Yimie Yong

[Updated] Indonesia unicorn Traveloka said to halt talks with Bridgetown SPAC – report

The Southeast Asian online travel company will likely explore going public via a traditional initial public offering (IPO) in the US market, according to the report.

Hong Kong’s Pickupp expands Malaysian footprint with first regional hub in Penang

The announcement follows its parent company, Pickupp Ltd’s recent $15 million Series A and Series A+ financing.

Singapore caregiving platform Homage raises $20M Series C round led by Sheares Healthcare Group

The oversubscribed round makes it one of the largest financing rounds raised by an on-demand care platform in Southeast Asia and the Oceania region and brings Homage’s total funding to exceed $45 million.

SGX-listed iFAST Corp to continue digital bank ambition in Malaysia [Q&A]

It will target B40 segment while eyeing low-cost deposits globally.

Grab-Euromonitor report: Southeast Asia online food delivery spend to hit $28B in 2025

Growth is expected to be fastest in emerging markets such as Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines, with the total regional online food delivery Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) to more than triple from $9 billion in 2020 to $28 billion in 2025.

Vietnam healthcare marketplace Thuocsi.vn raises $9M in Series A funding round led by Smilegate Investment

The fresh funds will be used to grow its distribution network both in Vietnam and in other parts of Southeast Asia.

Vietnam merchant platform KiotViet raises $45M in Series B funding round led by KKR

KKR is making its investment in KiotViet from its Asian private equity fund.

Singapore skyline SGX SPAC

Singapore Exchange introduces SPAC listing framework

SGX said it will work with the Securities Investors Association (Singapore) to increase retail investors’ understanding of SPACs through collaborative efforts including the conduct of educational programs.

Central banks of Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa to test central bank digital currencies for international settlements

Led by BIS Innovation Hub’s Singapore Centre, the project, dubbed Project Dunbar, aims to develop prototype shared platforms for cross-border transactions using multiple CBDCs.