Articles by Tim Burroughs
Gobi makes lucrative early exit from CIB
Gobi Partners had big plans for CIB Development. The venture firm received the green light to invest in the Malaysia-based online games operator in 2010 and put together a strategy that would boost exposure in Indonesia, the region’s largest gaming...
Greenpark, IFC target emerging markets secondaries
Greenpark Capital's tie-up with International Finance Corp. (IFC) to create a $500 million emerging markets secondaries fund (EMSF) makes a lot of sense. The former has plenty of experience in secondary investments but a limited emerging markets presence;...
Axiom closes third fund in just four months
Regional fund-of-funds player Axiom Asia says that strong investor demand for fund three, despite a difficult fundraising environment, is an endorsement of the firm’s consistent approach
Spreadtrum commits $10m to India’s PE-backed Micromax
Chinese semiconductor manufacturer Spreadtrum Communications has invested $10 million in PE-backed Micromax Informatics, one of India’s largest mobile phone brands. As part of the deal, the companies have established a partnership that will see Spreadtrum...
NAB offloads debt in CVC-backed Nine Entertainment
National Australia Bank (NAB) has sold off its entire holding of debt in CVC-backed Nine Entertainment. The bank offloaded A$86 million ($90 million), with media reports quoting a price of A$0.85-087 on the dollar.
Lilliput founder says L Capital has submitted bid
Lilliput Kidswear’s founder and managing director claims to have received an offer for the struggling business from L Capital, the private equity arm of luxury goods giant LVMH. A sale would facilitate the exit of Bain Capital and TPG Capital.
Los Angeles pension fund invests $25m in Hony V
Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS) committed up to $25 million to Hony Capital Fund V, which closed in January at $2.4 billion, $1 billion larger than its predecessor.
Everstone in talks with Indian spa salon operator
Everstone Capital is negotiating the purchase of a majority stake in Indian spa salon chain You Look Great (YLG). Helion Venture Partners, an existing investor in the company, is also participating in the talks.
Australia Music Group gets private equity lifeline
Revere Capital has injected funding into Australia Music Group (AMG) as part of internal restructuring efforts. Like many retailers in Australia, the company is struggling during a period of poor consumer sentiment.
ASX chairman to lead Australia’s Future Fund
David Gonski will relinquish his role as chairman of the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) to head up Future Fund, the country’s A$90 billion ($95 billion) sovereign wealth vehicle. He replaces David Murray, former CEO of Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Infrastructure: Big market, slow progress
Indonesia’s substandard infrastructure represents a huge investment opportunity and the government is taking steps to ensure foreign players can participate. However, returns will only come to those who wait
Indonesia investment: Uncharted territory
For all its attractions, Indonesia remains a difficult – and expensive – market for foreign private equity firms. Identifying value rests on building up local knowledge and expertise
Blackstone, PAI prepare for United Biscuits carve-up
Private equity-owned United Biscuits, a one-time target of China’s Bright Food Group, is preparing to spin out its salty snacks business in a potential GBP500 million ($780 million) sale. The Blackstone Group and PAI Partners are keen to separate the...
Family offices eye larger private equity allocations
Family offices are looking to invest more in private equity over the next 12 months at the expense of their cash allocations. A survey of 32 family offices conducted by London-based private market advisory firm Somerset Capital found that 63% plan on...
Warburg Pincus, IFC commit $50m to Au Financiers
Warburg Pincus and International Finance Corp. (IFC) have jointly invested $50 million in Au Financiers, an Indian non-banking finance company. IFC’s participation means its stake in the company will remain the same, while Motilal Oswal Private Equity,...
PEP wants investment partner for Link – report
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is reportedly looking to raise additional capital for portfolio company Link Group, which is valued at some A$1.4 billion ($1.48 billion).
J.P. Morgan names new global alternatives fund admin head
J.P. Morgan Worldwide Securities Services (WSS) has appointed Stephanie Miller to head up its global alternative investment services business. Reporting to Nick Rudenstine, global head of investor services for WSS, she will be responsible for the firm’s...
ADIA to seek direct deals in India’s property sector
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) plans to make direct investments into Indian real estate rather than operate through third-party private equity and property fund managers.
Secondaries: GPs for hire
Many first-time fund managers in Asia are expected to have trouble raising successor vehicles. Secondary investors sense the opportunity to tide over GPs by acquiring their existing portfolios
Hudson Clean Energy makes China debut
Asia Pacific's waste-to-energy market is projected to grow threefold in the next five years and China is central to this trend. Cleantech consultancy Pike Research expects the country’s revenues to hit $3.7 billion by the end of the period, up from...
Blackstone confirms China appointments
The Blackstone Group confirmed the appointments of Yi Luo and Edward Huang, both of whom will focus on the Greater China market. Luo joined in January as a senior managing director in the private equity firm’s Shanghai office, while Huang started work...
Infinity backs Chinese specialist chip maker
Infinity Group, the Israel-based private equity firm created by China Development Bank and Israeli conglomerate IDB Group, has committed RMB8 million ($1.2 million) to Solorein Technology. It is the first investment made through Infinity’s Chengdu Shuangliu...
Bain: GDP doesn’t indicate private equity capacity
The number of large companies in a country, not the size of its economy, is the most important indicator of a market’s capacity to absorb private equity capital, according to Bain & Company. Other key factors include the depth and liquidity of capital...
Japan’s Asahi favorite to buy StarBev from CVC – report
Asahi has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to buy east European brewer StarBev from CVC Capital Partners in a deal worth up to $3 billion. It is another indication of Japanese corporates’ interest in expanding overseas, offering an exit opportunity...