Southeast Asia
Rich man’s game: The cost of fundraising in Asia
Asian GPs and fund lawyers are struggling with a demand-supply imbalance. LPs are negotiating more and conceding less - but for all that managers say fundraising costs are going up, lawyers say fees are going down
The problem with Southeast Asian VC
Ahead of last week's AVCJ Singapore Forum, this column was dedicated to the less-loved investment stories in Southeast Asia. VC made the list because, despite offering a similar fundamentals to China and India – rising disposable incomes and mobile...
Singapore’s Temasek appoints new chairman
Temasek Holdings has appointed Lim Boon Heng as its fourth chairman, succeeding Suppiah Dhanabalan who is retiring after leading the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund for 17 years.
First Reserve-backed KrisEnergy jumps 5% on Singapore debut
KrisEnergy, the Southeast Asia-focused oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) company which counts First Reserve among its investors, rose 5% on its trading debut in Singapore on Friday. The stock closed at S$1.155 after reaching an intra-day high...
KKR seals debut Indonesia deal
KKR will become the second-largest shareholder in Indonesia’s Tiga Pilar Sejahtera Food (TPSF) after agreeing to buy an approximately 9.5% stake for an undisclosed sum. The investment, which is being made through funds advised by KKR Asset Management,...
Southeast Asia VC still overlooked by global investors - AVCJ Forum
Southeast Asia is the region’s forgotten venture capital market despite some compelling fundamentals. Last month ASEAN overtook the US by internet users and at some point this month it will surpass the US in terms of the total number of 3G connections,...
ASEAN integration brings opportunities, challenges - AVCJ Forum
ASEAN integration is a game changer for companies from China and India as well as for those in Southeast Asia, but a lack of familiarity with private equity in more peripheral markets remains an obstacle, fund managers told the AVCJ Singapore forum.
HomeAway acquires VC-backed vacation rental startup Travelmob
US-based vacation rentals site HomeAway has bought a controlling stake in Singapore-based Travelmob in a bid to boost its online rental accommodations business in Asia. Early investors of the start-up include Accel Partners and Jungle Ventures, alongside...
First Reserve-backed KrisEnergy to raise $213m in IPO
Southeast Asia oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) company KrisEnergy, which counts First Reserve among its investors, is expected to raise S$270.8 million ($213 million) through its Singapore IPO.
Vietnam's Mekong Capital appoints new partner
Vietnam-focused GP Mekong Capital has named Chad Ovel as a partner. It is the first partner-level appointment since Chris Freund, Mekong’s founding partner, set up the firm in 2001.
Investors commit another $26m to Australia fashion site The Iconic
Australian fashion online retailer The Iconic has picked up A$28 million ($26 million) through a new round of funding led by Verlinvest, a Belgium-based investment firm set up by the founding families of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Existing shareholders Investment...
Indonesia mining: Swimming with sharks
Indonesia is resource rich and its mining sector is coveted by many foreign investors. But regulatory and legal uncertainty, plus concerns about local partners, is compelling them to sit on the sidelines
Southeast Asia oil and gas: Going solo
The relative scarcity of independent oil and gas exploration and production firms in Southeast Asia doesn’t reflect the region’s wealth of natural resources opportunities. Private equity firms are catching on
Ex Indonesia: Investing at SE Asia's edges
Indonesia is the poster child of Southeast Asian private equity but competition is intense and valuations are rising. What can investors expect from less-tapped markets such as Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam?
Q&A: Navis Capital Partners' Nick Bloy
Nick Bloy, managing partner at Navis Capital Partners, explains what ASEAN integration means for private equity and how valuation and sector issues should shape approaches to Indonesia
Southeast Asia’s unloved
Southeast Asia is in vogue, seen by many as an increasingly credible alternative to China and India. Indonesia, as the region’s only market of scale, has naturally attracted the most interest. Virtually every regional and global private equity firm...
Temasek’s portfolio expands to $169b with greater focus on energy
Temasek Holdings saw its portfolio grow to S$215 billion ($169 billion) for the year ended March 2013, up 8.6% from the preceding 12 months.
Angels in Asia: Exporting Silicon Valley
Early-stage investors in the US are casting their eyes eastwards as they seek out new partnerships in Asia. But what can these angels offer the region’s start-up community?
Asia PE: Taking the temperature
AVCJ assembled a group of private equity industry leaders to share their views on the prospects for exits in Asia, changing expectations and approaches to China, and how to address LP interest in co-investment
Regional update: A time to invest?
Is now the time to invest in Asia? This is a question that keeps popping up in my conversations with limited partners. Obviously, the simple answer can always be “yes.” That is if these LPs are able to locate and gain access to the fund managers that...
Southern Capital raises $400m for Southeast Asia fund
Singapore-based Southern Capital Group (SCG) has raised approximately $400 million for its third buyout fund. Unlike SCG’s previous vehicles, which invested throughout the region, Southern Capital Fund III will focus on Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia....
Reebonz receives $39m from MediaCorp, VCs
Southeast Asia-focused online retailer Reebonz has received a S$50 million ($39 million) round of funding led by Singapore multimedia group MediaCorp. Existing investors Vertex Ventures, GGV Capital, Intel Capital and Matrix Partners China also participated.
Investors commit $100m to another Rocket Internet Asia retail start-up
Southeast Asian online retailer Lazada has raised $100 million through a new round of funding led by Verlinvest, a Beglium-based investment firm set up by the founding families of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Existing investors Holtzbrinck Ventures, Kinnevik...
SEAVI Advent reaches $125m first close on Fund VI
SEAVI Advent Private Equity, the Asian arm of Advent International, has reached a first close of $125 million on its six fund - SEAVI Advent Equity Fund VI. Commitments came from high net worth individuals, corporate institutions and family offices, while...