Articles by Tim Burroughs
Nominations open for the 15th AVCJ Awards
Following a significant change in format last year, the 2015 - and 15th - AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards features just one new prize. The venture capital deal of the year category has been split in two: early stage technology and late stage...
Portfolio: Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia and AMTD
Hong Kong-based financial advisor AMTD wants to meet the needs of mainland investors looking to access international markets. Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia is helping the firm best position itself
Deal focus: RedMart channels the Amazon spirit
Amazon.com is the world’s largest online retailer, but it retains fleetness of foot that defies its size. This is based on the ability to embrace not only new technology but also innovative approaches to management. The “two-pizza rule” devised by founder...
I Squared backs India rooftop solar player
Global infrastructure investor I Squared Capital has invested an undisclosed sum in Amplus Energy Solutions, an India-based owner and operator of distributed rooftop solar power.
Japan's Freee raises $30m Series C round
DCM, Recruit Holdings and Japan Co-Invest have committed $30 million in Series C funding to Freee, a Japan-based provider of automated online accounting software.
Australia's Anchorage agrees $150m Affinity Education deal
Anchorage Capital Partners has agreed to buy Affinity Education for A$208.3 million ($150 million) after the Australian Securities Exchange-listed company spurned a rival offer from G8 Education.
Philippines targets 500 domestic tech start-ups by 2020
The Philippines government has outlined plans to achieve 500 domestic technology start-ups with a combined valuation of $2 billion by 2020.
Ekuinas sells Burger King franchises in Malaysia, Singapore
Ekuinas, the Malaysian government-backed private equity investor, has sold the Burger King franchises in Malaysia and Singapore, generating proceeds of MYR74.6 million ($17.7 million).
Kerogen to invest $100m in North Sea gas developer
Kerogen Capital, a Hong Kong-headquartered energy investor, has committed up to $100 million to Zennor Petroleum, an exploration and production (E&P) company that focuses on the UK’s North Sea area.
China distress: After the boom
China’s slowing growth has created a wave of corporate defaults, and these bad debts should be put up for sale. Not all foreign investors are ready to jump in, though, conscious of the difficulties in extracting value
CDH to raise $600m China mid-market fund
CDH Investments is looking to raise $600 million for a China mid-market fund, with half of the corpus in US dollars and the other half in renminbi.
VC-backed Mogujie leads $30m round for China C2C retail player
Mogujie – a Chinese online shopping platform and social network that has received several rounds of VC funding – has led a $30 million investment in Taoshiji, a cross-border consumer-to-consumer (C2C) mobile retail app.
Tencent leads $60m round for Hong Kong online brokerage
Tencent Holdings has led a Series B round of funding worth $60 million for Hong Kong-based online brokerage Futu5.com, with participation from Matrix Partners and Sequoia Capital.
Fund focus: CDIB's differentiated middle-market play
It was 2008 and CDIB Capital, the PE arm of Taiwan’s China Development Financial (CDF), had been looking at potential investments in the online gaming space. However, most of the companies it found were overvalued or deemed too risky because their livelihoods...
Fund focus: IVFA sees slow turn in LPs' India sentiment
A host of India-focused GPs are currently in the market, looking to raise funds on the back of improved investor sentiment following the election of reformist Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.
Deal focus: CNS promises PE watershed in Taiwan
Most PE investors have secured profitable exits from Taiwan’s cable television industry. Now MBK Partners has joined the club, although like some of the others, the path to liquidity has not been smooth.
India exits: Where's the cash?
India Value Fund Advisors (IVFA) has now raised five funds. The first is fully liquidated and the second is close to that mark. The third will deliver the bulk of the $600-700 million the GP expects to return to LPs this year, and the fourth – a 2009...
Australia's QIC in $735m first close on global infrastructure fund
QIC, an investment manager controlled by the Queensland government, has reached a first close of more than A$1 billion ($735 million) on its global infrastructure fund. The overall target is A$1.75 billion.
Riverside invests in Australia's IPAR Rehabilitation
The Riverside Company has acquired in IPAR Rehabilitation, an Australia-based provider of injury prevention and management and rehabilitation services that minimize the impact of workplace injury and illness.
KKR to invest $150m in Indian polyester manufacturer
KKR has agreed to invest $150 million in JBF Industries, an India-based polyester products manufacturer, with a portion of the capital going to the company’s international subsidiaries.
China's HNA buys Swissport International from PAI Partners
China’s HNA Group has agreed to buy ground handling and cargo services provider Swissport International from PAI Partners for CHF2.7 billion ($2.8 billion).
MSPEA, Far EasTone to buy Taiwan's CNS from MBK
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) and Far EasTone Telecommunications have agreed to buy Taiwan-based cable television provider China Network Systems (CNS) from MBK Partners.
Tata Capital joins consortium buying Blackstone's Agile stake
A consortium comprising Igarashi Electric Works (IEW), Mape Securities and Tata Capital Growth Fund I have bought The Blackstone Group’s 97.9% stake in Agile Electric, India’s leading electric motor manufacturer.
Australia's NAB to invest $36m in fintech start-ups
National Australia Bank (NAB) will set up a A$50 million ($36 million) fund to invest in start-ups that help enhance its financial services product offerings.