Articles by Tim Burroughs
Asia remains global leader for female representation in PE
Women occupy 14.5% of senior roles at private equity firms in Asia, up from 11.8% in 2014, and a higher proportion than any other major market globally.
The C2B segue: China used-car trading platforms
While private equity capital is pouring into China’s B2B online car-trading platforms, some investors claim to see more value in smaller scale but less-penetrated and higher-margin C2B space
Customized solutions: LPs look beyond the blind pool
Boyu Capital and Hopu Investment Management both participated in a $2.5 billion investment in Singapore-listed warehouse developer Global Logistic Properties (GLP) last year, but the other consortium members arguably make for more interesting reading....
Kumho Asiana to buy back Korea bus unit from IBK, Kstone
IBK Capital and Kstone Partners are set to exit South Korea-based Kumho Buslines after domestic conglomerate Kumho Asiana Group said it would buy back its former subsidiary.
VIDEO: Shearman & Sterling's Lorna Chen
Chinese GPs that made their names with renminbi-denominated funds and then sought to launch US dollar vehicles are finding it harder than they expected to win over international LPs, according to Lorna Chen, a partner with law firm Shearman & Sterling
Baird Capital backs China used car auction platform
Baird Capital has agreed to lead a Series A round of funding for Carsing, a Shanghai-based used car auction platform. FLAG Squadron Capital and Delta Capital are also contributing to the round.
Ally Bridge participates in $57m round for US biotech firm
Healthcare-focused GP Ally Bridge has participated in a $57 million round of funding for EndoChoice, a US-based endoscopic imaging specialist, with a view to helping the company to expand in China.
Australian LPs sacrificing higher returns due to fee concerns - AVCJ Forum
Australians are missing out on higher returns on their retirement savings as a result of superannuation funds’ preoccupation with the fees charged by private equity managers and their reluctance to participate in the asset class, industry participants...
Exit timing, operations key to high-value Australia deals - AVCJ Forum
Acquiring a company at a high valuation means a PE firm has to draw more deeply on its operational expertise to turn a profit, but it is equally important to maximize returns by getting the exit timing right.
TPG reaches $6.5b first close on latest global fund
TPG Capital has reached a first close of $6.5 billion on its latest global fund. The vehicle, which was formally launched last October, has a target of $8 billion and a hard cap of $10 billion.
Sydney launches financial technology start-up hub
Sydney has launched a hub for financial technology start-ups, supported by initial funding of A$2 million ($1.6 million) from a string of Australian banks, property and technology firms in collaboration with the New South Wales government.
Hong Kong's Future Fund advised to target alternatives
Hong Kong’s Future Fund, a vehicle intended invest budget surpluses to cover future liabilities arising from an ageing population and slower economic growth, has been advised to target long-term, less liquid assets such as private equity.
Australia buyouts: Downsizing
Bain Capital has completed two buyouts in Australia in the last five years. The first was a classic large-scale affair as accounting software firm MYOB was acquired from Archer Capital and HarbourVest Partners for around $1 billion in 2011. Three years...
Australia mid-market: Squeezed middle
Several Australian superannuation funds are eschewing commitments to smaller domestic GPs because they have to deploy a larger quantum of capital. If more follow suit, what does it mean for the middle market?
Q&A: Pacific Equity Partners' Simon Pillar
Simon Pillar, managing director at Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), on the prospects for buyouts in Australia, selling assets to strategic buyers in Asia, and evolving LP attitudes towards co-investment.
Unitas Capital's Korea team to spin out
Unitas Capital's Eugene Suh and Jay Lee will spin out to raise a Korea-focused fund. They will take the four-person Seoul-based team with them.
IDFC agrees partial exit from India’s Green Infra
IDFC Alternatives will make a partial exit from Indian wind and solar power producer Green Infra after Singapore-based Sembcorp Utilities agreed to pay INR10.6 billion ($167 million) for a 60% stake in the asset.
Australia's QIC raises an initial $528m for global infrastructure fund
QIC, an investment manager controlled by the Queensland government, has secured initial commitments of $528 million from four institutional investors for a global infrastructure fund.
NSI Ventures leads round for Singapore insurance marketplace
NSI Ventures, the VC unit of Northstar Group, has led Series A round of funding worth $8 million for Asian insurance and wellness marketplace CXA, alongside consumer and technology fund F&H and healthcare investor BioVeda.
Greenhill to buy secondaries advisor Cogent
Boutique investment bank Greenhill & Co. has agreed to buy Cogent Partners, a global financial advisor specializing in the private equity secondary market, for up to $97.6 million.
Equis in $1.7b fundraising bonanza
Equis Funds Group's first foray into Japan’s solar energy sector was at least 18 months in the making. The energy and infrastructure-focused GP mapped the entire region in terms of solar power potential and regulatory factors then, working with Partners...
China B2B platform targets supply chain disruption
Chinese B2B trading platforms Zhaogang.com and Zhaosuliao.com share more than just a desire to bring about technology-enabled disruption of inefficient offline industry supply chains. They also have several backers in common: IDG Capital Partners, Matrix...
Singapore start-ups: Another option
The Singapore Exchange and Clearbridge Accelerator are launching a capital-raising platform for Asian start-ups. Does it represent a much-needed stepping stone between private and public markets?
Australian infrastructure: Greenfield gambit
Sydney's cross city tunnel entered voluntary administration in September 2013 after failing to refinance its debt. The project launched eight years earlier but slipped into insolvency in 2006 due to low traffic volumes.