Articles by Tim Burroughs
Deal focus: LeapFrog adds to financial inclusion portfolio
LeapFrog Investments backs NeoGrowth Credit to provide financial backing for digital payments among Indian retailers
Creador invests in Vietnam's Mobile World
Creador has completed its first investment in Vietnam, committing VND994 billion ($43.8 million) to Mobile World, the country’s leading mobile device and consumer electronics retailer.
Spiral raises $64m for debut Japan VC fund
Japan-focused Spiral Ventures – known as IMJ Investment Partners until spinning out from its corporate parent last year – has closed its debut fund at JPY7 billion ($64 million).
COPE exits Malaysia-based Serba Dinamik with 8.9x return
COPE Private Equity, previously known as CMS Opus Private Equity, has completed its exit from Malaysian oil and gas services provider Serba Dinamik Holdings with a gross 8.9x money multiple and a 79.2% IRR.
Mekong secures final exit from Vietnam's Mobile World
Mekong Capital has ended its more than 10-year association with Vietnamese mobile phone retailer Mobile World, completing the last of multiple partial exits to secure an overall return on its investment of 57x.
Permira to buy Australia's I-Med from EQT
Permira is set to make its first investment in Australia after reaching an agreement with EQT Partners to acquire I-Med Radiology Network.
Affinity, BRV support Shinsegae e-commerce spin-out
Affinity Equity Partners and BRV Capital Management are supporting a spin-out of assets owned by South Korean retail conglomerate Shinsegae Group, which will see more than KRW1 trillion ($940 million) invested in a new e-commerce unit.
Australian superannuation reform: Efficiency drive
With proposed changes to Australia’s superannuation system emphasizing performance rather than just cost, more money could be directed into expensive yet high-performing asset classes like private equity
China private equity: A question of control
Is investor appetite for China's emerging buyout opportunity matched by an ability to run companies once they have been acquired?
Singapore IP fund invests $30m in fintech acquisition platform
Southeast Asia-focused financial technology platform Tryb Group has received a $30 million investment from The Makara Innovation Fund (MIF), a Singapore government-backed vehicle that focuses on intellectual property-driven businesses.
Japan's UTEC raises fourth early-stage fund
University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC) has raised JPY15.5 billion ($142 million) for its fourth fund intended to support the development of research conducted at the university into start-ups.
Japan's J-Star announces trio of investments
Japan’s J-Star has continued the rapid deployment of its third fund, securing buyouts across the lifestyle retail, recycling, and fire safety equipment manufacturing spaces.
AlpInvest leads $450m stapled secondary for Southern Capital
A consortium led by AlpInvest Partners has made a secondary investment in Southern Capital Group’s second fund that includes a stapled commitment to the firm’s fourth Southeast Asia-focused vehicle.
Baring Asia realizes 2.4x return on Korea cement deal
Baring Private Equity Asia has completed its exit from Korean construction materials business Halla Cement, selling the asset to Asia Cement for an enterprise value of $723 million.
BGH sets $2b hard cap for debut Australia fund
BGH Capital, the Australia and New Zealand-focused private equity firm set up by Ben Gray, formerly co-head of TPG Capital in Asia, has set a hard cap of A$2.5 billion ($2 billion) for its debut fund.
Creador targets $500m for Southeast Asia, India fund
Creador is targeting $500 million for its fourth Southeast Asia and India-focused fund. The private equity firm closed its previous vehicle at $415 million in late 2016.
Technology: Auto ambitions
Private equity firms and strategic investors are driving an automotive technology arms race in Asia
Deal focus: KV secures its biggest buyout
KV Asia Capital sees strong growth potential for the education sector in Southeast Asia. The firm’s latest investment in Malaysia-based APIIT Education Group reflects confidence in this vision
LP interview: CalSTRS
Christopher Ailman, CIO of California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) discusses fund sizes, the attractions and limitations of Asia, the problems of listed PE, and the need for fee reform
Carlyle hires Goldman executive for China growth deals
The Carlyle Group has hired Wanlian Liu from Goldman Sachs to lead the firm’s growth investments in China as a managing director.
Crescent buys Australian CRO business
Crescent Capital Partners has acquired Australia-based clinical research organization (CRO) Nucleus Network from The Baker Institute, an independent research institute that focuses on heart disease and diabetes.
Deal focus: Cream of the crop
Proterra is on course to more than double its money on AustAsia, following an agreement to exit the Chinese dairy farm operator to fellow investor Japfa
Lazard appoints head of Asia secondaries practice
Dominik Woessner, formerly head of Greenhill Cogent’s secondary advisory business in Asia, has joined Lazard to lead the origination and execution of secondaries transactions in the region.
Xiaomi, VC-backed Chinese wearables maker targets US IPO
Huami, a Chinese wearables manufacturer that has a strategic relationship with smart phone maker Xiaomi and several venture capital backers, has filed for a US IPO.