Southeast Asia
Sequoia leads Series B for Singapore's Smartkarma
Sequoia Capital India has led a Series B round for Smartkarma, bringing the Singapore-based financial technology company’s total funding to $21 million.
VC-backed MC Payment to list in Singapore via reverse merger
MC Payment, a Singapore-based financial technology player with several VC backers, will list on the Singapore Stock Exchange's Catalist board via a reverse takeover of domestic peer Artivision Technologies.
Thailand's Pomelo gets $19m Series B
Thailand-based clothing retailer Pomelo Fashion has received a $19 million investment from Provident Capital Partners, Lombard Investments and JD.com. It is said to be the largest Series B ever raised by a Thai company.
Singapore eases VC registration process
Singapore has dropped the requirement that venture capital managers must have at least five years of experience to qualify for local registration as part of wider reforms intended to attract more investors to the country.
Indonesia's Snapcart gets $10m Series A round
Vickers Venture Partners has led a $10 million Series A funding round for an international expansion push by Indonesian marketing data researcher Snapcart.
Warburg Pincus-backed Vincom Retail seals $709m Vietnam IPO
Warburg Pincus has secured its first partial exit in Southeast Asia after Vietnam-based shopping mall operator Vincom Retail raised VND16.1 trillion ($709 million) in its IPO.
KKR invests $74m in Indonesian bread producer
KKR has paid around $74 million for a 12.64% stake in Nippon Indosari Corpindo, an Indonesian bakery business backed by local conglomerate Salim Group and best known for the Sari Roti brand.
LP interview: LGT Capital Partners
LGT Capital Partners sees Asia as a misunderstood investment destination among Western LPs due to unfounded concerns about the risk of the region. Local connections are key to building a strong strategy
Deal focus: GPs boost Prenetics' Asia genetics effort
Beyond Ventures and Alibaba Group have led a funding round that will support the Asia expansion of Hong Kong-based genetics healthcare start-up Prenetics
Delphi acquires Singapore-focused NuTonomy for $450m
US-based automotive technology developer Delphi Automotive has acquired Singapore-focused VC-backed driverless car start-up NuTonomy for $450 million.
Canada's OMERS to open Singapore office
Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) will open an office in Singapore in January, adding to an Asia presence that already includes a base in Sydney.
Shaw Kwei acquires Singapore oil industry supplier for $50m
Shaw Kwei & Partners has agreed to acquire a 75.6% stake in Singapore-listed oil and gas industry equipment supplier Gaylin for S$68 million ($50 million).
GIP to buy Equis renewable energy portfolio for $5b
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has agreed to acquire 100% of Equis Energy, a project platform of 180 assets under private equity investor Equis Funds Group, for $5 billion. It is said to be the world’s largest renewable energy generation acquisition...
Fund structuring: Change at the margins
While the Cayman Islands remains the go-to jurisdiction for PE firms seeking a domicile for Asia-focused funds, investor demand and regulatory remit mean structures are now more carefully considered
US-Philippines blockchain player gets $16m Series B
A group of Asian and North American venture investors have backed a $16 million Series B round for Abra, a US financial technology company test marketing blockchain-based services in the Philippines.
SE Asia's Sea hikes IPO price, raises $884m
Singapore-headquartered mobile internet and gaming platform Sea has raised $884 million in its US IPO after increasing the offer price and size.
Southeast Asia's Grab gets $700m in debt funding
Southeast Asian ride-hailing app operator Grab has secured debt facilities of up to $700 million from leading global and regional banks.
Jungle hires former Tencent executive
Jungle Ventures has appointed Grace Xia (pictured, center), formerly senior director of corporate strategy and development at Tencent Holdings, as a principal on its investment team.
Asian GPs back $502m round for US-based Magic Leap
Singapore-based EDBI and Temasek Holdings have joined a $502 million Series D funding round for US virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology provider Magic Leap.
Fund focus: Vickers prepares to narrow its focus
Vickers Venture Partners raised $230 million for its latest VC fund on the back of a strong track record, but the firm's future vehicles are likely to have more specific remits
Southeast Asia VC: Growth impediment?
Southeast Asia has an abundance of local players targeting early-stage deals while foreign investors fly in to participate in the later stage rounds. The industry is looking for ways to fill the hole in the middle
Square Peg leads $13m round for Singapore's Chope
Australia’s Square Peg Capital has led a S$18 million ($13.3 million) funding round for Singapore-based restaurant app operator Chope.
Wavemaker closes second SE Asia VC fund at $66m
US and Singapore-based venture capital investor Wavemaker Partners has raised $66 million for its second Southeast Asia-focused fund. The target was $50 million.
Philippines fintech growth to include blockchain – AVCJ Forum
The Philippines is likely to follow the lead of other Asian markets by more closely regulating blockchain-based financial transactions as the technology becomes more integral to the country’s economy.