evolving as vendors become more familiar with PE?
• What operational transformation capabilities are mandatory for mid-market GPs?
• How are assets positioned ahead of exit processes to appeal to certain buyers? 

Investment Summit – Day 1 | Track 1: Japan: Can the Magic Formula Last?

November 18, 2026, 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Moderated by Randy Laxer, Co-Head of our Asia M&A/PE practice, this panel will include Toshitaka (Taka) Shimizu, Managing Partner at L Catterton; Toshihide Matsuda, Senior Partner and Head of Investment at T Capital Partners; Reiji Terasaka, Managing Director at Carlyle Japan; and Mark Chiba, Group Chairman and Partner at The Longreach Group. The speakers will explore the following topics.

• What are GPs doing to differentiate themselves as competition intensifies?
• How far does the take-private opportunity stretch in size and scope?
• Will sponsor-to-sponsor sales become the preeminent mid-market exit route?
• Is succession planning at the domestic GP level being taken seriously?

Learn more about this event and our Private Equity Investments + Buyouts practice.