Southeast Asia
PE and Islamic finance: Underlying themes
Encouraging trends in population, social mobility, commodities, technology, and governance standards are converging on Islamic finance. PE plays a small role with strong upside in Asia
KKR closes third Asian fund at $9.3b
KKR has closed its third pan-regional fund at $9.3 billion, breaking its own record for the largest pool of private equity capital ever raised for deployment in Asia. The fundraising process took less than seven months and the vehicle is said to have...
Singapore Exchange to lower barriers for tech IPOs
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has partnered with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore’s technology and media regulator, to help technology start-ups list in the territory.
LP interview: Ekuinas
Ekuinas represents a mixed bag, serving as GP and LP and pursuing social and economic objectives. CEO Syed Yasir Arafat Syed Abd Kadir explains how the group is making a difference in Malaysian private equity
Singtel Innov8 backs US, Singapore-based CounterTack
SingTel Innov8, the venture arm of Singapore telecom giant SingTel, has co-led a $20 million Series D round for US and Singapore-based cybersecurity company CoutnerTack alongside US-based SAP National Security Services.
Fund focus: Gree widens its regional scope
For its $67 million second fund, Gree Ventures has added India to its existing Japan and Southeast Asia coverage with a view to facilitating wider cross-border collaboration
Australia VC: Meet the neighbors
Australia’s growing technology sector is set to benefit from long-term socioeconomic trends in Asia. Success will depend on both operational tenacity and a fundamental shift in expansion philosophy
Global PE firms bullish on Vietnam - AVCJ Forum
Global and regional private equity firms are increasingly turning their attentions to Vietnam, reassured by the country’s relative economic stability and impressed by the rising number of investable companies.
Naspers invests $5m in Philippines-based Coins
The venture capital division of South African media firm Naspers has invested $5 million in Coins, a US-founded blockchain and financial technology company operating in the Philippines.
Deal focus: Mekong joins Nhat Tinh's second trip
Mekong Capital backs the management team that grew and then sold Vietnam express delivery player Tin Thanh Express to repeat the trick with Nhat Tin Investment Trading
Co-working spaces in Asia: Spaced out
Co-working spaces are proliferating in Asia as companies – from multinationals to start-ups – opt for more flexible real estate arrangements. The transition is real, but are the valuations justified?
Partners Group buys majority stake in SPi from CVC
Partners Group has acquired a majority stake in Philippines-based business process outsourcing (BPO) provider SPi Global from CVC Capital Partners and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) in a deal that values the business at $330 million....
Proterra invests $100m in Southeast Asia's FKS Food & Agri
Proterra Investment Partners has committed $100 million to FKS Food & Agri, the food and agriculture platform of Southeast Asia’s FKS Group.
Arbor targets $220m for second VC fund, IFC set to invest
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering an investment of $15 million in Hong Kong-based Arbor Ventures’ second VC fund, which has an initial target of $220 million.
Vietnam: Improving sentiment
With regional and global GPs showing greater interest in Vietnam, local managers have an additional exit option - and an opportunity to show that country funds can perform across multiple cycles
Venture: Vietnam plus
Vietnam’s start-up ecosystem is gaining prominence as the diaspora community taps local tech talent to create businesses targeting global markets. Expect deal flow to increase substantially in coming years
Q&A: VinaCapital's Andy Ho
Andy Ho, managing director and CIO of VinaCapital, discusses how the continued development of Vietnam’s economy has created a broader range of opportunities for private equity investors
Shaw Kwei seeks $800m for Asia fund
Shaw Kwei & Partners, a middle-market private equity firm that primarily focuses on the industrial, manufacturing and services sectors in Asia, is targeting $800 million for its fourth fund.
Vietnam SOEs: Shifting ground
Vietnam’s state-owned enterprise (SOE) privatization initiative continues to produce investment opportunities, but private equity firms must be prepared for a hard sell when negotiating
Vietnam renewables: Good vibrations
A palpable new enthusiasm has permeated Vietnam’s sluggish renewable energy sector as rising electricity demand prompts regulatory reform. Private equity is one of the key players
Vietnam investment: Familiar faces
Regional private equity firms are refocusing on Vietnam, widening the exit options for local GPs that specialize in bringing companies to scale. But sizeable deals are scarce and valuations are rising
Mekong backs Vietnam express delivery business
Mekong Capital has invested in Nhat Tin Investment Trading Development, a Vietnam-based express delivery company founded by a team that previously exited a similar business to Kerry Logistics.
Sigit Prasetya named head of CVC Asia, Roy Kuan to retire
Sigit Prasetya (pictured) has taken over as head of Asia at CVC Capital Partners as part of a broader restructuring of senior management that will see Roy Kuan, currently managing partner for the region, retire from the firm.
Maison leads round for Sino-Indonesia e-commerce site
China-focused GP Maison Capital has led a RMB150 million ($22 million) Series B round of funding for Wook, a cross-border B2B e-commerce platform that focuses on China and Indonesia markets.