Consumer
Mekong invests in Vietnamese mattress seller
Mekong Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in Vietnamese mattress and bedding retailer Vua Nem to support its expansion.
VIG invests $129m in Korean eyewear retailer
VIG Partners has agreed to pay KRW137.5 billion ($129 million) for an approximately 42% stake in Korean beauty contact lens and fashion sunglasses retailer Star Vision.
China social e-commerce player Red raises $300m
Alibaba Group has led a $300 million Series D round of funding for Red, a social e-commerce site that enables Chinese consumers to buy products from overseas.
Ijara Capital acquires Pakistan's Quick Foods
Pakistan-based private equity firm Ijara Capital Partners has acquired a 100% stake in domestic frozen food company Quick Foods Industries for an undisclosed sum.
Wine in China: Nurturing the vine
Private equity interest in wine is set to increase as its role in the China luxury goods thesis comes further into focus. Culture, character, and copycatting will be at the top of investors’ strategic agenda
Deal focus: VCs back Ezbuy’s cross-border e-commerce
A group of VCs including China’s Sky9 Capital are backing a global push by Southeast Asian e-commerce operator Ezbuy. The plan will require combining international vision with local knowhow
CVC-backed Indonesian sports retailer targets $94m IPO
MAP Aktif Adiperkasa, an Indonesian sports retailer that counts CVC Capital Partners as a minority shareholder, is planning to raise up to IDR1.32 trillion ($94 million) through a domestic IPO.
Deal focus: Navis sews up textile investment
Navis Capital Partners aims to promote ethical and environmentally sustainable textile production through its investment in Vietnam's Saitex
VCs invest $17.6m in Singapore's Ezbuy
A group of VCs including IDG Ventures has provided $17.6 million in pre-Series C funding to Singaporean shopping platform operator Ezbuy.
Permira, Hillhouse agree $1.7b Magento exit
Permira and Hillhouse Capital will sell their stakes in Magento Commerce, a US company that provides transaction-processing software to e-commerce players, to Adobe as part of a $1.7 billion transaction.
Tencent leads $50m round for India's NewsDog
China's Tencent Holdings has led a $50 million Series C round for NewsDog, an Indian vernacular language news app founded by Chinese entrepreneurs.
Bain makes $613m bid for Australian skincare business
Bain Capital Private Equity has made a A$810 million ($613 million) buyout offer for BWX, an Australian manufacturer of branded skin and hair care products.
Kedaara, Partners Group to buy India's Vishal Mega Mart
Kedaara Capital and Partners Group have agreed to acquire Indian retailer Vishal Mega Mart for an undisclosed sum from TPG Capital.
Digital Garage, Toyota lead $30m round for India's Droom
Digital Garage and Toyota Tsusho, a division of Japanese automotive giant Toyota Group, have co-led a $30 million Series D round for Indian used-car trading marketplace Droom.
L Catterton to invest $125m in India's FLF - update
L Catterton Asia will purchase an approximately 10% stake in India-listed integrated fashion retailer Future Lifestyle Fashion (FLF) for INR8.5 billion ($125 million) through newly issued shares and secondary purchases.
Vietnam consumer: Trading up
Vietnam’s consumer economy is attracting a wider range of investors as deal sizes inflate and new openings emerge in a winding value chain. Private equity is positioned to exploit several vantage points
Japanese unicorn Mercari targets $1b IPO, VCs set for exits
Mercari, a venture capital-backed Japanese consumer-to-consumer marketplace that became the country’s first unicorn in 2016, plans to raise up to JPY110 billion ($1 billion) through a domestic IPO.
Singapore's M17 Entertainment files for US IPO
M17 Entertainment, a Taiwan and Singapore-based media streaming company, has filed to list on the New York Stock Exchange.
Rakuten, EDBI lead $85m round for classifieds player Carousell
Rakuten Ventures and EDBI have led an $85 million Series C funding round for Singapore’s Carousell, an online flea market shopping app operator.
Singapore's Carro gets $60m Series B
Singapore-based automotive marketplace operator Carro has received a $60 million Series B funding round led by Softbank Ventures Korea, Insignia Ventures Partners and B Capital Group.
VC-backed Huya gains on US trading debut after $180m IPO
Huya, a Chinese game broadcasting business that spun out from social networking platform YY, gained 33.8% on its New York Stock Exchange trading debut following a $180 million IPO.
Chinese restaurant services app receives $63m
Mwee.cn, a Chinese restaurant booking app, has raised RMB400 million ($63 million) in the first tranche of a Series D funding round led by Koubei, Alibaba Group’s local services platform, and travel services business Ctrip.
Pencarrow invests New Zealand yogurt maker
New Zealand-based Pencarrow Private Equity has paid an undisclosed sum for a 39% stake in domestic yogurt maker The Collective.
Alibaba buys Rocket-backed South Asia e-commerce business
Alibaba Group has acquired Daraz, an e-commerce platform incubated by Rocket Internet that is the market leader in Pakistan and has a presence in several other South Asian countries.