Food
Japan plant-based meat player raises $47m
Japanese plant-based meat company Daiz has raised JPY 7.1bn (USD47.4m) in Series C funding that features Mitsubishi UFJ Capital.
Japan's J-Star seeks seafood company take-private
Japanese middle market private equity firm J-Star is bidding to acquire Yaizu Suisankagaku (YSK) through a tender offer that values the Tokyo-listed seafood business at about JPY 15bn (USD 91m).
ResponsAbility raises $106m for climate-agri debt fund
Swiss impact investor ResponsAbility has raised USD 106m for a global climate-smart agriculture and food private debt fund that will be 40% deployed in Asia.
Australia's Challenger Funds acquires stake in Proterra Asia
Challenger Funds Management, one of the largest active asset managers in Australia, has acquired a stake in Singapore-based PE firm Proterra Investment Partners Asia from Australia’s Pacific Current Group.
DCP agrees carve-out of Cargill's China poultry unit
DCP Capital has agreed to buy the China-based poultry business of US-headquartered food and agriculture corporation Cargill for an undisclosed sum.
Profile: Mandala Capital’s Uday Garg
Uday Garg realised an unlikely career arc from tennis to private equity with the establishment of India’s Mandala Capital. This was guided by a passion for achieving impact in food and agriculture
ADB invests $15m in Philippines supermarket Dali
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed a USD 15m equity investment in the Philippines business of Switzerland-based discount supermarket operator Dali.
Deal focus: EdenFarm rethinks Indonesian agriculture
EdenFarm is tackling Indonesia’s fragmented agribusiness space with a B2B fresh produce marketplace that not only helps distribute crops, but helps them grow in the first place
Creador, Navegar back Philippines supermarket chain
Creador and Navegar have invested an undisclosed sum in the Philippines business of Switzerland-based discount grocery and supermarkets operator Dali.
TMI Ventures leads $13.5m round for Indonesia's EdenFarm
Indonesian agriculture technology start-up EdenFarm has raised a USD 13.5m round led by TMI Ventures, the investment arm of local wireless network operator Telkomsel.
ResponsAbility hits $173m first close on Asia food fund
Swiss impact investor ResponsAbility has reached a first close of USD 173m for a South and Southeast Asia-focused sustainable food private equity fund. The target is USD 400m.
Carlyle sells Japanese snacks maker to D Capital
The Carlyle Group has exited its 100% stake in Japanese snack maker Oyatsu Company for an undisclosed sum to D Capital after a more than eight-year hold.
Proterra raises $200m for Asia food fund
Proterra Investment Partners has reached a final close on a Singapore-domiciled fund that will make food-related investments across Asia with more than USD 200m in commitments.
Australia cultured meat start-up gets $49m Series A
Blackbird and Prosperity7 Ventures, a unit of Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco, have led a USD 49.2m Series A round for Australian cell-cultured meat company Vow.
Horizons leads Series A for Australia's Nourish Ingredients
Nourish Ingredients, an Australia-based alternative protein start-up that uses synthetic biology to produce animal-free fats, has raised USD 28.6m in Series A funding.
Korea pizza chain raises $25m for India push
Korea-headquartered pizza chain Gopizza has raised USD 25m in Series C funding from new and existing backers to drive an India expansion.
Thailand's Line Man Wongnai raises $265m
Thailand’s Line Man Wongnai – a food delivery, taxi, and messaging app – has raised a USD 265m round featuring GIC at a valuation of USD 1bn. It claims to be the largest start-up locally.
Advent acquires China restaurant operator
Advent International has acquired a 60% stake in health food restaurant chain Wagas Group from its founders.
GenBridge, DragonBall back China snacks brand Xueji Chaohuo
GenBridge Capital and DragonBall Capital have led a CNY 600m (USD 86m) Series A round for Xueji Chaohuo, a China-based roasted seeds and nuts brand.
C2 invests $25m in Eat Just to support China expansion
C2 Capital Partners, a China-based private equity firm that focuses on consumer sector investments, has committed USD 25m to Eat Just, owner of plant-based egg brand Just Egg.
Deal focus: Prosus looks to aggregate India’s fruit farmers
B2B marketplaces are the prevalent theme in Prosus Ventures’ agricultural technology investments in Asia. However, as fruit specialist Vegrow demonstrates, supply chain dynamics are not uniform
Franklin Templeton strengthens Asia PE coverage of agri-food
Franklin Templeton has appointed Patrick Vizzone as a managing director and head of agri-food for its Asia Pacific alternatives group. He will lead PE and VC investments in the space globally.
India D2C food brand Country Delight gets $108m Series D
India’s Country Delight, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) food brand best known for farm-fresh milk, has raised USD 108m in Series D funding led by Singapore’s Venturi Partners and Temasek Holdings.
Portfolio: Investcorp and Viz Branz
War, climate change, and COVID-19 are twisting the outlook for Investcorp-owned instant food supplier Viz Branz. But an implacable China growth story has underpinned an aggressive expansion agenda