Articles by Tim Burroughs
Focus Media agrees to $3.7b PE-backed buyout
Chinese advertising company Focus Media has agreed to a $3.7 billion management buyout backed by a consortium of private equity firms. It is by some distance China’s largest-ever buyout transaction and is only surpassed in the broader private equity...
Nine Entertainment targets listing within 18 months
Nine Entertainment is expected to list on the Australian Securities Exchange within 18 months following its A$3.4 billion ($3.5 billion) recapitalization, according to court documents submitted this week. The company reached an agreement with its creditors...
Abraaj exits Thai restaurant chain Hot Pot after IPO
The Abraaj Group has exited restaurant chain Hot Pot after taking the company public on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in September. Hot Pot sold 101.9 million shares at THB2.80 apiece, raising THB285.3 million ($9.3 million), in an offering that was...
Templeton invests in China’s Tongda Group
Franklin Templeton has acquired a 6.3% stake in Tongda Group Holdings, a Chinese manufacturer of high-precision components used in consumer electronics products. The investment was made through Templeton Strategic Emerging Markets Fund IV, which targets...
Temasek invests $104m in Godrej’s agribusiness unit
Temasek Holdings has paid INR5.72 billion ($104.5 million) for a 19.99% stake in Godrej Agrovet, an agribusiness subsidiary of Godrej Industries. The deal comprises primary and secondary tranches, with the former earmarked to support Godrej Agrovet’s...
KKR raises $6b for Asia fund - report
KKR is said to have reached the $6 billion target for its second pan-Asia fund. It is the largest vehicle ever raised in the region, topping the $4.25 billion raised by TPG Capital for its fifth Asia fund in 2007.
Healthcare-focused Essex Woodlands opens Shanghai office
Essex Woodlands, the Silicon Valley-based healthcare investor, has opened an office in Shanghai as it looks to deepen its exposure to one of China’s fastest-growing sectors. David Yang and Scott Barry, both managing directors with the firm, will run...
Billabong receives $555m buyout offer - UPDATE
Billabong International has received a A$527 million ($555 million) buyout offer from Paul Naude, a director at the firm, with US-based Sycamore Partners participating as a cornerstone equity investor.
Ascalon's Chuak Chan promoted from Asia head to CEO
Ascalon Capital Managers has appointed Chuak Chan as CEO. He joined the Australia-headquartered firm last year as head of Asia, having previously worked at Hong Kong hedge fund Segantii Capital Management, ING Investment Management and Bankers Trust in...
Anchorage approaches $263m close on Fund II – report
Anchorage Capital Partners will reportedly reach a final close on its latest fund at A$250 million ($263 million) as early as next month. The Australian private equity firm began fundraising in November.
Insurance Australia sells UK business to Aquiline Capital
Insurance Australia Group has agreed to sell its UK business – Equity Red Star – to Aquiline Capital Partners for GBP87 million ($140 million). The transaction is scheduled for completion before June 2013.
Carlyle plans partial exit from Kaisa – report
The Carlyle Group is reportedly selling part of its holding in Hong Kong-listed Chinese real estate developer Kaisa Group for up to $67 million.
GCS Capital finalizes Dexia asset management deal
GCS Capital has agreed to buy Dexia asset management (DAM) business shortly after entering into exclusive negotiations with the Belgo-French financial group. The Hong Kong-based private equity firm has also signed a strategic partnership agreement with...
2012: That was the year that was
The broad trends and particular highlights of private equity fundraising, investment and exit activity in Asia
To pastures new: Asia PE people moves
A selection of the transfers, promotions, arrivals and departures in Asia's private equity community in 2012
Primus co-founder in aircraft leasing club deal
During a week in which it emerged that Primus Financial Holdings was no more, two of its co-founders reemerged in new guises. First, Dexia announced that it was in exclusive negotiations with GCS Capital, a financial services-focused PE firm run by GuocangHuan,...
Illinois Teachers commits up to $125m to MBK’s third fund
Illinois Teachers' Retirement System has committed up to $125 million to MBK Partners III. The pension plan previously committed $25 million to the North Asia-focused private equity firm’s second vehicle in 2008.
PE-backed Chinese consortium to buy AIG’s aircraft leasing business
A Chinese consortium including a fund run by Wing-fai Ng, one of the co-founders of now-defunct Primus Financial Holdings, has agreed to buy up to 90% of International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) from American International Group (AIG). It is the...
CNEI leads $20m Series B for Juxin International Leasing
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has led a Series B round of financing for Chinese specialty leasing company Juxin International Leasing. The investors acquired a 12.1% interest in Juxin for $20 million.
Singapore travel website gets seed funding from TNF, SingTel Innov8
Singapore-based online travel booking site Flocations has raised $570,000 seed funding round led by TNF Ventures and including SingTel Innov8, the corporate venture arm of SingTel – and angel investor Ben Ball.
Partners Group raises $2.6b for global secondaries fund
Partners Group has closed its latest secondary fund at the hard cap of EUR2 billion ($2.6 billion) and expects to deploy a higher proportion of the corpus in Asia than for previous vehicles as the region’s private equity market matures. The vehicle...
Piramal’s IndiaVenture Adviors to raise $185m fund
IndiaVenture Advisors, the PE arm of Indian pharmaceuticals company Piramal Enterprises, plans to raise a fund of up to INR10 billion ($185 million) that will target healthcare and education.
Composition Capital invests in four Asian projects
Composition Capital Partners has invested in four projects in Macau, Taiwan and Malaysia through its local joint venture partners. The property-focused investor has also exited a Tokyo office development within a year of acquisition.
US, India-focused Naya reaches first close on VC fund
Naya Ventures, a US-based VC firm that also invests in India, has reached a first close of $50 million on a fund targeting the mobile and cloud markets. Its approach involves providing capital and industry expertise to early-stage companies with a view...