Consumer
Chinese IoT platform Viomi files for US IPO
Viomi, a Chinese manufacturer of smart household devices that works in partnership with smart phone maker Xiaomi and counts Shunwei Capital and Sequoia Capital China as investors, has filed for an IPO in the US.
Grab Ventures to invest $250m in Indonesian start-ups
Grab Ventures, the VC arm of ride-hailing app operator Grab, has committed IDR3 trillion ($250 million) to a program that will invest in Indonesian start-ups.
China’s PE-backed Tubatu files for HK IPO
Tubatu, a Chinese online home renovation platform backed by Matrix Partners and Sequoia Capital, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
Japan hotel-booking start-up raises $6.3m
Metro Engines, a Tokyo-based start-up that provides pricing tools for online hotel booking sites, has raised JPY700 million ($6.3 million) from a group of Japanese venture capital and strategic investors.
SAIF-backed Senco files for $86m India IPO
Senco Gold, an Indian jewelry chain backed by SAIF Partners, has filed for an IPO, seeking to raise up to INR6 billion ($86 million).
CLSA buys Japan beauty salon chain
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has agreed to acquire 100% of Japanese beauty salon operator Puzzle for an undisclosed sum via a bolt-on with industry counterpart Agu Group.
Alibaba merges food delivery units, raises $3b
Alibaba Group has merged Ele.me, a China-focused food delivery platform that it acquired earlier this year, with its local services platform Koubei. The combined platform has raised $3 billion from investors including Alibaba and SoftBank Group.
Hyundai backs Series B for India's Revv
Hyundai Motor has led a $14.2 million Series B funding round for Revv, an Indian car rental start-up backed by Edelweiss Private Equity.
Deal focus: China baby boom market comes of age
Warburg Pincus has acquired Chinese mother-and-baby company Leyou, providing an exit for CDIB Capital and The Carlyle Group. The deal signals a rapid maturation process in the segment
Deal focus: Vietnam’s Sendo embraces B2C
A number of Japanese investors are supporting Vietnamese C2C e-commerce player Sendo as it diversifies operations with a B2C marketplace and mobile payments platform
Autonomous vehicles: Driving ambition
Asia’s driverless car space has become an increasingly popular investment destination in recent years, but a number of significant challenges must be resolved for the sector to gain widespread social acceptance
JD.com-backed Farfetch to go public in US
UK-based luxury online fashion retailer Farfetch, which has received significant funding from Asian investors including China’s JD.com, has filed for a US IPO.
Sequoia India closes sixth fund at $695m
Sequoia Capital India has closed its sixth fund at $695 million, surpassing a target range of $625-675 million.
Chinese online crafts platform raises $44m Series B
Cathay Capital has led a RMB310 million ($45 million) Series B round of funding for Tongshifu, a Chinese online crafts platform that specializes in decorative brass works.
Trending China: On technology, trade and millennials
A few China-related observations, largely influenced by AVCJ’s recent special issue on how PE is responding to technology, a white paper released by Henry McVey, KKR’s head of global macro and asset allocation, and Sino-US trade rumblings
Warburg Pincus seals secondary buyout of China's Leyou
Warburg Pincus has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Chinese maternity products supplier Leyou. The deal will facilitate exits for The Carlyle Group and CDIB Capital.
Vietnam e-commerce player Sendo gets $51m Series B
Sen Do Technology (Sendo), a Vietnamese e-commerce company that operates a C2C platform and payment service, has secured $51 million in Series B funding led by Japan’s SBI Group.
Golden Equator launches Brunei accelerator
Singapore’s Golden Equator has launched an accelerator in Brunei aimed at helping local small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) expand across Southeast Asia.
Indian e-commerce: Tipping the scales
India’s new e-commerce policy seeks to provide clarity for all industry participants, but many stakeholders are wary that the government plans to tilt the playing field against overseas players
Chinese electric car maker Nio files for US IPO
China’s Nio, an electric vehicle (EV) maker backed by a number of private equity firms, has filed for an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange that is expected to be the largest US listing for a Chinese car company to date.
Wattle Hill bids for Australia's Capilano Honey, targets China growth
Wattle Hill RHC, a private equity firm that targets Australian businesses with products and services that appeal to Chinese consumers, has won board approval for a A$189.7 million ($138 million) privatization of honey producer Capilano Honey.
Sequoia, Accel lead $12m Series A for India's Metro Bikes
Sequoia Capital India and Accel Partners have led a $12.2 million Series A funding round for Metro Bikes, an India-based scooter rental provider. It coincides with the company rebranding as Bounce.
China's GSR to invest $405m in US-based Overstock
Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital has agreed to invest up to $405 million in US-listed online retailer Overstock.com and its financial technology subsidiary tZero through three separate transactions.
India's Epiq closes first three investments
Epiq Capital, an India-focused private equity firm founded by Matrix Partners India co-founder Rishi Navani, has completed its first three investments in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions, financial technology company Mswipe, and online home rental...