Consumer
Meridian Capital backs China Wi-Fi solutions provider
Chao WiFi, a Chinese Wi-Fi services provider, has received RMB15 million ($2.4 million) in Series A funding from Meridian Capital.
PE-backed WH Group targets $5.3b in HK IPO
WH Group, the PE-backed Chinese meat processing company that acquired US pork producer Smithfield Foods, is planning to raise as much as HK$41 billion ($5.3 billion) through a Hong Kong IPO.
FountainVest, CMC buy 20% stake in IMAX China
FountainVest Partners and CMC Capital Partners have paid $80 million for a 20% stake in movie theater operator IMAX’s China business, with an objective to grow the business and ultimately take it public.
Mekong, CDH set for partial exits from Vietnam's Mobile World
Mekong Capital and CDH Investments will make partial exits from Mobile World, Vietnam’s largest mobile phone retailer, when the company lists on the Ho Chi Minh exchange in June with an expected valuation of up to $280 million.
Vertex leads round for Southeast Asia taxi-booking app
Vertex Ventures, a unit of Temasek Holdings, has led a round of funding for GrabTaxi, a taxi booking app set up in Malaysia that is looking to continue its expansion into other Southeast Asian markets.
Japan regulation: Taxing tactics
Investors are concerned about the potential repercussions for the economy – and their portfolio companies – of Japan’s staged consumer tax hike. Could it really derail the country’s fragile recovery?
Blue Star on consolidation path
It is difficult to capture the scale of Australia’s printing industry given the amount of activity that takes place outside of the traditional silos. The data points highlighted by the national industry association, however, do not make for comforting...
Portfolio: CDH, Mekong and Mobile World
Early investor Mekong Capital and recent addition CDH Investments have guided Mobile World through rapid growth and growing pains. Now the Vietnam-based mobile phone retailer is about to go public
L Capital Asia invests in Italian footwear maker
L Capital Asia has acquired a minority stake in Italian high-end footwear manufacturer Vicini, working in partnership with L Capital Management, another PE firm supported by luxury goods conglomerate LVMH.
VC-backed Chinese package tour platform files for US IPO
Tuniu, a Chinese online package tour provider backed by DCM, Temasek Holdings, Gobi Partners and Sequoia Capital, is seeking to raise up to $120 million through a US IPO.
SAIF-backed Indian retail platform HomeShop18 files for US IPO
HomeShop18, an Indian television shopping network and online market place backed by SAIF Partners and OCP Asia, has filed to go public on the New York Stock Exchange.
China online liquor retailer raises $68m
Jiuxian.com, a Chinese e-commerce site that sells wines and spirits, has raised RMB425 million ($68 million) across two rounds of funding.
IFC to invest $85m in PepsiCo's India bottler
International Finance Corporation (IFC) is investing $85 million in Varun Beverages, the largest South Asian bottler for soft drinks giant PepsiCo.
Everstone invests $16m in India fashion house
Everstone Capital has invested INR1 billion ($16.6 million) in Indian fashion label RituKumar in return for an undisclosed minority stake.
KKR, Affinity complete Oriental Brewery exit
KKR and Affinity Equity Partners have completed their exit of Korea's Oriental Brewery (OB) to previous owner Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) for $5.8 billion.
ClearVue keeps it fresh with Fruitday
“Surprisingly, the price of imported fruit is not necessary always more expensive than local fruit,” observes Harry Hui, managing partner of ClearVue Partners. “The reason is that in developed countries, the agricultural productivity is higher than in...
India film funding: Bollywood bets
The rapid growth of India’s movie industry is drawing in private equity investors looking for exposure all along the value chain. Those unable to stomach the risk will aim for distribution rather than production
Jafco invests $2m in Japan leisure booking site
Globis Capital Partners and Jafco Ventures have invested JPY200 million ($1.95 million) in Catarizm, the Japanese start-up behind online leisure booking site Asoview.
IDG leads round for Chinese restaurant review app Ricebook
IDG Capital Partners has led a $7 million Series B round of funding for Ricebook, a Chinese restaurant review mobile app operator.
Alibaba to invest $692m in GIC-backed Intime Retail
Alibaba Group will invest HK$5.37 billion ($692 million) for a 34% stake in Intime Retail Group, a Chinese department store operator backed by Singapore’s GIC Private.
Japan flea market app raises $14m for US expansion
Mercari, the Japanese start-up behind the mobile flea market app of the same name, has raised JPY1.45 billion ($14.1 million) from Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, Itochu Technology Venture, GMO Venture Partners, and other unnamed investors.
PEP, Unitas file counter claim over Independent Liquor sale
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital have filed a cross claim against two senior Asahi executives in Australasia regarding their involvement in the Japanese company’s purchase of Independent Liquor from the private equity firms in 2011.
CHAMP PE gets GE financing for Accolade Wines expansion
CHAMP Private Equity has secured $300 million in cross-border financing from GE Capital International for Accolade Wines, the firm behind mass-market brands such as Hardys and Banrock Station.
Nexus, Avalon re-up in big data platform Indix
Nexus Venture Partners and Avalon Ventures have re-upped their investment in India-based big data firm Indix Corporation via a $8.5 million Series A-1 round of funding.