Southeast Asia
Creador commits $24m to Indonesia's Bank Index
Creador Capital has paid IDR290 billion ($24 million) for a 20% stake in Indonesian lender Bank Index Selindo.
Elixir Capital backs Indonesian recycling firm
Elixir Capital has agreed to invest $4.5 million in Indonesian recycling company Bintang Makmur, through its ECM Straits Fund.
Indonesia private debt: Belt and braces
There is money to be made providing debt-based solutions to growing Indonesian companies that struggle to get financing from other sources. But enter uninformed or unprotected at your peril
Indonesia middle market: Slow-burn story
Indonesia’s middle market is a proxy for the robust services sector, but it is difficult for investors to penetrate and deal flow has been slow in recent years. Are we are about to see more?
Indonesia start-ups: Growth inflection
Indonesia has relatively incubators, angels and entrepreneurs with businesses of investible quality. Does the recent large investment in Tokopedia suggest the start-up ecosystem is now coming of age?
Indonesia reforms: The waiting game
Indonesia’s new president is still carrying goodwill from the investment community and has made some reassuring moves. Now investors are waiting to see if the new direction will pay off
Q&A: Tokopedia's William Tanuwijaya
Despite initial local skepticism and competition from global rivals, Tokopedia has become Indonesia’s leading online marketplace, securing $100 million from SoftBank and Sequoia Capital last year. CEO William Tanuwijaya charts the journey
Indonesia: Unrealistic expectations?
The strong fundamentals that saw Indonesia propelled into the upper echelons of private equity – by words, if not deeds – as a counterpoint to China and India are largely unchanged.
Indonesia's IndoTrading receives $1.5m in Series A funding
Indonesian e-commerce portal IndoTrading has raised $1.5 million in a Series A round of funding led by OPT SEA, the Southeast Asian investment arm of Japanese e-marketing firm OPT.
KV driven by more than a sweet tooth
With incomes rising and tastes becoming more refined, Asia represents a growing market for luxury goods. Chocolate is no exception. While supply problems are partly responsible for a 30% increase in global cocoa prices over the last two years, the 60%...
Cool Japan invests $37m in TV channel Wakuwaku
The government-backed Cool Japan Fund will contribute JPY4.4 billion ($37 million) to a JPY 11 billion investment in entertainment channel Wakuwaku Japan alongside SKY Perfect JSAT Corp (SJC).
Rocket Internet delivers Series A financing to Bridestory
Rocket Internet has participated in a Series A round of funding for Indonesian online wedding marketplace Bridestory. The size of the investment was not disclosed, but it is said to be between $1 million and $10 million.
Singapore launches first equity crowdfunding platform
Andy Lim, co-founder of Tembusu Partners and founder financial services group MoneyWorld, has launched Singapore's first equity crowdfunding platform.
IMJ's Koichi Saito launches new VC fund
Koichi Saito, a former partner at Japanese venture capital firm IMJ Investment Partners, has launched his own VC outfit - KK Fund.
CIMB, Mitsubishi in $130m first close on SE Asia-focused fund
Malaysian financial services provider CIMB Group and Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation have announced a first close of $130 million on their ASEAN Industrial Growth Fund (AIGF).
KV Asia invests in Singapore’s Aalst Chocolate
KV Asia Capital has invested in Aalst Chocolate, a Singapore-based manufacturer of premium chocolate. Financial terms were not disclosed.
OTPP commits funding to Singapore mobile platform Garena
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) has led a new round of funding for Singapore-headquartered mobile internet and gaming platform Garena. Existing shareholders also participated.
Navis agrees Domestic Group medical equipment unit carve-out
Malaysia-based GP Navis Capital Partners has agreed to buy Domestic Medical Division (DMD), the cold chain medical equipment unit of Sweden's Domestic Group. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Singapore space junk start-up raises $7.7m Series A
Astronscale, a Singapore-based start-up that develops satellites to remove space debris, has raised $7.7 million in a Series A round of funding from JAFCO and nine entrepreneurs from Japan.
TPG, Northstar make another part exit from Indonesia's BTPN
TPG Capital and Northstar Pacific Partners have made another partial exit from Indonesian lender Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional (BTPN), selling a 17.5% stake to Japan's Sumitomo Corp. for IDR5.93 trillion ($461.8 million)
Malaysia’s CMS Opus PE exits TriSystems Engineering
Malaysia’s CMS Opus Private Equity has completed a full exit from TriSystems Engineering, a domestic engineering firm which focuses on the oil and gas sector,for MYR22 million ($6 million).
US accelerator 500 Startups launches $10m Thai fund
Silicon Valley-based accelerator and early stage investor 500 Startups is understood to be launching a new $10 million micro-fund for Thailand.
Japan's SBI, Thailand's Finansia form SE Asia PE venture
Japan's SBI Holdings and Thai financial group Finansia has together set up SBI Finansa Private Equity Partners to target investment opportunities in Southeast Asia.
Warburg Pincus to invest $125m in Indonesia shopping mall JV
Warburg Pincus plans to invest $125 million into a joint venture (JV) formed with Indonesian property developer Nirvana Development to build shopping malls in the country.