Articles by Justin Niessner
Vietnam renewables: Good vibrations
A palpable new enthusiasm has permeated Vietnam’s sluggish renewable energy sector as rising electricity demand prompts regulatory reform. Private equity is one of the key players
One Belt One Road: Critical mass
One Belt One Road aims to recast two continents’ worth of disconnected developing markets as a global economic nucleus. It is a geopolitical watershed with deep and complex investment potential
Singapore's NRF to invest $107m in AI
Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) has agreed to invest S$150 million ($107 million) over five years in a new multi-agency initiative aimed at fostering an artificial intelligence (AI) development ecosystem.
Fund focus: SeedPlus focuses on LP selectivity
Jungle Ventures' SeedPlus took its time accumulating $18 million from a set of LPs that can offer particular value-add to complement an operationally experienced investment team
Allegro acquires Australian resources sector contractor
Allegro Funds Group has acquired a controlling stake in Terrex Seismic, an Australia-based services provider for the oil and gas, minerals and government geoscience research industries.
LP interview: New Zealand Superannuation Fund
New Zealand Superannuation Fund believes it has turned its far flung location into an advantage, making decisions away from the mainstream investor community and plotting a differentiated course in alternatives
Advantage closes fifth Japan fund at $535m
Advantage Partners has reached a final close on its fifth Japan-focused mid-market buyout fund at the hard cap of JPY60 billion ($535 million).
HQ exits vehicle parts supplier to Japan’s Hitachi Chemical
HQ Equita, a Germany-based mid-market buyout firm controlled by HQ Capital, has agreed the sale of transportation industry supplier Isolite to Japan’s Hitachi Chemical.
NSSK acquires Japanese publishing group
Japanese private equity firm NSSK has acquired Bunkasha Publishing, a domestic media group focused on manga comics in both print and digital formats.
Singapore Life gets $50m Series A round
UK private equity investor IPGL has joined a $50 million Series A funding round for Singapore Life, a financial technology start-up targeting the insurance and savings services industry.
South Korea's Ticket Monster raises $115m
Ticket Monster, a PE-backed e-commerce operator based in South Korea, has received a $115 million investment aimed at expanding its grocery shopping and travel services businesses.
Singapore government launches $716m PE fund
The Singapore government and domestic GP Makara Capital have launched a S$1 billion ($716 million) private equity fund that will focus on intellectual property (IP)-driven companies.
KV Asia exits Singapore nursing home business
KV Asia Capital has exited its 100% interest in Singaporean nursing home services provider Orange Valley Healthcare to a local media company for about S$164 million ($117.5 million).
CITIC Capital to exit Japanese chemicals manufacturer
CITIC Capital has agreed to exit 100% of Japanese chemicals manufacturer Polymatech to two domestic strategics.
Korea healthcare: Quickening pulse
Korea’s government is playing a long game by propping up the local health tech start-up ecosystem. VCs that share this vision are identifying the obstacles and planning for growth
China, US-based Sensoro raises $18m Series B
Sensoro, an internet-of-things (IoT) technology supplier based in the US and China, has received an $18 million Series B funding round from Tsing Capital, Sumitomo Corporation and Bosch.
DeClout launches incubator in Singapore
DeClout, a holding company focused on developing IT and cloud computing technology providers, has launched a start-up incubator via its venture capital arm in Singapore.
AGIC acquires European medical supplier, targets China growth
AGIC Capital has acquired 100% of Slovenia-based medical equipment supplier Fotona as part of a plan to expand operations in Asia with an emphasis on China. The deal will facilitate an exit for US private equity firm The Gores Group.
VCs join $400m round for China, US-based EV player
CITIC Securities has led a $400 million funding round - with participation from CDH Investments and National Venture Capital - for China and US-based electric vehicle (EV) supplier Microvast Power Systems.
TCV invests $20m in New Zealand's Xero, Martix part exits
US venture capital firm Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV) has invested NZ$28.5 million ($20 million) in New Zealand-listed accounting software company Xero. It will facilitate a partial exit for existing backer Matrix Capital.
KWAP joins investor roster for SE Asia telecom spin-out
Malaysia’s public sector pension fund, KWAP, has joined Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Khazanah Nasional in backing the spin-out of an infrastructure unit of Southeast Asian telecom company Axiata.
PE consortium ups bid for Australia's Tatts
A consortium comprising Morgan Stanley Infrastructure, KKR, First State Super and Macquarie has increased its buyout offer for Australian lottery operator Tatts Group. It now values the company at A$7.6 billion ($5.7 billion).
Ant Financial raises offer for PE-backed MoneyGram
Alibaba Group's Ant Financial has raised its takeover bid for US-listed financial services company MoneyGram, topping a competing offer made by US-based Euronet Worldwide last month. The sale will provide an exit for Thomas H. Lee Partners (THL).
Japan's Kobe Steel buys Quintus from Milestone
US private equity firm Milestone Partners has exited its controlling stake in Sweden and US-based industrial equipment company Quintus Technologies to Japan’s Kobe Steel.