Consumer
SCPE commits $52m to L Capital-owned Crystal Jade
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has committed $52 million to Crystal Jade Group Holdings, a food and beverage conglomerate owned by L Capital Asia.
Alibaba, Ant Financial form JV to invest in China’s O2O service
Alibaba Group and its financial affiliate Ant Financial plan to invest nearly $1 billion in a joint venture that will tap into China’s local online-to-offline (O2O) services market, initially focusing on the food and beverage segment.
CX set for partial exit as Matrix Cellular files for India IPO
Matrix Cellular, an Indian telecommunications company that caters to people traveling abroad, has filed for an IPO. This would allow a partial exit for private equity backer CX Partners.
Matrix, SAIF back India-based hotel start-up
Treebo, an Indian online budget hotel chain, has raised a $6 million Series A round led by Matrix Partners India and SAIF Partners.
Portfolio: Advantage Partners and Riraku
By undercutting its competition, massage salon Riraku was able access a broader segment of the domestic market. But achieving growth on a national scale required support from Advantage Partners
Deal focus: Qiming sees Tuhu as agent of disruption
When it comes to using technology to disrupt China’s auto industry, private equity and venture capital funding appears to have targeted almost every corner of the space.
China regulator allows 100% foreign ownership in e-commerce
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has permitted foreign investors to fully own and operate e-commerce companies operating within the country.
Dianping leads $30m round for China’s Farmlink
Farmlink, which operates a digital platform through which small and medium-sized restaurants in China can order food supplies, has received a $30 million in Series B funding led by listings and group-buying specialist Dianping.
PE consortium submits take-private bid for China's Qihoo
Chinese internet security software provider Qihoo 360 Technology has received a take-private offer from its chairman and CEO, plus CITIC Securities, China Renaissance Holdings and Sequoia Capital.
Japan consumer: Big spenders
Japan’s gradual economic recovery could deliver a wealth of new opportunities in the consumer space. But to realize true value, private equity firms must look deeper, or in certain cases, further
Polaris acquires Japan massage salon operator
Japan's Polaris Capital has acquired massage salon chain Factory Japan Group (FJG) for an undisclosed sum. The investment was made via Polaris Private Equity Fund III.
Nordic Capital backs Chinese maker of child car seats
European GP Nordic Capital has acquired Max-Inf, a Chinese manufacturer of children's car seats, to complement its existing portfolio investment in UK child safety products firm Britax.
Sequoia's Shen joins China take-private wave
Neil Shen, managing partner at Sequoia Capital China, is supporting take-private bids for budget hotel operator Home Inns and online real estate agency E-House as a growing number of US-listed Chinese companies turn their attention to domestic listings.
Hong Kong storage start-up Boxful raises $6.6m
Hong Kong-based "valet storage" start-up Boxful has raised a HK$51.1 million ($6.6 million) Series A round from a consortium including Arocrest Capital, Lonsdale Capital, and several real estate investors.
Indian fashion app Voonik raises $5m from Sequoia, Seedfund
Voonik, a personalized fashion shopping portal based in India, has raised $5 million in Series A funding from Sequoia Capital and existing investor Seedfund.
CNEI re-ups in Chinese prawn producer
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has made a follow-on investment of $6.5 million in Zhanjiang Newpro Foods, a leading integrated operator in China’s prawn farming industry.
India's Swiggy raises $16.5m from Norwest, Accel, SAIF
Indian food delivery platform Swiggy has raised $16.5 million in a Series B round led by Norwest Venture Partners, along with existing investors Accel Partners and SAIF Partners and an unnamed investor.
Apax sells Chinese restaurant chain Golden Jaguar
Apax Partners has agreed to sell Chinese high-end restaurant chain Golden Jaguar to Hong Kong-listed Carnival Group International Holdings for HK$253.4 million ($32.7 million).
Korea e-commerce: Appetite for disruption
Capital is gravitating to the leaders in Korea’s e-commerce space as consumers swap shopping malls for mobile devices. Efficient logistics and effective payment systems sit at the top of the agenda
India payments: The missing link
India’s payment start-ups hope to shape the way e-commerce companies charge for their goods. The future may lie with approaches tailored to the country’s circumstances
TPG joins $129m investment in Singapore's PropertyGuru
Singapore online property portal PropertyGuru has raised S$175 million ($129 million) from TPG Capital, Australia's Square Peg Capital, and Indonesian media company Emtek Group.
China social e-commerce start-up raises $10m from GGV
Chinese e-commerce discovery site Red has raised more than $10 million in Series B funding from GGV Capital.
Hony, CITIC Goldstone support Bright Food's Tnuva deal
Hony Capital and CITIC Goldstone will cover close to three quarters of a RMB9 billion ($1.45 billion) private placement by Shanghai-listed Bright Dairy, which will be used fund the acquisition of Israel-based Tnuva Food Industries from its parent, Bright...
Innovation Works leads $6m round for China's Smellme
Chinese pet-oriented social network Smellme has raised a $6 million Series A round of funding led by Innovation Works.