Southeast Asia
Rocket Internet cuts valuation on fashion portal, raises $339m
Start-up incubator Rocket Internet and Sweden's Investment AB Kinnevik have committed EUR300 million ($339 million) to their emerging markets-focused online fashion portal Global Fashion Group (GFG), at a valuation of EUR1 billion.
Intouch leads Series B for Thailand's Wongnai
Intouch Holdings, acting through its VC arm, InVest, has led a Series B round of funding for Thai restaurant review website operator Wongnai Media.
Temasek makes organizational changes, promotions
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has combined its sector and market investment teams under a single investment group – promoting to president the two executives who will run this division – and created a new portfolio strategy and risk group in response...
Deal focus: EQT thinks quality before M&A activity
EQT Partners wants corporate services provider InCorp Group to achieve greater operational efficiency as well as go on the acquisition trail in Asia
Portfolio: AID Partners and HMV Asia
Having bought the HMV business in Asia as a distressed asset, Hong Kong-based AID Partners is working to reposition it as a lifestyle brand that reaches deeper into the media value chain than DVDs and CDs
Thailand to launch $568m venture fund
The Thailand government has announced the launch of a THB20 billion ($568 million) venture fund as part of an economic modernization agenda.
Singapore's GIC appoints CIO for private equity
Singapore’s GIC Private has named Yong-Cheen Choo as chief investment officer for private equity, one of five new roles created to enhance the sovereign wealth fund’s investment capabilities.
EQT invests in Singapore's In.Corp Group
EQT Partners has invested in Singapore-based corporate services provider In.Corp Group with a view to consolidating the company’s local presence and driving regional expansion.
The gathering storm: Preparing portfolio companies for a downturn
As warning signals of a global economic downturn become increasingly convincing, private equity portfolio companies are likely to come under pressure. Investors are advised to prepare carefully
Deal focus: Ninja Van targets logistics logjam
The Abraaj Group leads a $30 million round to support expansion of Ninja Van's last-mile delivery services into more Southeast Asian markets
Abraaj leads $30m round for SE Asia last-mile delivery start-up
The Abraaj Group has led a $30 million Series B round of funding for Ninja Van, a last-mile logistics provider with operations in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
UOB to launch Sino-Singapore fund in Chongqing
UOB Venture Management (UOBVM) will launch a Chongqing-based private equity fund of up to RMB100 billion ($15.4 billion) that will invest in companies addressing the China and Singapore markets.
GIC partners with Indonesia's MMP for logistics JV
Singapore’s GIC Private has entered into a joint venture with Indonesian industrial properties provider Mega Manunggal Property (MMP) to develop an extended warehouse portfolio.
Walden leads $2.6m round for Singapore's TabSquare
Walden International has led a S$3.5 million ($2.6 million) Series A round for TabSquare, a company offering a cloud-based restaurant management platform.
LPs see potential despite shallow Indonesia GP field - AVCJ Forum
Investors are still waiting to see if Indonesian private equity managers can deliver due to the relative youth of the market and the local GPs participating in it, LPs told the AVCJ Indonesia Forum.
PE investors guardedly optimistic on Indonesia - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors are guardedly optimistic about Indonesia, with positive sentiment about government reforms and rising deal flow tempered by concerns about the difficult investment environment.
Alibaba buys majority stake in Rocket Internet's Lazada for $1b
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group has paid about $1 billion for a majority stake in Lazada, a Southeast Asia-based e-commerce platform founded by Germany's Rocket Internet, in a transaction that values the company at $1.5 billion.
Singapore’s 90 Seconds gets Series A from Sequoia
Sequoia Capital’s India unit has led a $7.5 million Series A round for 90 Seconds, a cloud video production platform founded in New Zealand and headquartered in Singapore.
Shaw Kwei merges precision parts makers Beyonics and Chosen
Shaw Kwei & Partners has merged two Singapore-headquartered portfolio companies – Beyonics and Chosen – to form a leading Asian-based precision parts manufacturing group.
Monk's Hill closes Southeast Asia VC fund
Singapore-based Monk's Hill Ventures has closed its first Southeast Asia-focused fund above its target of $80 million, according to Managing Director Peng T. Ong.
Ex-Capstone executive joins PE-backed CompareAsiaGroup
CompareAsiaGroup, an online financial comparison platform that last year received a $40 million round led by Goldman Sachs, has appointed former KKR executive Sam Allen as its CEO.
Indonesia private equity: Green shoots?
While Indonesia’s VC industry is taking off, private equity firms have found the last few years challenging due to economic headwinds. GPs are now feeling most positive, thanks in part to government policy
Indonesia public markets: Technical exits
The Jakarta Stock Exchange has never been a popular location for private equity exits due to various structural problems. The government wants to address these issues, but there is no quick fix
Indonesia foreign investment: Negative no more
Changes to Indonesia’s “negative list” are expected to open up the country to more foreign investment, but private equity players will have to remember to tread cautiously