Articles by Justin Niessner
Bain agrees Japan human resources carve-out
Bain Capital Private Equity has agreed to acquire 100% of the human resources (HR) business and related subsidiaries of Japan corporate software developer Works Applications for an undisclosed sum.
Hamilton Lane targets Asia with $1.7b co-investment fund
Hamilton Lane has closed its fourth global co-investment fund at $1.7 billion, with a view to deploying 15-20% in Asia. It is the firm’s largest co-investment fund to date.
India secondaries: Mixed signals
India has skirted around an expected boom in secondaries activity for the past couple of years, but investors haven’t lost faith in the narrative’s eventual unfolding. The devil will be in the details
Australia's Square Peg confirms $237m close for Fund II
Australia’s Square Peg Capital has secured two new superannuation fund backers for its second fund, which has closed at A$340 million ($237 million).
Korea’s Stonebridge invests in Indonesia's CoHive
Korea’s Stonebridge Ventures has led a $13.5 million investment in CoHive, an Indonesian co-working space operator previously known as EV Hive that spun out from East Ventures.
CITIC Capital invests $20m in New Zealand travel business
CITIC Capital has invested NZ$30 million ($20 million) in Tourism Holdings, a New Zealand-listed travel services company that specializes in recreational vehicle rentals.
Affirma leads pre-IPO round for China's Dianrong
Affirma Capital – formed through a spin-out of Standard Chartered’s private equity business – has led a pre-IPO round of undisclosed size for Chinese P2P lending services provider Dianrong.
China's Haoqipei gets $60m Series D
Haoqipei, the operator of a B2B auto parts trading platform in China, has closed a $60 million Series D round led by Access Technology Ventures, with plans for a domestic expansion.
Japan’s Aspirant leads $223m manufacturing carve-out
Japanese private equity firm Aspirant Group has led the 100% acquisition of a copper tubing subsidiary of diversified industrial manufacturer UACJ Corporation for about JPY24 billion ($223 million).
Revitalizing Japan's conglomerates: Big ticket
Japan’s manufacturing conglomerates are continuing to define the economy as they either adapt or succumb to new technology trends. The process is adding a new ripple to the local carve-out market
Malaysia's Kenanga launches late-stage VC fund
Malaysia’s Kenanga Investment Bank has launched a venture fund of undisclosed size that will invest exclusively in companies that have achieved unicorn status or are within 6-24 months of IPO.
Allegro backs Australia's Questas
Australian private equity firm Allegro Funds has confirmed its investment in local mining, construction and agricultural support services provider Questas Group.
Catalys seeks $100m for Japan healthcare VC fund
Newly established Japanese venture capital firm Catalys Pacific has launched its debut fund with a view to raise $100 million for investments in early-stage life science start-ups globally.
Panasonic, VCs back Series B for Japan robotics player
Panasonic Corporation has joined a group of Japanese venture capital firms in a JPY900 million ($8.3 million) Series B round for local industrial robotics systems developer Linkwiz.
Australia's Leap Capital raises $34m venture debt fund
Australian investment firm Leap Capital has raised A$50 million ($34 million) for a venture debt fund that will target established, revenue-generating companies locally.
Fidelity plans Eight Roads demerger
Fidelity International has announced plans to spin-out its proprietary investment arm Eight Roads within the year pending regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Australia’s NAB Ventures exits Wave Financial in $400m deal
NAB Ventures, a unit of National Australia Bank (NAB), is set for its debut exit via a deal that will see US tax services giant H&R Block acquire Canada’s Wave Financial for about $400 million.
HSBC launches $880m GBA tech fund
HSBC has launched an $880 million fund to provide debt financing for early-stage technology companies leveraging China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) development initiative.
Deal focus: NoBroker eases India's property pain points
Beenext re-upped in NoBroker - supporting a Series C round led by General Atlantic - because it believes the company's deep industry knowledge is a differentiator in India's online property brokerage space
AlixPartners hires managing director for Shanghai office
AlixPartners, an advisory firm specializing in turnaround deals, has expanded its Greater China practice with the appointment of Ford Motor Company's Stephen Dyer (pictured) as a managing director in Shanghai.
Greater Bay Area: Promise keepers
The Greater Bay Area initiative plans to speed up regional integration in the Pearl River Delta, with Hong Kong set to be a major beneficiary. Questions remain about the government’s ability to follow through
Vivo raises $1.28b for China-US healthcare fund
US and China-focused healthcare investor Vivo Capital has raised $1.28 billion for its ninth private equity fund. The predecessor vehicle closed at $750 million in 2015.
Singapore's Wavemaker reaches $60m first close on third fund
US and Singapore-based early-stage VC firm Wavemaker Partners has reached a first close of $60 million for its third Southeast Asia-focused fund. The target is $100 million.
China agriculture biotech program gets $30m
An investment platform owned by the Beijing Changping regional government has committed RMB204 million ($30 million) to a partnership with Origin Agritech that will commercialize genetically modified corn seeds.