Articles by Tim Burroughs
Intractable tech
Even if pan-Asian buyout firms aren't actively pursuing investments in internet-related businesses, they cannot ignore the potential disruptive impact of these technologies on other portfolio companies
Deal focus: Traphaco wins with the direct approach
Mekong Capital's 6.3x return on its investment in Vietnam-based pharmaceuticals player Traphaco involved turning the company's distribution model on its head, as well as supporting expansion and improving governance
China Renaissance adds strategies, targets $10b in AUM by 2020
China Renaissance has added dedicated healthcare and mezzanine debt strategies to its existing growth-stage private equity offering as part of efforts to more than treble its assets under management (AUM) over the next three years.
Japan-China e-commerce business gets $68m Series C
Inagora, a VC-backed e-commerce platform that supplies Japanese products to Chinese consumers, has received $68 million in Series C funding from Itochu Corp, KDDI Corporation, and SBI Holdings.
Singapore IP fund commits $52m to cloud-based telecom player
The Makara Innovation Fund (MIF) – a Singapore government-backed vehicle that focuses on intellectual property-driven businesses – has made its first investment, backing Asia telecom player MyRepublic.
AVCJ journalist wins award
Asian Venture Capital Journal was honored at the 2017 State Street Institutional Press Awards, Asia Pacific, for its private equity coverage.
Archer sells Australia's Aerocare to Swissport
Archer Capital has agreed to sell Aerocare, an Australia-based aviation ground handling operator it bought from Next Capital in 2014, to global market leader Swissport for an undisclosed sum.
Bain to complete exit from Japan's Skylark
Bain Capital Private Equity will divest its remaining 15% stake in Japanese restaurant operator Skylark, completing a gradual sale of the business it acquired in 2011 and took public three years later.
Deal focus: Tapping complexity in e-commerce
Southeast Asia-focused retailing services provider aCommerce has received $65 million in Series B funding to support not only geographical expansion but also a move into B2B to complement existing B2C capabilities
PAG buys majority stake in Chinese dating service Zhenai
PAG Asia Capital has acquired a controlling interest of nearly 75% in Zhenai, a Chinese online matchmaking and dating service provider that earlier this month abandoned plans for a reverse merger in Shenzhen.
KKR appoints new Asia public affairs head
KKR has appointed David Katz, formerly deputy global head and Asia Pacific head of government relations at PayPal, as a director and head of public affairs for the region.
AVCJ at 30: Part One - The Early Days
Lewis Rutherfurd of Inter-Asia Venture Management, Brooks Zug of HarbourVest Partners, Dan Carroll of Brooklands Capital Strategies, and Piau-Voon Wang on how private equity got started in Asia
China's Jianpu trades weakly after $180m US IPO
Jianpu Technology, a subsidiary of Chinese VC-backed financial products search and recommendation platform Rong360, has slipped below its IPO price following a $180 million offering on the New York Stock Exchange.
Quadrant's family entertainment platform makes debut acquisition
Australia’s Quadrant Private Equity has purchased amusement arcade operator Timezone Group as the first part of a buy-and-build strategy in the family and children’s entertainment market.
KKR nets $195m through partial exit from China's CICC
KKR has made a partial exit from China International Capital Corporation (CICC) – the Chinese investment bank in which it acquired a minority stake in 2010 – generating proceeds of HK$1.52 billion ($194.5 million).
GPs should take more care when targeting family offices - AVCJ Forum
Family offices represent an attractive and flexible source of capital for private equity firms, but GPs could do more to ensure the opportunities they pitch are a good fit for their audience.
CDC backs India impact investment fund
CDC Group has committed $25 million to Aavishkaar Venture Management’s latest India impact investment fund, which is targeting $200 million for deployment in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that serve poorer communities.
Timing, sector selection critical to success in Asia deals - AVCJ Forum
Private equity firms are seeing more deal flow across Asia, but in a climate of high valuations investors must pick the right markets at the right time, and be creative in sourcing opportunities.
Timeline: Three decades of Asia private equity
AVCJ was founded in 1987. Here are some landmark events from the industry's development since then
KKR wins firm of the year at AVCJ Awards
KKR was named firm of the year and won the large-cap fundraising prize at the 2017 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards. Yichen Zhang of CITIC Capital was honored as PE professional of the year while PAG Asia Capital and an MBK Partners and Goldman...
Asian GPs seek consistency in ESG initiatives - AVCJ Forum
The focus for private equity firms in Asia has shifted from putting in place environment, social and governance (ESG) policies to implementing these policies across portfolios consistently and in ways that allow their impact to be measured.
Q&A: Qiming Venture Partners' Gary Rieschel
Gary Rieschel, founding managing partner at Qiming Venture Partners, got his first taste of China VC while working for SoftBank in the 1990s. He recollected to AVCJ how the industry made its mark on a global scale
Asia Cement named preferred bidder for Baring-owned Halla
Asia Cement, a mid-tier Korean construction materials producer, has been selected as the preferred bidder for Halla Cement, which Baring Private Equity Asia put up for sale earlier this year.
Asia buyouts: The big get bigger
Asia’s pan-regional buyout players are raising ever larger funds and pursuing ever larger deals. Is there now more capital in this segment of the market than places to – sensibly – put it?