Articles by Tim Burroughs
Billabong halts trading, PE firms said to cut buyout offer
Billabong International halted trading Tuesday amid reports that the two private equity consortiums bidding for the embattled Australian surfwear company would lower their bids.
CITIC PE agrees carve-out of TNT's China road business
CITIC Private Equity has agreed to buy TNT Express’ China road operations for an undisclosed sum. It is one of several divestments expected from the Netherlands-based logistics provider, which is seeking to cut costs and refocus on its core European...
New Mexico State Investment Council commits to Affinity Fund IV
New Mexico State Investment Council (NMSIC) has agreed to invest up to $75 million in Affinity Equity Partners’ fourth pan-Asia fund. The vehicle reached a first close of $1.5 billion in early March and has a hard cap of $3.5 billion.
IFC may anchor Thailand-focused Lakeshore fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering a commitment of up to $20 million to Lakeshore Capital Fund I, a Thailand-focused GP that is seeking to raise $100 million.
TA, Updata to invest in Australian software specialist Nintex
TA Associates and technology-focused GP Updata Partners plan to make a significant investment in Nintex Group, an Australia-based software provider. The private equity firms will support Nintex in its global growth initiatives, including organic expansion...
TPG completes take-private of China’s ShangPharma
TPG Capital has completed a management buyout of ShangPharma Corporation that values the Chinese pharmaceutical and biotech research outsourcing firm at $173 million. It is the sixth private equity-backed privatization of a US-listed Chinese company to...
AVCJ to move offices; daily bulletin returns April 2
AVCJ's daily bulletin will take a short break for the Easter holiday, which conveniently coincides with the company’s office relocation.
Three Australian VC firms receive IIF backing
Venture capital funds run by M.H. Carngie & Co, GBS Venture Partners and Innovation Capital will receive A$100 million ($105 million) from the Australian government through the Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) scheme. This capital will be matched dollar-for-dollar...
Australia VC: New faces
A new generation of VC firms is emerging in Australia, despite little appetite for the asset class from domestic LPs. Success hinges on leveraging Silicon Valley networks and targeting particular market niches
Q&A: Baring Private Equity Asia's Jean Eric Salata
Baring Private Equity Asia closed its fifth fund at $2.46 billion in early 2011. CEO Jean Eric Salata tells AVCJ why the firm has taken its time investing the capital and where he now sees value emerging in the market
Indonesia webinar: Turning hype into returns
Indonesia has emerged as the next big thing in Asian PE, but there are concerns about rising valuations and whether the market is deep enough to meet expectations. Industry participants share their views
Mekong trims Mobile World stake, looks to IPO
Is Mobile World the next Masan Consumer Corp? The as yet unnamed private equity firm that picked up part of Mekong Capital’s stake in the Vietnamese mobile phone retailer is certainly hoping so.
LGT opens Beijing office as part of differentiation drive
LGT Capital Partners has chosen Beijing as the location for its fourth investment office globally as the firm looks to differentiate its exposure to Asia’s largest private equity market in an increasingly competitive fund-of-funds space.
Have your say in the China Awards
As anyone who has been reading AVCJ’s coverage in recent months will know, China fundraising disappointed in 2012. Country-focused funds attracted just $23.4 billion, down 51.3% on the previous year. The damage was done in the second half, and mainly...
CVC, RBS complete Samsonite exit
CVC Capital Partners and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have completed their exit from Hong Kong-listed Samsonite International through a $528 million share sale. The two investors previously made several partial exits from the luggage company since taking...
Malaysia’s EPF eyes more PE opportunities
Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund (EPF) plans to increase its private equity commitments in 2013, with a particular interest in regional co-investment opportunities.
China distress-focused GP Shoreline raises $303m for Fund II
Shoreline Capital, a China-focused special situations investor, has closed its second fund at $303 million. It comes after distress-focused investors in Asia raised a cumulative $2.4 billion in 2012, the highest level seen in six years.
Baring PE Asia abandons Ambow Education take-private
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) has abandoned its $108 million take-private bid for Chinese education provider Ambow Education Holding, citing the resignation of four of the New York-listed company’s independent directors and its auditors in the 10...
FountainVest wins approval for China jewelry take-private
A consortium comprising FountainVest Partners and the chairman and CEO of NASDAQ-listed jeweler LJ International has won board approval to take the company private in a deal worth about $64 million. It is the seventh PE-backed privatization of US-listed...
New Jersey commits $500m to Blackstone’s debut Asia real estate fund
New Jersey Division of Investment plans to commit $500 million to The Blackstone Group’s debut Asia real estate fund. The vehicle’s existence was confirmed last December when Tony James, Blackstone’s president, told a conference that it was a “golden...
New Silk Route’s Rajat Gupta sues co-founder
Rajat Gupta, the former Goldman Sachs director who was convicted last year of insider trading, is taking legal action against his co-founder of private equity firm New Silk Route (NSR), claiming breach of contract.
Nominations for the 2013 AVCJ China Awards - final call
Nominations for the 2013 AVCJ China Awards close today. This is the last chance for members of the Asian private equity and venture capital community to put forward candidates to be considered for the nomination shortlist.
Billabong says buyout talks continue, despite share slump
Embattled Australian surfwear manufacturer Billabong International has said that talks continue with two prospective buyers, seeking to reassure the market after the company’s stock price plunged to a record low on Thursday.
CVC-backed Matahari prices offering near top of revised range
CVC Capital Partners and its local partner have priced their Matahari Department Store offering at IDR10,850 ($1.11) per share, putting them on course to raise about $1.3 billion through a partial exit.