Southeast Asia
GPs see the Asia risk premium narrowing - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors still expect a risk premium in Asia, although given uncertainty in Western markets and the relative stability in Asia’s more mature economies, it is debatable how long the status quo will last, industry participants told the AVCJ...
Singapore's MC Payment gets $3.5m for SE Asia expansion
Singapore private equity firm 2W Group has led a $5 million ($3.5 million) funding round for domestic financial technology company MC Payment.
IFC proposes $25m investment in CompareAsiaGroup
The International Financial Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed an investment of up to $25 million in Hong Kong-based financial comparison platform CompareAsiaGroup.
Asia's LP landscape
Asia is increasingly a target for private equity firms on the fundraising trail, but the region’s LP base can be difficult to penetrate, with huge variations in size, appetite and sophistication
Singapore to ease regulations on start-ups as part of fintech push
Singapore is promising to provide venture capital firms with streamlined approval processes and tailored incentives as part of efforts to develop the fundraising landscape for local start-ups.
Blackstone pulls out of SE Asia energy platform
The Blackstone Group has terminated an $800 million commitment to develop oil and gas assets in Southeast Asia with Malaysia-based Tamarind Energy.
Tech & government: Living laboratories
As governments of Southeast Asia’s emerging economies look to create more workable VC policy environments, start-ups and investors have proliferated across a patchwork of imperfect systems
Tech & government: 20 years of early days
Since the dawn of the internet in the mid-1990s spurred a global rebalancing of economic power, Asia’s newest VC heavyweights have raised questions as to how this technology-driven shift will be governed
Q&A: Go-Jek's Nadiem Makarim
Three months on from a $550 million Series D round of funding, Nadiem Makarim, founder and CEO of Indonesia-based ride-hailing and delivery platform Go-Jek, discusses where he sees the market heading
Warburg Pincus supports take-private of Singapore's ARA
Warburg Pincus has joined a consortium of investors including China’s Avic Trust to privatize Singapore-listed real estate fund management company ARA Asset Management.
Northstar backs SE Asia business accommodation supplier
Northstar Group has taken what is understood to be a minority stake in MG Group – a Southeast Asian “bedbank” that supplies hotel rooms to travel agents, wholesalers, aggregators and tour operators – for an undisclosed sum.
IFC proposes backing Jungle's SE Asia seed fund
The International Financial Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed a $2 million investment in Jungle Ventures' Southeast Asia-focused seed fund.
Alibaba-backed Lazada buys Singapore's RedMart
Lazada, a Southeast Asia-based e-commerce platform founded by Germany's Rocket Internet and recently acquired by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has bought Singapore-based online grocer RedMart.
Southeast Asia dating app raises $32.5m round
Paktor, a Southeast Asia-focused mobile dating app, has received $32.5 million in new funding led by K2 Global – a venture capital firm that makes late-stage tech investments in Asia and the US – and Indonesia-based MNC Media Group.
Indonesia's Convergence Ventures closes $30m tech fund
Convergence Ventures, an early-stage VC firm based in Indonesia, has reached a final close of $30 million on its debut fund.
Jungle leads $11m Series A for Thailand's Pomelo
Jungle Ventures has led an $11 million Series A round of funding for Thailand-based online fashion retailer Pomelo.
IFC proposes $100m commitment to Actis energy fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed a $100 million investment in Actis Capital's latest emerging markets energy fund.
Partners For Growth commits $15m to Yello Mobile's marketing unit
Yello Digital Marketing (YDM), the digital marketing unit of South Korean mobile internet company Yello Mobile, has received $15 million in funding from Partners For Growth (PFG), the PE arm of SVB Financial Group.
Simmons invests in Malaysia's Leap Energy
Simmons Private Equity (SPE), an energy-focused investor based in the US, has acquired Malaysian oil company Leap Energy as part of a plan to establish a global upstream consulting group.
Deal focus: Eywa brings experienced edge to generics
Eight Roads Ventures India sees considerable strengths in Eywa to tackle the lucrative US generic pharmaceuticals market
Northstar submits $238m offer for Singapore-listed Innovalues
Northstar Group has offered to buy Singapore-listed Innovalues, a components manufacturer for the automotive and industrials sectors, in a deal that values the business at approximately S$331.4 million ($238 million).
Bain-owned APMG sells Southeast Asia assets
Asia Pacific Medical Group (APMG), a medical platform owned by Bain Capital, has agreed to sell Singapore and Malaysia-based plastic surgery brand The Sloane Clinic to China Medical (International) Group (CMIG).
US fintech raises $5m for Philippines, Southeast Asia push
Quona Capital has led a $5 million Series A round of funding for US-based financial technology start-up Coins. It will support an expansion in Southeast Asia with an emphasis on the Philippines.
Fidelity funds join $30m round for Singapore's Eywa
Eight Roads Ventures India and US-based F-Prime Capital - both of which are controlled by Fidelity - have joined a $30 million investment in Singapore and India-based drug manufacturer Eywa Pharma.