Articles by Justin Niessner
ShawKwei acquires CR Asia Group for $101m
ShawKwei & Partners has acquired CR Asia Group, a Bangkok-headquartered energy engineering company with a pan-regional presence, for $101 million.
Singapore's Quest Ventures launches maritime tech fund
Singapore’s Quest Ventures and ShipsFocus, a specialized start-up services studio, have achieved a first close of S$10 million ($7.5 million) on a maritime technology fund.
Singapore crypto exchange AscendEX raises $50m
Singapore crypto platform AscendEX has raised a $50 million Series B led by US-based sector specialists Polychain Capital and Hack VC.
Vision Fund leads $93m Series B for Hong Kong NFT platform
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a $93 million Series B round for Hong Kong non-fungible token (NFT) platform The Sandbox, a subsidiary of locally based category leader Animoca Brands.
Philippines fintech player Mynt gets $300m at $2b valuation
Warburg Pincus, Insight Capital, and Bow Wave Capital have led a $300 million round for Mynt, the Filipino financial technology company behind the mobile wallet GCash, at a valuation of $2 billion.
B Capital, Falcon Edge join $50m round for India digital bank
B Capital Group and Falcon Edge Capital have joined a $50 million Series B round for Indian digital banking services provider Fi at a valuation of $315 million.
Logistics: Machinery machinations
As private equity goes deeper downstream in the e-commerce supply chain, technology has emerged as a prerequisite and stumbling block
Blackstone buys Australia clinical trials specialist
The Blackstone Group has acquired Nucleus Network, which claims to be Australia’s largest phase-one clinical trials provider, for an undisclosed sum. It provides an exit for local GP Crescent Capital Partners.
India grocery delivery player Zepto raises $60m
Zepto, an Indian grocery app that claims to deliver food in 10 minutes, has raised $60 million in its first institutional funding round with US-based Glade Brook Capital taking the lead.
Korea's IMM leads $64m round for vertical farming company
Korea’s IMM Investment has led a $64.5 million round for Abu Dhabi-based vertical farming company Pure Harvest Smart Farms as part of an Asian expansion
Wavemaker launches Southeast Asia climate tech fund
Singapore-based Wavemaker Partners has launched what it calls a first-of-its-kind tech venture builder for Southeast Asia, including a fund targeting $25 million.
General Atlantic leads Series C for Philippines-based Kumu
General Atlantic has led a Series C round of undisclosed size for Philippines-based social media start-up Kumu, bringing total funding to date to $100 million.
India logistics provider Porter gets $100m Series E
Porter, which claims to operate India’s largest marketplace for intracity logistics, has raised an INR7.5 billion ($100 million) Series E round featuring Tiger Global Management.
Sofina, Lightrock lead $115m round for India's DeHaat
Sofina and Lightrock India have led a $115 million Series D round for Indian agricultural technology provider DeHaat. It is described as the country's largest-ever agtech round.
Deal focus: Biotech gets more cerebral
As opportunity appears to plateau in the most popular biotech segments, brain health could come to the fore. Neurology specialist Cerecin is tracking greater interest amid industry traction in the lab
Deal focus: Crypto promises frictionless wire transfers
Hong Kong’s XanPool is tapping a growing universe of cryptocurrency holders to speed up traditional money transferring processes while reducing costs. Valar Ventures offers support
Deal focus: India’s Hubilo rises from ashes
An early mover in last year’s virtual events boom, Hubilo is attracting global investors with an explosive growth story and a sense of empathy for a disrupted industry
India fintech start-up Clear raises $75m Series C
Indian financial technology start-up Clear, previously known as ClearTax, has raised a $75 million Series C round featuring Kora Capital, Alua Capital, and Think Investments.
Pencarrow makes New Zealand clinical research investments
Pencarrow Private Equity has invested in two of New Zealand’s leading clinical research companies, combining them into a single entity in which it holds a 52.3% stake.
India's Groww raises $251m at $3b valuation
US-based Iconiq Capital has led a $251 million Series E round for India’s Groww, a financial services provider for the retail market, at a valuation of $3 billion.
Hong Kong's FTX raises $420m, hits $25b valuation
Hong Kong cryptocurrency exchange operator FTX has raised $420 million at a valuation of $25 billion from a group of 69 investors.
Riverside adds to Australia workplace wellbeing rollup play
The Riverside Group has bought Australian injury management and occupational rehabilitation services provider Nabenet as part of a workplace wellbeing rollup strategy.
India's Axis Bank seeks $468m for distress buyout fund
India’s Axis Bank has launched a distress buyout fund targeting INR35 billion ($468 million) via its asset management business.
Hong Kong's Animoca Brands raises $65m at $2.2b valuation
Hong Kong non-fungible token (NFT) company Animoca Brands has raised $65 million from a group featuring Sequoia Capital China, more than doubling its pre-money valuation since May to $2.2 billion.