Consumer
TPG-backed Li Ning posts first half loss
Li Ning, the Chinese sportswear retail group backed by GIC Private and TPG Capital, has reported a net loss of RMB184 million ($30 million) in the first six months of this year, compared with a RMB44.3 million profit in the first half of last year.
Shanghai Buttonwood Capital invests in China jewelry site
Shanghai Buttonwood Capital has led a $1 million Series B round of funding for zhubao.com, a Chinese jewelry e-commerce vendor, for an undisclosed stake.
GGV, Orchid Asia invest in China’s Beauty Plus
GGV Capital and investment group Orchid China have jointly participated in a Series A round of funding for a Shanghai-based cosmetics retailer Beauty Plus.The financial terms were not disclosed.
Fosun, Axa French Club Med buyout extended
The French financial markets authority, Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), has extended a takeover of France-based vacation resort operator Club Méditerranée (Club Med) by China’s Fosun International and Axa Private Equity after shareholder...
CLSA exits Japan apparel business Baroque to CDH, Belle International
CLSA Capital Partners has exited its majority stake in apparel business Baroque Japan to China's CDH Investments and Chinese women's shoe retailer Belle International.
China pollution control business gets $20m Series C round
Invesco WLR Private Equity and Keynote Ventures have led a $20 million Series C round funding for LP Amina, an US-based energy and environmental solutions provider. Existing investors Qiming Venture Partners and Hao Capital also participated.
Jafco invests $10m in lunch box delivery start-up
Japanese VC firm Jafco Ventures has invested JPY1 billion ($10 million) in Star Festival, the start-up behind lunchbox delivery and catering site Gochikuru.com.
Sequoia-backed Quick Heal targets India IPO
Sequoia Capital-backed Quick Heal Technologies (QHT), an Indian security software-maker, expects to file its draft red herring prospectus and begin the formal listing process next year.
China Tiantu Capital closes sixth RMB fund at $160m
Tiantu Capital has closed its sixth renminbi-denominated fund on RMB1 billion ($160 million). The vehicle will mainly invest in China's consumer sector.
SingTel Innov8 invests $10m in Fab.com
SingTel Innov8 has invested $10 million in online lifestyle store Fab.com as part of an ongoing Series D round of financing. It joins a list of strategic Asian backers as the company plans expansion in the region.
China’s Car Clubs rental service secures Series A financing
Hangzhou-based Incapital and government-owned Tobon VC have provided a Series A round of funding for Car Clubs, a Chinese car rental service operator. Details of transaction were not disclosed but it is said to be in excess of RMB10 million ($1.6 million).
VCs back India SME group-buying service
Despite there being around 47 million small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in India, the segment has not yet participated in the country's e-commerce boom. While 51% of online SMEs use the internet to advertise, a mere 27% use it for trade, according...
Portfolio: CLSA Capital Partners and Indonesia's Sari Wangi
Sari Wangi is Indonesia's largest private tea player. CLSA Capital Partners invested not so much for exposure to the crop as what the company offers as a platform for distributing agricultural technology.
China CYTS Tours buys back Wuzhen stake from IDG
IDG Capital Partners has existed Tongxiang Wuzhen Tourism Development to the investee’s parent company, China CYTS Tours Holding, for $67.5 million. The PE firm bought about a 16% stake for $6.47 million in 2009, implying a 10.4x return on its investment.
CLSA Capital backs India’s Luminous Water Technologies
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSACP) has invested INR 550 million ($9.2 million) in water-purifier maker Luminous Water Technologies (LWT) from its ARIA Investment Partners IV fund.
Femto invests $1m in Japanese restaurant app startup
Japanese venture capital firm Femto has committed JPY100 million ($1 million) of seed funding in Toreta, a start-up developing apps for the food service industry.
EQT mulls deal for Dairy Queen, Papa John’s China franchisee – report
EQT Partners intends to buy a minority stake in RCS Group, a Chinese fast-food chain operator that owns franchisee rights for the Dairy Queen and Papa John’s Pizza, from existing investor Warburg Pincus.
Arisaig invests $30m for stake in India McDonald’s franchisee
Arisaig Partners has bought a 3.47% stake in Mumbai-listed Westlife Development for INR1.8 billion ($30 million). Westlife controls McDonald’s restaurants in west and south India through its direct subsidiary, Hardcastle Restaurants. It is one of two...
Kartrocket gets seed funding from 5ideas Startup Superfuel, 500 Startups
Indian e-commerce platform Kartrocket has raised a seed round of funding from 5ideas Startup Superfuel and 500 Startups.
Bright Stone targets $4.8b for China tourism fund
China Bright Stone Investment has partnered with the Guizhou provincial government to launch the country's first tourism-focused fund, targeting up to RMB30 billion ($4.8 billion). The vehicle – Wuling Mountains travel industry investment fund - will...
Affinity pays $239m for majority stake in Korean music platform
Affinity Equity Partners will pay KRW265.9 billion ($239 million) for a 52.6% stake in Loen Entertainment, a South Korean record label and digital music platform. The holding is being divested by SK Planet, a subsidiary of SK Telecom, the country's largest...
Jungle Ventures secures TravelMob exit
Four years ago, Asia Pacific became the world’s largest aviation market, with 647 million travelers taking flights within the region compared to 638 million in North America. This growth shows no sign of slowing down – in the first four months of...
L Capital targets Chinese beauty
As growth slows in China's consumer sector, L Capital Asia has identified cosmetics as a segment with the qualities to withstand the broader trend. Put simply, as a woman’s disposable incomes rise, so does her consumption of premium cosmetics, particularly...
Caffeinated returns: Private equity's coffee shop craving
Private equity is already leveraging the growing popularity of coffee shops across Asia. But where is the next frontier – and is it all about the coffee?