Articles by Justin Niessner
Media SPAC legitimizes MENA for Asia investors
The imminent US listing of a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) media app via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) is helping legitimize the region for Asian private equity.
India's PE-backed Pine Labs acquires Malaysia's Fave
Pine Labs, an India payments start-up backed by MasterCard, PayPal, and Sequoia Capital India, has acquired Fave, a Malaysian counterpart also backed by Sequoia India, for $45 million.
Hong Kong's Lever VC hits $46m fourth close on food fund
Lever VC, a Hong Kong-based food tech investor, has achieved a fourth close of $46 million on its debut fund, claiming 2.3x growth in the value of the portfolio since 2019.
Thailand’s Lakeshore closes second fund at $150m
Lakeshore Capital, a mid-market private equity firm focused on Thailand and the Greater Mekong region, has closed its second fund oversubscribed at the hard cap of $150 million.
Deal focus: Gobi sees 100x return on Airwallex
Gobi Partners became Airwallex's first institutional investor in 2016 due to a lack of support in the Australian company's home market. The GP made a partial exit in a recent Series D round at a valuation of $2.6 billion
Fund focus: Long Hill burns the midnight oil
Embarking on its first Zoom-based fundraise, China's Long Hill Capital succeeding in closing just above target on $300 million while significantly diversifying the LP base
Deal focus: Partners Group-backed IT play ripens early
Partners Group is set to generate a 5x return on the sale of its 45% stake in GlobalLogic to Hitachi as momentum in corporate digital transformation makes the IT services player a hot commodity
True North makes partial exit from India's PolicyBazaar
Indian private equity firm True North has confirmed a partial exit from local insurance portal PolicyBazaar.
Alteria hits first close on second India venture debt fund
India’s Alteria Capital has achieved a first close of INR13.2 billion ($177 million) on its second venture debt fund. The target is INR15 billion.
Falcon Edge backs India B2B platform OfBusiness
Falcon Edge Capital has led a $110 million growth round for India’s OfBusiness, a B2B platform for industrial sector services, at a post-money valuation of $800 million.
India's ShareChat raises $502m at $2.1b valuation
Tiger Global Management has led a $502 million Series E round for ShareChat, which claims to be India’s largest social media platform, at a valuation of $2.1 billion.
Australia's Canva sees valuation double once again
Australian graphic design platform Canva has more than doubled its valuation to $15 billion with a new $71 million growth round. It was valued at $3.2 billion 18 months ago.
Prosus, TPG lead $350m round for India pharmacy player
Prosus Ventures and TPG Growth have co-led a $350 million Series E round for India’s API Holdings, best known as the parent of pharmacy portal PharmEasy.
Vision Fund leads $300m round for India's Meesho
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a $300 million round for Meesho, India’s leading social e-commerce start-up, at a valuation of $2.1 billion.
Japan's YJ Capital, Line Ventures merge, launch $274m fund
Japan’s YJ Capital, recently rebranded as Z Venture Capital (ZVC), has launched a JPY30 billion ($274 million) following a merger with Line Ventures.
Qiming leads $30m Series B for China crypto start-up
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $30 million Series B round for China-based imToken, which claims to be Asia’s largest crypto wallet.
B Capital expands into China, raises follow-on fund
US and Singapore-headquartered VC investor B Capital Group has established a China presence and closed a late-stage follow-on fund of $415 million for existing portfolio companies.
Partners Group, CPPIB exit GlobalLogic to Hitachi
Partners Group and Canada Pension Plain Investment Board (CPPIB) are exiting a combined 90% stake in US-headquartered GlobalLogic to Japan’s Hitachi at an equity valuation of $8.5 billion.
Unison makes two Japan healthcare acquisitions
Japan’s Unison Capital has confirmed two local healthcare deals in the space of a week with pharmacy chain Reliance and outpatient nursing provider N Field.
MSPEA, Sihuan Pharma sell China hospital
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) and Sihuan Pharmaceuticals have agreed to sell their 80% stake in China’s Huaiyin Hospital for RMB882.8 million ($134.3 million).
Deal focus: Rethinking Australia’s biggest resource
Adamantem Capital’s acquisition of carbon farming specialist Climate Friendly recognizes the increasing sophistication of the Australian carbon credit market as well as its room for improvement
Asia-Middle East: Bridge builders
Back-and-forth investment and business building between Asia and the Middle East is a fertile theme for private equity. Such activity appears set to steadily increase rather than boom
Sequoia India raises $195m for latest seed fund
Sequoia Capital India has closed a second seed fund under its Surge accelerator program at $195 million. Like its predecessor, it will target start-ups in India and Southeast Asia.
Gulf Capital invests $30m in India healthcare push
Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Capital has committed $30 million to a plan that will see its global fertility services platform launch 18 clinics in India over the next 12 months.