Consumer
VC investors primed for exit with China Youzan reorganisation
Hillhouse Capital and Matrix Partners China are set for liquidity events after China Youzan, an e-commerce software-as-a-service (SaaS) business listed in Hong Kong, agreed to take full control of its key subsidiary for HKD 2.6bn (USD 334.5m).
Singapore's BandLab raises $25m
Singapore-based social music creation platform BandLab has raised USD 25m from Cercano Management, formerly Vulcan Capital, a vehicle established by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
KKR invests $120m in Vietnam school operator
KKR has invested USD 120m in Vietnam school operator EQuest Education via its global impact fund. The deal comprises a combination of debt and equity.
Blackstone buys jewellery certification business, China's Fosun exits
The Blackstone Group has paid USD 569.7m for 100% of Belgium-headquartered jewellery certification business International Gemological Institute (IGI), taking out investors including China’s Fosun Group.
CPE sells Australia used car business to Japan's Sojitz
CPE Capital has sold part of Dutton Group, an Australia-based used car dealer it has owned since 2016, to Japan’s Sojitz Corporation for an undisclosed sum.
TPG re-engages with improved offer for Australia's Invocare
TPG Capital has been granted due diligence access to Invocare, a listed Australian provider of funeral services and operator of memorial parks and crematoria, after making an improved offer that values the business at approximately AUD 2.2bn (USD 1.5bn).
Deal focus: Indonesia food delivery goes daily
Indonesia’s Uena claims to have penetrated an untapped corner of Indonesia’s booming app-driven food delivery space. Scaling shouldn’t be overly costly, but there are menu-level nuances to consider
South by Southeast: Asia’s next growth engine?
Grouping together markets based on growth and scale is a problematic with South Asia and Southeast Asia as it was with the BRIC economies. But to some extent, investors are buying into the story
India's Convergent invests $49m in Puma sportswear spinout
Convergent Finance, a private equity firm founded by former Fairfax India head Harsha Raghavan, has invested INR 4bn (USD 49m) in Agilitas Sports, a local spinout of German sportswear giant Puma.
KKR takes out Rakuten's stake in Japanese retailer Seiyu
KKR has increased its stake in Japanese supermarket operator Seiyu to 85%, having taken out a position held by local e-commerce giant Rakuten, which supported the private equity firm’s carve-out in 2020.
China's Pudu Tech raises another tranche of Series C funding
Pudu Tech, a China-based manufacturer of service robots, has raised a fourth tranche of Series C funding amounting to several hundred million renminbi (CNY 100m equates to USD 14m) from local investor Yuedu Capital.
Singapore coffee chain raises $50m Series B
US-based VC firm White Star Capital has led a USD 50m Series B round for Singapore's Flash Coffee, an app-driven coffee chain.
Foundation secures secondary deal with India's Carpediem
Asia secondaries specialist Foundation Private Equity has acquired stakes in three portfolio companies held by India’s Carpediem Capital through the purchase of new and existing shares.
Singapore wine cleantech start-up raises $10m
Singapore’s EcoSpirits, a start-up focused on low-carbon technology for the wine industry, has raised a USD 10m Series A round led by US circular economy specialist Closed Loop Partners.
CLSA exits Japan parking lot operator to Advantage
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has agreed to sell Japanese coin-operated parking lot business Ecolocity to Advantage Partners for an undisclosed sum.
Sweef's Asia women-focused fund makes debut investment
Singapore’s Sweef Capital, a women-focused impact investor, has made its first investment, providing an undisclosed sum to Vietnamese children’s technical academy Teky Alpha.
Anchor, Aspex re-up in Korea’s Kurly
Kurly, a Korean grocery delivery platform that abandoned its planned domestic IPO earlier this year, has raised KRW 120bn (USD 91m) from existing investors Anchor Equity Partners and Aspex Management.
India EV player BluSmart raises $42m
India’s BluSmart, an integrated electric vehicle (EV) ride-hailing and charging business, has raised USD 42m in a funding round featuring BP Ventures.
India's Ace Turtle raises $34m Series B
India’s Ace Turtle, an omnichannel platform used by lifestyle and fashion retailers such as Wrangler and Toys R Us, has raised USD 34m in Series B funding featuring Singapore’s Vertex Ventures.
Australia's PE-backed Best & Less receives take-private offer
Best & Less, an Australian baby and kids retailer that went public less than two years ago under the guidance of then-majority owner Allegro Funds, has received a take-private offer from an investment vehicle controlled by retail industry veteran Brett...
Japan e-scooter maker raises $33.7m
Japanese e-scooter maker and urban shared micro-mobility developer Luup has raised a JPY 4.5bn round led by local VC firm Spiral Capital.
BPEA EQT, Nord Anglia buy sports education brand
BPEA EQT and Nord Anglia Education, one of its portfolio companies, have agreed to acquire IMG Academy – originally known as Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy – for an enterprise valuation of USD 1.25bn.
TPG abandons bid for Australian funeral services provider
TPG Capital has withdrawn its AUD 1.8bn (USD 1.2bn) unsolicited takeover bid for Invocare, a listed Australian provider of funeral services and operator of memorial parks and crematoria.
Japan VCs back hair colouring chain
A group of Japanese VC investors including Global Brain have provided JPY 1.1bn (USD 8.4m) in Series A funding to Fast Beauty, operator of hair colouring shop chain Fufu.
