Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia's Grab ups capital-raising target by $2b
Southeast Asian ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Grab has confirmed it will seek to raise an additional $2 billion within 2019, bringing its ongoing Series H round to some $6.5 billion.
B Capital reaches $406m first close on second fund
B Capital Group, a US venture capital firm with a strong Asia focus established by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, has reached a first close of $406.1 million for its second fund.
Ekuinas exits Malaysia healthcare businesses
Malaysian government-backed private equity firm Ekuinas has exited its entire majority holdings in local healthcare players MediExpress and PMCare to Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation.
Singapore crypto platform hits $1b valuation with Series C
Liquid.com, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency trading platform, has passed the $1 billion valuation mark with the first close of a Series C round led by IDG Capital.
Profile: Openspace Ventures' Hian Goh
Hian Goh knows better than most Southeast Asian VC investors the cultural barriers that discourage the region’s entrepreneurs. With Openspace Ventures he aims to provide start-ups the support they need
DSG hits $30m first close on third consumer fund
DSG Partners Asia, which targets early-stage consumer opportunities in India and Southeast Asia, has reached a first close of $30 million on its third fund.
Asia's lower-tier cities: New horizons
PE and VC players are slowly discovering the investment and business expansion opportunities in the lower-tier cities of developing Asia. Risk-reward calculations are becoming more complex in the process
EQT backs Southeast Asia healthcare benefits administrator
EQT has made an investment of undisclosed size in MHC Asia, a Southeast Asia-based healthcare benefits administrator that helps corporate clients customize health and wellness offerings.
Southeast Asia manufacturing: Back in the game
Contract manufacturers are reconsidering their exposure to China in the light of trade tensions with the US. Southeast Asia stands to benefit, but companies will have to navigate an increasingly complicated landscape
Deal focus: InstaRem bids for the big time
Vertex Ventures leads a $41 million investment in Singapore's InstaRem to grow its global digital payments infrastructure
Q&A: Lalamove's Blake Larson
Hong Kong delivery start-up Lalamove recently raised $300 million in Series D funding. Blake Larson, head of the company’s international division, discusses business models, cross-border expansion, and vehicle sales
South Africa's Naspers to list internet assets on Euronext
South Africa-based conglomerate Naspers plans to spin-off its internet businesses – which include stakes in Chinese giant Tencent Holdings and Indian food-ordering platform Swiggy – through a listing on Euronext in Amsterdam.
Golden Gate, Hanwha target SE Asia's Series B rounds
Singapore-based venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures has partnered with South Korea's Hanwha Asset Management to invest in Series B rounds for Southeast Asian start-ups.
Dymon makes $145m take-private offer for Singapore's Challenger
Dymon Asia Private Equity (DAPE) has submitted a take-private offer for Singapore-listed digital marketing services provider Challenger Technologies that values the company at about S$195 million ($145 million).
East Ventures backs Indonesia auto platform
East Ventures has joined a Series A investment of undisclosed size in Indonesian car sales platform operator Mobilkamu.
Sequoia leads $7.6m round for Indonesia's Kargo
Sequoia Capital India has led a $7.6 million round for Indonesian logistics services provider Kargo Technologies.
Malaysia's Ekuinas buys 40% stake in local cloud player
Malaysian government-backed private equity firm Ekuinas has acquired a 40% stake in domestic cloud services provider Exabytes Capital Group for MYR44 million ($10.8 million).
VCs, strategics support $41m round for Singapore's InstaRem
Singapore-based digital payments service provider InstaRem has closed its Series C round with $41 million from a group of investors including Vertex Growth Fund and South Korea’s Atinum Investment.
Singapore's Tookitaki raises $7.5m Series A
Tookitaki, a Singaporean technology provider that helps institutions develop regulatory compliance programs, has raised a $7.5 million Series A from a group of investors including Jungle Ventures.
Vietnam’s VinaCapital backs two local tech start-ups
Vietnam’s VinaCapital has made investments of undisclosed size in two local start-ups - financial technology provider Wee Digital and marketing services player UrBox.
Singapore’s VisVires backs domestic food tech player
VisVires New Protein, a Singapore-based VC firm specializing in food technology has led a $5 million round for Nutrition Innovation, a domestic start-up focused on healthier sugar production.
HSBC, Singtel join $25m round for Singapore's CXA
Singapore-based digital health start-up CXA Group has raised $25 million in funding from a string of strategic backers, including HSBC and the Asia investment arms of Singtel and Sumitomo Corporation.
Southeast Asia tech: Strategic incursions
Strategic investors are jockeying for position in Southeast Asia's blossoming technology space, hoping to gain a foothold with local start-ups before the market reaches a saturation point
Deal focus: 90 Seconds simplifies complex video variables
Singapore-based 90 Seconds raises $20 million to expand its online video production networking marketplace