Consumer
Southeast Asia's Zilingo gets $17m Series B
Sequoia Capital India and Burda Principal Investments, the VC arm of German internet conglomerate Hubert Burda Media, have led a $17 million Series B round for Thailand-based online fashion marketplace Zilingo.
Hony, Poly Capital to open VR cinemas with China's Digital Domain
China-focused private equity firms Hony Capital and Poly Capital have partnered with Digital Domain Holdings, a Hong Kong-listed digital visual effects and virtual reality (VR) technology developer, to establish a joint venture that will open VR theaters...
Tiantu re-ups in Chinese online grocer FreshMarket
China-based online grocery retailer FreshMarket has secured an extended Series C round of funding worth RMB290 million ($44 million) led by its existing investor Tiantu Capital.
Japan's J-Star exits pet services business
J-Star has made a full exit from Japanese pet services business Three Arrows to domestic GP Création Capital, its co-investor on the original deal.
IFC considers commitment to China's GenBridge
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has proposed an investment of up to $25 million in the debut fund of GenBridge Capital, a private equity firm set up by former executives from JD.com and TPG Capital that focuses on China’s consumer sector.
L Catterton Asia backs Korean eyewear brand
L Catterton Asia has led a consortium including Groupe Arnault - the family office of LVMH founder Bernard Arnault, which is one of the firm's LPs - to purchase a stake in Gentle Monster, a South Korean sunglasses and eyewear brand.
SoftBank Vision Fund leads $250m round for India's Oyo
SoftBank Vision Fund, the global technology investment vehicle managed by Japan’s SoftBank Group, has led a $250 million Series D round for Indian online hospitality platform Oyo.
China clothing rental site Yi23 raises $50m
China-based Yi23, a female clothing rental platform, has raised a $50 million Series C round of funding jointly led by Alibaba Innovation Ventures, SBCVC and Sequoia Capital.
Deal focus: Lock & Lock primed for regional expansion
Affinity Equity Partners is betting on Asian appetites for high-quality food containers in its acquisition of South Korea's Lock & Lock
Baring Asia, CPPIB complete Nord Anglia acquisition
Baring Private Equity Asia and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) have completed their $4.3 billion privatization of US-listed Nord Anglia Education, a school operator in which Baring Asia was already majority shareholder.
VCs back China smart vending machine operator
Citybox, a China-based smart vending machine operator, has secured a $15 million Series A round of funding from GGV Capital, Yunqi Partners, Blue Lake Capital and ZhenFund.
J-Star buys Japanese consumer brand Sun Smile
J-Star has acquired Sun Smile, a Japanese manufacturer of consumer products aimed at young women.
TPG invests Indian shoe company
TPG Growth - the middle market investment platform of TPG Capital - has joined QRG Enterprises, the family office of India’s Havellis Group in backing local shoe supplier Campus Activewear.
Ascendent-backed RYB Education files for US IPO
RYB Education, a Chinese kindergarten operator in which Ascendent Capital holds a substantial minority stake, has filed for an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.
India's Treebo Hotels raises $34m
Treebo, a VC-backed Indian budget hotel chain, has raised $34 million in a Series C funding round led by Hong Kong-based investors Ward Ferry Management and Karst Peak Capital.
DSG closes India, Southeast Asia consumer fund at $50m
DSG Partners Asia, which targets early-stage consumer opportunities in India and Southeast Asia, has closed its second fund at the hard cap of $50 million. Everstone Capital bought a 50% stake in the GP last year.
Goldman, Hillhouse invest $90m in China’s Arrail Dental
Goldman Sachs and Hillhouse Capital have jointly invested $90 million in a Series D round of funding for Arrail Dental, a Chinese dental services provider.
Toyota invests in Southeast Asia's Grab
Toyota Tsusho, a division of Japanese automotive giant Toyota Group, has joined the latest funding round for Southeast Asian ride-hailing app operator Grab.
PE-backed Ambow Education seeks return to US main board
PE-backed Chinese tutoring and training services provider Ambow Education, which left the US main board in 2014 following allegations of financial impropriety and the appointment of provisional liquidators, has filed for an IPO.
Q&A: TMON Chairman Daniel Shin
Daniel Shin, chairman of TMON – formerly known as Ticket Monster – dissects the competitive Korean e-commerce space, with an eye on how new technological applications can provide an operational edge
Affinity buys majority stake in Korean food container maker
Affinity Equity Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Lock & Lock, a South Korean manufacturer of airtight food containers and kitchen household goods for KRW629.3 billion ($562 million).
Singapore's VC-backed Grab commits $100m to Myanmar
Grab, a Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing app operator backed by a number of PE and VC firms, has committed to investing $100 million into a Myanmar expansion strategy across the next three years.
Sequoia invests $8m in India's Bira 91
Sequoia Capital has invested $8 million in Indian brewer B9 Beverages, the maker of craft beer brand Bira 91.
Australian regulator questions Platinum's OfficeMax acquisition
Platinum Equity’s acquisition of OfficeMax in Australia and New Zealand – which came shortly after the GP agreed to buy the regional operations of Staples – has been flagged by Australian regulators due to concerns that it could lessen competition...