Articles by Justin Niessner
CVC acquires Myanmar telecom towers business
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to buy Irrawaddy Green Towers (IGT), Myanmar’s largest independent telecommunications infrastructure provider.
SoftBank joins $60m Series B for Korean payments player
SoftBank Ventures Asia has joined a $60 million Series B round for Korean payments technology start-up Chai.
Infratil rejects $3.8b AustralianSuper takeover offer
New Zealand-listed infrastructure investor Infratil has rejected a takeover offer from AustralianSuper that values it at around NZ$5.4 billion ($3.8 billion).
Deal focus: Japan GPs see upside in specialized staffing
CLSA Capital Partners’ sale of Japanese staffing services player Qit to Advantage Partners reveals enduring private equity interest in potentially shaky categories made sturdy by specialization
Japan’s JIC invests four local start-ups
Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) has backed four local start-ups via its new VC unit. This includes a JPY3 billion ($29 million) commitment to business digitization consultant Monstar Lab.
CLSA raises $226m for debut Asia private debt fund
CLSA Capital Partners has closed its first private debt fund at $226 million, targeting small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) deemed market leaders in Asia Pacific.
Portfolio: VIG Partners and Joun Life/Preed Life
By merging Joun Life with Preed Life, VIG Partners’ groundbreaking venture into Korean funeral services is reimagining an industry beyond its core ceremonies
Asia Partners leads $30m Series D for Malaysia's Carsome
Singapore-based Asia Partners has a led a $30 million all-equity Series D round for Malaysian used car trading platform Carsome.
Korea's MegazoneCloud raises $122m Series B
Korean enterprise cloud services provider MegazoneCloud has closed a $122 million Series B round featuring more than 20 investors, including at least eight private equity firms.
Australia's EVP hits $37m first close on Fund III
Australia’s Equity Venture Partners (EVP) has reached a first close of A$50 million ($37 million) on its third early-stage B2B software fund.
Israel's OTV raises $170m, plans Asia expansion
OTV, an Israeli VC firm focused on digital health, has closed its latest fund at $170 million, opened a China office, and appointed a new head of Asia to spearhead an expansion in the region.
Singapore's Velocity Ventures launches travel fund
Velocity Ventures, a Singapore-based VC firm focused on travel and hospitality, has launched its debut early-stage fund targeting Southeast Asia with a target of $20 million.
Everstone buys Indian pharma ingredients player
Everstone Group has acquired a controlling stake in Calibre, an Indian ingredients supplier for the pharmaceutical and nutrition industries, for an undisclosed sum.
MBK credit fund to join PE fund on CAR investor roster
MBK Partners has agreed to subscribe to $175 million in convertible bonds issued by China Auto Rental (CAR). It follows a large commitment and a take-private offer by MBK last month.
VC unit of Japan's KLab spins out, rebrands as Anobaka
KVP, the VC unit of Japanese mobile games company KLab, has spun out as an independent entity under the name Anobaka.
CLSA sells Japan outsourcing business to Advantage
CLSA Capital Partners has sold Japan-based industrial sector human resources outsourcing business Qit to Advantage Partners for an undisclosed sum.
Japan's MedVenture closes second fund at $95m
MedVenture Partners, a Japanese VC firm focused on medical devices, has closed its second fund with JPY9.9 billion ($95 million) in commitments.
Deal focus: Cashfree targets merchants in India’s payments boom
Apis Partners' support of India-based Cashfree is driven by a recognition that the democratization of digital payments is as much about empowering traditional merchants as unbanked consumers
LP interview: Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University has aggressively expanded its endowment program by ramping up its appetite for risk. Asian venture capital is playing a key role in this agenda
Australia's NextGen launches AI fund
NextGen Funds Management, a newly established GP in Australia, has launched what it is calling the country’s first dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) fund.
3W leads $43m Series E for China's CANbridge
Hong Kong’s 3W Fund Management has led a $43 million Series E round for CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, a Beijing-based drug developer that focuses cancer and rare diseases.
AIIB backs ADM's renewable energy debt fund
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has committed $100 million to an Asia-focused debt fund dedicated to renewable energy managed by Hong Kong’s ADM Capital.
Roc buys Australia grain marketing business
Australia’s Roc Partners has agreed to acquire a 100% stake in local grain storage and handling company Emerald Grain from Japan’s Sumitomo Corp for an undisclosed sum.
J-Star acquires Japanese homeware brand
Japanese private equity firm J-Star has acquired a controlling stake in local homeware brand Shirayuki Fuukin for an undisclosed sum.