Articles by Tim Burroughs
PE and tech investment: Forward planning
The growing influence of technology across every industry is forcing PE firms to review approaches to investment. Ensuring the right people have the right information sits at the heart of these efforts
Ex-TPG China chairman launches blank check company
Sing Wang (pictured), who was formerly co-chairman of Greater China at TPG Capital and head of TPG Growth in North Asia, is looking to raise up to $230 million for a blank check company through the US capital markets.
Chinese cosmetic surgery app raises $50m Series D1 round
Hong Kong-listed photo editing and social networking app Meitu and a fund-of-funds managed by Shenzhen-based DH Fund have committed $50 million in Series D1 funding to Gengmei, a Chinese information platform that focuses on cosmetic surgery.
Sovereigns in alternatives: Watch the throne
Sovereign wealth funds are said to be pulling back from unlisted assets, a move motivated by intense competition and high valuations, as well as target allocations being reached
Blackbird hits $193m final close on Australia VC fund
Blackbird Ventures has closed its third Australian VC fund with A$261 million ($193 million) in commitments, split between a core investment vehicle and a top-up fund.
Pinduoduo gains 40% on debut after $1.63b US IPO
Chinese social e-commerce platform Pinduoduo – which is backed by Gaorong Capital, Sequoia Capital, and Tencent Holdings, among others – saw its shares gain 40% on debut following a $1.63 billion IPO.
CVC to seek $4b for fifth Asian fund
CVC Capital Partners will launch its fifth pan-Asian fund in September with a target of $4 billion. The private equity firm closed its previous regional vehicle at $3.5 billion in May 2014.
Longreach to buy majority stake in Japan's Fujitsu Component
The Longreach Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Fujitsu Component from its parent company and will launch a tender offer to buy the business outright at a valuation of JPY13.7 billion ($123.6 million).
Lightspeed, Blue Run back Chinese mapping player Wayz.ai
Lightspeed China Partners and Blue Run Ventures have participated in an $80 million Series A funding round for Wayz.ai, a Chinese smart mapping service provider.
Baring Asia completes $4.5b first close on Fund VII
Baring Private Equity Asia has reached a first close of $4.5 billion on its seventh pan-regional fund after approximately five months in the market.
CICC leads $102m Series B for China's Allcure Medical
Beijing Allcure Medical Technology, a healthcare technology provider specializing in radiotherapy and tumor diagnosis, has received RMB700 million ($103 million) in Series B funding led by China International Capital Corp. (CICC).
Future Fund backs $200m round for China's Tuya Smart
Australia’s Future Fund has joined a $200 million Series C round of funding for Tuya Smart, a Chinese internet-of-things (IoT) and voice artificial intelligence (AI) platform.
Deal focus: KKR lays down a marker in Taiwan
Seven years after its privatization of Yageo Corp was blocked, KKR is back pursuing a $1.56 billion bid for LYC Chemical Corp. The initial response from regulators has been positive
China Creation Ventures collects nearly $200m for debut fund
China Creation Ventures (CCV), a venture capital firm established by the technology, media and telecom (TMT) team at KPCB, has closed its debut fund with nearly $200 million in commitments.
China agriculture supply chain player adds $26m to Series B
Songxiaocai, a business-to-business (B2B) platform that provides agricultural wholesale services to Chinese retailers, has raised RMB180 million ($26.4 million) in the second tranche of its Series B funding, taking the overall round to RMB410 million....
China tech: Speedy returns
The emergence of a younger generation of Chinese consumers willing to pay for online content and services has shortened the path to profitability - and perhaps to IPO as well - for some start-ups
TPG, ADIA back acquisition of agrochemicals producer Arysta
TPG Capital and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) have teamed up with India-listed UPL Corporation on a $4.2 billion acquisition of Arysta LifeScience, an agricultural chemicals manufacturer that originated in Japan.
KKR targets $1.56b privatization of Taiwan's LCY Chemical
KKR is pursuing its first Taiwan privatization since 2011 – when the acquisition of Yageo Corp. was blocked, prompting questions about the government’s attitude towards PE buyouts – with a NT$47.8 billion ($1.56 billion) bid for LCY Chemical Corp.
Goldman, Alibaba lead $600m round for China's Suning Sports
Goldman Sachs and Alibaba Group have led a $600 million Series A round of funding for the sports unit of Chinese electronics retailer Suning, which holds the domestic media rights to a range of sporting competitions. The deal values the business at more...
Chinese voice AI specialist Unisound receives $89m
Unisound, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider that specializes in voice recognition and language processing, has received RMB600 million ($89 million) in Series C-plus funding.
Coatue leads $350m round for China education player Zuoyebang
Coatue Management has led a $350 million Series D round of funding for Zuoyebang, a Chinese K-12 education platform that spun out from domestic search giant Baidu.
Chinese AI player Yitu raises another $100m
Yitu Technology, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up, has received $100 million in funding from China Industrial Asset Management (CIAM). It comes a month after the company raised a Series C-plus round of $200 million.
Advance.AI raises $50m, targets Southeast Asia expansion
A group of Southeast Asian and Chinese investors has provided a $50 million extended Series B round of funding for Advance.AI, a big data specialist with offices in Beijing, Singapore, Jakarta, and Manila.
China fintech specialist Pintec files for US listing
Pintec Technology, a Chinese financial technology business backed by Ventech China, Xiaomi Ventures, and Matrix Partners China, among others, has filed for a US IPO.