Southeast Asia
MDI leads funding round for Singapore's Red Dot
Metra Digital Innovation Ventures (MDI), the corporate venture arm of state-controlled telecommunications firm Telkom Indonesia, has led a funding round for Singapore-based online payment solutions provider Red Dot Payment.
Malaysia-based FirstFloor invests in Skeleton Technologies
Malaysian VC firm FirstFloor Capital has led a EUR13 million ($14.5 million) Series C round for Estonian energy storage system developer Skeleton Technologies to support its growth plans in Southeast Asia.
Deal focus: Go-Jek targets multiple verticals
As a single-country player with a dominant position across verticals ranging from transportation to payment, Indonesia-based Go-Jek is tipped to overcome its rivals. A consortium of investors has committed $550m to make this happen
Japan analytics player Abeja raises $2m
Japanese corporate analytics platform Abeja has raised JPY200 million ($2 million) in Series B funding from PNB Inspire Partners, a domestic investor aimed at helping companies expand into Southeast Asia and Islamic countries.
PE investors buy Fugro's Asia subsea business
US private equity firm SCF Partners and Australia's Viburnum Funds have agreed to acquire the Asia Pacific subsea services business of Netherlands-based Fugro.
Golden Gate invests $2.5m in Indonesia's Alodokter
Singapore’s Golden Gate Ventures has committed $2.5 million to a Series A funding round for Indonesian healthcare information portal operator Alodokter.
Telkom Indonesia, Telstra launch VC partnership
State-controlled Telkom Indonesia has partnered with Australia’s Telstra Ventures to pursue venture capital investment opportunities in Southeast Asia.
KKR, Warburg Pincus join $550m round for Indonesia's Go-Jek
Indonesian mobile ride-hailing and delivery platform Go-Jek has received $550 million from investors including KKR, Warburg Pincus, Farallon Capital and Capital Group Private Markets.
Sequoia leads $7.5m investment in Singapore crowdfunding platform
Sequoia Capital India has led a $7.5 million Series A round for Singapore-based crowdfunding platform Funding Societies.
Vietnam's Mekong backs logistics business, adds two partners
Vietnam-focused Mekong Capital has announced the second investment from its latest fund – cold chain logistics provider ABA Corporation – and also promoted Thanh Giang Vu Pham and Truong Dieu Le to partner. It now has four partners in total.
SE Asia tech IPOs: Loosening up
The Singapore Exchange has found limited success in attracting regional tech IPOs. Investors say it needs greater flexibility and understanding to grab a piece of the market
Fund T&C: Carrot and stick
Fee discounts and co-investment often dominate GP-LP discourse, but longer-term issues surrounding economics and governance are increasingly important to negotiations over some Asian GPs’ fund terms
Singapore's Carousell gets $35m Series B round
Rakuten Ventures, a corporate VC arm of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, has led a $35 million Series B round of funding for Singaporean online flea market shopping app operator Carousell.
IFC commits $200m to emerging markets fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has committed $200 million to its IFC Emerging Asia Fund (EAF).
Singapore's GIC expects weak returns in coming decade
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private saw its returns slow over the past year and warned the combination of high asset valuations, low interest rates and uncertain growth is likely to weigh on performance over at least the next decade.
Malaysia's Ekuinas invests $16.9m in domestic sports retailer
Ekuinas, a private equity firm backed by the Malaysian government, has acquired a 35% interest in Al-Ikhsan Sports, the country’s leading sportswear retailer, for MYR68.6 million ($16.9 million).
Portfolio: Creador and Indonesia's Simba
By acquiring Simba, Creador has entrenched itself in a small but fast-growing Indonesian cereal story. Now it will take logistical and marketing expertise to realize the potential of the local consumer market
Rocket Internet: The human wave
Rocket Internet has played a major role in developing Southeast Asia’s e-commerce sector, but industry players say the firm’s most lasting effect will likely be the large talent pool that it is creating in the region
Temasek leads $105m round for Sprinklr
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has led a $105 million Series F round of funding in Sprinklr, a US-based social media company targeting growth in Asia Pacific.
Siam Commercial Bank unveils fintech strategy
Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) has formally announced a financial technology investment strategy aimed at improving customer experience while encouraging domestic start-ups to keep up with changes in the global market.
Rocket, Kinnevik commit $33m to fashion portal
Rocket Internet and Sweden's AB Kinnevik have committed another EUR30 million ($33 million) to emerging markets-focused online fashion portal Global Fashion Group (GFG).
EQT exits Singapore’s Econ Healthcare
EQT Partners has agreed to sell its 49% stake in Singapore’s Econ Healthcare to the company’s founder Chu-Poh Ong ahead of a regional expansion initiative.
SBI leads $17.5m investment in Thailand’s Omise
Japan’s SBI Investment has led a $17.5 million Series B funding round for Thailand-based online payment services provider Omise.
PE must define itself to take advantage of Asia buyout opportunities - AVCJ Forum
Asia continues to offer buyout opportunities, but funds looking to take advantage of them must define their benefits to company leaders, industry leaders told the AVCJ Singapore Forum.