Southeast Asia
The Asia real assets story
It is difficult to tell whether Asia is at the beginning of a real assets story or negotiating a transition phase somewhere around the middle. "Real assets" is such an all-encompassing term, taking in everything from forestry to energy to real estate,...
Abraaj exits Philippines hospital DMMC
The Abraaj Group has made a full exit from Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center (DMMC), a tertiary care hospital based in the Philippines. The exit is said to have been through a buy-back arrangement with the Mercado family.
Ancora closes Indonesia fund at $128m
Indonesia-focused GP Ancora Capital has made a final close on its second fund at $128 million. The vehicle is currently 40% deployed, having made three investments since its launch in early 2011.
Temasek unit plans $185m Youku Tudou sell down – report
Sennett Investments, an affiliate of Temasek Holdings, has reportedly sold down its entire stake in Youku Tudou, an US-listed Chinese video site, generating up to S$235 million ($185 million).
Malaysia's Khazanah exits Time Engineering stake for $21m
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has sold its entire stake in local IT firm Time Engineering (TEB) to Censof Holdings for RM69.8 million ($21.3 million)
LeapFrog in $204m first close on emerging markets microfinance fund
Specialist microfinance investor LeapFrog Investments has reached a first close of $204 million for its second fund after just eight months in the market. The vehicle, which has a full target of $400 million, will back companies in South Asia, Southeast...
Secondaries: Bifurcation point
More LP interests in Asian funds are coming onto the secondary market, but the region remains the industry’s future rather than its present. Which investors will be around to witness it coming to bloom?
Litigation funds: The justice league
Litigation financiers are increasingly looking for opportunities in Asia, many making their investments out of private equity-style funds. But do they bring the same returns?
Indonesia flight booking service gets Series A round from Samwer brothers
Global Founders Capital (GFC) a VC firm co-founded by Rocket Internet’s Samwer brothers, has made its first Asia investment - committing an undisclosed sum to Indonesian flight search engine Traveloka.
Lombard closes fourth Asia fund at $350m hard cap
Lombard Investments has closed its fourth Asia fund at the hard cap for institutional commitments of $350 million after 18 months in the market. It will make growth-oriented investments in companies formed and operated in Southeast Asia.
Veronica John joins placement agent Diamond Dragon
Veronica John, previously a senior advisor to Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital, has joined placement agent Diamond Dragon Advisors as a senior advisor based in Singapore.
Malaysia's Ekuinas to back five local PE managers
Ekuinas, a private equity investor backed by the Malaysian government, will make LP commitments to funds raised by five local PE firms. Four of the five – Tael Parnters, RM Capital Partners, Tuas Capital Partners and CMS Opus Private Equity – will receive...
Quadria reaches first close on South, Southeast Asia healthcare fund
Quadria Capital has reached a first close of $107 million on its second fund, which invests in mid-size healthcare companies in South and Southeast Asia. This is the first vehicle the GP has raised independently, its predecessor being the Milestone Religare...
Japan's Rakuten acquires VC-backed video site Viki
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has acquired Viki, a VC-backed global video streaming platform.The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
L Capital Asia eyes bigger deals, mature markets for Fund II
Larger deals, including a few buyouts, are likely to feature more prominently in L Capital Asia’s second regional fund as the GP expands its attention to the more developed markets of Australia, Japan and South Korea, as well as bringing to bear the expertise...
Anthem Asia makes first Myanmar investment
Anthem Asia, a new private equity firm based in Yangon, Myanmar, has closed its first deal in the country, investing around $1 million in office rental firm Hintha Business Centers (HBC).
Armstrong reaches $130m third close on SE Asia energy fund
Netherlands Development Finance Company FMO, the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) and the IFC Catalyst Fund will invest about $45 million to Armstrong Asset Management's Southeast Asia cleantech fund, bringing the total capital raised...
Indonesia VCs, incubators form lobbying alliance
Eight Indonesian venture capital firms and incubators have come together to form a lobbying group known as the Alliance of Venture Capitals in Indonesia (AVCII). Members include CyberAgent Ventures, East Ventures, GEPI, Grupara, Ideosource, Jakarta Founders...
Commercial Intelligence targets $150m for Asia, Africa litigation fund
Specialist distressed debt and litigation investor Commercial Intelligence Funds Group (CI) is launching an Asia- and Africa-focused fund with a target of $150 million. A first close is planned for the end of 2013.
KV Asia closes debut fund above target at $263m - update
KV Asia Capital has closed its debut fund at $263 million, exceeding the initial target of $250 million. The capital will be deployed in mid-size companies in Southeast Asia.
GIC to acquire Blackstone stake in UK office complex - report
The Blackstone Group will reportedly sell its stake in London’s Broadgate complex to GIC Private for more than GBP1.7 billion pounds ($2.7 billion) in one of Europe’s largest office deals.
Jungle Ventures, Spring Seeds invest in Singapore's Taggo
Taggo, a marketing start-up that helps retailers turn their Facebook pages into loyalty programs, has raised Series A funding led by Jungle Ventures and Spring Seeds Capital, the investment arm of the Singapore government’s Spring agency.
Phillip Capital takes stake in Indonesian equipment finance business
Singapore-based Phillip Capital Group has acquired a 9.71% stake in Intan Baruprana Finance (IBF), the financing arm of Indonesian heavy equipment distributor Intraco Penta, through a rights issue. Transaction value was not disclosed.
Northstar's Singapore buyout starts a new ERA
Singapore property developers sold 481 new homes in July, about one quarter of the previous month's total. It was the predictable result of real estate cooling measures introduced at the end of June that restrict monthly mortgage payments to no more than...