Articles by Justin Niessner
Deal focus: Morse Micro takes Wi-Fi to the next level
Australia’s Main Sequence Ventures plans to make Morse Micro one of the few Wi-Fi chipmakers in an easy-to-imagine future where more reliable, long-range device connectivity surges in demand
Portfolio: Advantage Partners and Elise Fashion
Advantage Partners acquired Vietnamese women’s apparel retailer Elise Fashion with a view to integrating manufacturing, design, and distribution into a leaner operation with a more international profile
EQT exits China packaging business to OTPP
EQT has confirmed the sale of its co-control stake in China-headquartered packaging manufacturing company GPA Global to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (OTPP) for an undisclosed sum.
Indonesian crypto exchange Reku raises $11m
Indonesia’s AC Ventures has led a USD 11m Series A round for Reku, a local crypto exchange that claims to offer the lowest fees in the market.
PE-backed Mankind Pharma files for India IPO
Indian drug maker Mankind Pharma has filed for a domestic IPO, setting up an exit for Capital International, a private equity arm of Capital Group.
Australia's Telstra Ventures raises $336m for latest global fund
Australia’s Telstra Ventures has closed its third global fund on AUD 500m (USD 336m), beating a target of AUD 400m. Fund II closed on AUD 675m in 2018 and added a USD 50m sidecar the following year.
Blackbird leads $23m Series B for Australia's Sonder
Australia’s Blackbird Ventures has led a AUD 35m (USD 23.4m) Series B round for Sonder, a staff and student management app focused on wellbeing and safety.
Japan's J-Star backs campervan manufacturer
Japanese lower-middle market private equity firm J-Star has confirmed an investment of undisclosed size in Toy Factory, a campervan designer and manufacturer.
Indonesia's Fazz raises $100m Series C
Indonesia’s Fazz, a financial services provider for Southeast Asia micro businesses, has raised a USD 100m Series C round featuring Tiger Global, DST Global, and B Capital Group.
Everstone buys India's Softgel Healthcare
Everstone Capital has acquired a controlling stake in Indian pharmaceuticals manufacturer Softgel Healthcare (SHPL) for an undisclosed sum.
Billionaire Venture, DBS to invest $200m in India start-ups
India’s Billionaire Venture Capital and DBS Bank have agreed to invest USD 200m in 150m Indian start-ups via a special purpose vehicle and joint venture (JV).
Affirma joins $40m round for India air conditioning supplier
Affirma Capital has joined a USD 40m investment in India’s Epack Durable, a leading domestic designer and manufacturer of air conditioning units among other home appliances.
Quadrant completes exit from Australia's Peter Warren Auto
Quadrant Private Equity has completed its exit from Australian car dealership Peter Warren Automotive Holdings - which it took public last year - through a AUD 50m (USD 34m) block trade.
Deal focus: Anchorage exits rail player, launches Fund IV
Australia-based Anchorage Capital Partners has extended a string of exits with the sale of a local rail industry player, while going to market seeking AUD 500m (USD 339m) for its fourth fund
Profile: Crescendo's Kevin Lee
Kevin Lee founded Crescendo Equity Partners to spot overlooked Korean technology suppliers and reposition them as global leaders of their niches. This required a rare combination of skills
ADB makes LP commitment to KV Asia's second fund
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has confirmed an investment of USD 15m in the second Southeast Asia lower middle market private equity fund from KV Asia Capital.
Bessemer closes latest global VC fund on $3.85b
US-based Bessemer Venture Partners, which is currently expanding a longstanding presence in India, has closed its latest global VC fund with USD 3.85m in commitments.
Temasek, Boyu, GGV back Hong Kong's Animoca Brands
Hong Kong metaverse start-up Animoca Brands has raised USD 110m featuring Temasek Holdings, Boyu Capital, and GGV Capital. Funding since the start of 2021 now tops USD 630m.
East leads $26m Series A for Indonesia agtech start-up
East Ventures has led a USD 26m Series A round for Indonesia’s Gokomodo, an agriculture technology provider focused on simplifying fragmented and inefficient supply chains.
Global Brain leads $30m Series A for Japan's Josys
Global Brain has led a JPY 4.4bn (USD 30.5m) Series A round for Japanese business automation and IT services platform Josys with plans for an international expansion.
ICI signals growing climate agenda in Asia PE
Initative Climat International (ICI), a private equity community dedicated to stemming global warming, has launched an Asia Pacific chapter, signalling a growing regional commitment to climate issues.
Q&A: Unitus Ventures' Surya Mantha
Indian returns-focused impact investor Unitus Ventures is sharpening its thesis around jobs as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Surya Mantha, a managing partner at the firm, traces the evolution
Deal focus: PAG goes back to the theme park
PAG returns to a historically fruitful niche with the acquisition of Japanese theme park operator Huis Ten Bosch. COVID-19 made the deal possible but remains a wildcard
GIC leads $51m round for India space start-up
GIC Private has led a USD 51m Series B round for Indian rocket developer Skyroot Aerospace. It is being touted as the largest round yet in the local space-tech market.