Governance, Registered and Independents
Asia Private Equity Club (APECS)
ABOUT US
The Asia Private Equity Club @ SMU (APECS) is an intra-varsity club that aspires to bridge the gap between undergraduates and industry professionals in the Private Equity and Venture Capital space.
APECS is open to anyone interested in the private markets, regardless of your background, as long as you are interested and committed to learning. We conduct fundamental training on technical skills starting from the basics, to equip you with the knowledge required to thrive in the VC and PE industry.
KEY EVENTS
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Venture Capital Case Competition (VCCC)
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Private Equity Case Competition (PECC)
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Networking Events with Industry Professionals
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Internal Case Competitions
REACH US AT apec@sa.smu.edu.sg!
GALLERY
OUR TRAINING
| Day | Fridays |
| Time | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm |
| Venue | SMU Seminar Rooms |
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Organiser of the annual Venture Capital Case Competition (VCCC) Hosted over 100 participating teams from multiple tertiary institutions across Singapore
- Organised the inaugural Private Equity Case Competition (PECC) Consisted of participating teams from the various ASEAN nations
- Hosted multiple networking events with industry leaders in the VC and PE space Inclusive but not limited to KKR, Everstone, Partners Group, Golden Gate Ventures and Openspace Ventures
DO I NEED TO AUDITION TO GET INTO THE CLUB?
Yes
"APECS has not only allowed me to develop as an individual, but provided me with the support system and community to thrive - both personally and professionally. It is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my SMU experience."
– Marcus Cheu, 7th Exco President (VC), LKCSB, Year 3
"APECS has given me the opportunity to be a part of a family-like community of like-minded and helpful individuals that have impacted me immensely, both personally and in my pursuit of a career in the finance industry."
– Cavyn Chong, 7th Exco President (PE), SOA, Year 3
FAQ
Both PE and VC entails investing into private companies, which are not listed on the stock exchange (such companies are public companies). The key difference between VC and PE would be the size/maturity of businesses focused on. VC focuses on businesses that introduce novel business models (aka startups) which aim to better solve consumers/ producers pain points than incumbent providers, in a bid to revolutionize their industry for the better. Some examples of notable venture-backed startups include Grab, Zoom, Bytedance (TikTok, Douyin etc.). On the other hand, PE focuses on more mature companies with proven business models and established market presence. PE firms take a more hands-on approach to investing. In countries like the US, PE firms commonly take ownership of the company by purchasing a majority controlling stake through a leveraged buyout (where they take on debt to finance a large purchase). Notable leveraged buyouts include Dell Technologies, Manchester United Football Club and Hilton Hotel. [RTWC1] However, in Asia especially, PE firms also invest in minority stakes of companies, in the form of growth equity - over a leveraged buyout. Overall, both VC and PE deliver market-beating returns to investors and are bedrocks of our global economies through empowering businesses to grow.
Other investment clubs focus on the public markets, whereas APECS delves deeply into the private markets. Without losing focus on technicals, we inculcate a deep understanding and appreciation for analysing business models and market trends in our members. For the more enterprising or entrepreneurial student, APECS offers you the opportunity to analyze and evaluate a wide spectrum of private companies and understand the PE/VC industry from an investor’s perspective.
A curious mind, commitment and willingness to learn. Most importantly a healthy appetite for having fun. :)
We conduct weekly lessons to teach you the basics of Venture Capital and Private Equity while offering networking opportunities with renowned industry professionals, which often extend internship opportunities to our members. Additionally, surround yourself with like-minded peers also aspiring to build a career in finance, while exploring these interests under the guidance of experienced, approachable seniors!
We have lessons every Friday from 4-7pm. Apart from these lessons, our extensive community of approachable seniors are always happy to provide members with additional guidance beyond our curriculum hours. We also host internal case competitions for our subcommittee members to put their newfound skills into practice, and get feedback and insights from seniors with deep professional expertise in the private markets.
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