June 28th, 2018
Private equity floods into Southeast Asia
Western funds bet big on rapid growth and market reforms
The Big Story
How private equity is shaking up Southeast Asia
Western funds rush in as market reforms and rapid growth open up new opportunities
%2520bigphone.jpg?width=300&fit=cover&gravity=faces&dpr=2&quality=medium&source=nar-cms&format=auto&height=168)
The Big Story
Southeast Asia's private equity firms have a secret weapon
Local funds rely on insight, not size, to find deals that bigger rivals may miss
Multinationals in Asia
World's casino giants bet big on the golden Japanese market
Government legalizes gambling despite strong public opposition
Startups in Asia
Last Japanese unicorn in pipeline talks big to beat Google in AI
After Mercari's successful IPO, Preferred Networks aims high with new technology
Business
'We are unicorn hunters,' says Masayoshi Son
CEO of SoftBank group claims WeWork can be next Alibaba
Business trends
After Mercari, Japanese unicorns closer to extinction
Reluctance of venture capital to invest stifles startup scene
Companies
Samsung gets serious about fighting overwork
Conglomerate to broaden flextime options in face of South Korea overtime cap
Asia300
Samsung grabs AI talent to quicken growth beyond memory chips
Out of prison, chief Lee Jae-yong leads effort to build new earnings pillar
Companies
Myanmar developer Dagon adds more agribusiness to its diet
Company plans $100m industrial park for food-makers after opening vegetable market
Business
India's Motherson Sumi eyes huge potential for in-car wireless charging
Tie-up with US venture Ossia hopes to commercialize the system in 2021
Business
Hyundai's electric SUV scores surprise hit in Norway
Orders reach double the annual target for the Kona in the major electric car market
Business deals
Thai PTT reaches deal for French company's unit
The $4bn purchase of Glow Energy to be funded by loans, debt issuance
Business deals
Foxconn group to buy stakes in American TV brand Vizio
Along with Wisconsin plant, investment accelerates US expansion
Asia Insight
China's scrap plastic ban saddles neighbors with piles of problems
Thailand and Vietnam struggle with redirected waste but is there a silver lining?
Politics
Pacific nations out to limit Facebook political chatter
Papua New Guinea and Samoa propose blocks on the social network
N Korea at crossroads
Kim courts China but finds his economic muse in Vietnam
North Korea sees Hanoi model as way to win US support and South Korean investment
International relations
'Resource nationalism' clouds China's Africa ambitions
World's second-largest economy may find it harder to get what it needs to grow
Economy
China shifts economic policy as it braces for trade clash
Banks to buoy state-owned companies with $150bn in debt-equity swaps
Trade war
Trump car tariff threat sends Japan on search for escape route
A 25% levy could mean $21bn in lost earnings for Toyota, Nissan and peers
Datawatch
Trump tweets show growing affinity for Asia - it's in the data
Sudden upturn in positive sentiment falls on deaf ears
Opinion
Little to 'like' about Thai junta's economy
Facebook protests over rising prices must prod generals into structural reforms
Opinion
Asian governments must escape the 'state capacity' trap
Mahathir has a golden opportunity to build legitimacy for economic development
Opinion
North Korea talks deepen Japan's dilemma
While Trump and Kim warm up ties, Tokyo is left in the cold
Editorial
Trump's inattention to human rights is a blow to democracy
By leaving the UN rights council, Washington risks empowering strong-arm leaders
Life
Startups put safety first for Indian women travelers
Female-led tours encourage the wary to explore
Life
Cambodia volunteers step up battle against illegal fishing
'Annihilation trawling' threatens once-bountiful marine environment
Tea Leaves
From Beijing to Bicester: surviving the age of 'Amazonification'
Hordes of Asian shoppers in UK town present flipside of tourism nightmare