Malaysia-based private equity firm Creador has announced plans to invest up to 20 billion pesos (about $344 million) in the Philippines over the next five years.
In a statement, Creador Philippines country head and managing director Omar Mahmoud said the PE firm is actively seeking new investment opportunities in the country. It will look at ticket sizes between 2 billion pesos ($34 million) and 4 billion pesos ($68 million).
Creador is already active in the country, having invested about $71 million in Asialink Finance Corporation, a lender to small and medium enterprises, and $55 million in DALI Stores, the Swiss-based operator of discount grocery stores in the Philippines.
Its other investments in the Philippines include motorcycle ride-hailing business Angkas, credit bureau CIBI, and UNOAsia, the Singapore-based incorporator of UNO Digital Bank in the country.
These investments, Creador earlier said, underscore commitment to supporting the growth of dynamic businesses in the Philippines.
Mahmoud said the PE firm aims to identify promising companies that can benefit from Creador’s expertise to accelerate growth, leverage their in-house value creation team to enhance operations or prepare for pivotal events like initial public offerings or strategic sales.
World Bank Group member International Finance Corporation earlier disclosed plans to invest up to $50 million in the sixth flagship fund of Creador.
The proposed investment, which is capped at 20% of total commitments, is for Creador VI, an $800-million PE fund focused on mid-market companies in South and Southeast Asia, IFC said.
Creador VI will continue to focus on growth opportunities. Like its predecessor, the fund is said to mainly invest in consumer, retail, financial services, healthcare, and business services.
Creador V, which closed in December 2022, raised $700 million. Creador IV, which had a size of $580 million, was launched in 2019. The firm’s first three vehicles were closed at $130 million, $331 million, and $419 million, respectively.
