Consumer
VCs commit $33m to Japan's Bizreach
Japanese online talent search platform Bizreach has raised a JPY3.7 billion ($33 million) Series A round led by YJ Capital, the investment arm of Yahoo Japan.
Dymon Asia submits offer for Singapore catering business
Dymon Asia Private Equity is leading a consortium to take a controlling stake in catering company Select Group for SGD40 million ($29.3 million).
Ameba leads $46m round for China rural e-commerce site
Ameba Capital has led a RMB300 million ($46 million) Series A round of funding for Taoshihui, a Chinese rural e-commerce platform that helps farmers make purchases online.
InnoVen sees potential in maturing Southeast Asian entrepreneurs
InnoVen Capital, the venture debt firm backed by Temasek and UOB, sees considerable opportunities in Southeast Asia's entrepreneurial community, which the firm's CEO for Singapore and Southeast Asia Chin Chao sees as improving faster than expected.
KKR, Alibaba invest in China fresh-food online retailer Yiguo
KKR and existing strategic investor Alibaba Group have invested in a Series C round of funding for Yiguo, a Chinese online fresh-food e-commerce platform.
65Daigou gets VC backing, rebrands as Ezbuy
China’s Vision Knight Capital has led a $20 million Series B round for Singapore-based online shopping platform 65daigou, which recently rebranded as Ezbuy.
Abraaj leads $150m round for India’s BigBasket
Dubai-based Abraaj Group has led a $150 million funding round for Indian online grocery business BigBasket.
China’s Travelzen raises $93m, plans for onshore exit
Travelzen.com, a Chinese B2B online travel platform, has raised a RMB600 million ($93 billion) Series C round from a group of domestic GPs, having removed its variable interest entity (VIE) structures in preparation for an onshore exit.
Portfolio: Unison Capital and Gong Cha
Bubble tea chain Gong Cha’s Korean franchise started out with an entrepreneurial approach that suited its needs. Now Unison Capital is transforming management style and building a regional lifestyle brand
Deal focus: AID plugs HMV into music value chain
By taking HMV Asia public in Hong Kong through a backdoor listing, AID Partners' objective was to secure China 3D Entertainment as a strategic partner for the business
Google Capital invests in India's CarDekho
Indian automobile trading platform CarDekho has secured an undisclosed investment from Google Capital, with participation from existing investor Hillhouse Capital.
China B2B online liquor retailer Yi Jiu Pi raises $30m
Yi Jiu Pi, a Chinese B2B online liquor retailer, has raised an extended Series B round worth RMB200 million ($30 million) co-led by domestic GPs Yuan Sheng Ventures and Eastern Bell Venture Capital.
PE investors to exit China's Happigo Home Shopping
Hony Capital, CITIC Private Equity and Sequoia Capital are set to exit Happigo Home Shopping, a Shenzhen-listed online and TV shopping subsidiary of Hunan TV.
CDH exits Beijing Digital Telecom
CDH Investments has made a full exit from Hong Kong-listed Beijing Digital Telecom (BDT), one of China’s largest mobile retail chains, raising HK$366.93 million ($47 million).
VIDEO: Lunar Capital's Derek Sulger
The key to persuading a Chinese entrepreneur to give up control of a company is not to approach him as a private equity firm, but as someone who knows how to run the business, says Derek Sulger, a partner at mid-market consumer buyout firm Lunar Capital
AID Partners to list HMV in Hong Kong via reverse merger
AID Partners is poised to list the HMV Asia business in Hong Kong through a reverse merger, a couple of weeks after making a partial exit from the music and movie retailer to Japan’s World Innovation Lab (WiL).
Carlyle invests in Japan's GGC Group
The Carlyle Group will support overseas expansion efforts for western Japan’s biggest bean sprout manufacturer, GGC Group, through a strategic business and capital alliance.
UK’s Amadeus leads Series C round for IndiaMART
Amadeus Capital Partners has made its first direct investment in India by leading a Series C round for business-to-business (B2B) classified listing marketplace IndiaMART.
Japan e-commerce: Shopping for fun
Mercari has become Japan’s first unicorn on the back of an innovative approach to e-commerce. Can the company blaze a trail for others to follow by replicating its domestic success overseas?
India's KartRocket ups Series B by $2m
Indian e-commerce platform KartRocket has raised $2 million, adding to the company's Series B round announced in January.
Philippines-based PDS secures funding
Philippines-based mobile fintech start-up Pitaca Digital Services has raised a funding round managed by Carillion Partners, a boutique investment services and financial advisory company affiliated with Hong Kong-based Angeon Advisors.
Hallyu Ventures invests $13.8m in Korean coffee house
Singapore’s Hallyu Ventures will acquire a 38% stake in South Korean coffee shop operator Caffe Bene for a cash consideration of KRW16.6 billion ($13.8 million).
Philippines online pawn store secures VC funding
Manila-based online pawnshop PawnHero has raised an undisclosed amount of pre-Series A funding from a group of venture backers.
Advantage acquires Japan's Ishii Sports
Advantage Partners has acquired Tokyo-based outdoor sports equipment retailer Ishii Sports.