Articles by Justin Niessner
Macro uncertainty to drive increased Korean M&A
Difficult economic and political conditions bode well for the Korean PE industry in the near term, according to Michael Chung (pictured), head of Korea at Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA).
Malaysia's Carsome raises $50m Series C
Japan’s Daiwa Securities and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group have joined a $50 million Series C round for Malaysian used car trading platform Carsome.
Australia cybersecurity start-up receives $47.6m
Australia-based cybersecurity start-up Secure Code Warrior has secured a $47.6 million Series B round led by Goldman Sachs.
China-Australia biotech fund raises $31m
UniSA Ventures, a tech commercialization unit of the University of South Australia, has secured A$45 million ($31 million) from a group of Chinese investors for an Australia-focused biotechnology fund.
Singapore e-scooter start-up raises $18.5m
Neuron Mobility, a Singapore-based e-scooter company, has secured a $18.5 million Series A round led by Australia’s Square Peg Capital and US-based GSR Ventures.
Singapore's Vertex receives $180m for global fund-of-funds
Vertex Ventures, a VC arm of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has received commitments of $180 million from Japanese investors for a fund-of-funds that will support its global portfolio of VC vehicles.
Indonesia e-commerce player Evermos gets $8m Series A
Evermos, an Indonesian social e-commerce company focused on halal and sharia-compliant products, has raised an $8.2 million Series A round from a group of VCs.
India's Shadowfax receives $60m Series D
Indian last-mile delivery and logistics start-up Shadowfax has raised $60 million in Series D funding from a group including Eight Roads Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures.
Ping An leads $70m Series D for India's CarDekho
China’s Ping An Insurance has led a $70 million Series D round for Indian online auto marketplace CarDekho. It is Ping An’s first venture investment in the country.
CPPIB commits $600m to state-backed Indian infrastructure fund
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has agreed to invest up to $600 million in NIIF Master Fund, a rupee-denominated infrastructure vehicle anchored by the Indian government.
Circulate hits first close on Asian ocean protection fund
Circulate Capital, a Singapore-based investor dedicated to stemming plastic waste pollution in South and Southeast Asia, has reached a first close of $106 million for an ocean protection fund.
Prologis launches $1.7b China logistics fund
US-based logistics and supply chain investor Prologis has established a $1.7 billion China fund as part of a broader country expansion.
Deal focus: One Store brings service to videogaming
A freshly spun-out private equity arm of SK Securities is helping Korea’s One Store break up a local monopoly in mobile videogame marketing.
LPs and secondaries: Subliminal stimulation
Global economic and political themes are exerting an almost invisible undertow on LP participation in the secondaries market. The boom in Asia will be touched but not redirected
Korea VC backs SE Asia ride-hailing start-up MVL
Korean VC firm SV Investment has led a KRW5.6 billion ($5 million) round for MVL, which operates the Tada ride-hailing service in Southeast Asia.
Local GPs commit $71m to China biotech player
EOC Pharma, a Chinese biotech developer focused on cancer treatments, has closed a RMB500 million ($71 million) Series C round raised from a group of local private equity investors.
China's Sailing exits as US GP backs Maldives resort chain
Chinese cross-border private equity firm Sailing Capital has exited its position in Soneva, a Thailand-based luxury hotel operator known for its Maldives resorts, following the sale of a significant minority stake to US-based KSL Capital Partners.
AIIB, Clifford Capital launch $2b infrastructure platform
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Clifford Capital, a Singaporean infrastructure investor, have jointly launched an approximately $2 billion debt platform.
Accel closes sixth India VC fund at $550m
Accel Partners has closed its fifth early-stage India venture capital fund with $550 million in commitments.
Singapore's FinAccel raises $90m Series C
Singapore-based financial technology provider FinAccel has raised a $90 million Series C round led by Australia’s Square Peg Capital and Korean investors Mirae Asset Capital and Naver.
GLP launches $2.1b China logistics fund
GLP, a private equity-owned warehouse operator based in Singapore, has set up a China logistics fund at RMB15 billion ($2.1 billion).
Chinese biopharma start-up raises $43m Series B
Chinese cancer and autoimmune disease therapy developer Clover Biopharmaceuticals has raised a $43 million Series B round led by local VC Lapam Capital and US private equity firm Delos Capital.
IFC to back Mekong's latest Vietnam fund
IFC has proposed to invest up to $30 million in the latest fund from Vietnam-based private equity firm Mekong Capital.
Vietnam's FEBE Ventures launches $25m fund
FEBE Ventures, a Vietnam-based early-stage investor set up earlier this year, has launched a $25 million for targeting local and cross-border technology start-ups.