Articles by Tim Burroughs
Helion provides Series A round for India’s Lifecell
Helion Venture Partners has committed INR350 million ($6.5 million) to a Series A round of funding for LifeCell International, India’s first and largest stem cell banking company. The capital will be used to expand LifeCell’s domestic presence and...
CMIA, China Merchants complete China Farm take-private
CMIA Capital Partners and China Merchants Holdings have completed the privatization of Singapore-listed agriculture machinery manufacturer China Farm Equipment (CFE), following an investment of $23 million.
Deloitte sued over US-listed ChinaCast Education
Deloitte is being sued by a group of US investors over its auditing role at ChinaCast Education Corp. The Chinese company, which was backed by VC investors in its early years, went public in the US via a reverse merger in 2007 but has since been de-listed.
NZ Super appoints unlisted mandates manager
New Zealand Superannuation Fund has appointed Chris Jagger as manager with responsibility for unlisted mandates. He was most recently an investment director with Lloyds Development Capital in London and has previously worked at Future Fund, GI Partners,...
China’s CIC makes invests in Moscow Exchange IPO
China Investment Corporation (CIC) participated as a cornerstone investor in Moscow Exchange’s $500 million IPO. The deal represents another collaborative effort between the Chinese sovereign wealth fund and its Russian counterpart, Russia Direct Investment...
AGCA, secondary investors buy CS legacy assets
Three years after Credit Suisse's Asia private equity team spun out, the assets they were tasked with managing have followed suit. Supported by HarbourVest Partners and Axiom Asia, Asia Growth Capital Advisors (AGCA) has acquired a portfolio of eight...
Advent generates 2.5x on rationalization play
Locker Group Holdings, an Australian metal products manufacturer recently exited by Advent Private Capital to US-based Valmont, is an example of post-global financial crisis rationalization.
Investors flock to CRC’s debut RMB fund
Renminbi fundraising weakened considerably over the course of 2012. Preliminary AVCJ figures showing that barely 20 vehicles attracted a total of $4.2 billion in the second half of the year, less than one third the amount raised in the previous six months.
China e-commerce: End of the line
Burning through cash and with no public market exit in site, many of China’s e-commerce players are losing the confidence of their investors. New rounds of funding come at depressed valuations – if they come at all
The perils of over-ambition
Asahi's acquisition of Independent Liquor came towards the end of a period of frenetic outbound activity among Japanese beverage giants. Kirin bought Australia’s Lion Nathan, took a minority stake in Singapore-based Fraser &Neave and then rounded it...
Korean GP EQ Partners gets investment from Reorient Group
Hong Kong-listed financial services provider Reorient Group has bought a one third stake in Korean private equity firm EQ Partners from Dongah Tire & Rubber, a Korean auto parts manufacturer, for KRW4.5 billion ($4.1 million).
Australian government commits $360m to innovation fund, clarifies VC structures
The Australian government will provide A$350 million ($360 million) in new funding for the Innovation Investment Fund to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Improvements have also been made to the early stage and venture capital limited...
CVC opts for partial exit from Matahari via public markets – report
CVC Capital Partners is expected to exit about 40% of its holding in Matahari Department Store through a public market sale that will raise up to $1.5 billion. The private equity firm, which controls the Indonesian retailer through a joint venture with...
China vacation homes rental start-up gets Series B funding - Update
Tujia.com, China’s first online vacation homes rental service, has secured a Series B round of financing led by GGV Capital. Lightspeed China Partners, CDH Investments, Qiming Venture Partners, CBC Capital also participated alongside strategic investors...
Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holdings leads $400m round for 360Buy
Chinese online retailer 360Buy has raised $400 million through a Series F round of funding led by Kingdom Holding, an investment company controlled by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a Saudi Arabian billionaire.
Asahi accuses Independent Liquor of ‘channel stuffing’
Asahi claims that Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) and Unitas Capital resorted to “channel stuffing” – where companies supply retailers with more product than they are capable of selling to boost sales figures – to artificially inflate Independent...
Virginia pension fund backs Fortress’ Japan distress vehicle
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has committed to $50 million to Fortress Investment Group’s Japan Opportunity Fund II, a distress-focused vehicle that closed last December at its hard cap of JPY130 billion ($1.65 billion).
Australia’s AMP Capital invests $100m in US wind energy project
AMP Capital has injected $100 million in Capistrano Wind Partners, a large-scale wind energy project developer in North America, alongside a consortium of infrastructure investors. AMP made the commitment on behalf of a large Australian superannuation...
Zhongpin delays take-private deal, drops go-shop provision
Zhongpin, the NASDAQ-listed Chinese pork producer that is subject to a PE-backed management buyout bid, has amended the deal to allow more time for completion and prevent directors from sourcing competing offers. The valuation of $502 million is unchanged.
Canada’s OMERS targets Australia
Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System (OMERS), one of Canada’s big three pension funds, plans to increase its exposure to Australia through investments in infrastructure and natural resources.
IFC to invest $24m in India’s Ratnakar Bank
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, plans to invest up to INR1.3 billion ($24 million) in India’s Ratnakar Bank. The commitment, which would be structured as a preferential allotment, complies with IFC’s...
Deutsche Bank raises $614m for global secondaries fund
Deutsche Bank has reached a final close of $614 million on its second global secondaries fund. The vehicle exceeded its target of $500 million, with commitments coming from insurance companies, public and corporate pension plans and family offices.
Australia’s Hastings adds to North America team
Australian infrastructure investor Hastings Funds Management has appointed Irene Mavroyannis as executive director with responsibility for business development in the US and Canada. She will join the existing investment team in New York.
3SBio board agrees to CITIC PE-backed buyout
The board of NASDAQ-listed Chinese biotechnology firm 3SBio has agreed to a privatization bid tabled by Jing Lou, its CEO, and CITIC Private Equity. The deal values the company at $340 million.