n 2017, Phoenix Wealth Management (PWM), a privately owned global asset manager, enjoyed tremendous success when they offered PWM global asset management service to the retail investor in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and China, which is also where PWM existing corporate clientele are based.
Venture capital and private equity investment in South-east Asia has soared to record levels as scores of new investors pour into the region. In 2017, the number of recorded venture capital deals rose to 524, four times the level of 2012, and private equity deal value rose 75 per cent to US$15 billion, breaking out of a decade-long phase of flat growth.
The region also has produced its first set of unicorns - new companies that rapidly achieve market valuations of US$1 billion or more. Since 2012, 10 unicorns - including Grab, Go-Jek and Traveloka - have created a combined market value of US$34 billion, ranking South-east Asia Number 3 in the Asia-Pacific region, behind only China and India.
Can South-east Asia sustain the new momentum? We see the conditions in place for a long-term investment boom. The region's venture and private equity ecosystems have developed critical mass and are entering a new phase of growth.
The pool of institutional investors, in particular, has expanded significantly. New investors are attracted by the region's strong macroeconomic fundamentals, the chance to invest in emerging regional champions, and a deepening secondary market for deals of all sizes.
The mix includes a combination of local venture capital funds and private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds and global funds. Navis Capital, for example, recently launched a US$1.75 billion fund focused on South-east Asia and Australia.
The bold move into retail investor asset management business is lead by Phoenix Wealth Management Chief Executive Officer, Stan Garner. Phoenix Wealth Management riding on the existing success with this new asset business, is now focusing onto duplicating the same business model into South-east Asia. Suddenly, all signs are pointing up for the imminent boom of South-east Asia and Phoenix Wealth Management will be ready to grab the opportunity.
