Articles by Tim Burroughs
Stellantis buys 20% stake in VC-backed Chinese EV maker
LeapMotor, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer that received substantial private funding prior to its Hong Kong IPO in September 2022, has agreed to sell an approximately 20% stake to European automaker Stellantis for HKD 8.5bn (USD 1.1bn).
OrbiMed raises $4.3b for global, Asia funds
Healthcare investor OrbiMed has raised USD 4.3bn for its latest set of global funds, including its fifth Asia-focused vehicle.
Pantheon opens Singapore office
Pantheon has opened an office in Singapore, expanding an Asian footprint that already includes bases in Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Q&A: Pacific Equity Partners’ Jake Haines
Australia-based Pacific Equity Partners quietly launched a credit strategy – PEP Capital Solutions – in 2021 and has since deployed AUD 700m (USD 445m). Jake Haines, a managing director at the firm, explains where it has gone
Deal focus: isBIM targets real estate’s digitisation catch-up
A renewed focus on safety and sustainability has prompted property developers to consider technology-enabled fixes. IsBIM is riding the wave from Greater China through Asia and the Middle East
Deal focus: Bolt.Earth looks to close India’s EV infrastructure gap
Bolt.Earth turned its electric vehicle operating system into the foundation stone for India’s largest charging network aimed at two- and three-wheelers overlooked by mainstream operators
General Atlantic backs India travel platform, Affirma exits
General Atlantic has acquired a minority stake in TBO.com, an India-based business-to-agent travel portal that serves a global customer base, for an undisclosed sum. The deal facilitates a partial exit for Affirma Capital.
CBC hits second close on China life science real assets fund
Specialist healthcare investor CBC Group has reached a second close on its China-focused life science real assets fund with USD 875m in commitments.
Indonesia sustainable construction start-up raises $10m
Stilt Studios, a sustainable construction start-up founded by the former co-CEO of Lazada Indonesia, has secured USD 10m in Series A funding – comprising debt and equity tranches – which will be used to support expansion into Australia, Europe, and...
US Congressional committee targets Sequoia's China exposure
Sequoia Capital has been targeted by a US Congressional committee seeking more details on its investments in semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) in China over the past 13 years.
AVCJ daily bulletin returns October 24
AVCJ’s daily bulletin will not be published on October 23 due to a public holiday in Hong Kong.
Australia's Employment Hero raises Series F at $1.3b valuation
Australian human resources start-up Employment Hero has achieved a valuation of approximately AUD 2bn (USD 1.3bn) on closing a AUD 263m Series F round led by US-based venture capital firm TCV.
PEP participates in $634m Australia land lease operator deal
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and property owner and manager Mirvac have agreed to acquire Serenitas, land lease operator Serenitas for an enterprise value of approximately AUD 1bn (USD 634m).
Anchorage targets Australia's Southern Cross Media
Anchorage Capital Partners has teamed up with ARN, which owns a range of broadcasting and outdoor advertising assets in Australia, to make a AUD 225.5m (USD 144m) bid for Southern Cross Media.
China's Baichuan AI raises $300m
China-based artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Baichuan AI has raised USD 300m in a first tranche of Series A funding from an investor group featuring Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings, and Xiaomi.
LPACs: Conflicts and complexity
The combination of a maturing Asian private equity landscape and a fast-emerging continuation fund opportunity is placing greater emphasis on the role of the LP advisory committee
3Q analysis: Dividing lines
China fundraising stays strong, across US dollar and renminbi, despite regulatory concerns; Australia confounds general slowdown in Asia PE investment; exits demonstrate promise if not results
Korea's VIG seeks $1.1b for Fund V
South Korean mid-market private equity firm VIG Partners has launched its fifth fund with a target of USD 1.1bn, seeking to replicate the even split between domestic and foreign capital achieved in the previous vintage.
Eight Roads leads $22m round for Meitu's AI design unit
Pixocial, an artificial intelligence-enabled (AI) design tool spun out from China-based photo editing app provider Meitu, has raised USD 22m in funding led by Eight Roads.
Blackstone's Ed Huang switches to Asia private wealth role
Ed Huang, who has spent the last two-and-a-half years as COO of The Blackstone Group’s Asia private equity business, will become the firm’s head of private wealth solutions for the region.
AVCJ Awards 2023 - voting has closed
Voting for the 2023 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards has now closed. Many thanks to all those who participated.
China's Didi gets backing from state-owned carmaker
China ride-hailing platform Didi, which delisted from the New York Stock Exchange last year following a scandal-hit post-IPO period, has raised USD 149m in funding from state-backed carmaker GAC Group.
Shangqi hits $575m second close on renminbi fund
Shangqi Capital, a private equity affiliate of Chinese automotive manufacturer SAIC Motor, has completed a second close of CNY 4.2bn (USD 575m) on its latest renminbi-denominated fund, bettering the overall target of CNY 4bn.
Legend Star closes fifth renminbi fund on $123m
Legend Star, the China-based venture capital arm of Legend Holdings, has closed its fifth renminbi-denominated fund with more than CNY 900m (USD 124m) in commitments.