Grab Raises $1b to Expand in Indonesia, Eyes More Funds
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Singapore-based Grab said on Thursday (02/08) that it has secured $1 billion in fresh funding and will consider raising further cash, as the ride-hailing firm aggressively expands in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.
The latest fundraising comes less than two months after it secured $1 billion from Toyota Motor Corp and values the six-year-old startup at around $11 billion, a source close to the company said.
The firm was valued at around $6 billion earlier this year when it bought Uber Technologies’ regional operations.
“We will continue opening the financing for certain investors that we think will add value,” Grab president Ming Maa said on Thursday, declining to give any funding target.
He added that Grab was seeing significant demand from investors globally, both financial and strategic.
The latest funding in Grab came from global asset manager OppenheimerFunds, China’s Ping An Capital, Microsoft Corp co-founder Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital, Macquarie Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners, among others.
Grab already counts deep-pocketed investors such as Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing and Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp among its backers.
It plans to use the new funds to expand its online-to-offline services, and invest a major portion of the proceeds in Indonesia, as competition heats up with Indonesian rival Go-Jek that is plotting an expansion to Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand.
Grab said it had earmarked Indonesia, an emerging battleground for technology firms looking to serve a population of over 250 million people, as a priority market.
The ride-hailing firm is also seeking to transform itself into a consumer technology group, offering services such as digital payments and food delivery.
Maa said parts of Grab’s business, including transportation, were already profitable in some markets, and an initial public offering was not a focus for the company in the short term.
Ride hailing services in Southeast Asia are expected to surge to $20.1 billion in gross merchandise value by 2025 from $5.1 billion in 2017, according to a Google-Temasek report.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary purpose of Grab's newly secured funding?
What is the primary purpose of Grab's newly secured funding?
Grab plans to use the new funds to expand its online-to-offline services. A major portion of the proceeds is earmarked for investment in Indonesia, where competition with rival Go-Jek is increasing.
Q.How has Grab's valuation changed recently?
How has Grab's valuation changed recently?
The company was valued at around $6 billion earlier this year when it acquired Uber's regional operations. The latest fundraising round values Grab at approximately $11 billion, according to a source close to the company.
Q.Which specific investors contributed to Grab's latest funding round?
Which specific investors contributed to Grab's latest funding round?
The latest funding in Grab came from OppenheimerFunds, China’s Ping An Capital, Vulcan Capital (Paul Allen's firm), Macquarie Capital, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Other investors also contributed.
Q.Is Grab planning an initial public offering soon?
Is Grab planning an initial public offering soon?
Grab president Ming Maa stated that an initial public offering is not a focus for the company in the short term. He mentioned that parts of Grab’s business are already profitable in some markets.
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