Articles by Justin Niessner
Operational due diligence: Query parameters
Institutional investors are taking a closer look at the back-office operations of fund managers in what appears to be a new normal for GP-LP relations. Service providers are circling
VIG acquires Korean education business
VIG Partners has agreed to pay KRW165 billion ($137 million) for a controlling stake in D.Share, an online-offline English language education provider in Korea.
Bain buys Japanese email business from Cheetah Digital
Bain Capital Private Equity has acquired the Japanese email services business of Cheetah Digital, a US marketing firm backed by San Francisco-based Vector Capital.
CDC names Bangladeshi head, invests local bank
UK-based development finance institution CDC Group has cemented its presence in Bangladesh through an investment in local lender BRAC Bank and the naming of a country director.
Asia fintech: Micro is big
The lowest common denominator is getting lower in financial services as technology reaches deeper into the sector. Investors must keep up to speed on business model evolution
New Mountain Capital buys US-India BPO player
US private equity firm New Mountain Capital has agreed to acquire Emids, a US-headquartered business process outsourcing (BPO) provider with extensive operations in India, for an undisclosed sum.
Fund focus: Vertex pumps up in SE Asia, India
Having raised $305 million for its latest India and Southeast Asia fund, Vertex Ventures is looking to tap into themes of technological advancement common to both geographies
Japan investors back US token player Securitize
Japanese investors are supporting efforts to bring token-based economic infrastructure to Japan with participation in a $14 million round for US-based digital securities technology player Securitize.
Sequoia leads $15m round for India's Darwinbox
Sequoia Capital India has led a $15 million Series B round for Indian human resources (HR) technology platform Darwinbox.
Mekong targets $250m for fifth Vietnam fund
Mekong Capital has launched its fifth private equity fund focused on the Vietnam middle market. A hard cap has been set at $250 million.
India SME platform OfBusiness raises $35m Series D
OfBusiness, an Indian smart financing services provider for small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) has received an INR2.5 billion ($35 million) Series D round led by Norwest Venture Partners.
Singapore's Mooncake Capital launches $100m crypto VC fund
Mooncake Capital, a Singapore-based venture capital firm focused on crypto technologies has launched an Asia-focused fund targeting $100 million.
Capricorn Capital acquires Hong Kong accounting firm A-Pass
Capricorn Capital, a UK-based family office, has paid an undisclosed sum for a 67% stake in Hong Kong accounting and corporate services firm A-Pass.
Skybound Capital acquires Australia’s Fair Go Finance
Hong Kong-based private equity investor Skybound Capital has acquired a 60% stake in Australian online loans provider Fair Go Finance for A$20 million ($13.6 million).
Q&A: Vulcan Capital's Tommy Teo
Tommy Teo, a former executive director at Northstar Group, is setting up the Asian headquarters for Vulcan Capital, a philanthropic but returns-focused firm created by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen
Navis acquires Thailand's Srithai Food Group
Navis Capital Partners has paid an undisclosed sum for a controlling stake in Srithai Food Group, a Thailand-based restaurant supplier focused on the seasoning and condiments segment.
Japan carve-out opportunity moves beyond conglomerates
Japan’s corporate carve-out opportunity set is expanding as smaller firms begin to follow the example of conglomerates, according to domestic mid-market GP Integral Corporation.
Singapore's Advance.AI gets $80m Series C
Advance.AI, a Singapore-based start-up focused on financial technology applications of big data, has raised an $80 million Series C round led by Gaorong Capital and Pavilion Capital.
Indian fintech player Groww raises $21m
Groww, an Indian financial technology provider focused on mutual fund investment services, has raised a $21.4 million Series B round led by US-based Ribbit Capital.
Korea fintech player Tera Funding gets $18m
Korean financial technology provider Tera Funding has secured an $18 million Series B round from a group including SBI Investment Korea and KB Investment.
Vertex closes Southeast Asia, India fund at $305m
Vertex Ventures, a VC arm of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has closed its fourth Southeast Asia and India fund at $305 million, beating an initial target of $230 million.
India's Lightbox closes third VC fund at $209m
Lightbox Ventures has raised $209.3 million for its third India-focused fund, exceeding an initial target of $200 million.
VCs invest $11m in Singapore talent agency
Gushcloud International, a digital talent agency based in Singapore, has received $11 million from a group of regional VCs and US hip-hop mogul Russel Simmons (pictured).
LPs and infrastructure: Custom connections
LPs are mixing up their approaches to infrastructure as shifts in supply-demand dynamics converge with increased specialization requirements in next-generation projects. Asia remains the unproven goldmine