Consumer
VC-backed JD.com targets $1.5b US IPO
Chinese online retailer JD.com, which has received $1.7 billion in venture capital and private equity funding in the last two years, is seeking to raise up to $1.5 billion through a US IPO.
CVC hires Asia consumer sector specialist as advisor
CVC Capital Partners has appointed consumer sector veteran Jeremy Hobbins as a senior advisor to the pan Asia team.
RedMart fills Singapore’s e-groceries void
When entrepreneur Steve Melhuish moved to Asia from the UK his wife was a prodigious online shopper, having grown accustomed to ordering her groceries from Ocado or Waitrose. While he made headway in Singapore’s internet space, launching realty portal...
Vertex backs FirstCry’s O2O e-commerce push
Indian baby and kids-focused e-commerce site FirstCry.com was not the first mover in its segment when it launched in 2010. Kalaari Capital-backed HushBabies and Babyoye, an Accel Partners and Tiger Global portfolio company, were among those already operating...
TAL Education invests $25m in VC-backed Babytree
TAL Education, a China-based after-school tutoring services provider, has acquired a minority stake in childcare website Babytree for RMB150 million ($25 million). The online baby nursing information provider secured previous investments from Matrix Partners,...
PricePanda gets $3m from Tengelmann for SE Asia expansion
Rocket Internet’s price comparison platform, PricePanda, has raised $3 million from German retailer Tengelmann Group to expand its Southeast Asia footprint. It currently operates in Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore.
ASA calls for Billabong delay over Oaktree, Centerbridge deal
The Australian Shareholders Association (ASA) has called on Australian surf wear company Billabong International to delay a shareholder vote on a decision that could give PE creditors Oaktree Capital Management and Centerbridge Partners as much as 40.8%...
China’s Alibaba Group makes $15 million investment in 1stdibs
Alibaba Group has backed New York-based luxury e-commerce site 1stdibs with a $15 million Series C investment.
Vertex, IDG, SAIF invest $15m in India’s FirstCry
Temasek Holdings subsidiary Vertex Venture Management has led a $15 million Series C round of funding in Brainbees Solutions, which runs Indian baby and kids focused e-commerce site FirstCry.com. Existing investors IDG Ventures India and SAIF Partners...
Singapore online grocer RedMart raises $5.4m funding round
RedMart, an online grocery service based in Singapore, has raised a $5.4 million round of funding led by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Other investors in the bridge round included JFDI.Asia co-founder Meng Weng Wong, The Lo & Behold Group founder...
KKR, Affinity in Asia's largest-ever trade sale
Anheuser-Busch InBev's $5.8 billion buyback of South Korea's Oriental Brewery from KKR and Affinity Equity Partners is best viewed in the context of extenuating circumstances in which the original investment was made in July 2009.
Tokio Marine invests $9.5m in furniture maker Asplund
Tokio Marine Capital has acquired a majority stake in Japanese furniture maker Asplund for around JPY1 billion ($9.5 million).
Carlyle completes partial exit from HK-listed Haier Electronics
The Carlyle Group has raised around $285 million after selling part of its stake in Hong Kong-listed appliance maker Haier Electronics Group.
Nalanda ups stake in Lovable Lingerie
Singapore-based Nalanda Capital has bought a further 3.73% stake in listed Indian undergarment maker Lovable Lingerie, taking its total holding to 8.79%.
MSPEA-backed Feihe International buys Alf Beta Dairy
Feihe International, a Chinese infant formula and milk power producer backed by Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), has acquired industry peer Jilin Alf Beta Dairy.
KKR, Affinity exit Oriental Brewery to AB InBev for $5.8b
KKR and Affinity Equity Partners have agreed to sell South Korea’s Oriental Brewery to Anheuser-Busch InBev for $5.8 billion. The money multiple is more than 5x, sources close to the deal said.
RRJ-backed China diaper maker plans HK IPO - report
AAB Group, a Chinese diaper maker backed by RRJ Capital, is said to be looking to raise as much as $300 million through an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
China's JD.com targets $2b IPO - report
Chinese online retailer JD.com, which has received $1.7 billion in venture capital and private equity funding in the last two years, is said to be planning an IPO for the second half of 2014.
CDH chairman eyes China cross-border opportunities
Cross-border transactions will become increasingly prominent in China private equity deal flow as the country’s economy matures and domestic companies seek to expand overseas, according to Shangzhi Wu, chairman and managing director of CDH Investments.
Qiming hires ex-GGV partner to cover consumer internet space
Qiming Venture Partners has hired Helen Wong, formerly of GGV Capital, as a partner with responsibility for investment in the internet and consumer sectors. The move comes a few months after her predecessor in the role, Hans Tung, left Qiming for GGV.
Quvat-backed Blitzmegaplex targets Indonesia IPO
Blitzmegaplex, an Indonesian movie theater chain backed by Quvat Management, is targeting an IPO in the first quarter of 2014 as it seeks to raise capital for expansion.
Omaha Capital leads $30m round for China jewelry maker
Hong Kong-based Omaha Capital has led a $30 million Series C round of funding for Bloves, a Shenzhen-based manufacturer of customized wedding rings.
Carlyle exits India's Tirumala Milk Products to trade buyer
French dairy group Groupe Lactalis has acquired Tirumala Milk Products for a reported sum of $250–300 million, allowing The Carlyle Group to exit its 26.38% holding in the South Indian dairy producer.
LightInTheBox to buy VC-backed e-commerce player Ador
LightInTheBox, the venture capital-backed Chinese online retailer that went public in the US last year, has acquired US social e-commerce site Ador for an undisclosed sum.