Southeast Asia
KBank to launch Thailand's first infrastructure fund
Kasikornbank, the financial adviser to Solar Power, a subsidiary of Thailand's biggest solar-farm developer SPCG, is in the process of raising the country's first infrastructure fund. It is targeting THB5 billion ($158 million).
Navis exits Indonesia education business to Pearson
Navis Capital Partners has exited the Indonesian arm of English-language education business Wall Street Institute (WSI) to Pearson. The global publishing and education company is paying $16.3 million for the asset, which represents a 10x return for Navis.
Bedell Cristin to offer BVI legal services from Singapore
International law firm Bedell Cristin has opened an office in Singapore from which it will provide British Virgin Islands (BVI) legal services to clients throughout Asia. Stephen Adams, who joined Bedell from BVI law firm Barker Adams at the beginning...
Southern Capital revises Adventa MBO offer
Southern Capital Group and a director of Adventa have submitted a revised takeover bid for the Malaysian medical products manufacturer. The offer still stands at MYR320.85 ($100 million), or MYR2.10 per share, but now excludes Adventa’s interests in...
America’s Skybridge to launch $500m Asia vehicle
US alternative investment manager SkyBridge Capital is planning to launch an Asia-focused fund next year worth $250-500 million, according to the firm’s founder.
The US invasion: Competition rises among Asia PE legal counsel
A host of US law firms are boosting their Asian operations with a view to offering private equity clients a full suite of services, from fund formation to capital markets. Is there enough business to go around?
Creador takes proprietary route to MNC IPO
One of the biggest criticisms leveled at private equity firms that anchor IPOs is that LPs expect them to do proprietary investments. When Saban Capital and Creador Capital performed the anchor role for MNC Skyvision’s $228 million offering earlier...
Abraaj appoints Tom Speechley as Aureos CEO
Tom Speechley, a senior partner at Abraaj Capital, has been named CEO of Aureos Capital. The appointment coincides with the completion of Abraaj’s acquisition of Aureos and its emerging markets small- and mid-cap investment platform.
CVC, Standard Chartered in $850m Infastech exit
CVC Capital Partners and Standard Chartered Private Equity have exited Hong Kong-based fastener manufacturer Infastech to Stanley Black & Decker for $850 million in cash. The strategic investor emerged the victor in a two-round auction process. It was...
TLG Capital bets on Myanmar cruise company
UK private equity firm TLG Capital is reportedly planning to establish a company that will operate cruises in Myanmar, investing via its holding in Compagnie Fluviale du Mekong, one of Cambodia's oldest river cruise businesses.
Identifying good GPs is biggest LP challenge in SE Asia - AVCJ Singapore Forum
Finding the right fund manager is the greatest challenge facing LPs investing into Southeast Asia, according to panelists at the AVCJ Forum in Singapore on Thursday. The second greatest challenge is ensuring they remain the right managers.
Creador confirms MNC Skyvision investment
Creador Capital has confirmed it invested $28 million in Indonesian pay TV operator MNC Skyvision’s IDR2.15 billion ($228 million) IPO. The committed capital includes $13 million from a co-investor.
Indonesia caps foreign ownership of local banks at 40%
Foreign ownership of Indonesian banks will be capped at 40%, although exceptions will be made for listed banks with strong financial health and high levels of tier-one capital. On this basis, it appears that DBS Group’s $7.2 billion bid for Bank Danamon...
Saratoga aims for differentiation
When Saratoga Capital was preparing to launch its third fund in July 2011, the elephant in the room was Northstar Pacific Partners. A few months earlier Northstar closed its own third fund at $820 million. Would LPs still be keen on when Saratoga came...
Leopard Capital reaches $20m first close on Haiti fund
Southeast Asia-focused frontier investor Leopard Capital has reached a first close of $20 million on the first dedicated Haiti fund raised since the 2010 earthquake. The final target is $40-75 million.
VIDEO: Clifford Chance's Lee Taylor
Indonesia has aroused enormous interest among foreign investors but valuations remain an issue, according to Lee Taylor, a partner with Clifford Chance in Singapore. There have been huge dislocations between buyers and sellers generally since the global...
IHH raises $2b from IPO, Abraaj Capital exits
IHH Healthcare, the hospital operator owned by Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional, has raised MYR6.3 billion ($2 billion) from its IPO after pricing the offering near the top of the indicative range. Abraaj Capital fully exited its holding...
Singapore's Jungle Ventures invests in Mobikon
Jungle Ventures has led a $ 1.7 million round of investment in Mobikon Asia, a Singapore-India start-up that provides an integrated digital marketing platform to help hospitality and retail clients connect with consumers.
Blackstone to support ex-AIA CEO’s ING Asia bid – report
The Blackstone Group has reportedly agreed to support Mark Wilson, former chief of AIA Group, in his bid for ING’s Asia insurance unit. The sale is expected to generate around $7 billion, with Wilson’s consortium targeting ING’s Southeast Asian...
Q&A: Axiom Asia's Chihtsung Lam and Marc Lau
Chihtsung Lam (CL) and Marc Lau (ML), managing partner and partner, respectively, at Axiom Asia, discuss the relative merits of different markets in Southeast Asia and the fund strategies best suited to addressing them
Bain & Co: Harnessing Southeast Asia’s PE potential
Southeast Asia is ever more popular among PE investors. Identifying strong management teams, adding value and cultivating local networks are crucial to making deals work, according to Bain & Company’s Suvir Varma And Hugh MacArthur (pictured).
ASEAN: The integration effect
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is gradually bringing the region’s economies closer together. Private equity investors stand to benefit but not all businesses are suited to cross-border expansion
Private equity and family conglomerates
There is no avoiding the family conglomerates. Time and again, while researching the Southeast Asia content that forms the bulk of this week’s issue, these large, often widely diversified family-owned businesses crept into conversations. Everyone, it...
SE Asia media peaks PE’s interest
A year ago, global private equity firms stopped ignoring Southeast Asia’s media industry and put the sector on their priority list. What changed?