Articles by Tim Burroughs
China's Cathay Fortune abandons Discovery Metals bid
Cathay Fortune Corporation (CFC), the private equity group founded by Chinese billionaire Yong Yu, has abandoned its A$830 million ($848 million) takeover bid for Australian copper miner Discovery Metals. Discovery shares plummeted as much as 7.5% to...
Australia’s Adventure Capital targets $100m VC fund
Australian VC firm Adventure Capital is targeting around $100 million for its debut vehicle. It has already received $20 million in commitments from high net worth individuals – having signed up its first cornerstone investor in late 2010 – and is...
NSR targets exit as India’s Ortel files for IPO
New Silk Route (NSR) is set to exit Indian cable TV provider Ortel Communications with the company planning to raise as much as INR1 billion ($18.7 million) through an IPO. This is the second time Ortel has tried to go public, having pulled out of an...
Chinese firms say red tape hinders M&A in Europe – survey
More than three-quarters of Chinese companies encounter operating difficulties in the EU while nearly half have been obstructed by regulatory issues, according to a survey by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China. The findings represent a mixed blessing...
Baring increases stake in HK-listed Magic Holdings
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) has increased its stake in Hong Kong-listed beauty products retailer Magic Holdings, purchasing 7.34 million shares on the open market for HK$22.26 million ($2.9 million). It remains the largest individual investor in...
Caterpillar's China scandal draws attention to ex-PE asset IMM
International Mining Machinery (IMM), a Chinese mining equipment manufacturer acquired by Joy Global from private equity investors in 2011, has been thrust into the spotlight as a result of Caterpillar’s China accounting scandal.
China Private Equity Investment backs Malaysia’s Patimas Computers
China Private Equity Investment Holdings (CPEH) has acquired a minority interest in Patimas Computers, a Malaysian information and communications technology provider.
India expects tax settlement with Vodafone, seeks to reassure investors
The Indian government is close to settling its $2.6 billion tax dispute with Vodafone, according to the country’s finance minister. If the issue can be resolved it would reassure foreign investors’ concerned about the tax treatment of transactions...
Secondaries in vogue in Korea
Among South Korean LPs there such a thing as the flavor of the month. We have seen global buyout and credit phases over the years, during which international private equity and credit houses mopped up more allocations than ever before. The last 12 months,...
Portfolio: Lunar Capital and China's Joysun
When Lunar Capital invested in Sichuan Zhiqiang, the company’s Joysun brand was well known but lacked relevance with younger consumers. It is now seeking to redress the balance with a revamped product range
Orchid-backed Time Watch raises $105m in Hong Kong IPO
Time Watch Investments has raised HK$810 million ($105 million) in its Hong Kong IPO after pricing shares at the top end of the indicative range. Orchid Asia participated as a cornerstone investor, taking just over one quarter of the 600 million shares...
SFERS hires New York State Common’s Art Wang
San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System (SFERS) has appointed Art Wang as managing director for private markets, with responsibility for private equity, real estate and real assets. He joins from New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF) where...
Lightspeed closes debut China fund at $168m
Lightspeed China Partners has reached a final close of $168 million on its debut China fund, exceeding the target size of $150 million. The fund, which includes an affiliated co-investment vehicle, will target early-stage investments in the internet,...
RMB funds: Beyond the hype
Last week AVCJ held its six-monthly media briefing at which we – joined by several industry participants – reviewed private equity activity in 2012 and offered views as to what 2013 might have in store. The data made for sober reading: Fundraising...
Hahn & Co to buy Korea Line via bankrupcty process
Hahn & Co. has been selected by a bankruptcy court as the preferred bidder for a 50% controlling stake in Korea Line, South Korea’s fourth-largest shipping company. The enterprise value of the transaction is KRW1.1 trillion ($1 billion), with Hahn &...
CDH to reach $1b first close on Fund V by February
CDH Investments is expected to reach a first close of $1 billion on its latest fund by Chinese New Year. The Chinese GP has an overall target of $2 billion for CDH Fund V, which launched in September 2012.
PSERS to invest in Morgan Stanley PE Asia’s fourth fund
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has received a commitment of up to $100 million for its fourth fund from Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS). The pension system previously invested in global funds launched by Morgan...
Commonfund promotes Beijing office head
Commonfund Capital has promoted Leenong Li, head of its Beijing office and wider Asian initiatives, to managing director. He joined the firm in 2010, having previously spent five years as managing director of Jerusalem Venture Partners’ Shanghai office...
Baird rebrands PE operations as Baird Capital
The private equity operations of Robert W. Baird & Co. have been consolidated under a single brand – Baird Capital.
PE-backed Chinese baby skincare brand bought by Johnson & Johnson
Private equity-backed Shanghai Elsker Mother & Baby, a Chinese manufacturer of natural baby skincare products, has been acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed but the price is said to be around RMB650 million ($104...
PE firms compete for Everstone’s stake in VLCC – report
Several global and regional private equity firms are reportedly in the hunt for Everstone Capital’s 16% interest in Indian health and beauty treatment specialist VLCC.
Creador completes Indonesia food carve-out
Creador headed off an auction process to complete a carve-out of Indonesian cereals and snack foods producer Simba Indosnack Makmur from India’s Godrej Consumer Products.
Asia PE fundraising drops by one third to $46.8b in 2012
Private equity fundraising in Asia Pacific slumped by more than one third to $46.8 billion in 2012 from $72.9 billion a year ago as capital committed to China-focused vehicles dropped off markedly over the course of the year. It is the lowest annual total...
IPOs for Asian PE firms: Too hasty?
For several years now, rumors have ebbed and flowed about CDH Investments going public. Industry participants regard IPOs by private equity firms on Asian bourses as a virtual certainty, when the time is right. If any Chinese firm was going to make the...