Articles by Tim Burroughs
Blackstone consortium reduces Pactera MBO offer
A consortium led by The Blackstone Group has made a definitive offer for Pactera Technology International that values the US-listed tech outsourcing firm at approximately $600 million. Existing investor GGV Capital is also participating in the bid alongside...
Proskauer boosts China fund formation capabilities
Global law firm Proskauer has recruited Yong Ren to its private investment funds group as a partner. He previously worked at Mayer Brown and, before that, at Ropes & Gray and Simpson Thacher.
Walkers adds to Hong Kong investment funds group
Walkers, a global law firm specializing in offshore services, has appointed Mark Cummings as counsel in its investment funds group in Hong Kong. Cummings, who joins the firm from Appleby, advises private equity and hedge fund managers on establishing...
Intel Capital, AsiaVest to make partial exits from China's Montage via US IPO
Intel Capital and AsiaVest Partners will make partial exits from Montage Technology Group when the China-based semiconductor manufacturer completes its NASDAQ IPO.
Cogent adds to Shanghai team
Cogent Partners has appointed Dominik Woessner as a director in its Shanghai office. He has relocated from the secondary market-focused firm’s London office as part of ongoing efforts to develop its footprint in Asia.
Fosun buys 35% stake in Italian luxury menswear brand
Fosun International, China’s largest privately-owned conglomerate, has agreed to buy a 35% stake in Italian menswear brand Caruso. Much like Fosun’s investments in other foreign brands, the plan is to support Caruso’s expansion in China.
PE-backed Endurance International to buy India's Directi
Endurance International Group, a US-based web hosting services provider controlled by Warburg Pincus and Goldman Sachs, has agreed to buy Indian online services firm Directi Web Technology for up to $110 million.
ADIA buys Australia hotel portfolio
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has bought Tourism Asset Holdings (TAHL), Australia’s largest hotel owner. The deal will see the Middle East sovereign wealth fund assume control of 31 Accor-operated properties in major cities.
Australia's Wolseley targets $279m for Fund III
Wolseley Private Equity is targeting A$300 million ($279 million) for its third fund, which will invest in small to mid-size privately-owned businesses in Australia and New Zealand. The GP expects to see considerable opportunities in this space as founders...
CalSTRS alters allocation to favor inflation sensitive, illiquid assets
The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) will recalibrate the long-term allocation targets of its $170 billion investment portfolio, placing greater emphasis on inflation-sensitive and illiquid assets at the expense of equities and...
Battle of the strategics
We have grown accustomed to China’s incumbent internet giants engaging in M&A. Since 2010, the BATS – Baidu, Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings and Sina – have deployed around $6.5 billion (and that’s just disclosed transactions), eight times the...
Secondaries: Bifurcation point
More LP interests in Asian funds are coming onto the secondary market, but the region remains the industry’s future rather than its present. Which investors will be around to witness it coming to bloom?
SmartPay joins Ping An’s e-payment push
Ping An Insurance Group has taken the fight to Alibaba Group once before. In 2010 it bought an 80% stake in online grocery retailer Yihaodian and helped build the business into one of China’s leading B2C e-commerce players, finding space in the corner...
Navis in Australia demographics play
Australian politicians have long debated ways to enlarge the country’s tax base as they prepare for the economic ramifications of a spiraling dependency ratio. By 2050 there will be just 2.7 people of working age for each person aged 65 and over, compared...
Lombard closes fourth Asia fund at $350m hard cap
Lombard Investments has closed its fourth Asia fund at the hard cap for institutional commitments of $350 million after 18 months in the market. It will make growth-oriented investments in companies formed and operated in Southeast Asia.
Navis buys Australian childcare business from Wolseley
Navis Capital Partners has acquired Australian childcare services provider Guardian Early Learning Group from Wolseley Private Equity with a view to helping the 69-center chain double in size. The transaction value was not disclosed but sources indicate...
Lunar Capital exits China mobile payment business to Ping An
Lunar Capital and co-investors RRE Ventures and Icon have exited SmartPay, one of China’s leading third-party online payment providers, to an affiliate of Ping An Insurance Group. The insurer, which also has bank and asset management interests, is said...
Veronica John joins placement agent Diamond Dragon
Veronica John, previously a senior advisor to Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital, has joined placement agent Diamond Dragon Advisors as a senior advisor based in Singapore.
Malaysia’s Ekuinas to back five local PE managers
Ekuinas, a private equity investor backed by the Malaysian government, will make LP commitments to funds raised by five local PE firms. Four of the five – Tael Parnters, RM Capital Partners, Tuas Capital Partners and CMS Opus Private Equity – will...
Quadria reaches first close on South, Southeast Asia healthcare fund
Quadria Capital has reached a first close of $107 million on its second fund, which invests in mid-size healthcare companies in South and Southeast Asia. This is the first vehicle the GP has raised independently, its predecessor being the Milestone Religare...
NewQuest makes $160m buyout offer for China Hydroelectric
NewQuest Capital Partners has made a take-private offer to US-listed China Hydroelectric that values the company at just over $160 million. The secondary specialist GP already owns 49.83% of China Hydroelectric and holds options and warrants that, if...
OTPP loses head of Asia fund investments
Alison Nankivell has left her role as head of Asian fund investments at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) for a job with Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
Have your say in the 2013 AVCJ Awards
Can anyone stop KKR? That is the question being asked as we launch the 2013 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards, now in their 13th iteration.
Taiwan regulators stress commitment to PE – AVCJ Taiwan
Taiwan’s minister of economic affairs stressed that the government sees private equity as an important contributor to local economic development, highlighting draft legislation that promises to ease the deal approvals process. However, PE investors...