Consumer
Rocket Internet delivers Series A financing to Bridestory
Rocket Internet has participated in a Series A round of funding for Indonesian online wedding marketplace Bridestory. The size of the investment was not disclosed, but it is said to be between $1 million and $10 million.
Bain soaks in hot spring opportunity
Along with conveyer belt sushi and lively karaoke nights, the hot spring visit is a uniquely Japanese pastime popular with both locals and, increasingly, those who visit the country.
KV Asia invests in Singapore’s Aalst Chocolate
KV Asia Capital has invested in Aalst Chocolate, a Singapore-based manufacturer of premium chocolate. Financial terms were not disclosed.
VC-backed 58.com acquires Chinese real estate platform
Chinese online marketplace 58.com, a VC-backed classifieds website along the lines of Craigslist, has acquired Anjuke, an online real estate listing platform, for about $267 million.
KKR completes Japanese DJ equipment division purchase
KKR has completed its acquisition of Japanese electronics manufacturer Pioneer Corporation's DJ equipment division - Pioneer DJ.
Lightspeed invests $12m in China car after-sales platform
Lightspeed China Partners has committed $12 million to Yikuaixiu.com, a Beijing-based automotive after-sales service platform, in a Series A round of funding.
Indian food ordering service TinyOwl raises $16m
Indian food ordering service TinyOwl has managed to raise a $16 million Series B round of funding led by Matrix Partners. Existing investors Sequoia Capital and Nexus Venture Partners also took part.
Chinese playground operator Yuyuto raises $32m
Shanghai Yuyuto Entertainment Facilities, a Chinese company that operates children’s entertainment and retail facilities in shopping malls, has secured RMB200 million ($32 million) in a new round of funding from Fortune Venture Capital, Shenzhen Cowin...
CLSA Capital Partners invests $10m in India’s Nobel Hygiene
CLSA Capital Partners has invested $10 million in Nobel Hygiene Private, an Indian manufacturer of diapers for adults and babies
Creador invests $21.7m in India’s PC Jeweller
Southeast Asia and India-focused GP Creador has acquired a minority stake in PC Jeweller, a publicly-listed Indian jewellery retail chain, for INR1.35 billion ($21.7 million).
Gaja Capital, DSG invest $6m in India's Bakers Circle
Gaja Capital, and existing investor DSG Consumer Partners, have together invested INR360 million ($6 million) in Indian frozen food manufacturer Bakers Circle.
Sequoia leads $4.5m round for Indian interior design start-up HomeLane
Sequoia Capital has led a $4.5 million Series A round of funding for HomeLane, a Bangalore-based interior design company, with participation from Aarin Capital.
Bain launches $79m bid for Japanese mushroom producer
Bain Capital has launched a takeover bid for Tokyo-listed Yukiguni Maitake, a troubled Japanese mushroom producer, for as much JPY9.5 billion ($79.1 million).
Indian P2P rental property listings site NoBroker raises $3m
SAIF Partners and Fulcrum Ventures have taken part in a $3 million Series A round of funding for NoBroker, a Bangalore-based peer-to-peer (P2P) property listings site for renting homes.
Helion leads $5m round for Indian shopping app
Indian fashion discovery and shopping app Wooplr has managed to raise $5 million in a Series A round of funding led by Helion Venture Partners.
China manicure service app raises $50m Series C from VCs
Helijia, a Chinese mobile app for booking manicure appointments, has raised a $50 million Series C round of funding from several venture capital investors, valuing the start-up at approximately $300 million.
Bain Capital agrees to pay $421m for Japan hot spring chain
Bain Captial has agreed to buy Japanese hotel and spa operator Ooedo-Onsen Holdings for JPY50 billion ($421 million), including debt.
Unison to exit Japan wine retailer Enoteca to Asahi
Japanese mid-market GP Unison Capital has agreed to exit wine retailer Enoteca to brewing giant Asahi Group. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
PE-backed La Chapelle invests in China e-commerce platform
PE-backed ladies apparel manufacturer Shanghai La Chapelle has invested RMB200 million ($32 million) in Hangzhou Anshe E-Commerce, the business behind Chinese online fashion retailer QiGeGe, in exchange for a 54% stake.
Warburg Pincus to invest $125m in Indonesia shopping mall JV
Warburg Pincus plans to invest $125 million into a joint venture (JV) formed with Indonesian property developer Nirvana Development to build shopping malls in the country.
Club Med battle ends with Fosun consortium victory
Shareholders in French vacation resort operator Club Méditerranée (Club Med) have accepted a EUR939 million ($1.1 billion) takeover offer from a consortium led by China's Fosun International, bringing the longest takeover battle in French history to...
YJ Capital invests $3.4m in Japanese online laundry service
WhitePlus - the Japanese start-up behind an online laundry service called Lenet - has managed to raise JPY408 million ($3.4 million) from Yahoo! Japan's corporate investment arm, YJ Capital.
KIP leads $10m Series A round for China cosmetics review app
Korean Investment Partners (KIP), South Korea’s biggest venture capital firm, has led a $10 million Series A round of investment for Cosmeapp, a Chinese mobile app that provides cosmetics reviews.
Southeast Asia education: Top of the class?
With an emerging middle class willing to pay a premium for better services, Southeast Asian education has clear attractions. But investors seeking scale opportunities must pick their markets and strategies carefully.