The $7.5-billion deal to merge the Asia-based businesses of Swedish private equity firm EQT and Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) is not “a defensive move” but a partnership to ramp up the active ownership strategy in Asia, according to BPEA’s Singapore-based managing director Kenneth Cheong.
Following the merger announcement last month, the combined Asia business will be rebranded as BPEA EQT Asia and will continue to be led by BPEA CEO Jean Eric Salata and its senior management team.