Articles by Tim Burroughs
GIC leads $125m round for China cancer diagnostics business
GIC Private has led a RMB850 million ($125.5 million) Series C round for Burning Rock, a Chinese cancer diagnostics start-up that is already working with hospitals on products based on DNA sequencing analysis.
Q&A: MLC's Jonathan Armitage
Jonathan Armitage, CIO of MLC, operator of Australia's largest retail superannuation fund, discusses the importance of a VC allocation, accessing overseas GPs, and increasing LP appetite for co-investment
Chinese self-driving truck player TuSimple raises $95m Series D
TuSimple, a China and US-based developer of autonomous driving technology for trucks, has closed its Series D round at $95 million, achieving a pre-money valuation of $1 billion.
StepStone adds partner in Beijing
StepStone Group, a provider of private markets advisory and asset management services to institutional investors, has promoted Beijing-based Vincent Hsu to partner.
Deal focus: From space food to sustainable food
Sustainable Bioproducts left stealth mode to raise a $33 million Series A round as it targets commercialization for an edible protein technology that won early backing from NASA
VC documentation: Standardizing small print
The rapid growth of venture capital in Southeast Asia has fostered the emergence of varied working practices. Singapore’s model investment agreements are intended to help bring order to chaos
Australia's Future Fund credits performance to private markets exposure
Australia’s Future Fund expanded its PE exposure by more than one third over the course of 2018, with the sovereign wealth fund citing carefully cultivated private markets exposure as one of the reasons it has comfortably outperformed superannuation...
PE holding periods: The optics of exits
Should you take a 3x return today or wait for a potentially larger exit next year? For GPs, this decision is complicated by fears of a downturn, the timing of future fundraises, and conflicting LP feedback
C-Bridge helps Korea's Samsung Bioepis with China expansion
C-Bridge Capital has announced a licensing agreement with Samsung Bioepis that is intended to help the Korean biopharmaceutical specialist expand into the China market.
TPG closes seventh Asia fund at $4.6b
TPG Capital has closed its seventh pan-Asian fund at $4.6 billion after approximately two years in the market. The vehicle is already 40% committed across 12 companies.
Japan's J-Will set for $272m buyout of ND Software
J-Will Partners has won board support for its proposed acquisition of ND Sofware, a Japanese software developer that serves the healthcare sector, through a tender offer at a valuation of JPY29.9 billion ($272 million).
1955 Capital leads Series A for sustainable foods specialist
1955 Capital, a cross-border PE firm that invests in US and European technologies with application potential in Asia, has led a $33 million Series A round for edible protein developer Sustainable Bioproducts.
CVC exits Japanese care provider to Polaris
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to sell Hitowa Holdings, a Japan-based provider of cleaning, assisted living and childcare support services, to Polaris Private Equity.
PE-backed ticketing player falls on debut after $287m HK IPO
Maoyan Entertainment, a Chinese online movie ticketing business backed by Tencent Holdings and several private equity investors, fell on its trading debut in Hong Kong following a HK$2.25 billion ($287.1 million) IPO.
Ascendent sets $800m target for third China fund
Ascendent Capital Partners is seeking $800 million for its third China mid-market fund. The GP closed its previous vehicle at $600 million in 2015.
AVCJ daily bulletin returns February 8
AVCJ's daily bulletin will take a short break for the Lunar New Year holiday. Publication will resume on February 8.
China distress: Second cycle
Investors are looking to capitalize on the China distress opportunity, and recent activity in around non-performing loans suggests there will be enough deal flow to sate their appetites
Indonesia's Go-Jek completes first phase of Series F
Google, JD.com and Tencent Holdings are among the returning investors in the first phase of the Series F round for Indonesia-based ride-hailing and delivery platform Go-Jek, which amounts to around $1 billion.
Thailand's Central Group invests $200m in Grab
Thai retail conglomerate Central Group has agreed to invest $200 million in ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Grab, adding to the list of strategic players that have backed the Southeast Asia company in the past year.
Korea's Orchestra buys electronic darts machine maker
Korean middle market investor Orchestra Private Equity has completed the KRW122 billion ($109 million) acquisition of Hong International, the largest global manufacturer of electronic darts machines.
Australian courier services player Sendle gets Series B
Federation Asset Management – a group headed by the former head of Macquarie Capital’s principal investment division in Australia and New Zealand – has led a A$20 million ($14.5 million) Series B for Australian courier services player Sendle.
Deal focus: Advent sees potential in hybrid CRO
Advent International recognized BioDuro as a company uniquely positioned to leverage growth in pharmaceutical R&D outsourcing in China and the US
ClearVue targets $600m for third China consumer fund
China consumer-focused private equity firm ClearVue Partners is seeking to raise $600 million for its third fund. It comes nearly two years after the GP closed Fund II at $362 million.
Longreach promotes Takuya Sato to partner
The Longreach Group, a mid-market North Asia buyout firm that has a particular focus on Japan, has promoted Takuya Sato (pictured) to partner.