Consumer
Baring Asia buys stake in TA-owned Cath Kidston
Baring Private Equity Asia has acquired a substantial stake in UK lifestyle retailer Cath Kidston from existing majority shareholders TA Associates and company management.
Hony’s pizza takeaway
Immediately after TDR Capital and Capricorn privatized Pizza Express in 2003, the UK-based restaurant chain’s international franchise operations were shifted into separate entity as part of the “non-core group.”
Zoyi’s premium pork play
Nearly a decade ago, in his former career as an investment banker with J.P. Morgan, Andrew Kuo worked on the deal that saw CDH Investments and Goldman Sachs back Chinese pork producer Shuanghui International. Now known as WH Group, the company has grown...
Vision Knight bets big on property site
Vision Knight Capital expects massive growth in three segments of China’s e-commerce market over the next three years – property, autos and home decorating. Hence the private equity firm’s willingness to provide the largest portion of a $80 million...
PEP exits Griffin's Foods to Philippines buyer for $608m
Australian GP Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is set for its fourth full or partial exit in two months after Philippines food and beverage conglomerate Universal Robina (URC) agreed to buy Griffin’s Foods for approximately NZ$700 million ($608 million)...
India's ASK Pravi PE carves out Educomp test prep unit
ASK Pravi Capital Adivsors will acquire a 55.41% stake in engineering test preparation business Gateforum Education Services from Education company Educomp Solutions.
Semir to acquire 70% of VC-backed HK education group
DT Capital, The CID Group and iD TechVentures are set to exit Fastrackids as the children's education group is acquired by Zhejiang Semir Garment.
Japan fish app start-up raises $4.5m
Hachimenroppi, a Japanese start-up that operates an IT-enabled fresh fish distribution platform, has secured JPY450 million ($4.4 million) in funding from Recruit Holdings, YJ Capital, DeNA, and Monex Ventures.
Fosun acquires 20% interest in Spain's Osborne
Fosun International has acquired a 20% stake in Osborne Group, a Spanish premium ham and wine producer.
Shenzhen Capital to exit e-commerce site via trade sale
Shenzhen Capital Group will exit Shenzhen Globalegrow E-commerce as the online platform use to sell Chinese products overseas is acquired by Shanxi Baiyuan Trousers Chain Management.
Zoyi Capital backs Taiwan Farm Industry
Greater China-focused mid-cap investor Zoyi Capital has invested an undisclosed sum in Taiwan Farm Industry (TFI), a 47-year-old meat processor in Taiwan.
Steadview leads $21m round for India’s Urban Ladder
Hong Kong-based hedge fund Steadview Capital has led a $21 million Series B round of financing for Urban Ladder, an Indian furniture online retailer.
Singapore online grocery retailer RedMart raises $23m
Singapore-based online grocery store RedMart has raised a $23 million Series B round led by gaming firm Garena, with participation from SoftBank Ventures, Visionnaire Ventures and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
WH Group IPO: The pigs will fly
“I told everyone at the beginning of the year, ‘The two biggest risks for our industry are Shuanghui and Alibaba messing up.’ I knew there was going to be a pain trade but I thought it would be Alibaba, not Shuanghui.”
IFC leads $8m Series B for China recycling site Aihuishou
International Finance Corporation (IFC) has led a $8 million Series B round of funding for Aihuishou, a Chinese electronics recycling start-up.
Tiger Global, Nirvana lead $5m Series B round for India's Zopper
Tiger Global Management and Nirvana Venture Advisors have led a $5 million Series B round of investment for Delhi-based Solvy Tech Solutions, which operates products review portal Zooper.com.
Samara set for partial exit as Monte Carlo files for IPO
Monte Carlo Fashions - an Indian apparel brand backed by Samara Capital and promoted by the Nahar Group - has filed for a domestic IPO.
IDG backs Chinese app developer Landscape mobile
IDG Capital Partners has committed $1.85 million in seed funding to Landscape Mobile, the China- and US-based developer of mobile information management app Sight.
Fosun ups stake as Bona Film founder buys out Fox
Fosun International will increase its stake in Bona Film Group as part of an ownership restructuring of the Chinese film studio and distributor, which will also see the exit of 21st Century Fox.
Shunwei invests in China online travel site Fxtrip
Shunwei Capital Partners has provided a Series A round of funding for Fxtrip.com, a Chinese outbound travel start-up.
Hony buys Pizza Express from Cinven for $1.54b
Chinese PE firm Hony Capital has agreed to buy restaurant chain Pizza Express from UK-based private equity firm Cinven Partners for GBP900 million ($1.54 billion).
PE firms circle CHAMP-backed Lorna Jane - report
Bain Capital and Advent international are said to be among the potential buyers for Lorna Jane, an Australian women's fitness and leisure apparel company backed by CHAMP Ventures.
Investors eye liquidity as WH Group revives HK IPO
Private equity-backed Chinese pork processor WH Group is once again seeking to list in Hong Kong, three months after a HK$41 billion ($5.3 billion) IPO was scrapped.
Steadview, Sequoia lead $41m round for India’s Olacabs
Indian online taxi-booking and car rental platform Olacabs has raised INR2.5 billion ($41.8 million) through a Series C round of funding led by Sequoia Capital and Hong Kong-based hedge fund Steadview Capital.