Articles by Justin Niessner
Fund focus: 9 Basil targets Thai distress
9 Basil's predictions of distress in Southeast Asia have been realized faster than anticipated due to COVID-19. The Thai manager is now gauging the likely impact of social unrest
LP interview: Hermes GPE
Hermes GPE is leaning into Asia as the region proves relatively successful in deflecting COVID-19. This entails a greater focus on growth capital, country funds, and defensive sector targeting
Proterra supports plant-based egg start-up's Asia rollout
A consortium led by Proterra Investment Partners has committed $100 million to the establishment of an Asian unit of Eat Just, the company behind the US vegan egg substitute brand Just Egg.
SAIF India closes $400m VC fund, rebrands as Elevation Capital
SAIF Partners India has closed its fourth fund at $400 million within a few weeks of launch and rebranded as Elevation Capital.
Sequoia joins $22.5m round for Bangladesh's ShopUp
Sequoia Capital India and US-based Flourish Ventures have led a $22.5 million Series A round for Bangladesh B2B platform ShopUp. It is both firms’ first investment in the country.
OTPP leads $360m round for Asia data center business
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) has led a $360 million equity investment in Singapore-based data center developer Princeton Digital Group (PDG).
Australia's V2Food raises $55m Series B
Australian alternative protein producer V2Food has raised a A$77 million ($55 million) Series B round featuring Sequoia Capital China and Temasek Holdings.
Japan's Drone Fund secures anchor LPs for third vintage
Japan’s Drone Fund has reached a first close of undisclosed size on its third VC fund, with SMBC Nikko Securities and NTT Docomo coming in as anchor LPs. The target is JPY10 billion ($95 million).
Japan's aStart launches second dedicated space tech fund
Japanese VC investor aStart has raised JPY3.8 billion ($36 million) for its second fund dedicated to space tech. The vehicle remains open.
Tech, flexibility indispensable in ASEAN logistics
Logistics operators navigating Southeast Asia’s challenging fragmentation against the backdrop of COVID-19 must embrace digital upgrades and flexibility in terms of service offering.
Singapore auto marketplace Carro raises $110m
Singapore used car marketplace Carro has raised S$150 million ($110 million) in debt and equity, including an unspecified equity contribution from Japan’s MS&AD Insurance and Mitsubishi Corp.
Swedish GP buys Singapore biotech supplier, SBI exits
Swedish private equity firm Summa Equity has acquired a controlling stake in Singapore-based biotech developer Sengenics for an undisclosed sum, setting up an exit for Japan’s SBI Holdings.
Thailand’s 9 Basil raises $120m for debut fund
9 Basil, a Thailand-based GP launched last year by local multi-family office Blueprint Forest, has raised $120 million for its debut fund.
3H Health leads $67m Series B for China's EdiGene
China’s 3H Health Investment has led a RMB450 million ($67 million) Series B round for local genetics-based drug discovery and therapeutics developer EdiGene.
Japan space debris start-up raises $191m Series E
Astroscale, a Japanese space tech start-up dedicated to cleaning up orbital debris, has closed its Series E round at $191 million with support from local investors aStart and Sparx Group.
Delta, Daiwa back Myanmar plastic recycler
Delta Capital Myanmar, formerly PMM Partners, and Daiwa Securities Group have invested $12.6 million in Myanmar recycling business Commercial Plastics Holding (CPC).
Deal focus: VR gaming comes of age
Japanese videogame publishing company Thirdverse believes the time is right to bring virtual reality entertainment to the masses. VCs with expertise in the sector are beginning to agree
Alternative fund structures: Alternate universe
Irregular fund structures, including single-asset platforms, are often the most appropriate inroad for investors in developing Asia. But it has taken a pandemic to bring them to the fore
India's Razorpay raises $100m Series D
Indian digital payments start-up Razorpay has achieved unicorn status following a $100 million Series D round led by GIC Private and Sequoia Capital India.
Indonesia's AC Ventures hits first close on debut fund
AC Ventures, a recent merger of Indonesia’s Agaeti Ventures and Convergence Ventures, has reached a first close of $56 million for its debut fund as a combined group. The target is $80 million.
Archipelago acquires Malaysia's Coolblog, Ekuinas exits
Archipelago Capital Partners has acquired Malaysian dessert and drink chain Coolblog from government-backed PE firm Ekuinas based on an equity value of MYR75 million ($18 million).
Everest Medicines soars on debut after $451m IPO
Everest Medicines, a Chinese biotech start-up backed by CBC Group, performed strongly in early trading in Hong Kong following a HK$3.5 billion ($451 million) IPO.
Jafco backs Japan VR game developer
Japan’s Jafco has led an $8.5 million Series A round for local virtual reality (VR) game developer Thirdverse.
SAIF launches fourth India VC fund
SAIF Partners India has launched its fourth VC fund with a target of $400 million.