It was around 1am on Saturday in Washington DC, and the morning of a fresh week in Tehran, when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran.
The war that has erupted across the region caps a volatile month for global markets, which were closed for the week, so it remains to be seen how they will react when trading resumes on Monday, and what the longer term implications will be.
But given the protracted global uncertainty, many investors have already been on the sidelines, wary of making new commitments, reassessing risks while doubling down on convictions.
According to DealStreetAsia DATA VANTAGE’s latest bi-annual report, backing for Southeast Asia-focused venture funds in 2025 have deteriorated to the lowest levels since tracking began. The weakness was across strategies, and the contraction in VC fund final closes was unexpectedly led by Singapore, which traditionally has been the region’s capital formation hub.
Against that backdrop, here’s a look at the managers and companies that have managed to raise new capital or execute exits this week.
Deals
Japan’s The Longreach Group has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in RAM Lifting Technologies from Dymon Asia Private Equity. The transaction comes just four years after Dymon acquired RAM, in 2022, through a carve-out from German lifting equipment maker Salzgitter Maschinenbau Group.
Singapore-based PE firm StateSquare Capital will buy a controlling stake in the aerospace and defence electronics manufacturing services provider Advanced Integrated Manufacturing (AIM). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close in this quarter.
Indonesian skincare and beauty brand Somethinc has started talks with investors over a potential partial or full sale, as existing backers are said to be reviewing their investment strategies. Somethinc’s founders are also reviewing alternative options with existing backers, including Peak XV Partners and Prosus Ventures.
Meanwhile, Singapore-based insurtech unicorn bolttech’s M&A talks with MoneyHero Group appear to have stalled amid an internal investigation into the Nasdaq-listed firm’s board chairman Kenneth Chan.
Funds and fundraising
Korean early-stage investment firm TheVentures is launching a new fund focused on film projects in Vietnam, as the Korean film industry is grappling with a slowdown.
DEG is set to lend $50 million to Gulf Renewable Energy Company, the renewable investment arm of Thailand’s Gulf Development. The proposed loan is part of a $350-million corporate loan facility backing the construction of three solar and solar-plus-battery energy storage projects in Thailand.
International Finance Corporation is considering an equity investment of up to $5 million in Carpl.AI Inc, a healthcare technology platform based in New Delhi.
IFC is also investing about $40 million in Malaysian public blockchain platform Zetrix AI Berhad, formerly MY E.G. Services.
Deep tech-focused venture capital firm BlueHill Capital has raised about $33 million for its debut fund amid investor appetite for frontier and strategic technologies.
ICON1C, a lifestyle group backed by Malaysia’s Catcha Group, whose stable includes Singapore’s Mandala Club, has raised S$10 million ($8 million) in a Series A round from its stakeholders and members to fund acquisitions and global expansion.
Thailand’s largest hospitality firm Minor International Pcl is planning to launch its first real estate investment trust in Singapore, and is exploring a listing of its restaurant unit in Hong Kong.
Manila-based Maynilad Water Services Inc is already eyeing fresh capital raising just months after its IPO.
Granite Asia has raised $110 million for its AI-focused IPO fund distributed exclusively to DBS wealth clients. It is the first vehicle in a planned series under a partnership with the Singapore-based bank, which will also include co-investment opportunities for its clients.
China’s Nio Inc.’s chip subsidiary, GeniTech Co. Ltd – better known as Shenji – is set to raise more than 2.2 billion yuan ($318 million) in its first external fundraising, valuing the business at nearly 10 billion yuan after the investment. Investors include Hefei State-Owned Capital Enterprise Investment and IDG Capital.
Don’t miss:
ChrysCapital’s plan to beef up its operational team to drive its buyout strategy;
Private equity’s bets on private education and personal care and beauty brands in Asia;
How private wealth is playing out in Asia Pacific, and Blackstone’s push into the sector;
Temasek-backed Azalea Asset Management is mulling adding evergreen funds to its repertoire;
How digital lenders in the Philippines are navigating new policy changes;
And budget hotel platform RedDoorz’s bet on AI-enabled operations in Indonesia to drive its growth, as it eyes acquisitions, and a public listing.
