Southeast Asia
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.
Q&A: Armstrong Asset Management's Andrew Affleck
Andrew Affleck, managing partner of Singapore’s Armstrong Asset Management, explains the role private equity investors can play in developing renewable energy assets in Southeast Asia
One Belt One Road: Critical mass
One Belt One Road aims to recast two continents’ worth of disconnected developing markets as a global economic nucleus. It is a geopolitical watershed with deep and complex investment potential
Hewlett Packard Enterprise to launch Singapore incubator
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) will launch an incubator program in collaboration with Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) as part of plans to invest $140 million in the city state over the next five years.
Singapore’s Garena rebrands as Sea, raises $550 million
Singapore-headquartered mobile internet and gaming platform Garena has rebranded as Sea and raised $550 million from a group of investors including existing backer Global Digital Prima (GDP) Venture of Indonesia.
CMIG to create $15b One Belt One Road fund
China Minsheng Investment Group (CMIG), the largest privately-held investment group in China, has initiated a new fund that could raise up to $15 billion for investment in overseas projects under the government-backed "One Belt One Road" initiative.