Growth capital
China’s Baifendian secures $10m Series B round
Baifendian, a Chinese recommendation engine that tracks user tastes and predicts how they might rate items, has received $10 million in Series B financing from Zhejiang Shinkansen Media Investment via its Eastern Starry Sky Culture Fund.
EQT mulls deal for Dairy Queen, Papa John’s China franchisee – report
EQT Partners intends to buy a minority stake in RCS Group, a Chinese fast-food chain operator that owns franchisee rights for the Dairy Queen and Papa John’s Pizza, from existing investor Warburg Pincus.
Arisaig invests $30m for stake in India McDonald’s franchisee
Arisaig Partners has bought a 3.47% stake in Mumbai-listed Westlife Development for INR1.8 billion ($30 million). Westlife controls McDonald’s restaurants in west and south India through its direct subsidiary, Hardcastle Restaurants. It is one of two...
China’s SAIF invests in COFCO-run food retail site
SAIF Partners has invested in Womai.com, a food and grocery B2C online platform set up by Chinese food conglomerate COFCO. Financial terms were not disclosed but the investment is said to be more than $10 million.
L Capital targets Chinese beauty
As growth slows in China's consumer sector, L Capital Asia has identified cosmetics as a segment with the qualities to withstand the broader trend. Put simply, as a woman’s disposable incomes rise, so does her consumption of premium cosmetics, particularly...
Caffeinated returns: Private equity's coffee shop craving
Private equity is already leveraging the growing popularity of coffee shops across Asia. But where is the next frontier – and is it all about the coffee?
Everstone to invest $33m in Indian NBFC
Everstone Capital is to invest INR2 billion ($33.5 million) for a 15-20% stake in Hinduja Leyland Finance (HLF) a non-banking financial company (NBFC) owned by the Hinduja Group.
Providence ups stake in India's Hathway Cable & Datacom
Providence Equity Partners has increased its stake in Indian cable and broadband operator Hathway Cable & Datacom by injecting INR1.5 billion ($25.1 million) alongside the promoter.
Google buys stake in VC-backed Taiwan glass supplier
Google has taken a 6.3% stake in Himax Display, a subsidiary of Taiwanese company Himax Technologies, which manufactures liquid crystal silicon (LCOS) chips used in Google Glass and other products. The company also counts KPCB Holdings, Khosla Ventures...
Standard Chartered, IL&FS-backed Ramky Enviro in Australian acquisition
Ramky Enviro Engineers (REEL), an Indian waste management company backed by Standard Chartered and IL&FS Investment Managers, has agreed to acquire Australian environmental engineering and petrochemical services provider Enviropacific Services .
New Zealand’s Rangatira takes 12% stake in Magritek
New Zealand PE firm Rangatira has acquired a 12% stake in Magritek, which manufactures nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices, for an undisclosed sum. It has the option of increasing its holding to 18% in a year.
China medical devices: Climbing the value chain
Driven by government policy, China's medical devices industry is growing rapidly and VC capital is flowing in. Picking winners requires a keen eye for new technology and potential distribution obstacles
Blue Sky invests $18m in Australian retirement home chain
Blue Sky Private Equity (BSPE) has invested more than A$20 million (US$18.3 million) for around 40% of retirement community operator and developer Oak Tree Group.
EXS Capital leads $37m investment in Vietnam RE developer
EXS Capital has led a $37 million investment in Vietnamese real estate developer Son Kim Land (SKL). Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
L capital Asia invests in Chinese cosmetics firm
L Capital Asia, a private equity firm sponsored by LVMH Group, has invested in Guangdong Marubi Biological Technoloy Stock, becoming the second-largest shareholder in the cosmetics company. The deal is reportedly worth more than $100 million.
CNEI invests $9.7m in leading Chinese prawn player
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has committed $9.7 million to Zhanjiang Newpro Food, a leading integrated operator in China's prawn farming industry.
J-Star, supply chain fund back Tokai Trim
Japanese mid-cap buyout firm J-Star has joined the Supply Chain Support Fund (SCSF) - a vehicle backed Japan Auto Parts Industries Association and Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) - in investing around JPY1-2billion ($10-20 million) in auto parts firm...
India’s Flipkart raises $200m from VC backers
Online retailer Flipkart has raised $200 million (INR12 billion) from existing investors Accel Partners, Tiger Global, Iconiq Capital and Naspers, in one of the largest fundraising rounds for an Indian e-commerce player. This fifth round brings the total...
Swedish asset manager backs $120m Philippines fund
Swedish alternative asset manager Brummer & Partners is backing a PHP5 billion ($120 million) Philippines-dedicated private equity vehicle known as the Navegar Fund.
Investors commit another $26m to Australia fashion site The Iconic
Australian fashion online retailer The Iconic has picked up A$28 million ($26 million) through a new round of funding led by Verlinvest, a Belgium-based investment firm set up by the founding families of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Existing shareholders Investment...
CPPIB, Goodman inject another $500m into China logistics venture
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Australian property and logistics firm Goodman Group have increased the equity commitment to their China joint venture, putting in another $500 million. A contribution of the same size was made last August,...
Southeast Asia oil and gas: Going solo
The relative scarcity of independent oil and gas exploration and production firms in Southeast Asia doesn’t reflect the region’s wealth of natural resources opportunities. Private equity firms are catching on
Ex Indonesia: Investing at SE Asia's edges
Indonesia is the poster child of Southeast Asian private equity but competition is intense and valuations are rising. What can investors expect from less-tapped markets such as Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam?
China’s Capital Today invests in Home Original Chicken
Capital Today has committed RMB129 million ($21 million) for a 10% stake in Home Original Chicken, a Chinese fast food chain.