Consumer
Deal focus: Lyre’s opts for science instead of a still
Australia-founded beverages maker Lyre’s has raised $11.5 million in seed funding with a view to helping non-alcoholic spirits follow in the footsteps of alternative protein
Australia's V2Food raises $55m Series B
Australian alternative protein producer V2Food has raised a A$77 million ($55 million) Series B round featuring Sequoia Capital China and Temasek Holdings.
L Catterton exits RM Williams to Australian billionaire
L Catterton Asia has sold Australian bootmaker R.M. Williams to Tattarang, a private investment group established by Andrew Forrest, majority shareholder and former CEO of Fortescue Metals Group.
China's Miniso sees modest trading debut after $608m US IPO
Miniso, a Chinese low-cost retailer backed by Hillhouse Capital and Tencent Holdings, posted a small gain on its US trading debut following a $608 million IPO.
Singapore auto marketplace Carro raises $110m
Singapore used car marketplace Carro has raised S$150 million ($110 million) in debt and equity, including an unspecified equity contribution from Japan’s MS&AD Insurance and Mitsubishi Corp.
Vision Knight leads Series B for China education app
Shaonian Dedao, a Chinese education app for teenagers led by former CCTV host Quanlin Zhang, has raised RMB200 million ($29 million) in a Series B funding round led by Vision Knight Capital.
Deal focus: VR gaming comes of age
Japanese videogame publishing company Thirdverse believes the time is right to bring virtual reality entertainment to the masses. VCs with expertise in the sector are beginning to agree
Walmart, Flipkart re-up in India's Ninjacart
US retailer Walmart and Flipkart, its India-based e-commerce platform, have made an additional investment in local fresh produce delivery business Ninjacart.
Tencent leads $100m round for China education platform
Huohua Siwei, a China-based children's online education platform specializing in mathematics and science, has raised $100 million in the second tranche of the Series E round.
Archipelago acquires Malaysia's Coolblog, Ekuinas exits
Archipelago Capital Partners has acquired Malaysian dessert and drink chain Coolblog from government-backed PE firm Ekuinas based on an equity value of MYR75 million ($18 million).
Fund focus: BA Capital backs youth
ByteDance spinout BA Capital has raised $147 million for its second renminbi-denominated fund and is also raising a US dollar vehicle. Backing consumer brands that resonate with young people underpins the investment thesis
PE-owned Adore Beauty targets $193m Australia IPO
Australia’s Quadrant Private Equity is set to make a first exit from its growth fund with online beauty retailer Adore Beauty announcing plans for a A$269.3 million ($192 million) IPO.
Jafco backs Japan VR game developer
Japan’s Jafco has led an $8.5 million Series A round for local virtual reality (VR) game developer Thirdverse.
ADIA joins Reliance Retail investor roster
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has become the latest investor to follow its commitment to Reliance Industries-owned Jio Platforms with an investment in Indian conglomerate’s retail unit.
Deal focus: CVC's soft sell
CVC Capital Partners helped Softex Indonesia grow its market share by penetrating modern retail channels and launching an ESG program. A $1.2 billion trade sale exit to Kimberly-Clark is its reward
GIC backs Reliance Retail's India digitization drive
Singapore’s GIC Private has committed INR55.1 billion ($754 million) to the retail unit of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, joining a growing roster of blue-chip backers.
Prosus leads $12m Series B for Pakistan's Bykea
Prosus Ventures, formerly a VC arm of South African media conglomerate Naspers, has led a $12 million Series B round for Pakistan ride-hailing and courier app Bykea.
J-Star acquires Japan aquaculture business
Japanese lower middle market private equity firm J-Star has acquired local aquaculture industry supplier Dainichi for an undisclosed sum.
Investors commit $1.6b to India's Reliance Retail
General Atlantic, TPG and Mubadala Investment have doubled down on Reliance Industries’ plans to reinvent digital consumer services in India, following earlier commitments to Jio Platforms with investments in the conglomerate’s retail unit.
Deal focus: Green Monday finds mission-aligned investors
Green Monday, the Hong Kong plant-based food distributor behind the Green Common retail chain and OmniPork alternative meats, has raised its first institutional round of funding.
Taiwan tourism platform KKday raises $75m Series C
Taipei-based online tour package vendor KKday has closed a $75 million Series C round led by Cool Japan Fund and Taiwan’s National Development Fund.
IMM agrees $124m exit from Korea's Hollys Coffee
IMM Private Equity is set to exit its approximately 94% stake in Korean food and beverage chain Hollys Coffee to local digital payments services provider KG Inicis for KRW145 billion ($124 million).
Lever invests five China alternative meat start-ups
Hong Kong and US-based food tech investor Lever VC has confirmed five investments in alternative protein start-ups from its recently launched China fund.
Portfolio: Pioneer Capital and Natural Pet Food Group
Pet ownership is no longer a hobby – it’s an emotional market in the same vein as mother-and-baby. Pioneer Capital knows that grain-based kibble will not do
