Southeast Asia
Singapore e-scooter start-up gets Series A extension
Neuron Mobility, a Singapore-based e-scooter rental start-up, has secured $12 million in an extended Series A round as it accelerates expansion in Australia and New Zealand and prepares to enter the UK.
PineBridge, Peter Thiel launch Southeast Asia-focused SPAC
Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies and Founders Fund, has teamed up with PineBridge Investments and Pacific Century Group on a special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) that will target new economy assets in Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia VC: Knowledge transfers
When venture capital firms move into Southeast Asia, they often use existing operations in China or India as a launching pad. Different lessons can be learned from these two markets
Asia exits: Liquidity lags
Private equity exits – outside of the public markets – are gradually emerging from a COVID-19 hibernation. But sellers must be mindful of timing, structure, and which buyers they are targeting
Deal focus: Waresix builds Indonesia's logistical lynchpin
Jungle Ventures and EV Growth lead $75 million round for Waresix, backing the company's integrated platform as a solution to Indonesia's logistics challenges
Openspace Ventures hires ex-Providence director
Singapore’s Openspace Ventures has hired Jessica Huang Pouleur (pictured), formerly of Providence Equity Partners and latterly head of Asia M&A for The Walt Disney Company, as an executive director.
Corporate VCs & climate change: Good citizens
Increased climate change awareness on a corporate level is leading to more investment – either direct or through funds – in start-ups that offer mitigation solutions. Asia is a key geography
Lightspeed establishes Southeast Asia VC team
Lightspeed Venture Partners has formalized its Southeast Asian practice with the nomination of Akshay Bhushan (pictured) as head of a new Singapore office and three additional hires.
Naver leads $80m round for Singapore's Carousell
Korean internet conglomerate Naver has led an $80 million round for Singapore’s Carousell, a mobile classifieds marketplace, at a valuation of $900 million.
TPG backs $2b carve-out of Aviva Singapore
TPG Capital has joined a consortium led by Singapore Life (Singlife) that has agreed to acquire the Singapore business of UK insurance giant Aviva for S$2.7 billion ($2 billion).
Bain's Asia data center platform seeks US listing
Chindata Group Holdings, which claims to be the largest player in emerging markets Asia’s carrier-neutral hyperscale data center industry in terms of capacity in service, has filed for an IPO.
Temasek sees portfolio shrink, ups investment pace
Temasek Holdings has deployed a record S$32 billion ($23.3 billion) in the past year – with technology and healthcare the main beneficiaries – even as the impact of COVID-19 saw its overall portfolio shrink in value for the first time since 2016.
EV Growth, Jungle lead round for Indonesia's Waresix
Indonesian logistics technology provider Waresix has secured about $75 million in Series B funding led by existing backers EV Growth and Jungle Ventures.
China apps going global: Empires on hold
China’s data-driven consumer apps are having a harder time keeping politics out of business as they become increasingly competitive in global markets. Lessons are plentiful; solutions are not
Africa-focused GP leads Series B for Singapore's Thunes
Africa-focused private equity firm Helios Investment Partners has led a $60 million Series B round for Singapore financial technology start-up Thunes.
Korea, Singapore investors back Vietnam's Do Ventures
Korea’s Naver and Woowa Brothers have joined Singapore’s Sea and Vertex Holdings as LPs in the debut fund from Vietnam-based Do Ventures.
Vision Fund leads $100m Series C for Singapore-founded Biofourmis
SoftBank Vision Fund has led a $100 million Series C round for Biofourmis, a Singapore founded and now US-based operator of a health analytics platform.
CVC to exit Softex Indonesia with 3.3x return - update
CVC Capital Partners will exit personal care products manufacturer Softex Indonesia after US multinational Kimberly-Clark agreed to acquire the business for approximately $1.2 billion.
Singapore's Livspace raises $90m Series D
Singapore-based home interiors renovation platform Livspace has raised a $90 million Series D round featuring TPG Growth and Goldman Sachs.
Xiaomi joins $54m Series B for Indonesia's PasarPolis
Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi has joined a $54 million Series B round for Indonesian financial technology provider PasarPolis.
TPG, KKR invest $220m in Singapore's PropertyGuru
Singapore-based real estate portal PropertyGuru has confirmed S$300 million ($220 million) in new commitments from existing backers TPG Capital and KKR.
Fund focus: MDI leads the way in Indonesia
MDI Ventures has seen a significant step-up in fund size because the success of Indonesia’s start-up ecosystem in recent years means investors need more firepower
Ekuinas exits Malaysia halal meats business
Malaysian government-backed private equity firm Ekuinas has sold Primabaguz, a local producer of premium halal meat-based products, to US-based Johnsonville International for MYR175 million ($42 million).
B Capital to support Yalochat's Asia expansion
B Capital has led a $15 million Series B round for Yalochat, a US-headquartered messaging-focused customer relations management platform, with plans to help it introduce its solutions to emerging markets in Asia.