Articles by Justin Niessner
Korea's Viva Republica raises $405m at $7.2b valuation
Viva Republica, operator of the Korean money transfer app Toss, has raised a KRW460 billion ($404 million) round led by US-based Alkeon Capital, at a valuation of around $7.2 billion.
Portfolio: Mandala Capital and EFRAC
Mandala Capital is helping Indian food and pharma testing laboratory EFRAC distinguish itself against a field of ragtag competitors. Personnel, networks, and technology are the critical inputs
Deal focus: Australia’s ENA hits COVID-19 in the nose
Australian investors see hope in ENA Respiratory, a nasal spray specialist aiming to complement global COVID-19 vaccine programs with an immune system-boosting product
Singapore gene therapy start-up closes $24m Series A
Nuevocor, a preclinical biotech company specializing in gene therapy for heart disease, has closed an oversubscribed Series A round with $24 million in commitments.
Apis leads $45m Series C for India's RenewBuy
Apis Partners has led a $45 million Series C round for RenewBuy, an India insurance comparison platform specializing in motor insurance.
New Zealand's Oriens hits $56m Fund II target
New Zealand private equity firm Oriens Capital has hit the NZ$80 million ($56 million) target for its second fund and is now seeking NZ$20 million in oversubscriptions.
India's FamPay gets $38m Series A
FamPay, an Indian start-up aiming to launch the country’s first digital bank for teenagers, has raised a $38 million Series A round led by Elevation Capital.
Insight, Tiger lead Series B for India jobs platform
Insight Partners and Tiger Global Management have led a $70 million Series B round for Apna, an Indian professional networking and jobs platform.
Australia COVID-19 nasal spray maker raises $25m
ENA Respiratory, an Australian biotech company developing a nasal spray for the prevention of COVID-19, has raised A$32 million ($25 million) with support from local venture capital investor Brandon Capital.
India's Byju's raises $340m at $16.5b valuation
Indian education platform Byju’s has raised about $340 million at a post-money valuation of $16.5 billion from investors including The Blackstone Group.
Korea delivery platform Barogo gets $72m Series C
Korean delivery platform Barogo has raised KRW80 billion ($72 million) in Series C funding featuring several local private equity investors, including LB Investment and STIC Ventures.
Fund focus: Plugging ASEAN family offices into global tech
Family offices have helped iGlobe Partners renew a lean and restrained deep tech VC mandate. A global investee network is hoped to facilitate overseas investments amid travel stoppages
Deal focus: Malaysia’s Tealive taps PE scaling expertise
Tealive, a teashop brand that has exploded across Malaysia in recent years, is ready for a concerted international expansion. Creador has been brought in to guide the process
ChrysCapital exits US-based Infogain to Apax
ChrysCapital has exited Silicon Valley-based Infogain – an IT services provider that helped solidify the US-India cross-border opportunity set – to Apax Partners.
Creador takes 30% stake in Malaysia tea brand Tealive
Malaysia-based middle-market private equity firm Creador has paid an undisclosed sum for a 30% stake in local tea shop operator Tealive.
Singapore fintech start-up MatchMove raises $100m
Singapore’s MatchMove, a financial technology start-up with several VC backers, has raised $100 million from US-based IT services provider Nityo Infotech.
Advent exits Crompton Greaves' India appliances business
Advent International has offloaded its final 5.4% holding in Crompton Greaves’ India-listed household appliances business, ending a gradual exit after a failed takeover.
US VCs lead $60m round for Indonesia's BukuWarung
US-based Goodwater Capital and Valar Ventures, a firm co-founded by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, have led a $60 million round for Indonesian financial technology start-up BukuWarung.
Mekong invests in Vietnam appliances maker
Vietnam’s Mekong Capital has invested $10 million in local water purifier and electrical appliances maker Mutosi Group.
Japan's SmartHR raises $142.5m at $1.6b valuation
Japanese enterprise software supplier SmartHR has confirmed a JPY15.6 billion ($142.5 million) Series D round led by US-based Light Street Capital. It values the company at about $1.6 billion.
TPG leads $220m round for China's Dingdang Health
TPG Capital has led a $220 million round for Chinese online pharmacy services provider Dingdang Health.
Deal focus: TEC goes back to the office
KKR and Tiga Investments have acquired Hong Kong’s The Executive Centre at a time when flexible office space is coming into focus, but expansion ambitions need to remain in check
Deal focus: CVC gets intimate with A Bathing Ape
CVC Capital Partners has completed a complex carve-out of Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape from diversified Hong Kong retail group I.T
Blackstone buys International Data Group from China Oceanwide
The Blackstone Group has agreed to acquire International Data Group (IDG) from China Oceanwide Holdings for an enterprise valuation of $1.3 billion.