Articles by Justin Niessner
French GP exits Singapore's JustCo with 8x return
France-based GP Tikehau Capital has exited its stake in Singapore workspace provider JustCo, achieving a net profit of S$27.7 million ($20.5 million) and an 8x return multiple.
BP enters China AI sector
BP has realized its first investment in China’s artificial intelligence (AI) sector by backing energy systems developer R&B Technology through a venture capital arm.
New Zealand's Soul Machines raises $40m Series B
Soul Machines, a New Zealand-based company specializing in emotionally responsive artificial intelligence (AI), has raised a $40 million Series B round led by Temasek Holdings.
Openspace makes first Thailand investment
Southeast Asia-focused Openspace Ventures has made its first investment in Thailand, co-leading a $10 million Series B round for financial technology player Finnomena alongside China’s Gobi Ventures.
Australia's Five V agrees Philippines outsourcing carve-out
Australian GP Five V Capital has agreed a A$100 million ($69 million) carve-out of Philippines business offshoring specialist MicroSourcing as a bolt-on for an existing portfolio company.
EQT backs Southeast Asia hospital operator
EQT Partners has confirmed an investment of undisclosed size in Health Management International (HMI), a hospital operator with a presence in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
China's NextData gets $73m Series C
Tencent Holdings and XiangHe Capital have led a $73 million Series C round for China-based cybersecurity services provider NextData.
China’s CF PharmTech raises $90m Series E
CF PharmTech, a Chinese devices maker focused on respiratory health, has raised $90 million in Series E funding led by local private equity investor New Alliance Capital.
The crystal ball: Predictions for 2020
Industry experts weigh in as a range of macro factors promise to reshape markets across the region. Political, demographic, and scientific variables loom large
Indonesia’s Alpha JWC Ventures closes second fund at $123m
Indonesia-based early-stage investor Alpha JWC Ventures has closed its second fund oversubscribed at $123 million.
Denham, Nexif acquire Vietnam hydro player
Resources industry private equity firm Denham Capital and Singapore-based power management company Nexif have jointly acquired a 94% stake in Vietnam’s Song Giang Hydropower.
AIIB backs two energy, infrastructure funds
China-headquartered Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is set to anchor two private equity funds, including an energy-focused vehicle, with a total commitment of $125 million.
Singapore medical tech start-up raises $40 million
Awak Technologies, a Singaporean start-up that makes wearable dialysis treatment devices, has raised $40 million co-led by Vickers Venture Partners and an unnamed medical technology company.
Deal focus: 2C2P brings enterprise to SE Asia fintech
Cento Ventures picked 2C2P as the first investment under its late-stage strategy, having been one over by the company's B2B approach to digital payments
Q&A: Permira's Kurt Bjorklund
Kurt Bjorklund, a co-managing partner at Permira, explains how a sector-focused investment style is becoming indispensable in Asia’s competitive and disruption-prone markets
Reliance buys majority stake in India's NowFloats
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has agreed to buy an 85% stake in local enterprise IT provider NowFloats for INR1.4 billion ($20 million). It positions several VCs to exit.
Tiger Global leads round for Indian invoice discounting platform
Tiger Global Management has led a $26 million Series B round for Indian B2B financing platform provider KredX.
New Zealand impact fund backs sustainable packaging player
New Zealand’s Impact Enterprise Fund (IEF) has confirmed an investment in local sustainable packaging supplier Grounded.
Macro uncertainty to drive increased Korean M&A
Difficult economic and political conditions bode well for the Korean PE industry in the near term, according to Michael Chung (pictured), head of Korea at Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA).
Malaysia's Carsome raises $50m Series C
Japan’s Daiwa Securities and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group have joined a $50 million Series C round for Malaysian used car trading platform Carsome.
Australia cybersecurity start-up receives $47.6m
Australia-based cybersecurity start-up Secure Code Warrior has secured a $47.6 million Series B round led by Goldman Sachs.
China-Australia biotech fund raises $31m
UniSA Ventures, a tech commercialization unit of the University of South Australia, has secured A$45 million ($31 million) from a group of Chinese investors for an Australia-focused biotechnology fund.
Singapore e-scooter start-up raises $18.5m
Neuron Mobility, a Singapore-based e-scooter company, has secured a $18.5 million Series A round led by Australia’s Square Peg Capital and US-based GSR Ventures.
Singapore's Vertex receives $180m for global fund-of-funds
Vertex Ventures, a VC arm of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has received commitments of $180 million from Japanese investors for a fund-of-funds that will support its global portfolio of VC vehicles.