Consumer
Walmart to pay $16b for majority stake in India's Flipkart
Walmart has agreed to pay $16 billion for a 77% stake in Flipkart, an Indian e-commerce business that has received substantial private funding. The deal will facilitate full exits for several investors, including SoftBank’s Vision Fund.
KPCB leads $20m round for China cross-border retail player
KPCB has led a $20 million Series B funding round for BorderX Lab, a US-based e-commerce services company that helps global retailers connect with Chinese consumers.
South Asia: Indian satellites
India’s economic dominance of South Asia has not translated into a firm leadership role for the region. Private equity strategies therefore vary widely across the country’s immediate geographic orbit
Indian brewer B9 Beverages gets $50m
B9 Beverages, an Indian brewer that markets craft beer under the brand Bira 91, has received $50 million in Series B funding led by Belgium’s Sofina.
China online-to-offline: Retail reorientation
As technology brings the buyer closer to the seller, some investors are put off by the uncertainty while others see opportunities in finding ways to digitize – or further disrupt – traditional retailers
Affinity-backed Tegel gets $310m buyout offer
Tegel Group, a poultry producer in which Affinity Equity Partners is the largest shareholder, has received a privatization offer from Philippines-based Bounty Fresh Foods that values the business at approximately NZ$438 million ($310 million).
Japan’s D4V closes debut venture fund at $46m
D4V, a firm set up by Japanese seed-stage investor Genuine Startups and US-based design consultancy Ideo, has closed its debut venture capital fund with more than JPY5 billion ($46 million) in commitments.
Q&A: PropertyGuru's Steve Melhuish
In 11 years, PropertyGuru has evolved from a Singapore start-up into the leading online real estate listings platform in five Southeast Asian markets. Co-founder Steve Melhuish reviews the ups and downs
CRE Alliance invests $40m in Chinese tutoring business
CRE Alliance, a private equity joint venture between China Resources Enterprise (CRE) and Great Wall Asset Management, has made its first investment, backing a Chinese tutoring business.
China e-commerce back office support platform raises $120m
CDH Investment and Huaxing Growth Capital, a PE arm of financial advisor China Renaissance, have led a $120 million Series B round of funding for Yunji, a Chinese company that helps online retailers establish and maintain their platforms.
Paragon leads $20m round for India's Chai Point
Paragon Partners has led a $20 million Series C funding round for India-based Chai Point, a chai tea store operator that claims to be the country’s largest brand in its category.
Sequoia leads $48m round for China online baby products retailer
Sequoia Capital China has led a RMB300 million ($48 million) Series C round of funding for PatPat, a China-based e-commerce platform operator that exports maternal and infant products overseas.
IFC co-leads $22m Series C for India's Coverfox
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has co-led a $22 million Series C round for Indian online insurance marketplace Coverfox.
Indonesia tech: Sleeping giant
Bullishness around Indonesia’s young online economy has been encouraged by a handful of VC-backed homeruns and promising demographics. Achieving scale in new business models remains a sticking point
Alibaba invests $717m in China PE-backed rural e-commerce site
Alibaba Group has agreed to invest RMB4.5 billion ($717 million) in Huitongda Network, a private equity-backed online retailer that focuses on China’s rural areas.
TR Capital completes two India direct secondary deals
TR Capital has completed secondary direct investments in two India-based businesses, microfinance specialist Arohan Financial Services and eyewear chain Lenskart Solutions.
Singapore's Zimplistic gets $30m Series C round
Singapore-based household automation technology developer Zimplistic has raised a $30 million Series C funding round led by Credence Partners and EDBI.
Ekuinas buys controlling stake in Southeast Asia's Flexi Versa
Malaysian government-backed PE firm Ekuinas has acquired a controlling stake in Flexi Versa Group (FVG), a Southeast Asian contract manufacturer catering to global consumer electronics brands.
Samena invests in India hotel operator
Samena Capital has invested in Imperativ Hospitality, an India-based budget hotel management company that operates under the Bloom Hotels brand.
India's Reliance to acquire VC-backed Embibe
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has agreed to invest up to $180 million for a 73% stake in Embibe, a domestic educational technology start-up backed by Kalaari Capital and Lightbox Ventures.
IFC proposes $55m investment in Bangladesh's Pran
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a $55 million commitment to Bangladesh-based food and beverage producer Pran Group.
Chinese PE-backed consortium buys Australian vitamin supplier
China Jianyin Investment, a government-controlled investment group, has teamed up with a fund backed by CITIC Group to acquire a majority stake in vitamins supplier Australia Nature’s Care Biotech (ANCB).
Ocean Link confirms competing bid for China's eHi
Ocean Link, a travel and tourism-focused GP, has confirmed it submitted a competing bid for eHi Car Services, a Chinese car rental business that recently agreed to be privatized by a consortium comprising its chairman and other PE investors.
VC-backed YY spin-out Huya files for US IPO
Huya, a Chinese game broadcasting business that spun out from social networking platform YY and raised capital from Tencent Holdings and several VC investors, has filed for an IPO in the US.