Malaysia
EPF buys stake in Malaysian expressway
Malaysia's Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is paying MYR68.7 million ($21.5 million) for a 31.85% indirect stake in the Cerah Sama, concession holder of the Cheras-Kajang Highway.
Khazanah to privatize trouble-hit Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines (MAS), the beleaguered national carrier that has tragically lost two planes in the space of four months, will be privatized and restructured by its largest shareholder, Khazanah Nasional in a deal worth MYR1.38 billion ($432 million).
SE Asia buyouts present localization challenge – AVCJ Forum
Southeast Asia’s emerging buyout opportunity represents a localization challenge for private equity firms as they try to distribute resources in order to maximize potential deal flow, industry participants told the AVCJ Singapore Forum.
Unleashing Malaysia
Malaysia’s underlying macroeconomic fundamentals suggest a strong appeal to private equity but deal flow remains modest. Can more opportunities be unlocked in the mid-market?
Creador Fund II to reach final close in August
India and Southeast Asia-focused GP Creador is set for a final close of $250 million on its second fund in August, having already raised $220 million.
GrabTaxi's scale proposition
Two tears ago, Anthony tan was pitching taxi fleets in Kuala Lumpur. His idea for a mobile phone app that could be used to make taxi bookings came runner-up in Harvard Business School's (HBS) 2011 business plan contest. Turning it into a reality was proving...
CIMB PE backs Malaysian education provider
CIMB Private Equity has acquired a 33% stake in REAL Education Group, a Malaysia-based private schools operator, for MYR33 million ($10.2 million).
Japan set for first Sharia-focused PE fund
Tokyo-based technology investor Inspire Corp. has partnered with Malaysian asset manager Permodalan Nasional to form Japan's first Sharia-compliant PE fund targeting Malaysian businesses.
Standard Chartered backs Australia-listed manganese miner
Standard Chartered Principal Finance has provided a $50 million debt financing package for OM Holdings (OMH), an Australian Securities Exchange-listed mining company, and several of its affiliates.
Q&A: Creador's Brahmal Vasudevan
Creador is in the process of raising its second fund, which has a target of $250 million, to be deployed in Indonesia, Malaysia and India. CEO Brahmal Vasudevan explains where the firm is investing and why
Fosun invests $35m in Malaysian restaurant chain
Fosun Group, China’s largest privately-owned conglomerate, has committed RMB210.5 million ($35 million) to Malaysia’s Secret Recipe, becoming the second-largest shareholder in the restaurant chain.
PricePanda gets $3m from Tengelmann for SE Asia expansion
Rocket Internet’s price comparison platform, PricePanda, has raised $3 million from German retailer Tengelmann Group to expand its Southeast Asia footprint. It currently operates in Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore.
TPG appoints Khazanah's Ganen Sarvananthan as Asia partner
TPG Capital has appointed Ganen Sarvananthan, former executive director and head of investments at Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah, as a partner and managing director with its Asian business.
SE Asia online retailer Lazada gets $250m in funding from Tesco, others
Rocket Internet’s Southeast Asian online shopping mall, Lazada, has raised a $250 million round of funding from Tesco, Access Industries, and return backers Investment AB Kinnevik and Verlinvest.
Southern Capital offers $111m for Malaysian university operator
Southern Capital Group (SCG) has made a buyout offer for HELP International Corp, a listed Malaysian university operator, valuing the company at MYR359.3 million ($111.4 million). Should the offer be successful, HELP would be taken private.
Malaysian government unit to raise $95m infrastructure fund
Pelaburan Mara, the investment and asset management arm of the Malaysian government’s Majlis Amanah Rakyat agency, plans to launch a MYR300 million ($94.9 million) private equity infrastructure fund early next year to invest in the social infrastructure...
Malaysia rising
It's been a few years since Southeast Asia, spurred by rising interest in Indonesia, emerged as the hottest region for LPs seeking private equity exposure. While the frenzy has eased recently, the region remains an attractive location, especially for...
Malaysian financial comparison start-up gets $2m
Jungle Ventures has led a $2 million round of Series A funding for iMoney, a Malaysia-based financial comparison start-up. Other investors include IMJ Fenox, Fenox Venture Capital, Redbright Partners, 500 Startups and Vogel Ventures, as well as German...
KKR invests $200m in Malaysia’s Weststar Aviation
KKR has completed its first investment in Malaysia, paying approximately MYR642 million ($200 million) for a substantial minority stake in Weststar Aviation Services (WAS). It is also the first investment from KKR Asian Fund II, a $6 billion vehicle that...
Creador to take 20% stake in Malaysia's GHL, back e-pay acquisition
Creador will take a 20% stake in Malaysia-based payment services provider GHL Systems through a private placement of new shares. The capital will in part be used to finance GHL’s proposed acquisition of Australian Securities Exchange-listed e-pay Asia.
Mavcap to launch fund targeting tech-based companies
Malaysia Venture Capital Management (Mavcap) plans to launch a $200 million investment fund platform fund later this year that will back technology-based companies at home and abroad.
Khazanah picks CIMB’s Charon Wardini Mokhzani as exec director
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has appointed Charon Wardini Mokhzani as executive director in the managing director’s office. Charon is currently deputy CEO of CIMB Group, head of investment banking and CIMB Investment Bank chief.
Malaysia launches $100m clean tech fund
Malaysia has teamed up with Japan-based Asian Energy Investments to form a $100 million venture capital fund to invest in clean technology in South East Asia.
Malaysia's Khazanah exits Time Engineering stake for $21m
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has sold its entire stake in local IT firm Time Engineering (TEB) to Censof Holdings for RM69.8 million ($21.3 million)