What does it take to generate alpha in SE Asia?

  • Joshua Morris, Founding Partner & CEO, Emerging Markets Investment Advisers
  • Omar Mahmoud, Managing Director, Creador Private Equity
  • Rajendra Pai, Partner, Navis Capital
  • Diana Reeves, Co-Founder & Director, Cabot Capital Partners
  • Wong Chee-Yann, Chief Investment Officer, Northstar Group
  • Anupum Khaitan, Executive Director, Capital Square Partners (Moderator)

Investors bet big on SE Asia, in the pre-pandemic years, with the region producing several “success stories” leading to early backers reaping rich returns on their investments. That conviction triggered bigger successor vehicles by region-focused investors but exits and returns were placed under question.
Amid the overall funding winter and global macro headwinds, SE Asia’s true attractiveness was put to the test. Along with a decline in funding and fundraising, exit value in SE Asia fell 46% year-on-year in 2022.
Does SE Asia have what it takes to deliver the stable returns investors expect? Unlike developed markets, where leverage is used to create alpha, does SE Asia need its own unique strategies to generate returns?