Consumer
GP profile: Creador
Creador claims to be Southeast Asia’s only middle-market GP with on-the-ground capacities across the region. But in-house post-deal support and nimble deal sourcing are its key differentiators
AVCJ Awards 2021: Exit of the Year – Large Cap: Softex Indonesia
CVC Capital Partners helped Softex Indonesia grow its market share by penetrating modern retail channels and launching an ESG program. A USD 1.2bn trade sale exit to Kimberly-Clark was its reward
AVCJ Awards 2021: Operational Value Add: Best & Less Group
Allegro Funds plucked Australian baby and kids retailer Best & Less from its underperforming parent and defied pandemic-related uncertainty to complete a turnaround that culminated in an IPO
Deal focus: Tapping a soft spot for Asian VCs
Investment professionals in Asia know on a personal level exactly what education technology provider Cialfo is doing and why the service is a big help. Now they’re taking it to the next level
Huaxing Growth hits $800m second close on China fund
Huaxing Growth Capital, the private equity division of China Renaissance, has achieved a USD 800m second close on its fourth flagship US dollar-denominated fund.
L Catterton backs China pet food brand
L Catterton, a private equity firm specialising in consumer sector investments, has committed an undisclosed sum to Shanghai Enova Pet Products, owner of Chinese premium pet food brand Pure & Natural.
ADIA leads $210m Series E for India's DealShare
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has contributed USD 45m to a USD 210m Series E round for Indian social e-commerce start-up DealShare at a valuation of USD 1.7bn.
Southeast Asia cosmetics brand Y.O.U raises $40m
Hidden Hill Capital - a private equity firm established by warehouse operator GLP - has led a USD 40m Series C round for Southeast Asian cosmetics brand Y.O.U.
Singapore's Next Gen Foods raises $100m Series A
Singapore-based Next Gen Foods, maker of vegetarian chicken brand Tindle, has raised a USD 100m Series A round featuring GGV Capital and Temasek Holdings’ Asia Sustainable Foods Platform.
Deal focus: Proterra's alternative take on incubation
Early-stage bets on oat milk and healthy beverages in Asia by Proterra Investment Partners reflect a willingness to back nascent brands, but in doing so, the firm believes it is dialling down the risk
India consumer media: Showtime
Investors navigate slim margins and a complex cultural landscape as new digital channels help Indian media rebound from COVID-19. Sector leaders are flirting with global expansion, but is it too early?
SoftBank leads Series A for China cashier-less vendor
SoftBank Ventures Asia (SBVA) has led a CNY 300m (USD 47m) Series A for Feng1, a China-based cashier-less vendor start-up. CICC Capital and Shenzhen Capital Group also participated.
Korea's Shinsegae raises another $251m for e-commerce platform
SSG.com, the e-commerce platform of South Korean retailer Shinsegae Group, raised an additional KRW 300bn (USD 251m) from existing backers Affinity Equity Partners and BRV Capital Management.
Blackstone agrees $6.3b buyout of Australian casino operator
Australian casino operator Crown Resorts has agreed to an acquisition by The Blackstone Group at an equity valuation of AUD 8.9bn (USD 6.34bn), ending a nearly one-year pursuit.
Longreach expands Japan coffee shop footprint
The Longreach Group has completed a third investment in Japan’s coffee shop space with the acquisition of Pokka Create Corporation, which operates more than 200 stores under the Café de Crie brand.
India B2B e-commerce player ElasticRun hits $1.5b valuation
Unicorn creation continues apace in India, with B2B e-commerce marketplace ElasticRun becoming the seventh company to achieve a USD 1bn since the start of the year, following the close of a USD 300m Series E round.
Proterra establishes Asian oat milk brand
Proterra Investment Partners, a private equity firm that targets natural resources like food and agriculture, has launched an oat milk brand for the Asian market.
KKR leads $180m round for Singapore's Livspace
KKR has led a USD 180m round for Singapore-based omnichannel home interiors renovation platform Livspace at a valuation of at least USD 1bn.
Asia agglomeration: Strength in numbers?
PE-backed agglomeration platforms are looking to buy up consumer brands in Asia with a view to leveraging the might of the collective. The model requires discipline in selection and execution
Affirma buys Singapore preschool chain
Affirma Capital has acquired Singaporean premium preschool operator Little Paddington for an undisclosed sum.
LionRock launches Hong Kong SPAC
LionRock Capital, an Asian private equity firm that invests in global consumer brands with a China growth angle, is among the first group of sponsors launching special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in Hong Kong.
China second-hand luxury goods platform Ponhu raises $45m
Ponhu, a China-based second-hand goods trading platform specialising in the luxury segment, has raised USD 45m in an extended Series C round led by Hedgestone Capital.
Nestle buys into DCP-backed plant-based protein provider
Orgain, a US plant-based nutrition business backed by China’s DCP Capital Partners, has agreed to sell a majority stake to Nestle. The size of the transaction was not disclosed.
PE-backed Country Style Cooking, Tuhu file for HK listings
Chinese restaurant chain Country Style Cooking (CSC), which was de-listed in the US in 2015, and automotive after-sales service platform Tuhu, which was previously targeting a New York offering, have both filed for IPOs in Hong Kong.