Southeast Asia
VCs look beyond ad-driven business models - AVCJ Forum
Venture capital investment opportunities in Southeast Asia increasingly lie beyond the traditional advertising-driven monetization model, industry participants told the AVCJ Singapore Forum.
Control deals cast light on Asia GPs' value creation credentials - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors are seeing more control deals in emerging Asian markets traditionally dominated by growth capital, which in turn gives LPs greater visibility as to GPs’ operational capabilities.
Q2 analysis: Still open for business
The IPO window remains open, especially in Australia; VCs continue to dominate China fundraising, but probably not for much longer; the Philippines stakes its claim as Southeast Asia’s emerging PE star.
Singapore online grocery retailer RedMart raises $23m
Singapore-based online grocery store RedMart has raised a $23 million Series B round led by gaming firm Garena, with participation from SoftBank Ventures, Visionnaire Ventures and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
Indonesian gas power plant developer gets new funding
Indonesia Infrastructure Finance - a vehicle owned by the Indonesian government and several development finance institutions (DFIs) - has invested $12.5 million into a subsidiary of gas power plant developer Maxpower.
PE-backed Mobile World sets terms for Vietnam IPO
Mobile World, a Vietnamese mobile phone retailer backed by Mekong Capital and CDH Investments, has set terms for a stock market listing that will value the business at $200 million or more.
Unleashing Malaysia
Malaysia’s underlying macroeconomic fundamentals suggest a strong appeal to private equity but deal flow remains modest. Can more opportunities be unlocked in the mid-market?
Q&A: Infocomm Development Authority's Steve Leonard
Singapore has introduced a slew of initiatives as part of efforts to become a technology hub. Steve Leonard, executive deputy chairman of the government-backed Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), explains how and why
Singapore start-ups: Touching greatness
At least four Singapore-headquartered start-ups have four years of operations behind them and are worth at least $100 million. Which businesses have the skill and scale to be the next big thing?
Trade sales in Southeast Asia: Expansion imperative
Companies from within and outside Southeast Asia are scouring the region for M&A opportunities as they seek to capitalize on regional growth. It means a wider variety of trade sale options for PE investors
India app developer platform gets Series A round
Pokkt, an Indian alternative monetization platform for mobile app developers, has secured $2.5 million in Series A funding from Singapore-based Jafco Asia and SingTel’s corporate VC arm Innov8.
Cross-border PE: The ASEAN angle
Ambitions of building scale underpin many private equity investments in Southeast Asia. It is remarkable – although perhaps unsurprising – how few have succeeded. So far, at least.
Temasek ups investment pace, boosts unlisted exposure
Temasek Holdings’ exposure to unlisted assets reached a record high as the state-controlled Singaporean fund made S$24 billion ($19.3 billion) in new investments for the year ended March 2014, the most in six years.
Navis acquires Singapore oil and gas components maker
Navis Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in Tri-Star Industries, a Singapore-headquartered component manufacturer for the oil and gas sector. AVCJ understands the deal is worth $50-100 million.
Japan's Rakuten launches $100m global VC fund
Rakuten Ventures - the corporate VC arm of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten - has launched a $100 million fund targeting start-ups in Asia Pacific, Israel and the US.
Tembusu Partners backs Indonesia coal player
Singapore-based private equity firm Tembusu Partners has invested $7.5 million in Param Mitra Coal Resources (PMCR), which owns two operating coal mines in Indonesia.
Singapore's Sova raises $3m seed round
Sova, a Singapore start-up that provides a cloud-based WordPress hosting service, has secured $3 million in seed funding from undisclosed investors.
Creador Fund II to reach final close in August
India and Southeast Asia-focused GP Creador is set for a final close of $250 million on its second fund in August, having already raised $220 million.
Japan outbound investment: Playing away
Emboldened by ample financing and the need to develop demand bases beyond a stagnating domestic market, Japanese companies are investing more overseas. Are they partner or competitor for private equity?
OPIC backs Quadria healthcare fund, CX India mezzanine vehicle
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has made commitments to Quadria Capital South and Southeast Asia-focused healthcare fund and CX Partners’ India mezzanine fund.
Singtel's Amobee acquires VC-backed Adconion, Kontera
Amobee, the mobile ad company owned by Singapore telecoms giant SingTel, has acquired two VC-backed digital ad firms: Adconion and Kontera, for $235 million and $150 million, respectively.
GrabTaxi's scale proposition
Two tears ago, Anthony tan was pitching taxi fleets in Kuala Lumpur. His idea for a mobile phone app that could be used to make taxi bookings came runner-up in Harvard Business School's (HBS) 2011 business plan contest. Turning it into a reality was proving...
Inspire Ventures leads $10m round for Thailand's aCommerce
Inspire Ventures has led a $10.7 million Series A round of funding for aCommerce, a Thailand-based e-commerce services provider.
Singapore payment platform Fastacash secures $4m
Singapore-based payment platform Fastacash has secured a $4 million Series B round of funding from Jagdish Chanrai, principal of Kewalram Chanria Group, and Golden Oriole Investments.