Articles by Justin Niessner
Lightspeed, Tiger lead $67m Series B for India's OkCredit
Lightspeed Venture Partners and Tiger Global Management have led a $67 million Series B round for Indian financial technology player OkCredit.
Khazanah sells Malaysian hospital for $244m
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has agreed to sell the Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur to local operator IHH Healthcare for about MYR1 billion ($244 million).
YBF Ventures, Honeywell launch real estate tech accelerator
Australia’s YBF Ventures and US conglomerate Honeywell have teamed up to launch a Sydney-based technology start-up accelerator for the real estate sector.
Baidu Ventures joins Series B for China retail AI player
Baidu Ventures has joined a Series B round of undisclosed size for SandStar, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) developer focused on the retail sector. It brings total investment to date to $25 million.
OPIC commits $185m to India SME sector
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a development finance arm of the US government, will invest $185 million in India’s small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector.
500 Startups, UN launch Indonesia accelerator
500 Startups has teamed up with a unit of the United Nations to launch an impact-focused start-up accelerator in Indonesia.
Qiming leads $37m round for Hong Kong biotech player
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $37 million Series B round for Insilico Medicine, a Hong Kong-based drug development company that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
Thailand's Pomelo gets $52m Series C
Thailand-based fashion retailer Pomelo has raised a $52 million Series C round from a group including Hong Kong’s Provident Growth. It is being called the first-ever Series C for a Thai start-up.
Singapore's Vertex closes debut growth fund at $290m
Vertex Venture Holdings, the VC arm of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has reached a final close on its first growth-stage fund with $290 million in commitments. The initial target was $250 million.
Hong Kong's WHub launches crowdfunding platform
WHub, a Hong Kong-based start-up services provider and accelerator, has launched the territory’s first licensed equity crowdfunding platform for technology entrepreneurs.
PAG commits $300m to China's LexinFintech
PAG has agreed to invest $300 million in LexinFintech, a US-listed financial technology platform provider based in China.
Mithril Capital invests $45m in India's Glance
Mithril Capital, a US-based VC firm launched by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, has invested $45 million in Glance, an Indian smart phone media service provider.
GIC leads $500m investment in Vietnam's VCM Services
A consortium led by Singapore’s GIC Private has agreed to invest $500 million in VCM Services, a consumer retail division of Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest conglomerate.
CDC appoints direct equity managing director
CDC Group has named Tony Morgan (pictured), formerly a managing director at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) as a managing director responsible for direct equity.
China secondaries: Curious conversions
An exit lag and difficulties raising money for renminbi funds in China has created a novel opening for secondaries investors comfortable moving assets from one currency to another
CPPIB confirms $115m investment in India's Delhivery
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has confirmed it has invested $115 million in Indian e-commerce logistics services provider Delhivery.
Temasek, Kuehne + Nagel launch early-stage logistics fund
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has launched a $50 million fund focused on early-stage logistics technology start-ups alongside Switzerland supply chain industry giant Kuehne + Nagel.
AI risk: Watching the watchers
Facial recognition specialist Megvii is leading the integration of artificial intelligence into daily life in China. As business details come to light, investor concerns around this process are crystalizing
Mandarin reaches first close on third China-Europe fund
China-Europe cross-border private equity firm Mandarin Capital Partners has reached a first close of EUR148 million ($163 million) on its third fund. The overall target is EUR250 million.
Quadrant to acquire Australia's Love To Dream
Australia’s Quadrant Private Equity has agreed to acquire a majority interest Love To Dream, a domestic baby care brand focused on swaddles and sleepwear.
QIC to acquire Australian marine logistics player
Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) has agreed to acquire 100% of Australian marine logistics provider Sea Swift, facilitating exits for CHAMP Ventures and HarbourVest Partners.
Profile: CCV's Wei Zhou
Wei Zhou, founder of China Creation Ventures, turned a mid-career pitstop and a fateful encounter in the US into a bridge between his early work as a technologist and his ultimate calling as an investor
PAG buys control of China biotech player for $532m
PAG has agreed to pay RMB3.8 billion ($532 million) for a 58% stake in a biotech unit of Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical. It is being called the largest PE investment in China’s biotech space to date.
Myron Zhu joins Manulife with expansion mandate
Manulife Investment Management has appointed Myron Zhu (pictured), formerly co-head of PE at Aberdeen Standard Investments, as its head of Asia private markets based in Hong Kong.