Articles by Justin Niessner
East leads $20m Series A for Indonesia's Praktis
East Ventures has led a USD 20m Series A round for Indonesian logistics technology start-up Praktis with support from Sinar Mas Digital Ventures (SMDV).
Temasek impact unit backs UK cleantech player
Singapore’s ABC Impact, a unit of Temasek Holdings, has led a GBP 20m (USD 25.2m) Series B round that will support an Asian expansion by UK-based cleantech company Polymateria.
Chiratae closes debut growth fund on $122m
India’s Chiratae Ventures has closed its debut late-stage VC fund with about INR 10bn (USD 122.3m) in commitments, beating a target of INR 7.5bn.
India's Iron Pillar leads $30m round for logistics SaaS company
Iron Pillar and Uncorrelated Ventures have co-led a USD 30m investment in Pando, a US-headquartered logistics software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider with an India-based development team.
Portfolio: AIG
Advance Intelligence Group has developed a relatively narrow enterprise fintech business into one of the region’s leading digital lending operations with the help of several VC investors
India's Ace Turtle raises $34m Series B
India’s Ace Turtle, an omnichannel platform used by lifestyle and fashion retailers such as Wrangler and Toys R Us, has raised USD 34m in Series B funding featuring Singapore’s Vertex Ventures.
Japan’s Marunouchi launches $1bn climate tech fund
Japan-based Marunouchi Innovation Partners (MIP), a private equity manager controlled by Mitsubishi Corporation, has hit a first close of USD 400m on a climate tech fund. The overall target is USD 1bn.
Quadria acquires Malaysia’s Straits Orthopaedics
Singapore-headquartered healthcare specialist Quadria Capital has acquired a majority stake in Malaysian contract devices manufacturer Straits Orthopaedics at an enterprise value of USD 240m.
KKR invests $250m in India's Serentica Renewables
KKR has agreed to invest an additional USD 250m in India’s Serentica Renewables, a clean energy provider focused on energy-intensive commercial and industrial segments.
India-ASEAN GPs rethink Asia growth – AVCJ Forum
Developing Asia is set for a new chapter of greater opportunities and challenges in the wake of the pandemic-related investment boom, the AVCJ Southeast Asia Forum heard.
India's 3one4 adds partner
India’s 3one4 Capital has promoted Nruthya Madappa, head of the VC firm’s growth and capital development team, from director to partner. It brings the total number of partners to four.
Japan e-scooter maker raises $33.7m
Japanese e-scooter maker and urban shared micro-mobility developer Luup has raised a JPY 4.5bn round led by local VC firm Spiral Capital.
Valuation stalemates stall SE Asia exits – M&A Forum
Private equity investors at the Mergermarket M&A Forum Southeast Asia sensed that something has to give in a deadlocked regional exit market, where the bid-ask divide could break in either direction.
Capria hits first close on emerging markets fund
Capria Ventures, a US-based impact investor with a significant India presence, has reached a first close of unspecified size on its latest emerging markets fund. The target is USD 100m.
Deal focus: Excavating the lithosphere
Australia’s Investible is helping lithium processor Novalith clean up one of the dirtiest links in the electric vehicle supply chain. The science appears sound, but can it stay clean as it scales?
Fund focus: Aquilius targets Asia’s secondaries gap
Aquilius Investment Partners, a real estate secondaries investor, is tracking significant, opportunistic private equity deal flow in the current exit malaise. Diversification is the theme of the maiden fund
Japan VCs back hair colouring chain
A group of Japanese VC investors including Global Brain have provided JPY 1.1bn (USD 8.4m) in Series A funding to Fast Beauty, operator of hair colouring shop chain Fufu.
Creador moves stake in Malaysia's CTOS between funds
Creador has rolled over a 14.7% stake in Malaysia-listed credit bureau CTOS Digital, one of its key investments, from its second fund to its fifth fund.
US, India cybersecurity player gets $50m Series B
US and India-based cyber risk management software-as-a-service platform Safe Security has closed a USD 50m Series B round led by Sorenson Capital.
J-Star invests in Japan IT provider
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has invested an undisclosed sum in local IT staffing services provider Miraie in an apparent consolidation play.
US climate VC leads round for Australia lithium player
Lowercarbon Capital, a US-based VC firm specialising in climate, has led a AUD 23m (USD 15.5m) Series A round for Australian lithium production services company Novalith Technologies.
Aquilius closes debut Asia secondaries fund on $400m
Singapore’s Aquilius Investment Partners, an Asia secondaries specialist set up in 2021 by former executives of Partners Group and The Blackstone Group, has closed its debut fund on USD 400m.
Asia fundraising: To the grindstone
As macro uncertainties add red tape to fundraising processes and oblige some managers to operate on a deal-by-deal basis, the improvisational, survivalist nature of Asian private equity is on display
Australia's Glow hits first close on debut PE fund
Australian private equity firm Glow Capital Partners has reached a first close of AUD 55m (USD 37m) on its debut fund. The target is AUD 300m.