Consumer
EQT-backed LBX hits trading cap on Shanghai debut
Laobaixing Pharmacy Chain (LBX Pharmacy), a Chinese retail pharmacy chain backed by EQT Partners, closed up 44% on its price on the first day of trading in Shanghai.
Sequoia leads $18m round for India handicraft site
Sequoia Capital has led an $18 million round for Indian online handicraft market place Craftsvilla.com. Global Founders Capital, a VC firm set up by Rocket Internet's Samwer brothers, also took part.
Mayfield leads Series C for Indian education tech start-up
Mayfield has led a $15 million Series C round for Indian IT certification start-up Simplilearn, with participation from previous investors Kalaari Capital and Helion Venture Partners.
VIDEO: LEK Consulting's Ken Chen
Consumer and healthcare are increasingly prominent among the China deals that LEK Consulting is working on as the economy transitions from an investment-led to a consumer-led model, according to Ken Chen, a direct and partner with the firm
Investors pay big for India grocery exposure
The last year has seen an explosion of interest in India’s grocery delivery apps. Customers order food and other goods on their smart phones; the order goes to a buyer, who purchases the goods and then delivers them to the customer’s home. The approach...
China crowdfunding: The madding crowd
With established Chinese companies, led by e-commerce giant JD.com, getting involved in equity crowdfunding, will these platforms gain traction as a financing channel for Chinese start-ups?
India's MakeMyTrip buys VC-backed Mygola
Indian travel site MakeMyTrip has acquired VC-backed travel planning startup Mygola.
Fosun to support Cirque du Soleil's China expansion
Chinese conglomerate Fosun International and TPG Capital have together acquired Canadian circus entertainment company Cirque du Soleil with a view to growing the business in China.
KKR, Anchor buy controlling stake Korea's Ticket Monster
A consortium led by KKR and Anchor Equity Partners has agreed to buy a controlling stake in South Korean mobile e-commerce company Ticket Monster from US-listed Groupon for $360 million.
PE, Alibaba-backed Baozun to list in the US
Baozun, a Chinese e-commerce platform solutions provider, has filed for an IPO in the US. Backers include Alibaba Group, SoftBank Corporation, Goldman Sachs, Crescent Group, Infinity Group and New Access Capital.
India classifieds platform raises $28m from GIC, Norwest
Singapore’s GIC Private has led a Series C round of funding worth INR1.75 billion ($28 million) for Sulekha.com, an India-based classifieds platform based in India. Existing investor Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) also participated.
India's Robosoft gets Series B round, spins out subsidiaries
Indian mobile app developer Robosoft will spin off its subsidiaries after receiving a INR740 million ($11.8 million) Series B round led by Ascent Capital, with participation by existing investor Kalaari Capital.
CBC leads $10m round for Chinese auto repair start-up Kalading
Chinese auto repair start-up Kalading has raised a $10 million Series A round led by CBC Capital. Existing investor Gobi Partners also participated, as did Geek Partners.
China’s 58.com buys stake in VC-backed rival Ganji
US-listed Chinese classifieds site 58.com has agreed to buy a 43.2% stake in its domestic rival Ganji.com in a deal worth around $1.61 billion. It is part of a broader consolidation in China’s internet industry.
Rakuten invests in VC-backed China discount site Fanli
Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten has bought a less than 10% stake in VC-backed Chinese discounts site Fanli in a Series C round of funding that values the business at about $1 billion.
Carlyle raises $424m via Haier sell-down
The Carlyle Group has fully exited Chinese home appliance maker Haier Electronics Group (HEG), raising HK$3.29 billion ($424 million) through a block trade.
Affinity to buy Nine's Australia events business for $496m
Affinity Equity Partners has agreed to buy Australia-based Nine Entertainment’s live events and ticketing business for an enterprise valuation of A$640 million ($496 million).
India's Grofers raises $35m Series B from Tiger, Sequoia
India-based online grocery marketplace Grofers has raised a Series B round of funding worth $35 million from Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital.
L Capital faces legal action over Jones the Grocer
L Capital Asia is being sued in Singapore's high court over its decision appoint administrators to gourmet food retailer Jones the Grocer by the company's former CEO John Manos.
PE consortium closes in on Korea's Ticket Monster - report
A group of private equity investors including KKR is set to buy Korean e-commerce mobile app Ticket Monster from US-based Groupon in a deal that could value the company as highly as $800 million.
China virtual reality headset maker raises $10m
Baofeng Mojing, a Chinese virtual reality headset manufacturer, has raised $10 million in a Series A round of funding led by film producer Huayi Brothers Media.
Tiger Global leads $5m round for Indian services marketplace
Indian local services marketplace LocalOye has raised a $5 million Series A round of funding from Tiger Global Management and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Japan's KDDI buys majority stake in VC-backed Luxa
Japanese telecom giant KDDI has acquired a majority stake in VC-backed premium group-buying site Luxa.
Q&A: Hera Capital's Thierry Panafieu
In six years of operation, Singapore’s Hera Capital has pursued a strategy focusing on small funds and quick deployment. Managing Partner Thierry Panafieu explains the virtues of staying small