Articles by Tim Burroughs
IDFC Alternatives buys stake in India commodities exchange
IDFC Alternatives has acquired a 5% stake in National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), India’s largest agricultural commodity derivatives exchange, from Jaypee Financial Services for INR456 million ($7.3 million).
Q&A: CVC Capital Partners' Sigit Prasetya
Sigit Prasetya, managing partner at CVC Capital Partners, on why recent volatility in Indonesia shouldn’t concern PE investors, negotiating auctions and lofty valuations, and working with Southeast Asia’s family groups
Fundraising perspectives: Capital providers on private equity
Asian GPs have endured a difficult 12 months for fundraising and the region is on course for its lowest annual total in four years. Assorted LPs outline their attitudes to the asset class and the region
Fundraising: The JOBS Act and general solicitation
The removal of restrictions on general solicitation in the US potentially allows private equity firms to tap accredited investors that previously fell beneath their radar. However, managers are reluctant to rush in
Q&A: Lexington Partners' Brent Nicklas
Brent Nicklas, managing partner at Lexington Partners, on his expectations for private equity secondaries in a global market characterized by increased regulation, consolidation and ever larger LPs
Fundraising and pension reform: A slow-burn issue
Defined benefit public pension plans are one of PE’s biggest bank rollers, so the rise in defined contribution plans – that tend to favor liquid assets – is a long-term concern. There must be compromise on both sides
Asia fundraising: Size matters?
While a select group of GPs are able to raise large funds at short order in Asia, the small and mid-cap space is hollowing out. It is in parts cyclical and a function of broader changes in the post-financial crisis LP base
Q&A: PAG's Weijian Shan
Weijian Shan, chairman and CEO of PAG, discusses China exit challenges, dealing with company founders in control investment situations, and picking businesses that are less likely to be swamped by local competition
Alvarez & Marsal opens Korea office
Turnaround management and business advisory specialist Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has opened an office in Seoul and appointed Jay Kim as managing director to lead its business activities in South Korea.
China Asset Management-led consortium reduces iSoftStone bid
The private equity consortium seeking to privatize US-listed Chinese IT services provider iSoftStone Holdings has reduced its offer for the company following a second-quarter loss and warnings of more difficulties to come. The revised offer values iSoftStone...
Qunar shares nearly double on NASDAQ debut
Qunar, a Chinese-travel website majority-owned by internet search giant Baidu, saw its stock nearly double on the first day of trading on NASDAQ on Friday. It betters the 42% gain posted by VC-backed Chinese classifieds website 58.com a day earlier.
Warburg Pincus completes $540m exit from Australia's Transpacific
Warburg Pincus has exited its one third holding in Australian waste management firm Transpacific Industries Group via the public market, generating proceeds of around A$570 million ($540 million).
Baidu, VC-owned Qunar ups US IPO target
Qunar, a Chinese-travel website majority-owned by internet search giant Baidu, has increased the indicative price range for its forthcoming IPO and is now expected raise as much as $155.4 million.
China classifieds site sees shares close up 42% on US debut
Chinese online marketplace 58.com – a classifieds website along the lines of Craigslist, backed by Warburg Pincus, SAIF Partners and DCM – saw its shares close up 42% on the first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Coming in the wake of...
NYSTRS commits $100m to Carlyle’s fourth Asia buyout fund
New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) has committed $100 million to The Carlyle Group’s fourth Asia buyout fund. The vehicle, which has a target of $3.5 billion, had raised $1.5 billion as of the first quarter of 2013, with a final close...
CLSA’s cleantech fund hires water-focused operating partner
CLSA Capital Partners has appointed Dr. Richard Woodling, previously director of global research and development at Siemens’ water R&D center in Singapore, as an operating partner in the Clean Resources Asia Growth Fund (CRAGF).
Affinity seals $123m dairy JV with Chinese SOE
Affinity Equity Partners has invested $123 million in a dairy farming joint venture with a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE). It represents the 12th and final commitment from the GP’s third pan-Asian fund and comes as Fund IV is said be nearing a...
Affinity bets again on the protein theory
Having bought New Zealand poulty producer Tegel Foods and Australian deli meats specialist Primo Smallgoods, Affinity Equity Partners’ third pan-regional fund is already heavily invested in the Asian “protein theory.” Both companies are looking...
Schwarzman bullish on Blackstone's Australia prospects
The Blackstone Group is looking to increase its investments in Australian real estate and private equity, according to Stephen Schwarzman, the firm’s co-founder.
LotusPool targets $125m India fund, IFC to invest
LotusPool Capital, a private equity firm set up by executives from Actis and ePlanet Capital, has received a $15 million commitment from International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its debut fund. The vehicle, which has a target of $125 million, will...
KKR considers bid for Australia's Regis Aged Care - report
KKR is said to be interested in buying Macquarie Group’s take in Regis Aged Care, one of Australia's largest private senior care home operators. There is significant private equity interest in the aged care space, which is seen as ripe for consolidation.
Massachusetts PRIT has best performing PE portfolio – study
Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Trust (PRIT) Fund has the best performing private equity portfolio among US pensions, returning 9.1% and 15.4% on a five-year and a 10-year basis, according to a study by the Private Equity Growth Capital Council...
PennSERS commits $50m to Asia Alternatives separate vehicle
Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System (PennSERS) has committed a further $50 million to Penn Asia Investors, a separate account managed by Asia Alternatives that focuses on opportunistic investments in funds across the region. Last year the...
Malaysian financial comparison start-up gets $2m
Jungle Ventures has led a $2 million round of Series A funding for iMoney, a Malaysia-based financial comparison start-up. Other investors include IMJ Fenox, Fenox Venture Capital, Redbright Partners, 500 Startups and Vogel Ventures, as well as German...