Southeast Asia
Private equity & credit: Seeking synergies
GPs are placing greater emphasis on Asia private debt strategies to capture deals that don’t work as private equity. Much can be achieved by pooling ideas and resources, but collaboration isn’t as straightforward as it seems
Quadria backs Indonesia's Hermina Hospitals
Singapore’s Quadria Capital has paid an undisclosed sum for a minority stake in Hermina Hospitals, one of the largest hospital chains in Indonesia.
Sojitz backs Malaysia's PE-owned Qualitas Medical
Japanese conglomerate Sojitz has taken an equity interest in Qualitas Medical, a diversified Malaysia-based healthcare services provider owned by Southern Capital Group.
China biotech makes Asia global healthcare PE leader
A more than 100% year-on-year increase in deal volume saw Asia Pacific overtake North America to become the most active global private equity healthcare market for the first time in 2020.
Singapore’s PatSnap raises $300m Series E
Singapore and UK-based market intelligence and analytics provider PatSnap has raised a $300 million Series E round led by SoftBank Vision Fund II and Tencent Holdings.
Deal focus: Temasek supports impact’s giant leap
Impact specialist LeapFrog Investments will use Temasek’s financial backing to broaden its reach, in terms of sectors and geographies, as well as to anchor future funds
Fund focus: Openspace says it with distributions
Openspace Ventures launched its $200 million third fund comfortable in the knowledge that the first two were top-quartile performers. IPOs, trade sales and partial secondary exits have all played a role
Shariah investors in PE: Tailored exposure
Employees Provident Fund’s $600 million shariah-compliant co-investment mandate suggests increasing institutional appetite for Islamic finance solutions in private equity. Is the industry ready?
Novo Tellus seeks control of Singapore-listed Procurri
Novo Tellus Capital Partners has moved to take control of Procurri, a Singapore-listed provider of IT services and data center equipment in which it acquired a minority position two years ago.
SPACs in Asia: Out of the comfort zone
Several Asian stock exchanges will consider allowing SPAC offerings, but implementation may run contrary to their regulatory ethos – and there is no guarantee of a strong market response
Hillhouse agrees partnership with Jardines
Hillhouse Capital has teamed up with Asian conglomerate Jardine Matheson to pursue investment and business development opportunities in Greater China and Southeast Asia.
Openspace raises $200m for third Southeast Asia VC fund
Openspace Ventures has closed its third Southeast Asia fund – which targets Series A and B rounds for companies with B2C and B2B technologies – at the hard cap of $200 million.
MDV, Kenanga launch $73m Malaysia fintech fund
Malaysia Debt Ventures (MDV) and Kenanga Investment Bank have launched a VC fund focused on the local financial technology space with a target of MYR300 million ($73 million).
Singapore's Azalea launches PE-backed bond offering
Temasek Holdings-owned Azalea Asset Management plans to sell S$250 million ($186 million) worth of bonds – backed by LP interests in private equity funds – to retail investors in Singapore.
Fund focus: Asia Partners eyes Southeast Asia's white space
The growth-stage funding gap is approximately $1.1 billion per year in Southeast Asia, according to Asia Partners. The GP now has $384 million in dry powder to try and fill it
Deal focus: Point Avenue's O2O proposition
Vietnam education start-up Point Avenue is pursuing expansion across after-school tuition, bilingual K-12 schools, and online platforms. Gaw Capital will provide financial and strategic support
Temasek agrees $500m tie-up with impact investor LeapFrog
Temasek Holdings has committed $500 million to Asia and Africa-focused impact investor LeapFrong Investments, which will see it participate as an anchor LP in the firm’s future funds.
Singapore’s East Ventures takes over EV Growth
EV Growth, a joint venture between Singapore’s East Ventures, Indonesia’s SMDV and Japan’s YJ Capital, is dissolving its co-GP structure, with East Ventures taking over as the sole manager.
Indonesia's Sicepat secures $170m Series B
Indonesian logistics start-up Sicepat has raised a $170 million Series B round from investors including Temasek Holdings’ growth-stage PE unit Pavilion Capital.
Asia Partners closes debut SE Asia fund at $384m
Singapore’s Asia Partners has closed its debut Southeast Asia VC fund at $384 million, describing it as the largest-ever first-time technology vehicle focused on the region.
GPs & SPACs: Filthy lucre?
The global SPAC craze is percolating into Asia, with private equity firms among the sponsors. LPs aren’t necessarily comfortable with the development, but there’s only so much they can do about it
Singapore food tech start-up raises $10m seed round
Singapore-based Next Gen, which markets a vegetarian chicken brand called Tindle, has raised $10 million in what is being called the largest-ever seed round in the food tech space.
ESG & operations: Compliance corner
Few mid-market private equity firms in Asia have dedicated ESG personnel and this is not necessarily an obstacle to progress. As compliance and reporting burdens increase, the status quo may change
Malaysia's EPF awards co-investment SMAs to global firms
BlackRock, HarbourVest Partners, and Partners Group have been awarded co-investment mandates by Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund (EPF) totaling $600 million.
