Southeast Asia
GIC leads $150m round for US e-commerce start-up Square - report
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private is said to have led a $150 million Series E round investment in US e-payments start-up Square.
Portfolio: First Reserve and KrisEnergy
In backing oil and gas start-up KrisEnergy, First Reserve put its faith in a rare commodity in Southeast Asia – an independent team that knows where the plumb assets are and how to access them
3i completes med-tech upscale job
When John Thomson, head of 3i Group’s Southeast Asia business, met Singaporean entrepreneur Jay Pok in the mid-2000s, he was on the lookout for a medical technology investment. But Pok’s company, medical cable maker LHi Technology, though impressive,...
SCPE ready to bet big on Vietnam
Private equity investors have committed an annual average of $364 million to Vietnam-based companies over the past 10 years. In the space of three weeks, Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) alone has deployed over one third of this total.
Ayannah banks on the unbanked
Explaining why cross-border remittances into the Philippines are not his core business, Mikko Perez points to Hong Kong’s Central district on a Sunday, when the domestic helpers are out in force. “It’s so cut throat – we are talking basis points...
Family ties: Asian family offices as LPs
As wealth in Asia has grown, so has the number of family offices. As these investors become more institutionalized, what can they do for private equity and what can private equity do for them?
Shaw Kwei invests $17m in Singapore marine logistics firm
Greater China and Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm Shaw Kwei & Partners has paid $17 million for a 60% stake in Singapore marine logistics firm Amos International.
Southern Capital agrees $180m Singapore engineering carve-out
Southern Capital Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in United Engineers’ Singapore-listed engineering and construction division for S$230.2 million ($180 million) in cash.
3i exits Asian medical device maker LHi to US trade buyer
3i Group has exited LHi Technology – a medical equipment manufacturer bought from Baring Private Equity Asia in 2008 – to US-based Carlisle Companies for an enterprise valuation of around $195 million, claiming a 2.9x money multiple.
Rocket Internet shares close down 13% on Frankfurt debut
German internet incubator and investor Rocket Internet saw its shares close down 13% on the first day of trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange following a EUR1.6 billion ($2 billion) IPO.
Kendall Court exits Malaysian broadband provider
Kendall Court Capital Partners has exited Packet One Networks – a Malaysian broadband provider heavily involved in 4G telecommunications technology – as Telekom Malaysia (TM) bought a controlling stake in the company.
China's CIC in $311m partial exit from Noble Group
China Investment Corporation (CIC) has made a partial exit from Singapore-listed agriculture and energy supply chain manager Noble Group, generating proceeds of S$396 milion ($310.6 million).
Gree Ventures backs Philippines payments business
Gree Ventures has participated in a Series C round of funding for Philippines-based digital payments business Ayannah. Wavemaker Labs, Golden Gate Ventures, IMJ Investment Partners and Beenos Asia also participated.
LP interview: Malaysia's KWAP
Malaysian pension fund KWAP is adding North America and European exposure to its Asia-heavy private equity portfolio. It is ramping up commitments from a relatively low base
Sinarmas takes Ardent cross-border
Ardent Capital is registered in Hong Kong, but Bangkok remains its home. Previous investments by the VC firm have followed the same model – start in Thailand, then expand into other Southeast Asian markets. Now, though, Ardent is preparing to incubate...
Jungle Ventures commits $1.6m to Thailand fashion site
Jungle Ventures has led a $1.6 million pre-Series A round for Pomelo, a Thailand-based online fashion retailer.
Affinity backs poultry producer in debut Malaysia deal
Affinity Equity Partners has secured its debut Malaysia investment after agreeing to buy a significant minority stake in poultry producer Leong Hup International in a deal that values the company at around $600 million excluding debt.
SCPE invests $90m in Vietnam agribusiness player
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has completed its second Vietnam deal in the space of a month, paying $90 million for a significant minority stake in agribusiness player An Giang Plant Protection (AGPP).
New Asia, AIF in $15m round for Vietnam restaurant chain
New Asia Partners and AIF Capital have led a Series B round of funding worth $15 million for Huy Vietnam Group, Vietnam’s largest operator of self-managed, local cuisine restaurants.
Boyu joins Chinese consortium for $2.5b GLP investment
Boyu Capital and several Chinese strategic investors have joined a consortium that has committed $2.5 billion to Global Logistic Properties (GLP), a Singapore-listed warehouse operator.
CVC-owned SPi to sell US healthcare business for $235m
SPi Global, a Philippines-based business process outsourcing (BPO) provider owned by CVC Capital Partners, has agreed to sell its US healthcare business to Conifer Health Solutions in a deal worth $235 million.
Singapore supports med-tech accelerator program
Spring Seeds Capital, an investment arm of government-backed Spring Singapore, has launched an initiative that could channel up to S$60 million ($47 million) into local medical technology start-ups.
VC-backed iMoney gets funding from Australia's iSelect
IMoney Group, a Malaysia-based financial comparison start-up backed by Jungle Ventures, has received approximately MYR13 million ($4 million) from iSelect, an Australia Securities Exchange-listed online comparison service.
KKR restructures Asia leadership team
David Liu and Ming Lu have been appointed co-heads of Asia private equity at KKR as several members of the firm’s leadership team across the region assume additional responsibilities. Joe Bae remains head of KKR Asia and chairman of the regional investment...