Consumer
Quadrant acquires Australia's Darrell Lea
Quadrant Private Equity has acquired Darrell Lea, a candy maker based in Australia and New Zealand.
China’s Bianlifeng acquires VC-backed Lingwa
Bianlifeng, a Chinese PE-backed cashier-free convenience store operator, has acquired a controlling stake in its peer Lingwa. Financial terms were not disclosed.
CICC leads $96m round for Chinese sports site Hupu
Hupu Sports Media, a Chinese language sports information and e-commerce site, has raised a RMB618 million ($96 million) round led by a government-backed fund managed by China International Capital Corporation (CICC).
Chinese fruit store chain raises $230m Series B
Pagoda, a Chinese fruit store chain operator, has completed a RMB1.5 billion ($230 million) Series B round of funding.
India removes limits on foreign investment in retail
India has broadened its regulations on foreign direct investment (FDI), permitting unconditional 100% FDI in sectors including single-brand retail trading (SBRT).
MSPEA backs Indian medical devices, health foods businesses
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has completed two investments in India, committing INR1.6 billion ($25.1 million) to medical devices business Sahajanand Medical Technologies (SMT) and INR1.52 billion to health foods producer Southern Health...
CITIC Capital completes Axilone acquisition
CITIC Capital has completed the acquisition of Axilone, a Europe-headquartered packaging supplier to the cosmetics industry. The deal facilitates an exit for Oaktree Capital Management.
Tiger Global, TAL invest $100m in China’s Dada ABC
Tiger Global Management and TAL Education have invested $100 million in a Series C round of funding for Dada ABC, an online K-12 English education platform based in China.
Japan's J-Star invests in restaurant, auto businesses
J-Star has acquired a majority stake in Japanese restaurant operator Section Eight and invested in new and pre-owned car dealer Sanwa Service.
KV Asia backs MBO of Malaysian education group
KV Asia Capital has supported a management buyout of APIIT Education Group, the holding company for several primary, secondary and tertiary education assets in Malaysia, from Ekuinas for an enterprise valuation of MYR725 million ($180 million).
Australia's Canva raises $40m, achieves $1b valuation
Australian graphic design platform provider Canva has raised a $40 million funding round led by Sequoia China. The investment values the company at $1 billion.
GGV, Joy Capital lead $50m round for China’s 91Xinshang
GGV Capital and Joy Capital have jointly led a $50 million Series C round of funding for 91Xinshang, a secondhand luxury goods trading platform in China.
Tencent, Orchid Asia back China music learning platform
VIP Peilian, a Chinese online music tutoring platform, has completed a Series B round of funding led by Tencent Holdings and Orchid Asia.
Global Brain backs $13m round for Japan's Base
Japanese venture capital firm Global Brain has led a JPY1.5 billion funding round for domestic online shopping start-up Base.
Oaktree-backed Australian surf brands to merge
Australian surfwear brand Billabong International has agreed to an acquisition by industry peer Boardriders, which owns the Quiksilver brand. Both companies are backed by Oaktree Capital Management.
Apax backs Chinese cosmetic surgery marketplace
A technology-focused fund managed by Apax Partners has led a $60 million Series D round of funding for SoYoung, a Chinese online marketplace specializing in cosmetic surgery.
AVCJ Awards 2017: Operational Value Add: Great Southern Rail
Allegro Funds secured a 25x return on Great Southern Rail by helping the formerly no-frills Australian transport company find a new life as a stylized high-end tourism attraction
J-Star exits Japan's Aisei Pharmacy to management team
J-Star has agreed to exit Japanese drugstore chain Aisei Pharmacy to company management less than two years after completing a JPY11.4 billion ($101 million) privatization.
AVCJ Awards 2017: Exit of the Year - Large Cap: Universal Studios Japan
Goldman Sachs, MBK Partners, Owl Creek Asset Management and PAG Asia Capital have profited handsomely from their efforts to bring more families to Universal Studios Japan
MSPEA leads acquisition of Greek skincare business
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) and Profex, a Chinese skincare company, have agreed to pay EUR48.3 million ($57.7 million) for a majority interest in Korres, a Greek specialist cosmetics manufacturer.
AVCJ Awards 2017: Exit of the Year - Mid Cap: Riraku
Over the course of four years, Advantage Partners doubled Japanese massage chain operator Riraku’s store count and tripled EBITDA. A 12x money multiple on exit was its reward
Yunfeng joins $817m investment in Suning finance unit
Yunfeng Capital is among 15 investors that have committed RMB5.34 billion ($817 million) for a 16.5% stake in Suning Finance, a financial services subsidiary of Chinese home appliance retailer Suning Commerce Group.
ClearVue leads round for China smart vending machine business
ClearVue Partners has led a Series B round of unspecified size for Chinese smart vending machine operator Citybox. The consumer-focused GP also participated in the company’s $15 million Series A in September.
AVCJ Awards 2017: Deal of the Year - Mid Cap: Press & Converting
With Korean cosmetics brands trading at high valuations, VIG Partners thinks it got a bargain by moving upstream and buying a niche supplier to the skincare industry