BDA advises N Kid on growth capital raise from Standard Chartered Private Equity

November 22, 2016 - BDA Partners is pleased to announce that its client, N Kid Corporation ("N Kid"), has successfully raised US$40m in new capital from Standard Chartered Private Equity ("SCPE"). BDA acted as exclusive financial advisor to N Kid. SCPE holds a significant minority stake in N Kid after the transaction.

Founded in 2009, N Kid is the leading integrated children's lifestyle platform in Vietnam. It is a market pioneer in delivering a fun, safe, and healthy environment in best-in-class family entertainment centers. N Kid is also a leader in the distribution and retail of branded toys and mom & baby products. The company currently operates approximately 30 family entertainment centers under the brand names tiNiWorld and T CLB, a toy and mom & baby products distribution business under PNC Toys, as well as 20 Toyland and Babyland retail outlets across Vietnam. With its world class management team, distinctive brand concepts and favorable country demographics, N Kid has experienced tremendous growth since inception. N Kid has developed its brands into household names among young families in Vietnam.

BDA ran a carefully planned auction process for N Kid, targeting regional and SE Asia financial sponsors. BDA's deal team was involved in each step of the transaction, and facilitated the ultimate outcome for N Kid. After several rounds of discussions, N Kid selected SCPE, the private equity arm of Standard Chartered Bank, as its preferred partner. SCPE brings invaluable operational expertise to the partnership, leveraging its global network. This new partnership is set to build on N Kid's existing success, setting up the next stage of growth.

Proceeds from the transaction will be used as expansion capital to support further roll-out of family entertainment centers and retail outlets across Vietnam, expansion of distribution channels, and the development of new adjacent businesses.

Thomas Ngo, Co-Founder of N Kid, said, "We are very excited to partner with SCPE as they share the same vision for the business as we do. We are very positive about the future of the business and are enthusiastic about continuing to extend our existing children's lifestyle platform to deliver best-in-class international standard products and services to modern families throughout Vietnam."

Thuy Dropsey, Director of SCPE, said, "We are privileged to partner with Mr. Ngo and his management team, who have done an outstanding job in building a platform that caters to the needs of young Vietnamese families. We look forward to supporting the team to accelerate its growth and presence across Vietnam, and to help achieve its long-term vision."

Paul DiGiacomo, BDA Partner and Head of SE Asia, said, "We are pleased to have advised N Kid on this transaction. I'm particularly proud that BDA was able to help achieve such a positive outcome for the founders and shareholders, and to have enabled N Kid to secure financing to continue its impressive growth. This transaction highlights BDA's leisure and retail sector expertise, and our ability to deliver value for clients and financial sponsor partners across Asia."

BDA Deal Team
Paul DiGiacomo, Partner
Karen Cheung, Director
Vincent Kan, Associate
Apinun Narkhan, Associate
Huong Lop Nguyen, Analyst

About N Kid Corporation
N Kid is the leading integrated children's lifestyle platform in Vietnam, with operations spanning across the attractions, distribution and retail segment. Founded in 2009, the company now operates family entertainment centers for children and teenagers, and distribution networks and retail stores for toys and mom & baby products. It also develops children-related digital content for its own tiNi brand, and manages licensed third party content. The company is headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. www.nkidcorp.com

About Standard Chartered Private Equity
SCPE is the private equity arm of Standard Chartered Bank. SCPE provides companies with expansion capital and acquisition finance, and also finances management buy-outs. SCPE focuses on companies whose principal operations and management are located in Asia, Africa or the Middle East. It is an active partner that provides board-level strategic advice and access to the international network of Standard Chartered Bank. Since inception, SCPE has invested over US$6bn in over 100 companies across the Standard Chartered Bank global footprint. www.sc.com

About BDA
BDA Partners is a leader in cross-border investment banking involving Asia. BDA advises on M&A, capital raising, and restructuring. BDA has been consistently owned and managed by the same team since 1996. BDA has a track record of providing independent advice to blue-chip corporate and financial sponsor clients from North America, Europe, and Asia. BDA is headquartered in New York with offices in London, Dubai, Mumbai, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and Tokyo. BDA was named M&A Advisory Firm of the Year at The ACG Champions Awards in 2015. BDA formed a partnership with William Blair & Company in 2011. www.bdapartners.com

BDA carries out its US securities business through BDA Advisors Inc, a broker-dealer registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and a member of FINRA and SIPC. BDA's UK subsidiary is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. BDA's HK subsidiary is licensed and regulated by the Securities & Futures Commission.