If you snoozed the year (lucky you) and just tuned in to December, you’d get a hint at what 2021 has in store for Southeast Asia.

Consider this. E-commerce firm Tokopedia and travel booking service Traveloka, two of Indonesia’s billion-dollar startups, both confirmed they planned to go public. One option both are seriously considering is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), an emerging trend that sees a listed shell company take another business public via acquisition.

Ride-hailing companies Gojek and Grab, valued at US$10 billion and US$15 billion respectively, resumed their merger talks with fresh gusto.

AUTHOR

Jon Russell

Jon Russell is Southeast Asia editor for The Ken based in Bangkok. Originally from the UK, Jon moved to Thailand in 2008. He’s passionate about telling thoughtful business stories, and tracking the impact of the internet in his adopted home of Southeast Asia.

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