Southeast Asia
Q&A: Blackstone's Angelo Acconcia
The Blackstone Group has entered Southeast Asia's oil and gas space with an $800 million commitment to Tamarind Energy. Angelo Acconcia, managing director at Blackstone Energy Partners, explains the rationale
CITIC PE scraps plans for Biosensors takeover
CITIC Private Equity has abandoned plans for a takeover of Singapore-listed Biosensors International, although it will remain an active investor in the medical device manufacturer.
Armstrong commits $29m to Philippines solar project
Armstrong Asset Management and Singapore solar project developer Nv vogt have committed $29 million to the development of a pipeline of solar projects in the Philippines.
Goodpack shareholders back KKR buyout
Shareholders of Singapore-listed Goodpack, the world largest maker of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), have approved a S$1.4 billion ($1.1 billion) take-private offer made by KKR.
Singapore's GIC backs Brazilian education provider
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private has acquired an 18.5% stake in Brazilian education company Abril Educação.
Indonesia’s Telkom to invest $200m in tech start-ups
Telkom, the biggest information and communication operator in Indonesia, plans to invest $200 million in technology start-ups.
EPF buys stake in Malaysian expressway
Malaysia's Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is paying MYR68.7 million ($21.5 million) for a 31.85% indirect stake in the Cerah Sama, concession holder of the Cheras-Kajang Highway.
PLDT sees Rocket as proxy for global growth
Smart eMoney, a mobile payment business owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), first ventured overseas in partnership with Mastercard in 2010.
Rocket Internet’s Foodpanda raises $60m
Foodpanda, an online take-away food delivery marketplace incubated by Rocket Internet, has raised $60 million in a new round of financing from new investor Falcon Edge Capital as well as existing backers.
Khazanah to privatize trouble-hit Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines (MAS), the beleaguered national carrier that has tragically lost two planes in the space of four months, will be privatized and restructured by its largest shareholder, Khazanah Nasional in a deal worth MYR1.38 billion ($432 million).
Northgate's Koh joins Singapore university endowment
Lye Thiam Koh has departed fund-of-funds Northgate Capital and taken up a new role as portfolio manager with the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) investment office.
CVC to sell down another stake in Indonesia's Matahari - report
CVC Capital Partners is expected to raise as much as $300m as it further cuts its stake in Indonesian retailer Matahari Department Store.
SingTel Innov8 leads $25m Series B round for Bitglass
SingTel Innov8, the corporate venture arm of Singapore telecoms giant SingTel, has led a $25 million Series B round of investment for US-based Bitglass, a provider of mobile cloud security solutions. Norwest Venture Partners and New Enterprise Associates...
ADB, Orix, Robeco form $400m Asia climate-change fund
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan's ORIX Corp. and Netherland-based Robeco Institutional Asset Management have together formed a private equity fund that will focus on investments in climate-friendly industries such as cleantech and renewable energy.
Singapore's GIC sees increase in PE exposure in 2014
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private has upped its exposure to private equity alongside bonds and emerging market equities for the year ended March, 2014, according its annual report.
Thai fashion e-commerce site raises $1.5m Series A round
Digital Media Partners has led a $1.5 million Series A of investment for Thai fashion e-commerce start-up WearYouWant. IMG Investment Partners and Japanese e-marketing firm OPT SEA also took part in the round.
Human Resources: Hiring for growth
When building the next Baidu or Facebook, finding the right team is as important as raising the next round of capital, if not more so. Early-stage investors can play an active role in the process.
Blackstone to invest up to $800m in Tamarind Energy
Blackstone has made a commitment to invest up to $800 million in Malaysia-based oil and gas exploration and production start-up, Tamarind Energy, alongside management. The investment is being made via the GP's energy investment unit, Blackstone Energy...
Profile: Anthem Asia's Josephine Price
After more than a decade at CLSA Capital Partners, Josephine Price left to pursue an interest in sustainable investment. It led her to Myanmar, the region’s last frontier market, and Anthem Asia
Thriller in Manila: PE investors target the Philippines
The Philippines is the fifth-largest economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has the second-largest population. GDP growth is among the fastest in Asia. But in terms of inbound and outbound commerce the country trails its comparable...
PEP exits Griffin's Foods to Philippines buyer for $608m
Australian GP Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is set for its fourth full or partial exit in two months after Philippines food and beverage conglomerate Universal Robina (URC) agreed to buy Griffin’s Foods for approximately NZ$700 million ($608 million)...
Armstrong commits $22.5m to Indonesia mini-hydro power
Armstrong Asset Management has agreed to invest $22.5 million in a portfolio of Indonesia-based mini hydro-electric plants being developed by Inti Duta Energi, a subsidiary of Jakarta-listed construction company Nusa Konstruksi Enjiniring (NKE).
SE Asia buyouts present localization challenge – AVCJ Forum
Southeast Asia’s emerging buyout opportunity represents a localization challenge for private equity firms as they try to distribute resources in order to maximize potential deal flow, industry participants told the AVCJ Singapore Forum.
Northstar reaches $500m first close on Southeast Asia fund
Southeast Asia-focused GP Northstar Group has reached a first close of approximately $500 million on its fourth fund.