Articles by Justin Niessner
Edelweiss invests in India's Bridgei2i
Edelweiss Private Equity has invested an undisclosed amount of Series A growth capital in India’s Bridgei2i Analytics Solutions, an enterprise services company focused on big data.
Longreach acquires Wendy's Japan
Longreach Group has acquired a majority stake in Wendy’s Japan as part of a growth strategy that will see the hamburger restaurant chain combined with fellow domestic operator, First Kitchen.
Japan’s Whill closes $17.5m Series B
Eight Roads Ventures has led a $17.5 million Series B round for Japanese wheelchair and personal mobility device developer Whill.
Macquarie invests $29m in Japanese logistics business
Macquarie Asia Infrastructure Fund (MAIF) has invested EUR26 million ($28.9 million) for a 40% interest in Japanese logistics company Nippon Vopak.
Deal focus: Securing a nation’s digital vaults
Data Republic has attracted Series A funding from some of Australia’s biggest companies, with a notable showing by the major banks demonstrating a growing focus on data security investment in the financial sector
Deal focus: VCs find inroad where giants prevail
A group of VCs are aiming to leverage an encouraging outlook for the autonomous vehicle industry by funding a Singapore-focused start-up that is offering significant competition to the major corporates that dominate this space
Blackstone invests $134m in New Zealand's Partners Life
The Blackstone Group’s tactical opportunities division has made a NZ$200 million ($134.5 million) investment in New Zealand insurance provider Partners Life.
PE investors see value in forward planning on operational improvement
Operational strategies should be defined in detail well before any financial commitment is made, according to industry participants at the Hong Kong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association's (HKVCA) China summit.
Japan's Creema raises $10m round
Globis Capital Partners has led a JPY1.1 billion ($10 million) round for Japan-based Creema, the operator of an online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace specializing in handmade items.
INCJ leads $10m round for Japan robotics start-up
Japanese robotics company 3D Media has received a JPY1.1 billion ($10 million) investment from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), Sparx Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital.
Autohome shareholders challenge sale to China's Ping An
Minority shareholders of Chinese auto services company Autohome have filed a petition against a recent move by Telstra to sell the majority of its controlling stake to Ping An Insurance Group for $1.6 billion.
Highland leads $16m round for NuTonomy’s Singapore push
Highland Capital Partners has led a $16 million Series A investment in NuTonomy, a US tech developer aiming to commercialize a driverless taxi fleet in Singapore by 2018.
Australian agriculture: Investor stampede
Australia’s politically charged beef industry has attracted a wave of new investment, much of it driven by overseas buyers. As this interest elevates valuations and emotions, PE firms must capture value with care
Australia's Data Republic gets $7.6m Series A round
Australia-based financial technology company Data Republic has received $10.5 million ($7.6 million) in funding from National Australia Bank (NAB), Westpac and Qantas.
China GPs back US tech player's Asian consolidation
Chinese investors have underpinned an $88 million Series E round of funding for Kateeva, a US electronics developer that operates in China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
Malaysia's Khazanah opens London office
Khazanah Nasional, an investment fund controlled by the Malaysian government, has opened a new office in London aimed at strengthening the country’s business development links with Europe.
Sydney exchange creates small cap platform
The Sydney Stock Exchange (SSX) has initiated development of a blockchain-based equities market settlement and registration system that is expected to facilitate exits for VC firms.
Hony, CIC among anchors for BOC Aviation IPO
Hony Capital and China Investment Corporation (CIC) are among the cornerstone investors for a HK$8.7 billion ($1.1 billion) Hong Kong IPO for Bank of China’s aircraft leasing business, BOC Aviation.
Geodesic closes $335m VC fund to bridge US, Asia
Geodesic Capital, a US-based venture capital firm focused on helping start-ups drive Japanese expansion, has closed its first fund at $335 million.
Deal focus: WiL chisels start-up gold from corporate Japan
Having previously developed its technology under the wing of NTT Docomo, Soracom went independent with World Innovation Lab's assistance and is now targeting global expansion
Deal focus: CLSA CP school deal breaks new ground
CLSA Capital Partners makes what is likely the first-ever private equity investment in a Japanese cram school
Japan's AbbaLab launches $14m start-up fund
AbbaLab, a Japanese start-up incubator focused on hardware prototyping in the internet-of-things (IoT) space, has launched a JPY1.5 billion ($14 million) fund.
China Everbright acquires elderly care business
China Everbright has acquired a 67.3% stake in Beijing Huichen Nursing Home Management, a healthcare services provider for more than 10,000 Chinese seniors.
Tower Capital, Temasek bid $196m for China TCM player
Tower Capital, a vehicle controlled by former 3i and Actis Capital Partners executive Danny Koh, is partnering with Temasek Holdings in a S$269 million ($196 million) takeover bid for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) operator Eu Yan Sang International.