Southeast Asia
PAG backs restaurant chain Paradise Group
PAG Asia Capital has agreed to invest in Paradise Group Holdings, a Southeast Asia-based restaurant chain with over a dozen brands and more than 60 outlets.
Thai strategic buys stake in PE-backed US restaurant chain Red Lobster
Thailand-based seafood supplier Thai Union Group has invested $575 million in Red Lobster, a US-based seafood restaurant chain majority-owned by Golden Gate Private Equity.
Morgan Stanley invests $46m in Thailand diaper maker DSG
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has invested THB1.6 billion ($45.6 million) in DSG International Thailand, a maker of baby and adult diapers.
Singapore's New Silkroutes launches private equity JV
Singapore-listed energy trading company New Silkroutes Group (NSG) has formed a joint venture with three parties to develop private equity funds targeting healthcare and infrastructure in emerging and developed Asia.
Philippines' Xurpas buys VC-backed mobile ad firm
Early-stage VC firm Wavemaker Partners has made a full exit from Art of Click as Philippines-based mobile service developer Xurpas acquired the Singaporean mobile advertising player in deal worth $45 million.
Temasek, 3i to exit ACR Capital to Chinese consortium
An investment vehicle controlled by China's Shenzhen Qianhai Financial Holdings (QFH) and Shenzhen Investment Holdings (SIHC) has agreed to buy Singapore-based reinsurer ACR Capital Holdings from its backers, which include Temasek Holdings, Khazanah Nasional...
IFC commits $11m to Indonesian gas producer's IPO
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested $11 million in Indonesia-based Aneka Gas Industri as part of the gas production company’s domestic IPO.
500 Startups launches $50 million Southeast Asia fund
US-based accelerator 500 Startups has launched its second seed fund focused on Southeast Asia, with a targeted corpus of $50 million.
EDBI in $40m round for US-based Shape
EDBI, the corporate VCs arm of Singapore's Economic Development Board, has joined a $40 million Series D round for Shape Security, a US-based provider of online security technology.
Thailand e-commerce platform secures Series B
German internet conglomerate Hubert Burda Media (HBM) has acquired a $24.9% stake in Thailand e-commerce company Priceza from Japan's CyberAgent Ventures as part of a Series B funding round.
Deal focus: Taking truckers to the cloud
CHAMP Private Equity is supporting the development of Containerchain's software-as-a-service proposition as a means of improving supply chain communications between truckers, depots and warehouses
PE-backed Go-Jek acquires India home healthcare start-up
Go-Jek, an Indonesian mobile ride-hailing and delivery platform backed by several PE investors, has bought Bangalore-based online home healthcare services platform Pianta, its third acquisition in India.
Q&A: LeapFrog Investments' Pritesh Modi
In its eight years in Asia, LeapFrog Investments has kept lower-income consumer finance at the center of its investment strategy. Pritesh Modi, director and chief actuary at the firm, discusses the value of a narrow focus
Anthem Asia invests in Myanmar's Rangoon Tea House
Anthem Asia is backing an expansion drive for Myanmar restaurant Rangoon Tea House (RTH) that will see the company offer services outside catering while developing new brands.
Malaysian pension fund KWAP invests in Uber
Malaysia’s public sector pension fund, KWAP, has invested in US-based ride hailing app operator Uber Technologies. This is its first direct investment in a foreign company.
Singapore's UOB backs $72m Series C for OurCrowd
Singapore-based UOB Group has joined a $72 million Series C round for Israeli equity crowdfunding platform OurCrowd.
Australia's CHAMP PE backs SaaS logistics provider
CHAMP Private Equity has acquired a 50% stake in Containerchain, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider to the container logistics industry that is headquartered in Australia but also has a sizeable presence in Southeast Asia.
Philippines consumers: Boom in a bottle
Tidal shifts in the Philippines' consumer demographics are piquing interest among private equity and venture capital investors alike, but sluggish policy modernization efforts remain a key barrier to entry
Pierfront commits $25 million to Indonesia mine operator
Singapore-based alternative credit investor Pierfront Capital has committed $25 million to Merdeka Copper Gold, an Indonesia-based operator of copper and gold mines backed by Saratoga Capital and Provident Capital.
Singapore's Grab raises $750m round led by SoftBank
Singapore-based taxi-hailing app provider Grab has raised a $750 million round of funding led by Japanese technology giant and long-term strategic partner SoftBank.
Equis targets $500m in Indonesia renewables projects
Equis has signed a wind power offtake deal with an Indonesian electricity supplier as part of a $500 million renewable energy project package.
Singapore's ViSenze raises $10.5m Series B
ViSenze, an e-commerce-focused artificial intelligence (AI) company based in Singapore, India and the US, has completed a $10.5 million Series B funding round led by Rakuten Ventures, WI Harper and Enspire Capital.
Careful targeting key to Philippines M&A – AVCJ Forum
Efforts to increase foreign M&A activity in the Philippines at later investment stages depend on targeting the right kinds of companies and understanding their needs, industry participants told the AVCJ Philippines Forum.
Singapore's JFDI abandons accelerator program
Singapore-based Joyful Frog Digital Incubator (JFDI) has closed its pioneering accelerator program as part of a corporate restructuring.