Articles by Tim Burroughs
Carlyle, Blackstone in separate talks over Reliance Infratel
The Carlyle Group and The Blackstone Group are in separate talks with Reliance Communications concerning an investment in its telecom tower unit. A deal for Reliance Infratel could come in February or March, subject to agreements on its valuation.
GIC backs Canada’s Osum Oil Sands
Government of Singapore Investment Corp. (GIC) has participated in a $500 million investment in Osum Oil Sands Corp, which is looking to tap Canada’s oil sands and bitumen resources, through a private placement to a combination of new and existing investors.
HarbourVest promotes three in Asia Pacific team
Tim Flower, who moved to Hong Kong in 2010 to head up HarbourVest Partners’ secondary investments in Asia, has been promoted to principal. Two other Asia-based executives, Kelvin Yap and Maggie Chan, have been named vice presidents.
H&Q to launch first renminbi fund
H&Q Asia Pacific is looking to tap Chinese institutions and individuals as LPs for its first renminbi-denominated fund.
Unison buys Asahi Tec from RHJ International
Unison Capital will purchase Asahi Tec, which supplies iron castings to the auto industry, from Belgian private equity firm RHJ International and Tokio Marine & Nichido. The Japanese PE investor has agreed to pay JPY23.9 billion ($310 million) and assume...
India’s GVK to sell minority stake in Australian business
GVK Power & Infrastructure plans to sell a minority stake in its Australian unit in order to retire debts and fund operations. Private equity investors and strategic partners, working independently or in tandem, are seen as likely buyers.
Sino-Forest bondholders may face 100% write-down
Sino-Forest bondholders could face a near-100% write-down on their investment as the company received a default notice on two of its bonds after failing to file third-quarter results on time.
CIC buys 25% stake in South Africa’s Shanduka Group
China Investment Corp. (CIC) has paid ZAR2 billion ($245 million) for a 25% stake in South African company Shanduka Group. The sovereign wealth fund will acquire shares from exiting investors Old Mutual Private Equity and Investec.
Compliments of the season from AVCJ
AVCJ's daily bulletin will take a short break next week for the festive holiday season. Publication will resume on January 3, while the weekly magazine's first issue of 2012 is released the following day.
Smartphone maker Xiaomi secures $90m in VC funding
Chinese smartphone startup Xiaomi Technology has raised $90 million in funding, which values the company at $1 billion. Existing investors Morningside Technologies, Qiming Ventures and IDG Ventures participated in the financing round as well as new participants...
Yahoo studies part-exit from its Asian assets
Yahoo is considering the sale of a substantial chunk of its 40% interest in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group as well as exiting its 35% holding in Yahoo Japan. The value of the transaction would reportedly be $17-18 billion, allowing the US internet...
TPG to take 20% stake in Shriram Transport Finance
TPG Capital will hold a 20% stake in Shriram Transport Finance once the Indian company merges with its unlisted parent and largest shareholder Shriram Holdings Madras. The US private equity firm currently owns 49% of Shriram Holdings and the merger with...
CVC, Johor win board backing for Malaysian fast-food buyout
A takeover offer from CVC Capital Partners and Malaysian state investment arm Johor Corp. for fast-food chains QSR Brands and KFC Holdings has won approval from the companies’ respective boards. The consortium must now put their bid before shareholders,...
India Awards: Financial Advisor of the Year – Ernst & Young
Ranjan Biswas, national director for transaction advisory services for Ernst & Young India, looks at the role financial advisors can play in facilitating private equity transactions.
MediaWorks is latest Oz debt-to-equity target
The phenomenon is known as “loan to own.” Investors buy up companies’ debt on the secondary market and negotiate with the boards to secure what are in effect controlling positions.
India Awards: Legal Advisor of the Year – Khaitan & Co
An effective legal advisor needs TO be on top of the latest regulatory developments. In India this is perhaps easier said than done. In the past six months, various regulators have move forwards then backwards on put and call options, taken PE firms to...
India Awards: PE Deal of the Year – Hero Honda Motors
India sees few big-ticket private equity deals outside the infrastructure space. Securing a stake in a leading player in the automotive sector is even rarer. Bain Capital is therefore all too aware that its investment in Hero Honda Motors in March isn’t...
India Awards: Fundraising of the Year – Everstone Capital
For all the concerns raised about the prospects for Indian fundraising in 2012, fund managers with strong track records – whether spin-outs, franchise reboots or longstanding players – should still be able to attract capital. This notion holds up...
India Awards: Private Equity Firm of the Year – Actis
Actis' exit from Paras Pharmaceuticals was not the most predictable of home runs. Strategic investors have slipped into the Indian healthcare sector over the last few years, principally targeting service providers whose business models can be replicated...
India Awards: AVCJ Special Achievement Award – Ashish Dhawan
Ashish Dhawan, co-founder of ChrysCapital Investment Advisors, is in the process of leaving his role of senior managing director. He looks back at the firm’s emergence and forward to his future plans
Qiming leads $10m Series A round for Appconomy
Qiming Ventures has led a $10 million Series A round of equity and debt funding in mobile application developer Appconomy. The funds will be used to accelerate the firm’s expansion in China.
Everstone buys stake in Delhi restaurant chain
Everstone Capital has agreed to buy a 45% stake in Pind Balluchi, a New Delhi-based restaurant chain, for about $20 million. The private equity firm will invest in JS Hospitality Services, which operates about 30 restaurants under the Pind Balluchi brand.
Archer Capital closes fifth fund at $1.5b
Australia’s Archer Capital has closed its fifth fund at A$1.5 billion ($1.52 billion), having spent less than four months in the market. The vehicle, which counts domestic and international institutions among its investors, was significantly oversubscribed.
CHAMP Ventures buys Australian specialist safety wear retailer
CHAMP Ventures has purchased a 79% stake in RSEA, Australia’s largest specialist safety retailer of hard hats, high-visibility wear and site signs. The remainder is held by company management, including 18% by Managing Director Brandon Chizik who will...