Articles by Justin Niessner
India’s Zetwerk secures $120m Series D
India’s Zetwerk, a marketplace for the outsourcing of small manufacturing jobs, has raised a $120 million Series D round led by US-based Greenoaks Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
CDC expands VC program with South Asia focus
UK development finance institution CDC Group has engaged two venture capital industry veterans as part of a VC program expansion in Africa and South Asia.
US strategic to buy PE-backed Australia payroll business
Ceridian, a US-based human resources technology provider has agreed to acquire Australian payroll software specialist Ascender, setting up exits for Potentia Capital and Five V Capital.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Exit of the Year - IPO: SBI Card
The Carlyle Group helps SBI Card win its place in the ongoing rise of digital India before realizing a landmark domestic IPO. Coordination with State Bank of India has been crucial
VI Group, SIG lead $15m round for Vietnam's Elsa
Vietnam-based English language education app operator Elsa has raised a $15 million Series B round co-led by local private equity firm VI Group and SIG.
CLSA partially exits Japan medical IT provider
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has partially exited its position in NHOSA Corporation, a Japanese IT provider for dental clinics and medical institutions.
Deal focus: iStox finds firmer footing
A clutch of Japanese investors has validated iStox’s blockchain-enabled digital securities marketplace. Now the Singapore-based start-up is taking the idea to new markets
AVCJ Awards 2020: Deal of the Year - Large Cap: Jio Platforms
Jio Platforms has attracted an array of global investors as its digital ecosystem designs come into focus. L Catterton Asia adds consumer clout to the infrastructural proceedings
Prosus Ventures appoints head of Southeast Asia
Prosus Ventures, formerly a VC arm of South African conglomerate Naspers, has engaged Sachin Bhanot as its Singapore-based head of Southeast Asia.
Longreach sells Japanese jeweler to Integral
The Longreach Group has exited Primo Japan to Integral Corporation for an undisclosed sum. This makes Integral the jewelry retailer’s fourth consecutive private equity owner.
New Zealand's Oriens Capital acquires biosecurity specialist
New Zealand private equity firm Oriens Capital has agreed to acquire a 70% position in IVS Group, a local biosecurity services specialist, for an undisclosed sum.
Asia family offices: Unfamiliar territory
The industrial backgrounds of family offices represent a strategic edge but also a potential hinderance to portfolio diversification. The same goes for principal-led governance structures
AVCJ Awards 2020: Fundraising of the Year - Large Cap: The Carlyle Group
With twice as much dry powder as in its previous Japan vintage, The Carlyle group expects mega-deals and private equity participation to increase
General Atlantic backs Indonesia biotech developer
General Atlantic has invested $55 million in Kalbe Genexine Biologics, an Indonesia-based drug developer focusing on Southeast Asia.
Aspex leads $200m Series E for Hong Kong's Klook
Aspex Management has led a $200 million Series E round for Klook as the Hong Kong travel app pivots to domestic holiday services during a freeze in international tourism.
Hong Kong's E15 VC closes second fund at $32m
Hong Kong technology investor E15 VC, also known as E15 Ventures, has closed its second fund at $32 million with a $15 million contribution from Sun Hung Kai & Co (SHK).
500 Startups appoints Asia regional director
500 Startups has appointed Ee Ling Lim, formerly the VC’s country lead for Singapore, as regional director for Asia Pacific.
Morgan Stanley backs India logistics provider
Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Fund has invested INR1.8 billion ($25 million) in Leap India, a supply chain services provider focused on cost reduction through pallet pooling.
China e-sports business VSPN lifts Series B to $160m
VSPN, a Chinese e-sports broadcaster and events promoter backed by Temasek Holdings, has extended its Series B round to $160 million with a mix of VC and strategic investors.
Singapore's iStox raises $50m Series A
A group of Japanese VC investors has backed a $50 million Series A round for Singapore’s iStox, a digital securities platform that deals in private markets.
Dimension leads $48m round for Japan's Nyle
Japanese VC firm Dimension has led a JPY5 billion ($48.3 million) round for local digital marketing and mobile media business Nyle.
Riverside to buy Australian insurance broker
The Riverside Group has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Australian disability insurance broker Altius from Sydney-listed AUB Group for A$57 million ($44.3 million) in cash.
COVID-19 changing conduct as much as tech usage
Experiences vary across geographies as Asian GPs adapt to pandemic working conditions. Technology use is up, but the most lasting changes may be more cultural in nature.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Deal of the Year - Small Cap: TaniGroup
Openspace Ventures played a key role in helping Indonesian agriculture technology start-up TaniGroup achieve critical mass as COVID-19 weeded out much of the competition