Consumer
PE & QSR: Selling pizza in Japan
From delightfully indulgent pizza toppings to delivery world records, Domino’s Japan has added a splash of color to the food and beverage space. It also served up robust private equity returns
Vietnam's Sendo raises $61m Series C
Vietnamese e-commerce company Sendo has received $61 million in Series C funding from a group of investors including SBI Group and SoftBank Ventures Asia.
Allegro acquires Australasian furniture retail portfolio
Allegro Funds has agreed to acquire a portfolio of Australian and New Zealand furniture and household goods brands – including Best & Less, Harris Scarfe, Postie, and Debenhams Australia – from South Africa-based retail holding company Steinhoff International.
Chinese GPs back $120m Series B for OPay
A group of Chinese investors including Gaorong Capital and Sequoia Capital China have joined a $120 million Series B round for Nigerian logistics and payments technology company Opay.
Xiaomi-backed smart home player raises $100 million
Lumi United, a Chinese smart home appliances and internet-of-things (IoT) solutions provider backed by smart phone maker Xiaomi, has raised $100 million in the third tranche of a Series B funding round.
MBK, Mirae buy stake in Asia assets of Korea's CJ CGV
MBK Partners and Mirae Asset Daewoo Private Equity have agreed to pay KRW333.6 billion ($286 million) for a minority position in the China and Southeast Asia assets of Korean cinema chain operator CJ CGV.
Blackstone commits $244m to India's Future Lifestyle Fashions
The Blackstone Group has agreed to invest INR17.5 billion ($244 million) in India-listed clothing retailer Future Lifestyle Fashions (FLF).
Pavilion, Gobi lead $18m round for Indonesia's Travelio
Pavilion Capital and Gobi Partners had co-led an $18 million Series B round for Indonesia’s Travelio, an Airbnb-style home rentals start-up.
Korean mobile app market One Store gets $86m
One Store, a Korean mobile app market controlled by SK Telecom, has raised a KRW100 billion ($86 million) round led by local VC firm Kiwoom Investment.
Alibaba invests $3.3b in logistics affiliate Cainiao
Alibaba Group has enlarged a controlling stake in its PE-backed shipping affiliate Cainiao Smart Logistics Network with a $3.3 billion investment.
PE & QSR: Dining disrupted
With ubiquitous delivery services, ordering apps that learn user preferences, and intelligent inventory management, technology is changing China’s restaurant industry. Operators are in a race to stay relevant
Vietnam media platform Pops gets $30m
Korean investors Mirae Asset Capital, EastBridge Partners, and Naver have provided $30 million in growth capital to Vietnamese online entertainment broadcaster Pops.
Philippines-based Xurpas acquires Wavemaker Partners
Philippines consumer technology developer Xurpas has agreed to acquire the US operations of venture capital firm Wavemaker Partners.
PE & QSR: Going greenfield in India
Localization was the key for Everstone Group when rolling out Burger King in an India market that is both price-sensitive and not known for its appreciation of beef
Investcorp backs $500m Asia food fund
Investcorp has teamed up with China Resources and Fung Investments, the private investment arm of the founding family of Hong Kong consumer goods and supply chain conglomerate Fung Group, to raise a $500 million Asia food fund.
PE & QSR: Ambition on a bun
Many private equity investors think they can make a fast buck from fast dining, but rolling out a Western-style brand in Asia requires discipline on valuation and competence in execution
Everstone seeks listing for Burger King India
Everstone Capital, which set up the Indian franchise of US fast food giant Burger King in 2013, has filed to list the company on the domestic markets.
Pakistan’s Airlift raises $12m Series A
Pakistan’s Airlift, a bus-hailing app, has raised a $12 million Series A round led by US-based First Round Capital. It is being called the largest ever Series A in Pakistan.
Chinese fresh produce retailer raises $14m
Maison Capital has invested RMB100 million ($14 million) in Sungiven Foods, a Chinese fresh produce retailer looking to replicate the model of US-based Trader Joe's.
India's ShopClues to merge with Singapore-based Qoo10
Indian e-commerce company ShopClues has agreed a merger with Singaporean counterpart Qoo10 at a valuation reportedly 99% lower than its peak level of $1.1 billion.
China car finance player targets US IPO
Meili Auto, a Chinese car financing platform, has filed for US IPO. Its backers include Gaorong Capital, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), and Lingfeng Capital.
Blackstone backs India’s Aakash Educational
The Blackstone Group has invested an undisclosed sum in New Delhi-based Aakash Educational Services with a view to building India’s largest digital omnichannel test preparation company.
China media platform Lizhi pursues US listing
Lizhi, a Guangzhou-based audio streaming and social networking platform backed by Matrix Partners China and Morningside Venture Capital, has filed for a US IPO.
TDM Growth leads $48m Series C for Australia's Rokt
TDM Growth Partners, an Australian GP that invests across public and private companies, has led a $48 million Series C round for local marketing technology supplier Rokt.
