Articles by Tim Burroughs
Korea’s LP problem
Both the GP and LP bases in South Korea are relatively narrow. Once fund managers have more to show for themselves in terms of track records, it will be easier to distinguish wheat from chaff
Abraaj acquires emerging markets SME specialist Aureos
When Omar Lodhi took charge of Abraaj Capital’s Asia business, the idea was to pursue organic growth. The private equity firm opened an office in Singapore early last year and then one in India, where it already had a joint venture with Sabre Capital...
Q&A: Intel Capital's Keith Larson
Keith Larson, vice president and managing director for Intel Capital’s manufacturing sector investments, talks to AVCJ about how and where Asia is gaining an edge in the global technology space
KKR, TPG consider AsiaInfo bid – report
Several private equity firms – including KKR and TPG Capital – and strategic investors are reportedly considering bids for AsiaInfo-Linkage, the US-listed firm that is already subject to a buyout offer from CITIC Capital.
Catalyst backs Australian offshore oil services provider
Catalyst Investment Managers has acquired a minority stake in Bhagwan Marine, a logistics provider to the offshore oil and gas industry in Australia. The size of the transaction was not disclosed.
Asia, Middle East LPs put up 30% of BC Partners’ buyout fund
Asian and Middle East investors contributed 30% of the capital for BC Partners’ latest European fund, which has closed at EUR6.5 billion ($8.6 billion) after 18 months in the market. LPs from these regions only accounted for 10% of the private equity...
MMI relies on US investors for $300m high-yield bond
KKR-owned MMI International successfully issued its $300 million high-yield bond, principally attracting interest from US investors due to their familiarity with the sector and the company’s customer base. The five-year non-call bond was priced at a...
Abraaj Capital buys Aureos to boost emerging markets exposure
Abraaj Capital has acquired Aureos Capital, creating an entity with approximately $7.5 billion in assets under management and 150 investment professionals across 30 countries. The purchase enables Dubai-headquartered Abraaj, which focuses on the Middle...
CyberAgent Ventures backs Vietnam game developer
CyberAgent Ventures has invested an undisclosed sum in Colorbox Software Corporation, a Vietnam company that develops smart phone games for the global market. This is the second investment made through CA Asia Internet Fund, which targets deals in Southeast...
CVC cuts price for Nine’s magazine division – report
CVC Asia Pacific is reportedly willing to listen to offers of as little as A$300 million ($323 million) – or 3x earnings – for Nine Entertainment’s magazine division after receiving little interest from prospective buyers. The sale of ACP Magazines...
TPG submits Billabong takeover bid despite initial rebuff
TPG Capital has made its A$765 million ($825 million) bid for Billabong regardless of the Australian surfwear company’s attempt to head off a takeover by announcing both the partial sale of one of its most profitable brands and plans to close 150 stores....
Shaw Kwei in take-private deal for Singapore electronics firm
Shaw Kwei & Partners has delisted electronics manufacturer Beyonics Technology from the Singapore Stock Exchange. This follows a $110 million buyout by Channelview Investment, a subsidiary of the private equity firm.
APN in exclusive negotiations with Quadrant Private Equity
APN News & Media has entered into exclusive negotiations with Quadrant Private Equity concerning its outdoor advertising business. It comes after a strategic review concluded that the asset shouldn’t be sold but that further investment was required...
Washington State commits $400m to KKR’s Asian fund
Washington State Investment Board has committed $400 million to KKR’s second Asia fund, which is seeking to raise up to $6 billion. The investment was disclosed alongside those made to Oaktree Capital Management’s newest distressed debt fund and Cinven...
CPPIB hires Goldman’s Mark Machin as Asia president
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has appointed former Goldman Sachs executive Mark Machin as Asia president. He will be based in Hong Kong and take responsibility for the pension fund’s investment strategy and programs throughout Asia Pacific.
Vistra launches fund administration services in Asia
Vistra Fund Services has launched an Asian unit to complement existing operations run out of Jersey and Luxembourg. Based in Hong Kong, the new unit will provide fund administration and associated services to fund managers throughout Asia.
Chinese outbound investment to top $800b by 2016
Chinese outbound investment will expand by $800 billion over the five years to 2016, according to A Capital, a private equity firm focused on cross-border transactions involving Chinese companies. The cumulative value of outbound deals has risen tenfold...
Hudson Clean Energy invests in China’s GSEI
Hudson Clean Energy Partners has purchased a minority stake in GSE Investment Corporation (GSEI), a Chinese company operating in the waste-to-energy and wastewater treatment space. Korean private equity player MBK Partners remains the firm’s majority...
Billabong suspends trading amid reports of TPG bid
Australian surf-wear manufacturer Billabong International has suspended trading amid reports that TPG Capital has tabled a buyout offer for the company. The move comes as Billabong looks for ways to manage a A$600 million debt pile, with net profit expected...
Carlyle’s Applus+ buys Australian inspection firm JDA
The Carlyle Group has acquired John Davidson and Associates (JDA), an Australian extraction industry services provider, through its portfolio company Applus+. The size of the transaction wasn’t disclosed but JDA had revenues of around EUR25 million...
Yahoo, Alibaba deal talks flounder – reports
Negotiations between Yahoo and Alibaba over the US firm’s potential divestment of its stake in the Chinese e-commerce giant are said to have reached an impasse. There are conflicting reports as to the cause of problems, but some suggest it rests on...
CalPERS criticizes PE industry on tax breaks
Joe Dear, CIO of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), waded into debate on how private equity is taxed in the US, saying that buyout firm executives “risk becoming the robber barons of the 21st century” if they don’t back...
Catalyst identifies proxy for resources boom
With investment in Australian natural resources soaring, miners are being dispatched to work on resources in locations so remote that just a few years ago extraction wasn’t deemed economically viable. Morris Corporation provides somewhere for them to...
Private equity goes to the movies
The economic argument for co-producing films with Chinese partners is compelling, but does the private equity industry have enough local and Hollywood savvy to take advantage of it?