Articles by Justin Niessner
India direct secondaries: Footprint freefall
A darker mood for Chinese investors in India is stirring expectations for a wave of direct secondary opportunities
India's Oaks raises $55m for consumer PE fund
India’s Oaks Asset Management has raised INR4 billion ($55 million) for its second mid-market consumer private equity fund. The overall target is INR5 billion.
PAG acquires Australia’s Unispace
PAG Asia Capital has acquired Australia-based Unispace with a view to expanding the office design and construction consultancy across Asia.
Singapore food tech start-up raises $10m seed round
Singapore-based Next Gen, which markets a vegetarian chicken brand called Tindle, has raised $10 million in what is being called the largest-ever seed round in the food tech space.
Indus Valley raises $17.5m for Pakistan VC fund
Pakistan-focused VC firm Indus Valley Capital has raised $17.5 million for its debut fund focused on early-stage start-ups. The initial target was $15 million.
Blackbird, King River lead Series B for Australia's Lexer
Blackbird Ventures and King River Capital have led a A$33.5 million ($26 million) Series B investment in Australian retail industry data services provider Lexer.
Tiger leads $100m Series C for India's Infra.Market
Tiger Global Management has led a $100 million Series C round for India’s Infra.Market, valuing the construction materials marketplace at $1 billion.
Everstone exits India bakery business
Everstone Capital has exited Indian bread brand Modern Foods to a local subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo, a global strategic headquartered in Mexico, for an undisclosed sum.
LeapFrog names co-head of healthcare
Asia and Africa-focused impact investor LeapFrog Investments has recruited Biju Mohandas as a partner and global co-lead for healthcare.
VC-backed Appier files for Japan IPO
Appier, a Taiwan-based advertising technology provider, has filed for a JPY26.4 billion ($250 million) Japan IPO. It sets up exits for several VC investors, including Sequoia Capital.
Fundraising talent: New calls of duty
The trend toward more stringent due diligence in recent years has maximized fundraising complexity at a time when the professionals involved must adapt to unfamiliar virtual forums
Primavera-led consortium takes control of Zhaopin
A consortium led by Primavera Capital has agreed to acquire a controlling position in Chinese recruitment website Zhaopin at an implied valuation of A$2.2 billion ($1.7 billion).
China's AnchorDx completes $40m Series C
AnchorDx, a China-based medical technology developer focused on DNA sequencing and diagnostics, has raised a $40 million Series C round led by OrbiMed and WuXi Huiying Investment.
Japan's Kyulux raises $34m extended Series B
Japan-based Kyulux, which develops advanced lighting technology used in digital screens, has raised JPY3.6 billion ($34.3 million) from a group of VCs and strategic investors.
MBK exits China's Apex International
MBK Partners has agreed to sell Apex International, China’s second-largest air freight forwarder, to Swiss logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel.
India’s Zolve raises $15m seed round
Accel and Lightspeed Venture Partners have led a $15 million seed round for Zolve, an India-based digital bank focused on cross-border services.
China’s Regor Therapeutics raises $90m Series B
Lilly Asia Ventures (LAV) has led a $90 million Series B round for Regor Therapeutics, a Chinese drug developer specializing in bioinformatics.
Q&A: Gushcloud's Althea Lim
Singapore’s Gushcloud, a VC-backed influencer talent agency and content producer, operates at the frontlines of a young, fast-changing media landscape. CEO Althea Lim tours the latest developments
Deal focus: Potentia exits Ascender, closes debut fund
Potentia Capital's debut fundraise was given extra impetus by an impending exit from Australia-based software provider Ascender, which delivered a 30x return
Myanmar: Coup confusion
Myanmar's isolationism is likely to be harder to maintain this time should the military seek a return to its old ways. Investors are watching and waiting, but should they also be considering the ESG implications?
China's Cloopen, Adagene complete strong US IPOs
Cloud services provider Cloopen and biotech developer Adagene, both backed by Sequoia Capital China, have raised a combined $460 million in their US IPOs.
Cathay appoints executive president, makes partner promotions
Cathay Capital has announced a spate of global personnel appointments in private equity and venture capital, including the naming of Arthur Yeung as executive president.
Ethics in AI: Slippery slope
Concerns around artificial intelligence technology have extended from unauthorized surveillance to include healthcare and education. When does the ethical dilemma become an ESG sticking point for investors?
Indian news app Dailyhunt raises $100m
Indian news app Dailyhunt has raised $100 million led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Glade Brook Capital Partners. It extends a $102 million Series H round last year featuring Google.