Articles by Tim Burroughs
Legend leads $20m Series B for China's Exegenesis Bio
Chinese gene therapy specialist Exegenesis Bio has received $20 million in Series B funding led by Legend Capital. It will be used to support clinical development of the company’s drug portfolio.
China IPOs: Onshore attraction
The valuations available on China's booming Star Market are prompting US dollar managers to consider restructuring companies for onshore listings. How long will the fervor last?
Bain sweetens offer for Japan's Nichii Gakkan
Bain Capital has increased its offer price for Tokyo-listed aged care provider Nichii Gakkan – after a Hong Kong hedge fund criticized the board for not doing enough to protect the interests of minority shareholders – valuing the business at JPY122...
Microsoft seeks to acquire TikTok assets from China's ByteDance
Microsoft Corporation wants to continue discussions over the purchase of the US operation of TikTok from PE-backed Chinese technology giant ByteDance amid threats from US President Donald Trump to ban the short video platform.
Sequoia scales up for China growth deals
Sequoia Capital China’s recent $3.68 billion fundraising effort has significantly expanded its scope to participate in later-stage deals. The three funds include a growth vehicle of $2.8 billion, a 55% increase on the previous vintage.
Advantage shuffles team for succession, strategic reasons
Advantage Partners has appointed Shinichiro Kita as head of its Japan buyout team as part of succession planning within the Japanese firm. The change also ties into efforts to create more synergies between the buyout operation and an expanded public markets...
Deal focus: KKR's Vietnam macro proxy - update
KKR - working alongside Temasek Holdings - is using Vinhomes as a means to get exposure to Vietnam's booming property market. Mergermarket and AVCJ offer some additional industry context
Deal focus: Haihe's biotech out-licensing ambition
Warburg Pincus picked Haihe Pharmaceutical as its first bet on innovative drug development in China, having been convinced by the company's mature portfolio and international expansion plans
De-risking measures limit COVID-19 damage to GIC portfolio
Singapore’s GIC Private said that steps taken last year to de-risk its portfolio – reducing its allocation to equities in favor of cash and evaluating deals with more caution – have limited the negative impact of COVID-19.
Profile: CITIC Capital's Hanxi Zhao
CITIC Capital’s Hanxi Zhao cut her teeth with brands in China at Procter & Gamble more than 20 years ago. The market has since moved on, but the underlying message has not
Permira buys China, Indonesia English tuition business
Permira has acquired a majority stake in EF Kids & Teens, an English language education provider that operates 288 schools in China and 79 in Indonesia.
Fund focus: Tidal makes early-stage wave
With $21 million in dry powder, Tidal Ventures wants to bring institutional rigor to Australia's seed stage, helping prepare start-ups for Series A rounds
Korean travel app secures $36m funding round
MyRealTrip, a South Korean travel super app that positions itself as a one-stop-shop for bookings, has raised KRW43.2 billion ($36 million) in funding from the likes of Altos Ventures, IMM Investment, and Axiom Asia.
SPACs: Flavor of the month
Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) are gaining popularity among private equity investors in Asia. While these structures have various attractive qualities, they aren't for everyone
Korean AI education start-up gets $41m pre-Series D
Korea Development Bank (KDB) and local private equity firms Nvestor, Intervest and IMM Investment have participated in a $41.8 million pre-Series D round for Riiid, a Korean online education platform.
Warburg Pincus leads Series B for China's Haihe Pharmaceutical
Warburg Pincus has led a RMB1.2 billion ($171 million) Series B round for Haihe Pharmaceutical, a Chinese cancer drug developer that currently has four treatments in stage-three clinical trials or beyond.
Korean strategic, financial investors back industrial AI start-up
MakinaRocks, a Korean artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that helps manufacturers achieve production efficiencies through the application of deep learning technology, has raised KRW12 billion ($10 million) in Series A funding.
Eurazeo, Primavera-owned WorldStrides files for bankruptcy
WorldStrides, a US-based provider of study-abroad programs for high school and university students owned by Eurazeo and Chinese private equity firm Primavera, has filed for bankruptcy protection.
Q&A: Novo Holdings' Amit Kakar
Having spent the past three years on healthcare buy-and-build platform Everlife Asia, Amit Kakar’s is joining life sciences investor Novo Holdings as regional head. He explains why now is the time to bet big on Asia
Singapore marketing SaaS player raises $32m
US-based technology investor Riverwood Capital has led a $32 million Series C round for Insider, a Singapore software start-up that helps companies develop better targeted marketing campaigns.
Canyon Bridge, K2 Venture founders join Asia SPAC wave
Two more groups featuring Asian private equity executives have listed special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) on US bourses as interest in these structures continues to rise globally.
Investors commit $500m to China EV maker Xpeng
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng Motors has closed an extended Series C round of around $500 million from a group that includes Hillhouse Capital and Sequoia Capital China, as well as hedge funds Aspex Management and Coatue Management.
China's TuSimple wins backing from US truck maker
TuSimple, a China and US-based developer of autonomous driving technology for trucks, has received equity funding from US truck manufacturer Navistar International and entered into a partnership with the company.
DCP, Qiming support China medical devices fund
Ascendum Capital Partners, a healthcare investment firm established by DCP Capital, Qiming Venture Partners and Chinese medical devices manufacturer Venus Medtech, is looking to raise $200 million for its debut fund.