Southeast Asia
MDI merges SE Asia programmes, launches $200m fund
MDI Ventures, an investment firm supported by Telkom Indonesia, has merged two existing programmes to form Ascent Venture Group, which is looking to raise USD 200m for deployment in Southeast Asia.
Jungle, Openspace back Singapore e-commerce services player
Singapore-based e-commerce services provider Amp, which was founded by the team behind inventory and order management platform TradeGecko, has raised USD 18.5m in Series A funding.
Japanese insurer ups stake in PE-backed Singapore Life
Sumitomo Life will become the largest shareholder in Singapore Life (Singlife) – an insurer also backed by TPG Capital – having agreed to acquire Aviva’s 25.9% stake in the business for GBP 800m (USD 999m).
Vertex raises $541m for Southeast Asia, India
Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India (VVSEAI), an early-stage investor affiliated with Temasek Holdings-owned Vertex Holdings, has closed its fifth fund with USD 541m in commitments.
Fund focus: 500 Global scales up in Southeast Asia
By investing early and building a diversified portfolio, 500 Global emerged from the technology valuation corrections somewhat unscathed. This gave the firm impetus when raising its third Southeast Asia fund
Deal focus: ShawKwei delivers US deal flow
ShawKwei & Partners found its niche in Asia-based industrials businesses with relative cost advantages. Thanks to geopolitics and shifting growth patterns, the GP is now targeting assets in North America
Singapore student-run VC programme launches new fund
Protégé Ventures (PV), a student-run venture fund programme set up by the Singapore Management University Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE) has launched a second fund of SGD 500,000 (USD 367,000).
ShawKwei completes duo of US acquisitions
Asia-focused industrials specialist ShawKwei & Partners has completed two investments in the US spanning packaging manufacturing and environmental chemicals.
GP profile: Quona Capital
Financial innovation-focused Quona Capital operates across global developing markets with a compact team and a strict returns-focused impact agenda. Asia dominates the growth narrative
500 Global raises $143m for Southeast Asia
500 Global has raised USD 100m for its third Southeast Asia-focused early-stage fund and USD 43m for a vehicle that will target growth-stage start-ups in the region.
CP Group, LDA Capital launch $2b Southeast Asia fund
Thailand-based conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) has launched a USD 2bn fund that will focus on high-growth middle-market companies in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia VC: Institutional upgrade?
Having won early support from as assortment of local conglomerates, Indonesian venture capital firms must now demonstrate their independence when pitching international LPs
Templewater buys Singapore precision engineering player
Templewater, a Hong Kong-headquartered investment firm that spun out from Investec Group’s principal investments division, has acquired Singapore-based precision engineering business Knight Auto Precision Engineering.
Dymon exits Singapore's AMES via trade sale
Dymon Asia Private Equity has sold 100% of Singapore-based biohazardous waste disposal business Asia Medical Enviro Services (AMES) to Indonesia-listed coal miner TBS Energi Utama.
Indonesia's Venturra teams up with Dasym for next fundraise
Indonesian venture capital firm Venturra has teamed up with Netherlands-based investment group Dasym to institutionalise operations ahead of the launch of its next fund.
Vietnam's VNG files for US IPO
Vietnam-based VNG, operator of the country’s largest mobile game publishing platform and largest messaging app, has filed for an IPO in the US.
Fund focus: Growtheum’s Southeast Asia breakthrough
Amit Kunal swapped a sovereign wealth fund for an independent shop at a time when fundraising was becoming difficult. Robust early deal flow helped Growtheum Capital Partners to its USD 567m final close
Horizons leads $50m round for Indonesia EV player IMG
Horizons Ventures, a deep tech investment arm of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, has led a USD 50m Series B round for Indonesian electric vehicle (EV) maker Ilectra Motor Group (IMG).
RRJ invests $300m in Malaysia's Yinson
Hong Kong-based private equity firm RRJ Capital has agreed to invest USD 300m in Malaysia-listed Yinson Holdings, an oil and gas industry supplier aiming to bring cleantech to the local energy sector.
Japan VCs back $100m round for local impact investor Gojo
Japanese impact investor and microfinance institution Gojo & Company has secured a USD 100m Series E from a group of local VC investors including Global Brain and Globis Capital Partners.
Vietnam's VinFast completes SPAC merger, sees volatile trading debut
Vietnam-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer VinFast saw its stock climb 287% and then fall back by 47% during the first two days of trading following one of the largest mergers to date with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
Singapore's Jungle absorbs healthcare specialist HealthXCapital
Singapore’s Jungle Ventures has ramped up its healthcare investment capacity by combining with local sector specialist HealthXCapital (HXC).
Singapore metaverse player raises $13m seed round
Singapore-based ZTX, which claims to be Asia’s largest metaverse platform, has raised a USD 13m seed round led by US web3 investor Jump Crypto.
Growtheum closes debut Southeast Asia fund on $567m
Growtheum Capital Partners, a private equity firm established by the former head of GIC’s direct private equity investment group in Southeast Asia, has closed its debut fund on USD 567m, falling short of the USD 750m target set in early 2022.