Consumer
Dymon makes $145m take-private offer for Singapore's Challenger
Dymon Asia Private Equity (DAPE) has submitted a take-private offer for Singapore-listed digital marketing services provider Challenger Technologies that values the company at about S$195 million ($145 million).
General Atlantic, Tencent invest $31m in India’s Byju’s
Indian educational technology provider Byju’s has raised a INR2.14 billion ($31 million) round of funding from existing investors General Atlantic and Tencent Holdings.
East Ventures backs Indonesia auto platform
East Ventures has joined a Series A investment of undisclosed size in Indonesian car sales platform operator Mobilkamu.
Chinese camera maker Insta360 gets $30m
Insta360, a China-based camera maker specializing in immersive imaging and virtual reality applications, has raised a $30 million funding round from a group of investors including Everest Venture Capital.
Hyundai, Kia invest $300m in India's PE-backed Ola
Korean car makers Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors have agreed to invest $300 million in Ola, an Indian ride-hailing platform backed by a number of PE and strategic investors.
Carlyle buys stake in Chinese textiles manufacturer
The Carlyle Group has agreed to invest RMB726 million ($108 million) for a 10% stake in Chinese home textiles maker Luolai Lifestyle Technology.
Warburg Pincus invests $100m in China B2B platform Yijiupi
Yijiupi, a China-based online B2B trading platform that established itself in liquor before expanding into other consumer goods categories, has raised 100 million in an extended Series D round from Warburg Pincus.
CLSA buys Japanese toy maker
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has agreed to buy Bloom Group, a Japanese toy manufacturer best known for its “squishy” products popular among elementary and middle-school-age girls.
Singapore’s VisVires backs domestic food tech player
VisVires New Protein, a Singapore-based VC firm specializing in food technology has led a $5 million round for Nutrition Innovation, a domestic start-up focused on healthier sugar production.
MBK-owned Homeplus abandons plan for Korean REIT
Homeplus, a South Korean supermarket retailer that an MBK Partners-led consortium acquired from Tesco for $6.4 billion in 2015, has abandoned plans for the IPO of a real estate investment trust (REIT).
China investment: Looking up in a downturn
Private equity firms that held back from investing in 2018 as uncertainty gripped China’s economy now see reasons to get busy again. With few macro tailwinds, GPs will be judged on their ability to pick winners
SoftBank to invest $1.6b in China’s Didi Chuxing
SoftBank plans to invest around $1.6 billion in Chinese ride-hailing app operator Didi Chuxing, marking the Japanese internet giant’s third investment in the company.
Chinese O2O retailer raises $59m from Alibaba-backed fund
KK Guan, a China-based online-to-offline (O2O) retailer that mainly sells imported goods, has received RMB400 million ($59 million) in Series C funding led by the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) Ecosystem Fund, which is backed by Alibaba Group...
Q&A: CITIC Capital's Eric Xin
Eric Xin, a managing director with CITIC Capital, discusses the causes of China’s recent economic woes, the potential for services sector reform, and why corporate carve-outs are still flavor of the month
Chinese pet e-commerce player gets $30m Series B
Mollybox, a subscription-based pet e-commerce company based in China, has raised a $13 million Series B round led by DCM Ventures and Digitalis Ventures.
Southeast Asia tech: Strategic incursions
Strategic investors are jockeying for position in Southeast Asia's blossoming technology space, hoping to gain a foothold with local start-ups before the market reaches a saturation point
China’s MSA reaches $200m first close on second VC fund
MagicStone Alternative Investments (MSA) has reached a first close of $200 million on its second venture capital fund, which will focus on technology companies in China.
Deal focus: Google offers AI expertise to Elsa
Google brings technological expertise as well as financial backing to its investment in Vietnam-based English education provider Elsa
SoftBank Vision Fund invests $1.5b in SE Asia's Grab
Southeast Asian ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Grab has secured a $1.46 billion investment from SoftBank Vision Fund. The commitment brings the capital raised in its ongoing Series H to over $4.5 billion.
KKR-owned AVC backs Coles' Australia liquor retail business
KKR-owned hospitality venue operator AVC has agreed to invest A$200 million ($141 million) in a joint venture with the liquor business of Australia supermarket Coles.
Chinese e-commerce: Community counts
A host of Chinese community e-commerce start-ups want to replicate the group-buying might of Meituan-Dianping and the social media savvy of Pinduoduo. They are getting capital, but can they achieve scale?
CDH targets $1b for second China growth fund
CDH Investments is seeking approximately $1 billion for its second China growth fund, just over two years after raising $800 million for the debut vehicle.
Japanese strategic to buy Australia's Allied Pinnacle from PEP
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has exited Allied Pinnacle, an Australia-based roll-up of multiple bakery supply investments, to Japanese strategic Nisshin Foods.
China’s Tiantu Capital closes first angel fund at $75m
Tiantu Capital has closed its debut angel investment fund at RMB500 million ($75 million), complementing the GP’s coverage for companies from early to late stages in China.
