Southeast Asia
2023 preview: Southeast Asia VC
Southeast Asia VC is in fair position to hobble through a global downturn and cooling appetite for all things tech despite controversial politics in the region’s largest market and a dicey IPO outlook
Dalma Capital buys Singapore's Global CIO Office
Dalma Capital Group, a Dubai-headquartered alternative investment management platform, has agreed to buy The Global CIO Office, a Singapore-based outsourced CIO business that primarily serves family offices.
2022 in review: End of the party?
Fundraising favours the few; deployment becomes progressively slower as investors agonise about valuations, macro prospects, and financing costs; sponsor-to-sponsor deals prop up exits
Goldman invests in KKR-owned Goodpack as part of refinancing
Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) has made a structured investment in Goodpack, a Singapore-based container manufacturer controlled by KKR, as part of a broader refinancing transaction.
Japan's Sparx leads $50m round for Singapore IoT start-up
Japan’s Sparx Group has led an investment in Singapore-based internet-of-things (IoT) developer UnaBiz. It completes a USD 50m Series B round that started in October last year.
KKR-backed EQuest buys Vietnam school operator
EQuest Education, a Vietnam-based operator of bilingual schools backed by KKR, has acquired a controlling interest in industry peer Khoi Nguyen Education Group (KNE).
India's Innoven fractionalises venture debt fund
India’s Innoven Capital, a joint venture between UOB and Temasek Holdings-owned Seviora Holdings, has fractionalised a USD 50m venture debt fund using blockchain and smart contracts.
Fund focus: Southeast Asia piques Silicon Valley interest
Singapore’s Iterative is dazzling its entrepreneurial friends in the US with tales of seed-stage success in Southeast Asia and channelling that interest into a sophomore fund
FWD, Artem launch Malaysia insurtech fund
Hong Kong-based insurer FWD Group and Malaysia’s Artem Ventures have set up a MYR 45m (USD 10.2m) VC fund focused on insurance technology and Islamic financial technology in Malaysia.
Singapore's Temasek launches internal review of FTX deal
Temasek Holdings has launched an internal review into the circumstances that led to its investment in collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, but Singapore’s deputy prime minister refused to criticise the organisation’s governance structures.
Hong Kong fintech player XanPool raises $41m
XanPool, a Hong Kong-based cross-border payments infrastructure provider, has raised USD 41m from new investor Target Global and existing backer Antler Elevate.
Singapore insurance start-up Igloo lifts Series B to $46m
Singapore-based insurance technology start-up Igloo has added USD 27m to an initial USD 19m in Series B funding raised in March. Swiss impact investor BlueOrchard led the extension.
CEO of Singapore's EDBI departs to launch own fund
Swee Yeok Chu, CEO and president of Singapore government investor EDBI, is stepping down from her role with a view to launching her own fund.
Singapore’s Iterative closes second VC fund on $55m
Singapore-based early-stage VC firm and accelerator Iterative has closed its second Southeast Asia fund with USD 55m in commitments.
Asia Partners targets $600m for second Southeast Asia fund
Asia Partners, a Singapore-based private equity firm focused on growth-stage technology investments, is targeting USD 600m for its second fund.
Proterra raises $200m for Asia food fund
Proterra Investment Partners has reached a final close on a Singapore-domiciled fund that will make food-related investments across Asia with more than USD 200m in commitments.
East leads $13m round for Indonesia's TipTip
East Ventures has led a USD 13m Series A round for Indonesia’s TipTip, a marketplace that connects digital media content creators and their fans.
ADIA, SC Capital to invest $2bn in Asia data centres
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) will provide Singapore private equity real estate manager SC Capital Partners up to USD 2bn for equity investments in Asia data centres.
Heliconia, Yanzijiang Financial launch SE Asia SME fund
Temasek Holdings-owned Heliconia Capital Management has teamed up with Singapore-listed Yanzijiang Financial Holding to launch a fund that will invest in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia.
Singapore's Wavemaker names new general partner
Singapore-based Wavemaker Partners has appointed Andy Hwang, an angel investor and start-up mentor transitioning into venture capital, as a general partner.
ESG: The case for convergence
With ISSB pursuing pre-eminence in sustainability-related financial disclosures and TCFD emerging as a preferred climate framework, investors and investees will have to get more serious about reporting
Q&A: AC Ventures’ Adrian Li
Adrian Li, founder and managing partner of Indonesia-focused AC Ventures, on Chinese incursions into Southeast Asia, localisation versus scale, the prospect of a protracted downturn, and being an Ironman
Fundraiser Atul Phull departs Everstone for UBS
Atul Phull, who spent nine years with India and Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm Everstone Group across two stints, has joined the private funds group at UBS as an executive director.
Indonesia's INA, Chinese partners form $2bn EV fund
Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), has launched a USD 2bn green electric vehicle (EV) fund with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL and the international arm of China Merchants Bank (CMB).
