Articles by Justin Niessner
Max, Goldman invest $5m in India's Azure
Max Group and Goldman Sachs have invested INR335 million ($5 million) in Indian restaurant operator Azure Hospitality.
CLSA Capital Partners backs Japan school operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has invested in Japanese school operator BC Ings through its Sunrise II buyout fund.
Japanese pharma group launches global VC arm
Japanese oncology specialist Taiho Pharmaceutical has launched a VC arm that will invest an initial pool of $50 million in global start-ups focused on cancer therapies.
Japan's Gree reaches $37m first close on second fund
Gree Ventures – the VC arm of Japanese online media and gaming company Gree - has achieved a first close of its second fund with about $37 million in commitments.
Singapore's Tagit receives $8.8m from Japanese IT group
Singapore mobile technology company Tagit has secured S$12 million ($8.8 million) for an international expansion effort from SRA Group, a Japanese IT systems developer and operator.
Singapore logistics group launches VC arm with $14.6m fund
Singaporean port terminal operator PSA International has launched a logistics-focused venture capital arm with an initial fund size of S$20 million ($14.6 million).
Security in numbers: Asia VCs target cybersecurity
An unbalanced global cybersecurity market – currently weighted heavily toward the US – is slowly finding its feet in Asia. But opportunities in the expected boom may not be intuitive to newcomers
China tech group launches Israel innovation fund
Chinese tech company Kuang-Chi has launched an Israel-based global innovation fund and is targeting a corpus of $300 million within the next three years.
Gree, GMO in $4.6m round for Japan's Sorabito
Sorabito, the Japanese operator of an online marketplace for heavy machinery, has received JPY500 million ($4.6 million) from investors including Gree Ventures and existing backer GMO Venture Partners.
Paypal launches fintech incubator in Singapore
PayPal has launched an incubation program in Singapore that will offer infrastructure, mentorship and direction to local financial technology start-ups. It will begin operations in June.
Dell Foundation to invest $50m in Indian start-ups
The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) has committed to invest $50 million in Indian start-ups over the next three years.
Sequoia backs competing take-private bid for Zhaopin
Chinese recruitment platform Zhaopin, which is already the target of a $1.1 billion take-private bid, has received a competing offer from a consortium including Sequoia Capital and company management.
Sino-US biopharma player gets $10m round
Sino-US biopharmaceutical company Sirnaomics has raised $10 million in a Series B round led by Hong Kong-based venture capital firm Value Measured Investment.
AID in $13m round for Japan home rental site
AID Partners and Cool Japan Fund have contributed to a JPY1.4 billion ($13 million) round for Japan’s Hyakusenrenma, an online vacation rentals platform.
Singapore's TIH buys $46m portfolio from Temasek unit
Singapore-listed private equity firm TIH has purchased a majority stake in a resources and healthcare-focused portfolio from a unit of Temasek Holdings for S$62 million ($45.8 million).
PE-backed Parag gets $52m anchor commitment for IPO
Parag Milk Foods has advanced its Indian IPO by attracting INR3.4 billion ($51.5 million) from anchor investors, including Asia-focused US private equity firm Indus Capital.
Deal focus: Wongnai eyes expansion, then Thailand IPO
InVent's commitment to Wongnai represents the first-ever Series B round for a Thai start-up from a local VC firm. The company wants to use its dominant position in online restaurant reviews to enter other verticals
Thailand VC: Tough nut to crack
As Thailand’s government signals its intention to embrace venture capital, the harder but less visible work of transforming a traditionally risk-averse culture grinds on
BlackRock eyes Asia with $630m global buyout fund
BlackRock has raised more than $630 million for a direct co-investment buyout fund aimed in part at investments in emerging Asian markets.
India's Religare sells stake in Landmark Partners
Indian financial services provider Religare Enterprises has sold its stake in Landmark Partners, a US private equity firm specializing in secondary funds.
Indonesia's Nida Rooms raises $4.2m
Convergence Ventures and CyberAgent Ventures have led a $4.2 million pre-Series A round for Indonesian hotel reservation service provider Nida Rooms.
Helion, Ventureast in $12m round for India’s Seclore
Helion Ventures and Ventureast have participated in a $12 million Series B round for Indian data security solutions provider Seclore.
Intouch leads Series B for Thailand's Wongnai
Intouch Holdings, acting through its VC arm, InVest, has led a Series B round of funding for Thai restaurant review website operator Wongnai Media.
India's Roposo raises $5m from Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann India Investments has invested $5 million in Roposo, a domestic fashion-oriented social network and shopping app provider.