Consumer
ByteDance invests $26m in Chinese talent manager
Chinese celebrity management agency Mountain Top has closed a RMB180 million ($26 million) Serie B funding round provided by ByteDance Technology, operator of the Toutiao news aggregation and TikTok short video platforms.
Temasek leads extended round for Singapore's ShopBack
ShopBack, a Singapore-based rewards platform that generates sales for online and offline retailers, has completed a $75 million extended round of funding led by Temasek Holdings.
Meituan-Dianping invests $87m in China food supply chain player
Shenzhen-based agricultural products distributor Wangjiahuan has raised RMB600 million ($87 million) in Series B funding led by Meituan-Dianping. Existing backer Hidden Hill Capital - a PE firm established by warehouse operator GLP - also took part.
Coronavirus in Asia: Ongoing analysis
Coronavirus concerns among GPs not solely focused on China vary based on their direct or indirect exposure to China, but gauging private equity responses to the crisis is like chasing a moving target
Coronavirus in China: Back from the brink
China GPs are trying to navigate the coronavirus uncertainty and help portfolio companies pick up the pieces, whether that means cutting costs or realizing new revenue streams
Fund focus: CMC widens its sweet spot
Having grown its assets under management to $2.5 billion following the close of Fund III, China's CMC Captial Group wants to be seen as more than just a media sector specialist
Japan Post Capital joins $26m round for Singapore’s AnyMind
Japan Post Capital and Sparx Group have provided $26.4 million in funding to AnyMind, a Singapore-based marketing technology start-up focused on entertainment.
TPG makes partial exit from Australia's Inghams
TPG Capital has generated proceeds of approximately A$66.9 million ($44.3 million) through a partial exit from Australian poultry producer Inghams Group, paring its stake to below 10%.
Carlyle to sell Japanese food business Meisui Bijin
The Carlyle Group has agreed to sell full ownership of the maker of Meisui Bijin, a Japanese brand of bean sprouts, to food-focused Shinmei Holdings for an undisclosed sum.
VCs invest Philippines digital bank Tonik
Insignia Ventures Partners and Credence Partners are backing a Philippines rollout by Tonik Financial, which claims to be the first digital-only bank in Southeast Asia.
Toyota leads $462m round for China's Pony.ai
Pony.ai, a Chinese autonomous driving technology developer, has raised $462 million in a funding round led by Toyota Motor Corporation.
Asia Partners leads $35m round for Hong Kong’s Snapask
Singapore-based Asia Partners has led a $35 million round for Hong Kong online education start-up Snapask. It coincides with the company’s relocation to Singapore.
Trustbridge backs Chinese storytelling start-up
Chinese children’s storytelling start-up Kaishu Story, also known as Kaishu Jianggushi, has raised $66 million in an extended tranche of Series C round led by Trustbridge Partners.
IDG leads $50m round for Chinese hot pot ingredients supplier
IDG Capital has led a $50 million Series B round for Guoquan, a Chinese hot pot ingredients supplier. Other investors include VKC Partners and Buhuo Ventures.
Japanese investors commit $856m to Grab
Singapore-based ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Grab has raised $856 million from Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and TIS Intec Group.
Deal focus: Carlyle sells its golden goose
Having prioritized Asian expansion and high-end direct retail operations, Carlyle completed its exit from European sneaker brand Golden Goose with a more than 3x return
CMC raises $950m for third China fund
CMC Capital Partners, a Chinese private equity firm set up by Ruigang Li (pictured), formerly president of Shanghai Media Group (SMG), has closed its third US dollar-denominated fund with more than $950 million in commitments.
IFC to invest $29m in India’s Future Lifestyle Fashions
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has agreed to invest INR2.1 billion ($29.6 million) in India-listed fashion retailer Future Lifestyle Fashions (FLF).
Malaysia’s Socar gets $18m from Korean investors
Korea’s Eugene Private Equity and KH Energy have provided $18 million in Series A funding to the Malaysian arm of local car sharing company Socar.
Chinese cross-border e-commerce player raises $14m
Cathay Capital has committed RMB100 million ($14 million) in Series B funding to Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform OrderPlus.
GP profile: DSG Consumer Partners
A relentless curiosity about the Indian consumer’s journey has helped DSG Consumer Partners carve out a niche in the early stage investment space for companies with emerging local brands
China-focused online English teaching platform raises $14m
Whales English, a Chinese online language tuition business also known as Jingyu Peiyou, has raised RMB100 million ($14 million) in Series B funding led by Sino Ocean Capital. Hike Capital and Fresh Capital also participated.
India’s Barbeque Nation re-files for IPO
Indian restaurant chain Barbeque Nation has re-filed for an initial public offering that will provide an exit opportunity for its private equity investors.
VCs invest Singapore cell-based milk company
A group of US-based investors led by Lever VC has backed an early-stage round of undisclosed size for Singapore’s TurtleTree Labs, which creates milk from cells with no animal needed.