Consumer
LeapFrog leads $250m round for India's CarDekho
LeapFrog Investments has led a $250 million Series E round - described as a pre-IPO round - for Indian online auto marketplace CarDekho at a valuation of $1.2 billion.
China digital marketing platform gets $50m Series B
Whale, a China-focused digital marketing platform, has raised a Series B round of $50 million led by Temasek Holdings. Existing investors Nio Capital, Linear Capital, and Alpha Startups Fund re-upped.
China Renaissance hits first close on flagship US dollar fund
Huaxing Growth Capital, a new economy-focused private equity division of China Renaissance, has reached the first close on its fourth US dollar-denominated fund of $550 million.
Allegro sells New Zealand retailer to Pencarrow
Australian turnaround investor Allegro Funds has sold The Interiors Group – a New Zealand-based home interiors retailer formerly known as Carpet Court – to Pencarrow Private Equity.
India cloud kitchen player Rebel Foods raises $175m
India-based cloud kitchen operator Rebel Foods has raised $175 million in Series F funding, led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), at a valuation of $1.4 billion.
India's Licious secures $52m Series G
Licious, an India-based online retailer specializing in fresh meat and seafood, claims to have become the country’s first direct-to-consumer (D2C) unicorn following a $52 million Series G round.
India bus-tracking app Chalo raises $40m
India bus-tracking app Chalo has raised a $40 million round led by Filter Capital and Lightrock India with support from WaterBridge Ventures and US-based Raine Ventures.
Deal focus: Vedantu highlights impact potential in Indian edtech
The latest round for livestreaming teaching app Vedantu reframes India’s swaggering, unicorn-populated edtech sector as the impact opportunity it always was
Indonesian e-commerce marketplace Ula raises $87m
Ula, a leading B2B e-commerce marketplace in Indonesia, has raised $87 million in a Series B round co-led by Prosus Ventures, Tencent Holdings and B Capital Group.
India's Meesho sees valuation double in five months
Indian social e-commerce start-up Meesho has raised a $570 million Series F round, doubling its valuation in less than five months to $4.9 billion.
India edtech player Vedantu raises $100m Series E
ABC World Asia, an impact investor with ties to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, has led a $100 million Series E round for Indian education technology company Vedantu at a valuation of $1 billion.
Ex-Quadrant executive launches consumer-tech PE firm
Justin Ryan, who previously led Quadrant Private Equity’s growth capital strategy, has established a private equity firm that will back e-commerce platforms and consumer brands in Australia and New Zealand.
Australia PE: Brave new world
As Australia contemplates opening its tightly controlled borders and finding a way to live with COVID-19, private equity probes an opportunity set in transition yet surprisingly stable
Singapore's Ninja Van raises $578m Series E
Singapore-based last-mile delivery start-up Ninja Van has raised a $578 million Series E round featuring Alibaba Group.
Riverside exits Japan bicycle business to Daiwa
The Riverside Company has sold Japan-based bicycle retailer Y International to domestic private equity firm Daiwa PI Partners for an undisclosed sum.
China AR glasses maker Nreal gets $100m Series C
Nreal, a Chinese manufacturer of advanced artificial reality (AR) glasses that resemble normal sunglasses, has raised a Series C of $100 million led by Nio Capital, Yunfeng Capital, and Hongtai Capital.
Australia's Liverpool Partners acquires coffee brand
Australian private equity firm Liverpool Partners has acquired a majority stake in Seven Miles Coffee Roasters, a branded coffee supplier to the local cafe segment.
FountainVest buys New Zealand pet food business
China-focused private equity firm FountainVest Partners has agreed to buy Ziwi, New Zealand’s leading exporter of pet food.
Fund focus: Lever leverages spiking food tech appetite
The debut fund from Hong Kong’s Lever VC has tapped an infection point in global demand for food innovation. A mix of motivators for entering this space makes the hype feel less like a bubble
Partners Group backs continuation vehicle for Korean restaurant brand
MBK Partners has signed up Partners Group as the anchor investor in an approximately $500 million single-asset continuation fund for its majority stake in Korean fried chicken franchisor BHC.
8F reaches $61m first close on SE Asia aquaculture fund
8F Asset Management, a Singapore-based GP dedicated to developing a sustainable salmon business, has hit a first close of $61 million on its second fund, which will build out Southeast Asian operations.
India's Cars24 closes Series F, sees valuation double
Indian used car platform Cars24 has closed a $450 million Series F round and received $110 million in debt funding. It nearly doubles the company’s valuation to $1.84 billion.
Invesco commits $100m to India's Pine Labs
Invesco has announced a $100 million commitment to Indian financial technology provider Pine Labs. It comes two months after the company closed a $600 million pre-IPO round.