Consumer
Australia's Bigcommerce gets $50m growth equity round
SoftBank Capital, Telstra Ventures and American Express have led a Series D round of funding worth $50 million for Bigcommerce, an Australian e-commerce platform with a strong presence in the US. Existing investors General Catalyst and Revolution Growth...
JIP sells Japanese phone retailer ITX for $433m
Japanese electronics retailer Nojima has agreed to acquire a 100% stake in mobile phone retailer ITX from Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) for JPY51.3 billion ($433 million).
Quadrant set for partial exit via Estia Health’s $726m IPO
Quadrant Private Equity will exit as much as half of its stake in Estia Health as the Australian aged care provider seeks to raise up to A$834 million ($726 million) through an IPO. The private equity firm bought the business in October 2013.
Sailing to the Maldives
China has become the primary source of tourists to the Maldives. In the first six months of 2014, more than 170,000 Chinese travelers flocked to the islands, up 20% year-on-year. They accounted for nearly one in three visitors, according to the Maldives...
Asahi in $175m settlement with PE firms over Independent Liquor
Asahi has received NZ$220 million ($175 million) from Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital in a settlement that brings to a close their dispute over the sale of New Zealand beverage producer Independent Liquor.
Vertex leads $30m round for Chinese e-commerce site Metao
Vertex Ventures has led a $30 million round of funding for Metao, a Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform, with participation from Morningside Technologies, Greenwoods Investment and Matrix Partners.
TPG-owned Inghams sells $138m in real estate assets
TPG Capital-owned Australian poultry producer Inghams Enterprises has sold 31 properties to W.P. Carey, a US-based real estate investment trust, for A$157 million ($138 million).
CITIC Securities, Shenzhen Capital invest in online art trading platform
CITIC Securities and Shenzhen Capital have invested $100 million in a Series B round of funding for Hihey.com, an online trading platform for Chinese art.
China's Sailing Capital backs Maldives resort developer
Chinese private equity firm Sailing Capital has agreed to invest in luxury resort developer Soneva Group. It will support the expansion of a portfolio of properties in the Maldives.
SAIF-backed HomeShop18 abandons US IPO
HomeShop18, an Indian television shopping network and online market place backed by SAIF Partners and OCP Asia, has abandoned plans for a US IPO.
Hony-backed Jin Jiang buys Louvre Hotels
Shanghai Jin Jiang International, a Chinese hotel operator backed by Hony Capital, has agreed to buy Europe’s second-largest hotel group Louvre Hotels from US real estate investor Starwood Capital.
Silver Lake overcame doubters to secure Alibaba deal – AVCJ Forum
Silver Lake’s 2.2% stake in Alibaba Group is worth more than $6 billion at current market prices, but internal approval for the original investment in the Chinese e-commerce player in 2011 did not come easily.
Forum Synergies leads Series B round for Indian ethnic clothing retailer
Forum Synergies has led a Series B round of funding worth INR300-500 million ($4.9-8.1 million) for CBazaar.in, an Indian online ethnic fashion retailer.
VC-backed Chinese dating app Momo files for US IPO
Momo, a Chinese location-based social-networking app best known for its “flirting” function, has filed for a US IPO. Backers include Alibaba Group, Matrix Partners, Yunfeng Capital and Sequoia Capital.
GIC invests $391m in Philippines liquor producer Emperador
GIC Private has agreed to pay PHP17.6 billion ($391 million) for a 9.64% stake in Emperador (EMP), a Philippines-based liquor producer. Its parent is Alliance Global, a conglomerate controlled by local businessman Andrew Tan.
Abraaj buys Southeast Asia’s Wine Connection Group
The Abraaj Group has acquired a majority stake in the Wine Connection Group, a Southeast Asia-focused food and beverage chain.
Hony to buy Chongqing hotpot restaurant chain
Hony Capital has agreed to buy a 93.2% stake in Chongqing Cygnet Hotpot, a Chinese hotpot restaurant chain.
IDG, Morningside lead $60m round for China P2P car-rental site
IDG Capital Partners and Morningside Technologies have led a $60 million Series B round of funding for PPzuche, a Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) car-rental provider launched by Singapore’s iCarsclub.
Matrix, SIG commit $20m to Tencent-backed laundry app
Matrix partners and SIG have committed $20 million in a Series A round of funding for Edaixi, a mobile laundry service app owned by Beijing-based laundry franchise Rongchain.
Helion provides Series A for Indian packaged food maker
Helion Venture Partners has provided INR350 million ($5.7 million) in a Series A round of funding for iD Fresh Foods, an Indian ready-to-cook packaged foods company.
Danone to take 25% stake in Chinese PE-backed dairy firm
French dairy giant Danone will buy a 25% stake in PE-backed Chinese infant formula maker Yashili from majority shareholder China Mengniu Dairy for HK$4.4 billion ($567 million).
Sequoia leads $8m round for Indian car-rental firm Zoomcar
Sequoia Capital has led an $8 million round of funding for Zoomcar, an Indian car-rental start-up, alongside existing investors including Empire Angels, FundersClub, Basset Investment Group and Triangle Growth Partners.
Hony eyes buyout opportunities in healthcare, restaurants
China-focused GP Hony Capital is seeing more buyout opportunities involving healthcare and restaurant chains and it has created two sector-focused operational teams to consolidate these industries.
PE firms settle with Asahi over Independent Liquor sale
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital have agreed a private settlement with Asahi over the sale of Independent Liquor that means the dispute will not proceed to trial.