Timah Partners, a Singapore-based permanent holding company, has announced the successful closure of a $50m Series A funding round aimed at addressing the succession crisis facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia. The funding round was supported by prominent investors, including founders of iconic holding companies and veteran investors from top-tier investment firms. Timah Partners, founded by Dennis Chua, focuses on acquiring and operating essential recurring B2B SMEs and developing future leaders through its CEO-in-Training programme.
The company aims to provide a long-term home for retiring founders’ businesses, differing from traditional private equity models by not buying with the intent to sell. “We’re not buying to flip,” said Dennis Chua, Founder and CEO. “We acquire businesses to operate and grow them over decades with no pressure to sell.”
Timah Partners targets high-quality recurring B2B businesses with an EBITDA range of $2m to $10m, offering full exits and long-term operational stewardship. The firm emphasises preserving the legacy of acquired businesses rather than overhauling them.
Central to Timah’s strategy is its CEO-in-Training programme, which aims to develop entrepreneurial leaders ready to take on C-suite roles within its portfolio companies. This initiative is inspired by similar programmes from Alpine Investors and Shore Capital. “Singapore’s SME succession problem isn’t just about ownership—it’s about leadership,” Chua noted.
With the ageing population in Southeast Asia and a lack of formal succession plans among SME owners, Timah Partners’ approach offers a sustainable solution to ensure the continuity and growth of these businesses. Applications for the first cohort of the CEO-in-Training programme are now open, signalling a new era of leadership development in the region.
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