Southeast Asia
Indonesia's BRI Ventures launches fund
BRI Ventures, a unit of Bank Rakyat Indonesia, has launched a locally incorporated fund that will invest local start-ups.
Ascent Capital backs Myanmar internet provider Frontiir
Ascent Capital, a Singapore-based private equity firm, has made its debut investment in Myanmar by leading a $26 million commitment to internet service provider (ISP) Frontiir.
Deal focus: KKR's Vietnam macro proxy
KKR's investment in Vietnam property developer Vinhomes is supposed to tap into infrastructure development as well as the home-ownership ambitions of a burgeoning middle class
Profile: Kejora Ventures' Sebastian Togelang
Looking for new business opportunities, Sebastian Togelang returned to Indonesia from Germany to invest in technology start-ups. He counsels entrepreneurs that it pays to be part of a larger platform
Clifford Capital takes 50% stake in Singapore's Pierfront
Singapore-based infrastructure investor Clifford Capital has acquired a 50% stake in local private credit and mezzanine player Pierfront Capital for an undisclosed sum.
Asia lending start-ups: Bump in the road
Digital lenders in emerging markets need to survive a tricky year under the shadow of potential defaults, but the survivors might become significant players in a renewed financial landscape
Fund focus: Beenext targets a world beyond the mirrors
Beenext Capital Management has expanded its LP base while maintaining fund size discipline. This is born of a philosophy that capacity for cross-pollination is more important than capacity for deployment
Southern Capital, HPEF agree exit from Singapore school
Southern Capital Group and HPEF Capital Partners – formerly Headland Capital Partners – have agreed to sell Singapore-based Canadian International School (CIS) to Hong Kong-listed China Maple Leaf Educational Systems for S$680 million ($488 million),...
SCB 10X, Sparx lead $80m round for Thai fintech player
Thailand-based financial technology provider Synqa, formerly known as Omise, has raised an $80 million Series C round led by local VC firm SCB 10X and Japan’s Sparx Group.
GP Profile: Gobi Partners
China’s Gobi Partners has grown from a four-person team to an 11-office franchise. The coming decade will test the VC firm’s aspiration to become a pan-Asian enterprise
Deal focus: Indonesia’s GoPlay changes the channel
Golden Gate Ventures is backing GoPlay, a media streaming spin-out from Indonesia's GoJek, to tap an underserved Southeast Asian audience with local recreations of popular international TV shows
Japan’s Daiwa backs Vietnam cinema operator
Japan’s Daiwa Securities Group has invested $8 million in Vietnam cinema chain operator Beta Media via its private equity unit.
Coronavirus dislocation funds: Runway watchers
Southeast Asia has emerged as a hotspot for VC funds targeting COVID-19 dislocation. They are flirting with strategies requiring private equity and short-term value investing skills
Beenext raises $160m for emerging markets, Japan funds
Singapore-based VC firm Beenext Capital Management has raised $160 million across two funds that will invest in start-ups in Japan and emerging markets.
KKR, Temasek commit $650m to Vietnam property developer
A consortium led by KKR has invested VND15.1 trillion ($650 million) in Vinhomes, Vietnam’s leading integrated real estate developer, which went public in 2018.
Singapore's One Championship raises $70m
One Championship, a Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization backed by Sequoia Capital India, has raised $70 million in funding.
Sequoia joins $21m Series A for Philippines digital bank
Sequoia Capital India and US-based Point72 Ventures have led a $21 million Series A round for Tonik, a Singapore-based digital bank launching initial operations in the Philippines.
Asia gyms: Muscling through the mire
Fitness centers have continued to woo investors during COVID-19 despite patchy progress in the reopening of gyms and difficult-to-digitize business models
US-Singapore food tech fund to target Asia
Big Idea Ventures, a US and Singapore-based food technology investor, has launched its debut fund with a target of $50 million. Asia is a core market.
Singapore venture debt provider wins US strategic support
Singapore-based venture debt provider Genesis Alternative Ventures has secured an investment of undisclosed size for its debut fund from US-based Capria Ventures.
Vietnam’s Propzy raises $25m Series A round
Gaw Capital and Softbank Ventures Asia have led a $25 million Series A funding round for Vietnamese real estate platform Propzy.
Singapore's Vulpes launches COVID-19 opportunities fund
Singapore-based Vulpes Investment Management has launched a special opportunities fund of undisclosed size targeting VC-backed companies struggling with the effects of COVID-19.
Golden Gate leads funding round for Gojek streaming service
GoPlay, the streaming service of Indonesian ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Gojek, has raised funding led by Golden Gate Ventures.
VC-backed Ayannah merges with India's ECAPS
Philippines financial services player Ayannah, which is backed by Golden Gate Ventures, has merged with India’s Electronic Cash and Payment Solutions (ECAPS).