Articles by Tim Burroughs
India webinar: Relighting the fire
Investor sentiment toward Indian private equity has weakened considerably over the last year. AVCJ, supported by KPMG, hosted a webinar in December at which industry leaders assessed the various challenges
Unitas buys controlling stake in ZTE subsidiary
When ZTE decided to divest Shenzhen ZTE Netview Technology (ZNV), a subsidiary focused on power and environment monitoring and video surveillance, it wanted to act quickly. Unitas Capital was up to the task, overcoming rival bids from several financial...
Actis exits Xiabu Xiabu in secondary sale
In the past 12 months we have seen a 10-fold increase in secondary sales in China by value, but it is unwise to read too much into the spike: 80% of the $2.9 billion total came from Goldman Sachs selling its minority interest in Industrial and Commercial...
VCs and mobile internet: The race to stay relevant
Venture capital investors targeting the mobile and social media space are only as good as their understanding of the consumer habits and technologies that underpin industry trends
Navis, Rabo exit Thai duck processor
Navis Capital Partners and Rabo Capital have exited Thai duck processing firm Bangkok Ranch, plus its Dutch subsidiary Duck To Holdings, to a consortium led by the companies’ founders. The deal values the combined assets at THB5.7 billion ($188 million).
LPs on Asia: The risk factor
Proximity is reassuring. It shouldn't be surprising that a corporate governance scandal in Asia triggers concerns among institutional investors in North America who are far removed from the information flow and first hear the news via newspaper headlines...
Texas County & District invests $50m in RRJ’s second fund
Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) has committed $50 million to RRJ Capital’s second fund, which is targeting up to $5 billion. The private equity firm is run by Richard Ong, who previously co-founded China-focused Hopu Investment Management,...
Korea’s EQ Partners supports ArcelorMittal deal – report
South Korean private equity firm EQ Partners is said to be part of the Asian consortium that has acquired a 15% stake in ArcelorMittal Mines Canada (AMMC) for $1.1 billion. Other investors include South Korean steelmaker Posco and Taiwan’s China Steel...
Unitas snaps up majority stake in Shenzhen ZTE Netview
Unitas Capital has taken a controlling interest in Shenzhen ZTE Netview Technology (ZNV), a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed tech company ZTE Corporation, for RMB1.3 billion ($208 million). The transaction came out of ZTE’s broader program to divest non-core...
Zoomlion's PE backers exit CIFA holdings for $236m
Chinese construction equipment maker Zoomlion has paid $236 million for equity interests held by Hony Capital, Goldman Sachs and Mandarin Capital Partners in the business unit that was used to buy Italy’s Compagnia Italiana Forme Acciaio (CIFA) in 2008.
CHAMP Ventures exits Australian Portable Buildings
CHAMP Ventures has agreed to sell Australian Portable Buildings (APB) to two Canadian companies, Black Diamond Group and Britco, for A$72.5 million ($75.2 million). The Australian private equity firm acquired a near 80% stake in the company in February...
Advantage Partners buys Sanyo’s camera business
Advantage Partners has acquired Sanyo Electric’s digital camera unit. Panasonic, which took control of its former competitor in 2009 in a JPY400 billion ($4.6 billion) acquisition, said it chose to do business with Advantage because of the private equity...
Abax, chairman complete $364m Fushi Copperweld take-private
Abax Global Capital has finally completed its management buyout of NASDAQ-listed Chinese wire manufacturer Fushi Copperweld more than two years after the initial bid was submitted. The transaction, staged in conjunction with Li Fu, Fushi’s chairman...
ShangPhama board agrees to TPG-backed buyout
ShangPharma Corporation, a Chinese pharmaceutical and biotech research outsourcing firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has agreed to management buyout by Michael Hui, the firm’s chairman and CEO, and TPG Capital. The transaction values the company...
AVCJ daily bulletin returns January 2
AVCJ's daily bulletin will take a short break next week for the festive holiday season. Publication will resume on January 2, while the weekly magazine's first issue of 2013 is released the same day.
Rabo targets $250m for second India agribusiness fund
Rabo Equity Advisors is targeting $250 million for its second India agribusiness fund, more than double the $120 million raised for its debut vehicle in 2008. The larger corpus means Rabo’s typical transaction size will increase to $25 million from...
Lafarge in talks with PE to sell part of India business
Lafarge is in talks with private equity and financial firms to sell 20-25% of its India unit for about $300 million. The divestment is part of a wider effort from the French cement maker to divest non-core assets and reduce debt levels to below EUR10...
China’s Weichai could raise Kion stake to one third
Weichai Power, a Chinese automotive and equipment manufacturer owned by Shandong Heavy Industry, has obtained the option in increase its stake in German forklift truck maker Kion to one third. The company owns 25% of the business and already has an option...
Partners Group raises $1b for Asia Pacific, emerging markets
Partners Group has raised $1 billion for its 2011 vintage Asia Pacific and emerging markets private equity programs. In addition to Asia Pacific, the programs target investments in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa.
Summit invests $26m in Southeast Asia online retailer
Summit Partners has invested EUR20 million ($26.4 million) in the German holding company of Southeast Asian online retailer Lazada. The capital will be used to expand the company’s product offering.
Blackstone appoints new senior managing director for India real estate
The Blackstone Group has promoted India-based Tuhin Parikh to senior managing director in its real estate division. He was previously a managing director.
Wilson Sonsini opens Beijing office
Venture capital-focused law firm Wilson Sonsini has opened an office in Beijing, enlarging a Greater China footprint that already takes in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The office is led by Kefei Li, a partner with the firm. He reports to Weiheng Chen, the...
Templeton fully divests second emerging markets fund
Franklin Templeton has exited all the investments held in its second emerging markets fund, which was established in 2005 and had a corpus of $132.5 million. The vehicle has generated a net IRR of 34.3% and a money multiple of 2.1x.
Baird invests in Singapore’s Boston Plastics
Baird Capital Partners Asia has invested in Singapore plastic injection molding company Boston Plastics. It acquired shares from individual investors and company management, with the latter retaining majority control of the business.