The International Finance Corporation (IFC), under the World Bank, seeks to make an equity commitment of $50 million to Navis Asia Fund IX, L.P., a private equity fund managed by Malaysia-headquartered Navis Capital Partners.

In a disclosure dated November 6, the IFC said the proposal also includes a co-investment envelope of $40 million, or $90 million in total. The investment is pending approval and IFC’s board is set to consider it on January 15, 2027.

IFC says its commitment will not exceed 20 percent of the fund’s total commitments and it will not be the largest investor. The fund has a target size of $1 billion.

Navis IX is a generalist buyout fund that plans to take control stakes in about 10 to 12 mid-market companies, mainly in Southeast Asia. Equity tickets are typically between $50 million and $150 million. The fund focuses on healthcare, education, technology-enabled business services, value-added food, and consumer businesses. It will not invest in coal-related activities, the IFC said.

The fund may invest in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. It may also invest selectively in Australia, New Zealand and other Asia-Pacific markets, particularly in businesses with operations in Southeast Asia or potential for regional expansion.

Navis will strengthen its environmental and social management system, with a particular focus on healthcare and education investments.

The IFC said the fund can increase access to private equity capital for mid-market companies in Southeast Asia, including companies led by women.

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