Southeast Asia
Thailand's Central Group invests $200m in Grab
Thai retail conglomerate Central Group has agreed to invest $200 million in ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Grab, adding to the list of strategic players that have backed the Southeast Asia company in the past year.
GP due diligence: Stones unturned
The expansion of private equity activity in developing markets is translating into greater due diligence pressure on LPs seeking reliable fund managers. Solutions are intuitive but difficult
Sequoia launches accelerator for India, Southeast Asia start-ups
Sequoia Capital has launched Surge, an accelerator program aimed at start-ups that are either based in or targeting India and Southeast Asia.
Deal focus: Singapore Life delivers insurance update
Singapore Life has accelerated plans to digitize the insurance and wealth management industry following a $33 million Series B from Aberdeen Standard Investments and Aflac
Värde promotes Asia credit head to partner
Värde Partners has promoted Haseeb Malik, a senior managing director based in its Singapore office and head of Asia corporate and traded credit, to partner. It is one of three senior promotions announced by the firm worldwide.
Malaysia's OSK invests Singapore's Blue Planet
Malaysian private equity firm OSK Ventures International has made an investment of undisclosed size in Singapore waste management company Blue Planet Environmental Solutions.
Japan’s TEPCO backs $100m Southeast Asia cleantech fund
Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), Singapore’s WEnergy Global, and ICMG Partners, a start-up accelerator with bases across Asia and the US, have launched a $100 million fund focused on clean energy innovation in Southeast Asia.
China's Gobi makes its first two Philippines investments
China’s Gobi Partners has made its first investments in the Philippines with early-stage commitments of undisclosed size for online healthcare services provider Maria Health and student portal operator Edukasyon.
Indonesia's Warung Pintar gets $27.5m Series B
Warung Pintar, an Indonesia-based smart kiosk start-up, has raised IDR390 billion ($27.5 million) in Series B funding from a group of investors including East Ventures.
Ascent Capital launches Myanmar PE fund
Ascent Capital, a Singapore-based private equity firm set up last year with a focus on Myanmar, has formally launched its debut fund with about $50 million in confirmed commitments.
Aberdeen Standard backs insurtech specialist Singapore Life
Aberdeen Standard Investments has committed $13 million to financial technology start-up Singapore Life, taking the company’s total capital raised to date to $97 million.
Singapore to help tech start-up IPOs
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has created a program that will encourage technology start-ups to list in the territory.
Belt Road leads $7m round for Vietnam's LeFlair
Belt Road Capital Management, a Cambodia-based private equity firm focused on Southeast Asia, has led a $7 million investment in Vietnamese e-commerce player LeFlair.
Deal focus: Platinum to power PCI’s tech dreams
Platinum Equity plans to use Singapore-based PCI as a platform for more bolt-on acquisitions in Southeast Asia's printed circuit board assembly services market
GIC, Mizuho invest $265m in Vietcombank
GIC Private has invested in Vietcombank through a joint deal with Mizuho Bank worth VND6.2 trillion ($265 million), underlining the strong interest among private and strategic investors in Vietnam’s financial sector.
East Ventures appoints new partner
East Ventures has appointed Melisa Irene (pictured) as a partner. It is the firm’s first nomination of a woman to that position.
EQT promotes Brian Chang to partner in Singapore
EQT has confirmed the promotion of Singapore-based Brian Chang to partner. He will be responsible for mid-market activity in Asia.
Q&A: Grab's Ming Maa
Ming Maa, president of Grab, explains how the transformation of a taxi-hailing start-up into a diversified technology heavyweight reflects ongoing confidence in Southeast Asia’s economic future
Venture capital: The battle to be different
VC fundraising has been on a roll in Asia as managers raise larger sums to address fast-growing investment opportunities. GPs must consider what – and how much – makes them stand out from the crowd
Platinum to acquire Singapore's PCI for $150m
Platinum Equity has agreed to buy PCI, a Singapore-listed electronics manufacturer owned by local conglomerate Chuan Hup Holdings, for S$203 million ($150 million).
Malaysia's Ekuinas launches fourth fund at $242m
Malaysian government-backed private equity firm Ekuinas has set up its fourth fund with MYR1 billion ($242 million) and an option to increase the corpus to MYR1.5 billion.
Singapore's Fullerton Fund Management creates PE team
Fullerton Fund Management (FFM), an Asia-focused multi-strategy investment firm controlled by Temasek Holdings, has appointed Huck Khim Tan to lead a newly established dedicated private equity team.
Aflac invests $20m in PE-backed Singapore Life
US insurance giant Aflac has invested $20 million in Singapore Life, a digitally-focused financial technology start-up backed by UK private equity investor IPGL.
Axiom Asia completes $1.6b fundraise
Axiom Asia has closed its fifth regional fund-of-funds at $1.39 billion - beating the target of $1.01 billion - and also raised $210 million for its first dedicated co-investment vehicle.