Articles by Tim Burroughs
CNEI leads $23m investment in China Dadi Chemical
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has led a $23 million round of funding for China Dadi Chemical, a leading industrial salt and salt chemicals producer. Korea Development Bank was a co-investor in the deal.
Primus Financial shuts down fund
Primus Financial Holdings, the private equity firm set up by three former Citigroup bankers to invest in financial services assets across Asia, has closed its fund. The firm profited from an investment in New China Life Insurance but is best known for...
Sinagpore’s Ventrillion invests $15m in Clean Coal
Singapore’s Ventrillion Management has agreed to invest up to $15 million in US-listed Clean Coal Technologies. The company, which holds patents for technology that converts raw coal into a cleaner burning fuel, will use the proceeds to complete its...
Northstar buys 49% stake in Trimegah Securities
Northstar Pacific Partners has acquired a 49% stake in Indonesian brokerage Trimegah Securities for IDR200 billion ($20.8 million). The investment was channeled through Northstar Equity Partners III, which closed last year at $820 million.
PE-backed AAG Energy pulls Hong Kong IPO
Asian American Gas (AAG) Energy, a Chinese natural gas producer backed by Warburg Pincus and Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA), has postponed its Hong Kong IPO due to challenging market conditions. The company started pre-marketing for the up to $200...
Khazanah in $356m exit from AIA
Khazanah Nasional, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, has exited its entire holding in Hong Kong-listed AIA Group, raising HK$2.76 billion ($356 million). The sale comes as the lockup on American International Group’s stake in the Asia-focused insurance...
Blackstone to launch Asia real estate fund
The Blackstone Group is launching an Asia real estate fund to capitalize on what Tony James, the firm’s president, described as a “golden moment” to engage in property market investment.
Secondaries: Sleight of hand
Are LPs using synthetic solutions like total return swaps to trade fund positions behind the managers’ backs? Some industry participants are suspicious; others are skeptical.
Teutonic ambitions
Another week, another Chinese strategic acquisition of a German manufacturing asset. The most recent case involves Fusheng Industrial, Greater China's leading producer of industrial air compressors, buying its German rival ALMiG Kompresssoren.
MSPEA in convenience store carve-out
HI-24 is every bit the orphan subsidiary. Last year the Chinese convenience store chain's parent company changed its name to China Financial Services Holdings (CFSH), confirming a strategic rethink already apparent from its acquisitive activity. Once...
Asia Awards: Firm of the Year – Bain Capital
In the past 12 months, Bain Capital has raised its second Asia fund, closed sizeable deals in Japan and India, and completed a strong China exit. Jonathan Zhu, a managing director at the PE firm, looks back and forward
Asia Awards: PE Professional of the Year – Roy Kuan
CVC Capital Partners has completed five investments and two exits in the last 12 months. Managing Partner Roy Kuan, who leads the Asia team, and colleagues Francis Leung and SigitPrasetya, discuss market trends
Asia Awards: PE Deal of the Year – Tianhe Chemicals
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia had to overcome trust issues and intense competition to secure its $300 million investment in Tianhe Chemicals. Chief Investment Officer Homer Sun explains how it happened
Asia Awards: VC Deal of the Year – Xiaomi
The hugely successful launch of Xiaomi’s smart phone, and the subsequent $216 million Series C round, justified Morningside Technologies and Qiming Venture Partners’ early faith in the Chinese company
Asia Awards: Special Achievement – Lewis Rutherfurd
In AVCJ's 25th year, the Special Achievement Award – which recognizes an individual who has distinguished himself or herself over a long period of time in developing the industry – went to a man who can claim more credit than most for getting the...
Asia Awards: VC Professional of the Year – Sanjeev Aggarwal
SanjeevAggarwal, managing partner at Helion Venture Partners, reflects on a successful fundraise, the popularity of Indian venture capital, and a portfolio that is becoming increasingly international
GCS Capital in talks to buy Dexia asset management unit
GCS Capital, a Hong Kong-based private equity firm, is in exclusive talks to buy Dexia’s asset management arm. It is estimated that the deal could be worth EUR500 million, lower than the EUR750 million Dexia was reportedly seeking when it put the asset...
Boyu invests in Hong Kong retailer Stelux
Boyu Capital has invested in Stelux Holdings through a subscription for HK$371 million ($47.8 million) of convertible bonds issued by the Hong Kong retailer. As part of the deal, CEO Joseph Wong said he planned to nominate Boyu’s Mary Ma and Alex Wong...
New York Life Capital is renamed GoldPoint
New York Life Capital Partners, the boutique investment arm of New York Life, has renamed itself GoldPoint Partners. The exercise is intended to create a distinct identity for the firm; it doesn’t involve any change in ownership, management personnel...
CHAMP-backed Shelf Drilling completes $1b acquisition
Shelf Drilling, the Dubai-based shallow water drilling services company backed by Australia’s CHAMP Private Equity, its US affiliate Castle Harlan, and Lime Rock Partners, has completed the acquisition of assets worth $1.05 billion. The PE investment,...
IDFC PE’s Parag Milk Foods seeks to double capacity
Parag Milk Foods, the Indian dairy company that received a INR1.55 billion ($28.7 million) investment from IDFC Private Equity in September, plans to double its capacity by expanding existing production plants and setting up new facilities. It currently...
AVCJ to host India webinar on December 12
AVCJ is hosting a webinar on December 12 focusing on the opportunities and challenges facing Indian private equity. The free online event is being run in partnership with KPMG.
Chinese pork producer Zhongpin agrees PE-backed take-private
NASDAQ-listed Chinese pork producer Zhongpin has agreed to a private equity-backed management buyout by its chairman and CEO, Xianfu Zhu. The deal values the company at $502 million.
Hamilton Lane targets $400m FOF, 15% for emerging markets
Hamilton Lane is targeting $400 million for its latest fund-of-funds vehicle, with 15% of the capital earmarked for emerging markets. According to a document sent to prospective investors, Fund VIII promises a fairly even distribution between US and European...