Southeast Asia
GREE Ventures makes first Southeast Asia investment
GREE Ventures has made its first Southeast Asian investment by leading the Series B funding round in PriceArea.com, a price comparison website in Indonesia. Sony’s So-net Entertainment and East Ventures, a new and an existing investor, respectively,...
Hogan Lovells boosts Singapore banking practice
Hogan Lovells has hired Alexander McMyn as a banking partner in Singapore, as part of the law firm’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its finance capabilities in Southeast Asia. McMyn previously worked at Linklaters in Singapore, having relocated from...
Buyout firms progress in Indonesia healthcare auction - report
The Blackstone Group, Bain Capital, KKR and Abraaj Capital are said to have made it through to the second round of the auction process for a 20% stake in Siloam, Indonesia’s biggest private hospital firm. The deal is expected to be worth up to $300...
Anubha Shrivastava leaves CDC
Anubha Shrivastava has left CDC, the UK government's development finance arm, where she served as managing director with responsibility for Asia investments.
KKR sells Unisteel to Swiss trade buyer
KKR has sold its Singapore-based disk drive components and assemblies manufacturer, Unisteel Technology, to Swiss trade buyer SFS intec, a unit of SFS Group.
MAVCAP forms alliance with regional partners
VC firm Malaysia Venture Capital Management has agreed a co-investment partnership with three foreign VC firms and another Malaysian company. The foreign firms are located in China, South Korea and the US.
Walkers hires Thomas Granger to Singapore team
Offshore law firm Walkers is relocating Hong Kong-based partner Thomas Granger to its Singapore office. Granger has more than 10 years’ experience in corporate work, particularly investment funds and private equity.
Mekong exits toy maker Nam Hoa
Mekong Capital has completed the sale of its holding in Nam Hoa Production & Trading Corporation, a Vietnamese manufacturer of wooden toys for preschool children.
CIC, GIC boost RRJ-backed Cheniere's LNG plant with $1b
China Investment Corporation (CIC) and Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) are each said to have invested around $500 million in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant of US-based Cheniere Energy. This comes after Asia-focused private equity...
Clove sees 20x return on Philippines oil deal
The Philippines has long been perceived as a black hole for private equity. Clove Capital, which spun out from EMP Daiwa Capital Asia, begs to differ and now it has evidence to support its case: a 20x return on an investment in Philippines oil exploration...
PE firms hedge their bets
Numerous private equity and hedge funds are pursuing alliances with one another in Asia. Could a multi-strategy approach be the golden strategy for the region’s investment environment?
CalPERS invests $530m in two China-focused property funds
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has committed $530 million to two China-focused real estate funds run by ARA Asset Management, a Singapore-listed affiliate of Cheung Kong Holdings.
Clove Capital achieves over 20x from Energy Best exit
Clove Capital has achieved a cash multiple of more than 20x through its divestment of Philippines-based oil company Energy Best to Peak Oil and Gas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASX-listed Raisama Energy.
Equis invests $200m in Thai solar assets
Singapore-based infrastructure GP Equis Funds Group has reportedly channeled $200 million into acquiring 100% of a portfolio of solar energy assets in Thailand.
GLOBIS establishes Singapore subsidiary
GLOBIS, the Japanese venture capital firm, has established Globis Singapore, a subsidiary that will provide companies with management training and organizational development solutions.
Navis profits from Pearson’s expansion drive
Pearson's M&A activity follows a familiar emerging markets theme. In May the education and publishing company bought GlobalEnglish, a cloud-based English-language learning specialist with 75% of its subscribers in Asia and Latin America.
Capsquare eyes early-stage Indonesia
There's little doubt that Indonesia is the flavor of the month in private equity circles at present, but questions remain over deal access. Information on private companies is sparse, local relationships rule, entrepreneurs are wary of selling equity...
Philippines launches first infra fund
The decision to become the first-ever Philippines-dedicated infrastructure fund can’t have been easy one. As with any vehicle, a number of criteria needed to be in place to ensure the success of the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure...
Indonesia’s Capsquare achieves first close on debut fund
Indonesian GP Capsquare Asia Partners has reached a first close on its debut fund, having raised three-quarters of the capital required to meet its $75 million full target. A final close is expected in the fourth quarter of 2012, perhaps as soon as late...
PE firms target ING’s Asian insurance assets – report
ING is said to be in talks with several parties, including Apollo Global Management, J.C. Flowers & Co. and a team backed by The Blackstone Group, over the sale of different parts of its Asian life insurance operations. The initial plan was to divest...
Silk Road Finance enters Myanmar
Frontier markets-focused investment bank Silk Road Finance has set up a Myanmar subsidiary and won a mandate to raise a private equity and venture capital fund dedicated to investing in the country.
GIC boosts cash exposure, warns of global volatility
Government of Singapore Investment Corp’s (GIC) exposure to alternative assets remained unchanged during the year ended March 2012 as cash reserves rose steeply at the expense of fixed income and developed market public equities holdings.
NTT Investment Partners backs Philippines’ Migo
NTT Investment Partners, the corporate venture capital arm of Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp, has committed $2 million to Migo Entertainment, a Philippines-based digital content distributor.
Macquarie raises $625m for Philippines’ first infra fund
Macquarie Group has announced a first and final close on $625 million for its Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure (PINAI). It is the first-ever Philippines-dedicated infrastructure fund.