Southeast Asia
PE-backed CompareAsiaGroup merges with US-listed SPAC
CompareAsiaGroup, an Asia-focused financial products comparison platform also known as MoneyHero Group, has agreed to merge with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise value of approximately USD 342m.
Digital bank Tyme wins funding for SE Asia, Africa expansion
Tyme Group, an emerging markets-focused digital banking group with operations in the Philippines and South Africa, has raised USD 77.8m in pre-Series C funding. A portion of the proceeds will be used for expansion into other markets in Southeast Asia.
Singapore's BandLab raises $25m
Singapore-based social music creation platform BandLab has raised USD 25m from Cercano Management, formerly Vulcan Capital, a vehicle established by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
Energy transition: An emerging speciality
Kerogen Capital is trying to plot a more nuanced course into energy transition than building renewables. It is one of a growing number of nascent specialists in the space.
Deal focus: PrimeMovers buys Malaysia machinist in debut deal
PrimeMovers, which spun out from Platinum Equity last year, and UK-based Lingotto Investment Management have jointly acquired Malaysian precision manufacturing company EngTek
Q&A: Gobi Partners’ Thomas Tsao
Thomas Tsao, co-founder of Gobi Partners, on Chinese investors targeting Southeast Asia, the fallout from US-China tensions, fundraising and fund strategy, and what excites him about technology
BII backs Southeast Asia energy transition fund
British International Investment (BII), a UK development finance institution (DFI), has committed USD 15m to a Southeast Asia-focused energy transition infrastructure fund managed by Switzerland-based Susi Partners.
KKR invests $120m in Vietnam school operator
KKR has invested USD 120m in Vietnam school operator EQuest Education via its global impact fund. The deal comprises a combination of debt and equity.
Exacta seeks $350m for SE Asia fund, wins ADB support
Singapore’s Exacta Capital Partners, a PE firm affiliated with Mizuho Asia Partners, has received USD 25m from Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its latest fund. The target is USD 350m.
Singapore digital health start-up Ora raises $10m
Singapore-based digital health start-up Ora has raised a USD 10m Series A round led by TNB Aura and Antler. Other participants include Gobi Partners, Kairous Capital, and GMA Ventures.
Singapore's Bolttech raises $196m
Singapore’s Bolttech, the insurance technology business of Pacific Century Group, has raised a USD 196m round led by Japanese insurer Tokio Marine at a valuation of USD 1.6bn.
East Ventures closes follow-on fund at $250m
East Ventures has announced a first and final close of USD 250m on its latest follow-on fund, bringing capital raised in the past 12 months to USD 835m.
Deal focus: Indonesia food delivery goes daily
Indonesia’s Uena claims to have penetrated an untapped corner of Indonesia’s booming app-driven food delivery space. Scaling shouldn’t be overly costly, but there are menu-level nuances to consider
Profile: Mandala Capital’s Uday Garg
Uday Garg realised an unlikely career arc from tennis to private equity with the establishment of India’s Mandala Capital. This was guided by a passion for achieving impact in food and agriculture
South by Southeast: Asia’s next growth engine?
Grouping together markets based on growth and scale is a problematic with South Asia and Southeast Asia as it was with the BRIC economies. But to some extent, investors are buying into the story
Hong Kong family office SPAC agrees $27bn merger with Vingroup EV unit
A special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) launched by the family office of Lawrence Ho, son of Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho, has agreed to merge with the electric vehicle (EV) unit of Vietnam’s Vingroup.
Singapore coffee chain raises $50m Series B
US-based VC firm White Star Capital has led a USD 50m Series B round for Singapore's Flash Coffee, an app-driven coffee chain.
Singapore wine cleantech start-up raises $10m
Singapore’s EcoSpirits, a start-up focused on low-carbon technology for the wine industry, has raised a USD 10m Series A round led by US circular economy specialist Closed Loop Partners.
Japan's SMBC, Incubate set up USD 200m Asia VC fund
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has established a USD 200m growth and late-stage pan-Asian VC fund in partnership with Japan’s Incubate Fund, which will co-manage the vehicle.
Fund focus: Integra focuses on the fintech layer
One of few sector specialists in market populated by Indonesia-focused generalists, Integra Partners has fashioned a differentiated investment narrative. LPs committed $90m to the cause
Q&A: ShawKwei & Partners’ Kyle Shaw
Kyle Shaw, founder and managing partner of ShawKwei & Partners, on bright spots in industrial manufacturing and becoming more Southeast Asia-centric as supply chains reduce China exposure
Sweef's Asia women-focused fund makes debut investment
Singapore’s Sweef Capital, a women-focused impact investor, has made its first investment, providing an undisclosed sum to Vietnamese children’s technical academy Teky Alpha.
Dymon backs take-private of Singapore’s Penguin International
Dymon Asia Private Equity has teamed up with the executive chairman of Penguin International on a take-private bid that values the Singapore-listed shipbuilder at SGD 29.2m (USD 22m).
East leads $20m Series A for Indonesia's Praktis
East Ventures has led a USD 20m Series A round for Indonesian logistics technology start-up Praktis with support from Sinar Mas Digital Ventures (SMDV).