Articles by Tim Burroughs
Taiwan's Gogoro set for $2.3b SPAC merger
A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) backed by Homer Sun, former CIO of Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), has agreed a $2.35 billion merger with Taiwan-based electric scooter manufacturer Gogoro.
Hong Kong's Prenetics agrees $1.25b SPAC merger
Hong Kong-based genetic testing business Prenetics has agreed to merge with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Adrian Cheng, scion of local property developer New World Development and managing partner of C Ventures, at an enterprise...
India's FreshWorks targets $912m US IPO
Freshworks, which earlier this year lost its status as India’s most valuable software-as-a-service (SaaS) start-up, is looking to raise up to $912 million through a US IPO.
Alibaba leads $300m round for China's DeepRoute.ai
Alibaba Group has led a $300 million Series B round for DeepRoute.ai, a Chinese autonomous driving technology developer currently running a robotaxi program in downtown Shenzhen.
Fund focus: AGIC sticks to cross-border growth thesis
Having found its sweet spot bridging the middle markets of Asia and Europe, AGIC Capital plans to stay there – although Fund II will move earlier to capture technology hardware post-commercialization
Deal focus: ShopUp champions the iron triangle
As a first mover in Bangladesh’s B2B e-commerce space, ShopUp moved quickly into services, logistics, and finance. This inadvertent super app now has $75 million in Series B funding to show for its efforts
Australia private wealth: Choosing channels
The swelling bank balances of Australia’s high net worth individuals and family offices are an attractive target for private equity. Access is becoming increasingly formalized across the spectrum
IDG, Sequoia, Hidden Hill lead Series E for China's eSign
China-based electronic signature service provider eSign has raised RMB1.2 billion ($186 million) in Series E funding led by IDG Capital, Sequoia Capital China, and Hidden Hill Capital, an investment arm of logistics platform and fund manager GLP.
India media SaaS platform Amagi raises $100m
Accel Partners, Avataar Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, and Premji Invest, have committed $100 million in funding to Amagi, an India-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform aimed at TV broadcasters.
China's Ximalaya abandons US IPO
Ximalaya, a Chinese online audio platform backed by the likes of Tencent Holdings, General Atlantic, and Goldman Sachs, has canceled its planned IPO.
East, Saratoga back Indonesia e-commerce player Sirclo
Sirclo, an Indonesia-based e-commerce enabler that acquired mother-and-baby-focused online retailer Orami earlier this year, has received $36 million in funding led by East Ventures and Saratoga Investama Sedaya (SIS), a listed vehicle with ties to Saratoga...
GPs see more paths to liquidity in Southeast Asia - AVCJ Forum
SPAC deals and GP-led secondary transactions are bringing more liquidity options to Southeast Asia, a geography where private equity investors have often struggled to achieve exits, industry participants told the AVCJ Singapore Forum.
Apax-owned Healthium Medtech files for India IPO
Apax Partners-owned Helthium Medtech, an India-based medical devices manufacturer formerly known as Sutures India, has filed for a domestic IPO.
Baring Asia tilts towards growth
Baring Private Equity Asia expects 10% of its eighth pan-regional fund to be deployed in growth-stage investments, underlining how Asia’s traditional large-cap buyout funds are increasing their focus on minority deals in high-growth sectors like technology....
PE investors exit Indonesia telecom towers business
The Carlyle Group has exited what was its debut investment in Indonesia – after a nine-year holding period – with the sale of telecom towers operator Solusi Tunas Pratama (STP).
Kyobo Life arbitration favors GPs, but resolution still elusive
A private equity consortium's right to enforce a put option against the chairman of Korea's Kyobo Life Insurance has been upheld following arbitration, though the ruling stopped short of endorsing a price for the transaction.
CLSA raises $500m for second Asia private debt fund
CLSA Capital Partners has closed its second Asia-focused private debt fund – and a parallel co-investment vehicle – with $500 million in commitments.
Deal focus: Affinity capitalizes on enforced divestment
Delivery Hero was instructed to offload Yogiyo as a condition of buying Woowa Brothers. Affinity, Permira, and GS Retail made the most of a $685 million opportunity to enter Korea’s food delivery space
China take-privates: Holding pattern
Pressure is mounting on Chinese companies listed in New York, from domestic and US regulators. Is another wave of PE-backed take-privates imminent?
JD.com set to assume control of China Logistics Property
China e-commerce giant JD.com has agreed to buy a 26.38% stake in Hong Kong-listed China Logistics Property Holdings (CNLP) from the company’s founder, which will trigger a mandatory takeover offer for the entire business at a valuation of more than $2...
CDC spinout seeks $500m for India secondaries fund
Stratford House Advisors, an India-focused secondaries investor established by two former executives from CDC Group, is looking to raise $500 million for a dedicated country fund.
KKR leads Series B for Vietnam MSME digitalization platform
KKR has led a $45 million Series B funding round for KiotViet, a sales management software developer that serves Vietnam’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) community.
Elliott backs Olympus Capital Asia continuation fund
Elliott Management is supporting a $450 million restructuring of Olympus Capital Asia’s third fund, which involves taking out a profit participation loan held by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) as well as buying standard positions from other...
CVC buys into Chinese pharmacy chain
CVC Capital Partners has made an investment of undisclosed size in Xi’an Yikang Pharmacy, China’s eighth-largest pharmacy chain.