M&As seen as main exit route for S-E Asia startups

Singapore

MERGERS and acquisitions (M&As), and less initial public offers (IPOs), will drive tech startup exits in South-east Asia in the next five years, Singapore-based venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures (GGV) has predicted.

In a report released on Tuesday, GGV projects M&As in the region to grow over 500 per cent from 2015 to 2020, and at least 250 exits - most of which will be acquisitions - to occur each year beginning 2020, due in part to the growth of institutional funds and global players looking to expand their footprint in the region.