Articles by Justin Niessner
Deal focus: CITIC Capital, 3i team up in auto services
CITIC Capital and 3i have together committed $265 million to Formel D with a view to helping the German auto testing and inspection business expand its footprint in Asia
Indian furniture rental company gets $10m Series B
RentoMojo, an Indian financial technology company that facilitates rentals of furniture and other household items, has raised a $10 million Series B round led by Bain Capital Ventures and fintech entrepreneur Renaud Laplanche.
Thailand's Zanroo receives $7.4m Series A
Zanroo, a Thailand-based company that uses big data analytics to offer clients real-time marketing services, has received a $7.4 million Series A funding round from domestic investor Shift Ventures.
Creditors to assume control of KKR-owned Bis Industries
Australian mining services provider Bis Industries has reached a debt-to-equity restructuring agreement with creditors that will see current owner KKR relinquish its majority position.
IDG, Jungle back India's Vayana Network
IDG Ventures India and Jungle Ventures have jointly invested $4 million in a Series A funding round for Indian financial services company Vayana Network.
IoT in Asia: Things to come
A number of political factors have positioned Asia Pacific to be a global leader in internet-of-things development. Investors must now navigate an unwieldy field of technologies, markets and social drivers
J-Star exits Japanese document scanning business to Orix
Mid-market private equity firm J-Star has exited its entire holding in Japanese document scanning company Primagest to local financial services conglomerate Orix Corporation.
Angel investor launches in New Zealand
Richard Coon, a director and co-founder at private equity-backed New Zealand insurance provider Partners Life, has launched a new domestically facing venture group known as Angel Investors Marlborough (AIM).
Singapore's Spring Seeds to invest $73m in tech start-ups
Singapore-government backed Spring Seeds Capital has committed S$100 million ($73 million) to an investment program targeting domestic start-ups developing high-end technology.
Asian space debris start-up gets $25m Series C
Astroscale, a Singapore-based satellite technology company focused on removing hazardous debris from orbit, has raised a $25 million Series C round with participation from a number of Japanese venture firms.
Singapore’s BeMyGuest raises $8.4m Series A round
Singapore’s Raffles Venture Partners has led a Series A funding round for domestic travel start-up BeMyGuest that brings the company’s total equity funding to S$11.5 million ($8.4 million).
China's PE-backed UrWork receives $29m investment
UrWork, a Chinese co-working space operator with a number of private equity backers, has received a $29.4 million investment from domestic conglomerate Beijing Love & Health Group.
Quadria invests Singapore, Vietnam hospitals
Healthcare-focused private equity firm Quadria Capital has acquired stakes in Singapore medical center operator MWH Holdings and Vietnam’s FV Hospital.
GGV leads $10m round for Asian snacks business
GGV Capital has led a $10 million Series A funding round for Yamibuy, a US-based e-commerce player focused on Asian snacks, beauty products, health supplements and home appliances.
Frontier markets: Late to the boom
Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are among the last frontier markets in Asia but well positioned to benefit from accelerating interest in the ASEAN region. Private equity success will require a nimble approach
Hong Kong's CompareAsiaGroup gets $50m Series B
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has led a number of venture capital firms in a $50 million Series B funding round for Hong Kong-based financial comparison platform CompareAsiaGroup.
Verlinvest leads $14m Series B for Indian food player
Verlinvest has led a INR900 million ($14 million) Series B funding round for India-based Drums Food International, the parent company of the Epigamia yogurt brand.
VC-backed Omise raises $25m, acquires Thai competitor
Omise, a Thailand-based financial technology company backed by a number of venture capital firms, has raised $25 million and acquired Paysbuy, a fintech subsidiary of domestic telecom player Dtac.
VCs back $26m investment in Singapore blockchain player
Several venture capital firms have backed a $26 million investment in Funfair, a Singapore-based company that uses blockchain technology to operate an online cryptocurrency casino.
Japan's Floadia closes $14m Series B
Floadia, a Japan-based company specializing in microchip memory technology, has closed a JPY1.6 billion ($14.1 million) Series B fund round from a number of Taiwanese, Japanese and US venture capital firms.
Cathay raises $320m for China-US-Europe VC fund
Middle-market private equity firm Cathay Capital Private Equity has closed its first venture capital fund at $320 million with a mandate spanning China, Europe, and North America.
French VC joins $13m round for Japanese biopharma player
France-based venture capital firm Seventure Partners has joined a $13.1 million funding round for Japanese biopharmaceuticals development company Anaeropharma Science.
China, Russia plan $10.5b in OBOR investments
China and Russia have agreed to invest about $10.5 billion in two cross-border development funds as part of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative.
Denham terminates $42m takeover of Australian miner
Denham Capital has withdrawn from a commitment to fully acquire Cradle Resources that had valued the Australia-listed mining company at A$55 million ($42 million).