Southeast Asia
Exhilway closes $200m mines and minerals fund, targets Indonesia
Exhilway Global, a US-based hedge fund and emerging markets private equity manager, has closed its maiden mines and minerals PE fund at $200 million. The vehicle will acquire and operate mines in alliance with local companies in Indonesia, as well as...
CapAsia exits Thai toll road
The floods that devastated Thailand in the second half of 2011 were the country’s worst in 50 years, with the World Bank putting the economic damages at $45.7 billion. Bangkok came under threat in mid-October with outer areas most severely hit. The...
Bitcoin boom
“It is in some ways easier to buy things in China using bitcoin than it is using traditional fiat currency,” says Dan Ciporin, partner at the VC firm Canaan Partners.
CapAsia JV sells stake in Thai toll road operator
CapAsia and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ have sold their minority stake in Thailand’s Don Muang Tollway (DMT) for $132 million to a newly announced joint venture between Hong Kong-based First Pacific and Philippines infrastructure developer Metro Pacific...
Singapore's itBit raises capital for Bitcoin exchange
Canaan Partners and RRE Ventures have co-led a $3.25 million round of funding for Singapore-headquartered Bitcoin exchange itBit. Liberty City Ventures, as well angel investors such as The Jordan Company’s Jay W. Jordan II and Beluga co-founder Ben...
Armstrong’s cleantech breakthrough
When it took its maiden Southeast Asia Clean Energy Fund on the road mid 2011, Armstrong Asset Management was sailing into unchartered waters. While there have been other renewable energy funds active in the region, many have benefited from either a broader...
PAG eyes Southeast Asia, targets $1b in realizations - AVCJ Forum
PAG, a pan-Asian GP that has so far invested only in China, expects to break into the Southeast Asia market within the next year. Weijian Shan, the firm’s chairman and CEO, added that the team is also on course to realize in excess of $1 billion from...
Armstrong reaches $164m final close on SE Asia cleantech fund
Armstrong Asset Management has reached a final close of $164 million on its Southeast Asia Clean Energy Fund. With additional commitments coming from French development finance institution (DFI) Proparco and Geneva-based Unigestion, the fund was able...
KPMG's Australia PE head switches to Singapore role
Andrew Thompson, head of private equity at KPMG Australia, is relocating to Singapore where he will take up a Southeast Asia-focused position with the firm.
Q&A: CVC Capital Partners' Sigit Prasetya
Sigit Prasetya, managing partner at CVC Capital Partners, on why recent volatility in Indonesia shouldn’t concern PE investors, negotiating auctions and lofty valuations, and working with Southeast Asia’s family groups
Investment: Southeast Asia's family footholds
By most measures, Southeast Asia is under-penetrated by private equity. If deal flow expectations are to be met, investors must tap local networks for openings in and around the family conglomerates
Five trends worth watching
When we look back at 2013 it will probably be described as a slow year for Asian private equity. Statistics on all major PE activities in the region have fallen substantially.
Headland launches $357m Kreuz takeover offer
Hong Kong- based PE firm Headland Capital Partners has launched a takeover offer for Singapore-listed Kreuz Holdings, a subsea services provider to the offshore oil and gas industry. Under the terms of the proposed agreement, all outstanding shares...
Malaysian government unit to raise $95m infrastructure fund
Pelaburan Mara, the investment and asset management arm of the Malaysian government’s Majlis Amanah Rakyat agency, plans to launch a MYR300 million ($94.9 million) private equity infrastructure fund early next year to invest in the social infrastructure...
CLSA’s cleantech fund hires water-focused operating partner
CLSA Capital Partners has appointed Dr. Richard Woodling, previously director of global research and development at Siemens’ water R&D center in Singapore, as an operating partner in the Clean Resources Asia Growth Fund (CRAGF).
Vietnam government launches ‘Silicon Valley Project’
Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology will build two accelerators under its Silicon Valley Project for technology commercialization - turning research into practical applications.
Malaysia rising
It's been a few years since Southeast Asia, spurred by rising interest in Indonesia, emerged as the hottest region for LPs seeking private equity exposure. While the frenzy has eased recently, the region remains an attractive location, especially for...
Malaysian financial comparison start-up gets $2m
Jungle Ventures has led a $2 million round of Series A funding for iMoney, a Malaysia-based financial comparison start-up. Other investors include IMJ Fenox, Fenox Venture Capital, Redbright Partners, 500 Startups and Vogel Ventures, as well as German...
Intel Capital unveils seven new Asia investments
Intel Capital, a corporate VC arm of chipmaker Intel Corporation, has invested in seven Asia-based companies as part of a batch of 16 global commitments totaling $65 million. The Asian firms, coming from China, India, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan, account...
Falcon House’s Indonesia breakthrough
When the team behind Falcon House came together three years ago they were eyeing Indonesia’s underserved middle market. Drawing on local experience across corporate restructuring, PE and infrastructure, the principals thought they could make the breakthrough...
Blackstone opens Singapore office
The Blackstone Group has opened an office in Singapore, extending its footprint into Southeast Asia. The move comes as global private equity firms place increased emphasis on the region.
Blumont receives $200m injection to support Discovery Metals investment
Blumont Group has received $200 million in new funding from New York-based investment firm Platinum Partners, half of which will be used to buy convertible bonds in Australian copper miner Discovery Metals, previously a target of Chinese private equity...
SBI, FMO target up to $125m for Asia financial sector fund
Japan's SBI Holdings and the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) are looking to raise as much as $125 million for their SBI-FMO Emerging Asia Financial Sector Fund.
Indonesia's Falcon House closes maiden fund at $212m
Falcon House Partners, an Indonesia mid-market GP, has reached a final close on its maiden fund at $212.4 million, exceeding its original $200 million target, nearly two years after launch.