Consumer
Helion, Blumberg invest $1.5m in India's Mygola for US expansion
Mygola.com, an Indian online travel planning start-up, has raised a $1.5 million Series A round led by Helion Venture Partners and including existing backer Blumberg Capital. The funding will be used to support the company's US expansion plans.
Global Brain invests $3.3m in Japan group buying site Luxa
Japanese venture capital firm Global Brain has invested JPY330 million ($3.3 million) in luxury group buying site Luxa through its KDDI Open Innovation Fund.
Indonesia's Falcon House closes maiden fund at $212m
Falcon House Partners, an Indonesia mid-market GP, has reached a final close on its maiden fund at $212.4 million, exceeding its original $200 million target, nearly two years after launch.
Matrix makes a booking with Stayzilla
The travel e-commerce market in India is booming but the technology which has made it possible is also leaving many behind. This is particularly visible is the hotel booking segment, where transactions frequently break down because establishments don't...
Ascendent backs Wumart as Chinese retailer buys CP Lotus stores
Ascendent Capital Partners (ACP) has acquired a stake in Chinese supermarket operator Wumart Stores, as Wumart moves to acquire 36 stores from retail firm CP Lotus Corp. for HK$2.3 billion ($302 million) through a share swap.
IDG commits $40m to Peking Duck restaurant chain Quanjude
IDG Capital Partners has invested RMB250 million ($40 million) in Chinese catering chain Quanjude - best known for its Peking Duck dishes - for a 5.78% stake.
India's Flipkart raises additional $160m
Online retailer Flipkart has raised an additional $160 million in Series E funding from new investors Sofina, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Dragoneer Investment Group and Vulcan Capital, along with participation from existing investor Tiger Global.It...
China shopping search portal B5M raises $16m round
ClearVue Partners has led a $16 million Series B round of investment in Chinese shopping portal B5M.
Sierra Ventures leads Series C round for China's Social Touch
Chinese social marketing services provider Social Touch has raised $10 million in Series C funding from a group of investors led by Sierra Ventures. Legend Capital and GGV Capital, which backed the company in its previous two rounds, also participated.
Japan online fish seller raises $1.5m VC round
Hachimenroppi, a Japanese firm that operates an IT-enabled fresh fish distribution platform, has secured a JPY150 million ($1.5 million) round of investment from Pygmalion No 2, a venture fund managed by Tokyo-based firm Value Create. Two strategic investors...
China retail: Asset-heavy to asset-light
Facing competition from e-commerce platforms, China’s traditional offline retailers are moving online – and the ideal combination is a combination of the two. PE investors are seeking opportunity in the disruption
Online tourism: Ticket to ride
Online tourism is on the rise in emerging Asia and numerous venture-backed businesses are looking to hitch a ride on the consumer growth trend. The key is finding the right niche
Indian car rental site ZoomCar raises $1m in seed round
New York-based Empire Angels has led a $1 million seed round for Indian car rental service ZoomCar. Funders Club, Basset Investment Group and former US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Lady Barbara Thomas Judge also took part in the...
Japan's Integral backs TBI Group
Japanese private equity firm Integral Corp. has acquired part of TBI Group, a restaurant chain operator with 78 outlets, as part of a management buyout. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
KKR, CDH go greenfield in China
KKR isn’t known for backing start-ups, but the risks associated with the firm’s recent foray into dairy farm ownership in China are tempered by the presence of familiar partners. For its first control deal in China and its first greenfield deal globally,...
MSPEA completes quiet Korea acquisition
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia’s (MSPEA) investment in Ssangyong C&B and Monalisa is like an iceberg: only one sixth was immediately visible. When the deal was first announced earlier this year, the information disclosed concerned a South Korean...
NSR has an appetite for Moshe’s
“The typical Indian family stereotype today is different to that of my parents’ generation,” says Parag Saxena, founding general partner and CEO of New Silk Route (NSR). “Back then my mother would cook the meals and keep the house running while...
Baidu, VC-backed travel website Qunar files for $125m IPO
Qunar, a Chinese travel website majority-owned by internet search giant Baidu, is looking to raise up to $125 million through an IPO in the US. GSR Ventures and GGV Capital still hold minority positions in the company but it is unclear whether they plan...
KKR buys 10% stake in China home appliance maker for $552m
KKR has acquired a 10% stake in Qingdao Haier (QH), a Chinese home appliance maker, for RMB3.38 billion ($552 million) - its biggest investment in China to date.
Australia’s Wolseley exits magazine publisher to trade buyer
Wolseley Private Equity has completed its second exit in a month with the sale of Australian magazine publisher nextmedia to Forum Media Group.
HK’s Shining Capital leads $40m JustFab Series C round
Hong Kong-based Shining Capital Management has led a $40 million Series C round of funding for US-based fashion subscription e-commerce retailer JustFab. Existing backers Matrix Partners, Rho Ventures, Technology Crossover Ventures and Intelligent Beauty...
Fosun, Axa's Club Med takeover delayed
Axa Private Equity and China’s Fosun International have suffered a setback in their takeover of France-based vacation resort operator Club Méditerranée (Club Med), as French regulators decided not to rule on shareholder opposition to the deal before...
Japan's Lixil acquires TPG-backed faucet maker Grohe
Lixil Group, a Japanese toilet manufacturer, has agreed to acquire Grohe, a German maker of faucets backed by TPG Capital and the private equity arm of Credit Suisse (formerly CSFB Private Equity), for JPY400 billion ($4 billion).
Shareholders approve Shuanghui's $4.7b acquisition of Smithfield Foods
Shareholders of US pork producer Smithfield Foods have approved the company's $4.7 billion acquisition by its PE-backed Chinese counterpart Shuanghui International.