Indonesia
Infrastructure: Big market, slow progress
Indonesia’s substandard infrastructure represents a huge investment opportunity and the government is taking steps to ensure foreign players can participate. However, returns will only come to those who wait
Macro: Indonesia's growth story
Expanding by more than 6% per year, the Indonesian economy is already one of the best performers in Asia. But analysts say it has the capacity to match growth rates in China and India, reforms permitting
Indonesia investment: Uncharted territory
For all its attractions, Indonesia remains a difficult – and expensive – market for foreign private equity firms. Identifying value rests on building up local knowledge and expertise
Same fundamentals, better investment story
Indonesia has emerged as a priority destination for private equity managers in recent years. It is not difficult to understand the attraction. The country with a population of 250 million was unscathed by the recent financial crisis and boasts rising...
Carlyle loses Southeast Asia MD
The Carlyle Group’s Southeast Asia managing director, Anand Balasubrahmanyan, has left the firm after four-and-a-half years, having struggled to source deals in the region. This was conspicuously the case in Indonesia, a market popular with private equity...
IFC backs Saratoga-led investment in power producer
International Finance Corp. (IFC), the World Bank’s investment arm, has paid up to $25 million for an 11% stake in Indonesian electricity producer Medco Power International (MPI). It is part of a $112 million investment by a Saratoga Capital-led consortium...
Profile: Batavia's Patrick Alexander
Patrick Alexander has been in Asia longer than the private equity industry itself. His experiences in Indonesia span Suharto, the Asian financial crisis and the country’s gradual rebirth
Political risk tempers LP appetite for Southeast Asia
Insurgent groups and corrupt governments are every investor’s worst nightmare. For those private equity firms operating in the Philippines and Indonesia, they’re also a reality.
Yawadwipa targets $750m buyout of Indonesia's Bank Mutiara
Yawadwipa, the startup Indonesia-focused merchant banking operation that recently unveiled plans for a $1 billion private equity fund, has express an interest in acquiring state-owned PT Bank Mutiara for around $750 million. The price is based on the...
Holm plans to tap Indonesia's rich
There is no shortage of Indonesia-focused funds seeking capital. Of the established players, Northstar Pacific has already completed fundraising and Saratoga is on course for a final close this year. At least five other first-time GPs are currently in...
CLSA Capital Partners promotes Gary Ng to MD
CLSA Capital Partners has promoted Gary Ng to the position of managing director. He will remain in the firm’s Singapore office overseeing the India and Southeast Asia markets for ARIA Investment Partners.
Private equity and Asia's new rich
On two occasions last week, fund managers told me they were looking to attract capital, but not from the standard institutional LP. Is this a coincidence or the start of a new trend? It’s not yet clear. But one contributing factor of which we can be certain...
Banker formally launches $1b Indonesia fund
A new Indonesian merchant banking operation plans to raise a $1 billion private equity fund that will target investments in the country. If successful, it would be the largest ever Indonesia-focused fund as well as one of the largest vehicles of its type...
Saban Capital-backed Tiger Gate creates media JV
Tiger Gate, the pay-TV distributor backed by Saban Capital Group, has partnered with Celestial Pictures to establish media company Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE).
Saratoga bets on Indonesian energy
Overseas private equity funds often attribute Indonesia’s rising-star status in Asia to its explosive consumer growth story. Many domestic players, however, have gravitated toward resource plays, and energy in particular.
Saratoga-led consortium buys top Indonesia power producer
A consortium led by Saratoga Capital is to purchase a 51% stake in the energy division of Indonesia’s largest publicly listed oil producer PT Medco Energi Internasional, reportedly for $112 million.
Q&A: CLSA's Peter Kennedy
Cleantech has emerged as a hot investment topic in Asia, but generating returns is a work in progress. Peter Kennedy, head of CLSA’s Clean Resources Fund, gives advice on navigating the space.
Ex-banker targets $1b fundraise for Indonesia vehicle
A former investment banker with Bank of America in Asia is looking to raise a $1 billion private equity fund targeting Indonesia. It will launch in the first quarter of next year, with a view to making a first close within three months.
Southeast Asia takes on the neighbors
Southeast Asia is increasingly popular as an investment destination for private equity firms, but can it compete with China and India?
Asia fundraising – more than just a renminbi story
The last few years have not been good for most Asian private equity fundraisers. The global financial crisis made the usual institutional investors shied away from the asset class, forcing funds already in the market to scale back their targets slightly....
Asian infrastructure: Building blocks
There is no denying the potential for infrastructure investment in Asia. Although the policies and structures governing private equity involvement are improving, it remains difficult terrain.
Abraaj Capital targets Southeast Asian natural resources
Abraaj Capital plans to invest part of its latest $2 billion fund in Southeast Asian natural resources, with a particular focus on copper and tin mines in Indonesia as well as ancillary services tied to mining or agriculture.
Saban Capital Group takes 5% stake in Media Nusantara
Saban Capital Group, the Los Angeles-based private equity firm controlled by billionaire Haim Saban, has purchased a 5% stake in PT Media Nusantara Citra from PT Global Mediacom for INR692 billion ($78.2 million). Saban Capital, which is investing through...
Profile: Saratoga's Sandi Uno
Saratoga Capital’s founder Sandi Uno is passionate about his country’s growth and is looking for ways to invest for the greater good