Consumer
China retail: Asset-heavy to asset-light
Facing competition from e-commerce platforms, China’s traditional offline retailers are moving online – and the ideal combination is a combination of the two. PE investors are seeking opportunity in the disruption
Online tourism: Ticket to ride
Online tourism is on the rise in emerging Asia and numerous venture-backed businesses are looking to hitch a ride on the consumer growth trend. The key is finding the right niche
Matrix backs hotel reservation site Stayzilla.com
Matrix Partners India has acquired a significant minority stake in Stayzilla.com, a site which allows users to research and reserve hotels at discounted rates in more than 750 Indian cities. The financial details of the deal, in which Matrix was the sole...
Japan's Integral backs TBI Group
Japanese private equity firm Integral Corp. has acquired part of TBI Group, a restaurant chain operator with 78 outlets, as part of a management buyout. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
KKR, CDH go greenfield in China
KKR isn’t known for backing start-ups, but the risks associated with the firm’s recent foray into dairy farm ownership in China are tempered by the presence of familiar partners. For its first control deal in China and its first greenfield deal globally,...
MSPEA completes quiet Korea acquisition
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia’s (MSPEA) investment in Ssangyong C&B and Monalisa is like an iceberg: only one sixth was immediately visible. When the deal was first announced earlier this year, the information disclosed concerned a South Korean...
NSR has an appetite for Moshe’s
“The typical Indian family stereotype today is different to that of my parents’ generation,” says Parag Saxena, founding general partner and CEO of New Silk Route (NSR). “Back then my mother would cook the meals and keep the house running while...
Baidu, VC-backed travel website Qunar files for $125m IPO
Qunar, a Chinese travel website majority-owned by internet search giant Baidu, is looking to raise up to $125 million through an IPO in the US. GSR Ventures and GGV Capital still hold minority positions in the company but it is unclear whether they plan...
KKR buys 10% stake in China home appliance maker for $552m
KKR has acquired a 10% stake in Qingdao Haier (QH), a Chinese home appliance maker, for RMB3.38 billion ($552 million) - its biggest investment in China to date.
Australia’s Wolseley exits magazine publisher to trade buyer
Wolseley Private Equity has completed its second exit in a month with the sale of Australian magazine publisher nextmedia to Forum Media Group.
HK’s Shining Capital leads $40m JustFab Series C round
Hong Kong-based Shining Capital Management has led a $40 million Series C round of funding for US-based fashion subscription e-commerce retailer JustFab. Existing backers Matrix Partners, Rho Ventures, Technology Crossover Ventures and Intelligent Beauty...
Fosun, Axa's Club Med takeover delayed
Axa Private Equity and China’s Fosun International have suffered a setback in their takeover of France-based vacation resort operator Club Méditerranée (Club Med), as French regulators decided not to rule on shareholder opposition to the deal before...
Japan's Lixil acquires TPG-backed faucet maker Grohe
Lixil Group, a Japanese toilet manufacturer, has agreed to acquire Grohe, a German maker of faucets backed by TPG Capital and the private equity arm of Credit Suisse (formerly CSFB Private Equity), for JPY400 billion ($4 billion).
Shareholders approve Shuanghui's $4.7b acquisition of Smithfield Foods
Shareholders of US pork producer Smithfield Foods have approved the company's $4.7 billion acquisition by its PE-backed Chinese counterpart Shuanghui International.
KKR, CDH invest in $140m China dairy farm joint venture
KKR has completed its first majority investment in China, partnering with CDH Investments and China Modern Dairy in a $140 million greenfield farming joint venture that will deliver premium raw milk to domestic consumers.
Sequoia leads Series B round for China second-hand car platform
Sequoia Capital led a Series B round of investment for Souche Holdings, an online second-hand car trading platform. Existing backers Morningside Technologies and Ferry Venture Capital also participated.
NSR buys Moshe's Fine Foods
New Silk Route (NSR) has acquired a majority stake in Mumbai-based Moshe’s Fine Foods, which runs a chain of Mediterranean cuisine restaurants and cafés. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Gresham PE exits Tasmanian Walking Company
Gresham Private Equity has exited Australian tour firm Tasmanian Walking Company (TWC) to Virgin Australia co-founder Brett Godfrey. The financial details were not disclosed.
NTT Docomo Ventures, Livesense lead $5.5m investment in Japan's Aratana
NTT Docomo Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the Japanese mobile giant, and internet media firm Livesense have together led a JPY550 million ($5.5 million) investment round for Aratana, a social e-commerce platform developer. Existing VC backers JAFCO,...
Billabong drops Altamont for Oaktree, Centerbridge rescue
Australian surfwear company Billabong had accepted a refinancing plan from Oaktree Capital Management and Centerbridge Partners, walking away from a previous deal with a consortium led by Altamont Capital Partners and replacing top management.
Mediaflag moves to acquire J-Star-owned sweets maker Tokachi
Mediaflag - a company which provides distribution support services to consumer goods manufacturers - has offered to acquire a 100% stake in Tokachi, a traditional Japanese sweets maker owned by Japanese mid-market buyout firm J-Star. The financial terms...
Investors book passage with Tuniu
Most Travel e-commerce companies in China are essentially search engines that provide information on hotel and flight bookings plus a payment mechanism. The team at Tuniu opted for a different tack, focusing specifically on packaged tourism, and they...
ClearVue Partners backs $5m round for China online grocery store
ClearVue Partners has led a $5 million Series A round of funding in Shanghai-based online grocery store Fields.
PE-backed Australia pub fund targets IPO - report
Australian Pub Fund, which is backed by M.H. Carnegie & Co. and Australian superannuation fund Sunsuper, is said to planning an IPO on the Australian Securities Exchange.