Articles by Justin Niessner
ICOs: Normalizing the future
The application of virtual tokens as investment instruments is modernizing the venture capital industry. Stakeholders are discovering a range of pitfalls and possibilities during the transition
GIC-backed Greenko raises $447m, plans acquisition
Greenko Energy, an Indian renewable energy producer owned by the Singapore sovereign wealth fund, GIC Private, has raised $447 million primarily from GIC and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).
VIG invests $129m in Korean eyewear retailer
VIG Partners has agreed to pay KRW137.5 billion ($129 million) for an approximately 42% stake in Korean beauty contact lens and fashion sunglasses retailer Star Vision.
US, China-based Protean gets $40m Series E
Chinese automotive industry supplier Weifu High Technology Group has led a $40 million Series E round for Protean Electric, a US and China-based auto equipment developer backed by a number of VC investors.
Warburg Pincus launches India BPM platform
Warburg Pincus has established an India-based platform for investment globally in business process management (BPM), an area of enterprise services focused on systems modelling and technical consulting.
Japan's Gumi raises $30m for blockchain VC fund
Gumi, a Japanese mobile game publisher backed by a number of VCs, has secured $30 million for a venture capital fund that will invest in blockchain and cryptocurrency start-ups.
SoftBank's Japanese AI incubator targets $55m fund
Deepcore, a Japanese incubator focused on artificial intelligence (AI) that was set up last year by Softbank Corp, has launched a fund targeting JPY6 billion ($55 million) for seed to early-stage companies.
Ijara Capital acquires Pakistan's Quick Foods
Pakistan-based private equity firm Ijara Capital Partners has acquired a 100% stake in domestic frozen food company Quick Foods Industries for an undisclosed sum.
Wine in China: Nurturing the vine
Private equity interest in wine is set to increase as its role in the China luxury goods thesis comes further into focus. Culture, character, and copycatting will be at the top of investors’ strategic agenda
CITIC Capital invests China-Europe logistics providers
CITIC Capital has backed two China-Europe logistics providers in separate deals of undisclosed size. The GP is investing via its Silk Road Fund, which targets geographies in China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) agenda.
Deal focus: VCs back Ezbuy’s cross-border e-commerce
A group of VCs including China’s Sky9 Capital are backing a global push by Southeast Asian e-commerce operator Ezbuy. The plan will require combining international vision with local knowhow
Partners Group commits $530m to Australia renewables platform
Partners Group has agreed to invest A$700 million ($530 million) in an Australian renewable energy platform with plans to advance an existing wind power project.
Singapore biotech player gets $20m Series A
A group of VCs including Yashang Capital and Westlake Ventures have backed a $20 million Series A funding round for Singaporean biotech developer Lion TCR.
Pivotal raises $150m for China life sciences fund
Pivotal Bioventure Partners China, an investment platform of Hong Kong conglomerate Nan Fung Group, has raised $150 million for a fund that will incubate Chinese life science start-ups.
VCs invest $17.6m in Singapore's Ezbuy
A group of VCs including IDG Ventures has provided $17.6 million in pre-Series C funding to Singaporean shopping platform operator Ezbuy.
PEP, Landis+Gyr to acquire Australia smart meter business
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Landis+Gyr, a Switzerland-based technology supplier to the electricity industry, have agreed to jointly acquire Australian smart meter company Acumen for A$267 million ($202 million).
Brii Biosciences gets $260m for China expansion
A group of VCs, including Sequoia Capital, have committed $260 million to Brii Biosciences, a China and US-based healthcare start-up executing a number of China-focused growth initiatives.
Profile: SparkLabs Group's Bernard Moon
Bernard Moon, co-founder of SparkLabs Group, has helped bring a global approach to seed investment. Early work bridging US and Korean start-up cultures clarified the value in going cross-border early
CDH, DCP to invest $70m in China's Sunpower
DCP Capital Partners, a private equity firm established by the former China heads of KKR, has agreed to jointly invest $70 million alongside CDH Investments in Chinese energy industry supplier Sunpower.
Carlyle hires two Southeast Asia dealmakers
The Carlyle Group has hired Robby Winarta as a managing director for Indonesia and Long Hoang as a director for Vietnam.
Permira, Hillhouse agree $1.7b Magento exit
Permira and Hillhouse Capital will sell their stakes in Magento Commerce, a US company that provides transaction-processing software to e-commerce players, to Adobe as part of a $1.7 billion transaction.
Kedaara, Partners Group to buy India's Vishal Mega Mart
Kedaara Capital and Partners Group have agreed to acquire Indian retailer Vishal Mega Mart for an undisclosed sum from TPG Capital.
Japan Post Bank targets $76.5b alternatives portfolio
Japan Post Bank plans to increase the size of its alternatives portfolio more than fivefold in the next three years to JPY8.5 trillion ($76.5 billion). More than JPY2 trillion of this will be allocated to private equity.
Hong Kong's Arbor raises $178.5m for second VC fund
Hong Kong-based Arbor Ventures has received $178.5 million in commitments for its second financial technology-focused venture capital fund. The targeted corpus is $220 million.