Southeast Asia
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2020
Industry experts weigh in as a range of macro factors promise to reshape markets across the region. Political, demographic, and scientific variables loom large
Indonesia's Alpha JWC Ventures closes second fund at $123m
Indonesia-based early-stage investor Alpha JWC Ventures has closed its second fund oversubscribed at $123 million.
Denham, Nexif acquire Vietnam hydro player
Resources industry private equity firm Denham Capital and Singapore-based power management company Nexif have jointly acquired a 94% stake in Vietnam’s Song Giang Hydropower.
Singapore medical tech start-up raises $40 million
Awak Technologies, a Singaporean start-up that makes wearable dialysis treatment devices, has raised $40 million co-led by Vickers Venture Partners and an unnamed medical technology company.
Deal focus: 2C2P brings enterprise to SE Asia fintech
Cento Ventures picked 2C2P as the first investment under its late-stage strategy, having been one over by the company's B2B approach to digital payments
Fund focus: Azalea embraces equity with fund-of-funds offering
Temasek Holdings-owned Azalea Asset Management previously used debt structures to give high net worth investors PE exposure. Its $650 million fund-of-funds is the firm’s first direct equity offering
Malaysia's Carsome raises $50m Series C
Japan’s Daiwa Securities and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group have joined a $50 million Series C round for Malaysian used car trading platform Carsome.
2019 in review: Falling short
Fundraising, investment and exits in Asia are unlikely to match last year as pan-regional funds take a back seat, large-cap buyouts remain in short supply, growth-stage tech loses its edge, and IPOs flounder
Singapore e-scooter start-up raises $18.5m
Neuron Mobility, a Singapore-based e-scooter company, has secured a $18.5 million Series A round led by Australia’s Square Peg Capital and US-based GSR Ventures.
Singapore's Vertex receives $180m for global fund-of-funds
Vertex Ventures, a VC arm of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has received commitments of $180 million from Japanese investors for a fund-of-funds that will support its global portfolio of VC vehicles.
Apis closes Fund II at revised hard cap of $563m
Apis Partners has closed its second emerging markets-focused financial services and technology fund at the revised hard cap of $563 million. The initial target was $400 million.
Indonesia e-commerce player Evermos gets $8m Series A
Evermos, an Indonesian social e-commerce company focused on halal and sharia-compliant products, has raised an $8.2 million Series A round from a group of VCs.
Circulate hits first close on Asian ocean protection fund
Circulate Capital, a Singapore-based investor dedicated to stemming plastic waste pollution in South and Southeast Asia, has reached a first close of $106 million for an ocean protection fund.
Korea VC backs SE Asia ride-hailing start-up MVL
Korean VC firm SV Investment has led a KRW5.6 billion ($5 million) round for MVL, which operates the Tada ride-hailing service in Southeast Asia.
China's Sailing exits as US GP backs Maldives resort chain
Chinese cross-border private equity firm Sailing Capital has exited its position in Soneva, a Thailand-based luxury hotel operator known for its Maldives resorts, following the sale of a significant minority stake to US-based KSL Capital Partners.
CVC set to exit Indonesia's Link Net
CVC Capital Partners is poised to complete its exit from Indonesia broadband and cable TV provider Link Net – in which it has been an investor since 2011 – through a trade sale to MNC Vision Network.
AIIB, Clifford Capital launch $2b infrastructure platform
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Clifford Capital, a Singaporean infrastructure investor, have jointly launched an approximately $2 billion debt platform.
Singapore's FinAccel raises $90m Series C
Singapore-based financial technology provider FinAccel has raised a $90 million Series C round led by Australia’s Square Peg Capital and Korean investors Mirae Asset Capital and Naver.
IFC to back Mekong's latest Vietnam fund
IFC has proposed to invest up to $30 million in the latest fund from Vietnam-based private equity firm Mekong Capital.
Vietnam's FEBE Ventures launches $25m fund
FEBE Ventures, a Vietnam-based early-stage investor set up earlier this year, has launched a $25 million for targeting local and cross-border technology start-ups.
Singapore dental products start-up receives $13m Series A
Zenyum, a Singapore-based manufacturer of 3D-printed cosmetic dental products, has raised $13.6 million in Series A funding from RTP Global, Sequoia Capital India, TNB Aura, and Seeds Capital.
Everstone names Alok Oberoi as executive chairman
India and Singapore-based Everstone Group has named Alok Oberoi (pictured), a former executive at Goldman Sachs, as executive chairman, effective from 2020.
Cento leads $52m round for SE Asia payments player
Cento Ventures has led a $52 million round for 2C2P, a Singapore and Bangkok-based payments platform that claims to serve some 620 million customers across Southeast Asia.
Singapore's Carousell merges with Asia assets of Telenor
Singapore-based online consumer-to-consumer marketplace Carousell has merged with the Southeast Asia subsidiary of Norwegian telecommunications giant Telenor Group.