Articles by Tim Burroughs
Venture fund to target India’s neglected Dalit people
The Dalits, a group that faced years of prejudice at the bottom of India’s caste system, are set to benefit from the country’s first ever venture capital fund focusing solely on Dalit-owned enterprises. It plans to support a combination of start-ups...
CVC, hedge funds exchange barbs over Nine debt
Negotiations over CVC-owned Nine Entertainment’s debt burden have descended into a war of words between the company and its hedge fund creditors. CVC stands accused of playing a “precarious game” by insisting it is under no pressure to restructure...
Yahoo unhappy with bids for its US, Asia businesses
Yahoo is unhappy with the with the low premium being offered by private equity firms looking to invest in the company as well as the discounts proposed by prospective buyers of its Asian subsidiaries, which may stall any deal.
Alibaba seeks $4b loan to support Yahoo buyback
Alibaba Group has approached lenders about financing part of the company’s buyback of a 40% stake currently held by Yahoo. The Chinese e-commerce firm is seeking a $4 billion loan to support the purchase.
CVC’s second Asia fund sees value drop by 10%
CVC Asia Pacific’s second regional fund, which closed in 2005 at $1.975 billion, has reportedly lost 10% of its investment value due to failing portfolio companies such as Australian television network Nine Entertainment.
Actis, Nexus and ChrysCapital's Dhawan win at AVCJ India awards - Update
Ashish Dhawan, the founder and senior managing director of ChrysCapital Investment Advisors who is transitioning out of his role to devote more time to philanthropy, won the AVCJ Special Achievement Award at the AVCJ Indian Private Equity and Venture...
Bain sells offs Chinese chemical companies
With Bain Capital poised to announce a first close on its second Asia fund, the private equity firm has secured the first full exit from an investment made through its debut regional vehicle. The sale of Hipro Polymers and Casda Biomaterials to French...
Trade Sale of the Year – Beijing Leader & Harvest
Conventional wisdom states that foreign private equity firms will struggle to do buyouts in China. If an owner is willing to sell – and few private entrepreneurs are, while anything with state ties is off limits – the regulators might not be willing...
The specialists: The impact of Asia's sector-specific funds
When will Asian private equity funds discard their staunch sector agnosticism and carve out specific areas of investment expertise?
Private Equity Professional of the Year – Peter Wiggs
“It's been quite a year,” Peter Wiggs reflected as he collected the prize for Private Equity Professional of the Year at the 2011 Asian Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards.
New China Life seeks to raise $1.6b in Hong Kong
New China Life, the Chinese insurer that counts Temasek Holdings and Standard Chartered Private Equity among its investors, is expected to seek as much as $1.6 billion in the Hong Kong portion of its IPO.
Asian bidders compete for RBS’ aircraft leasing business
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, China Development Bank and a consortium led by Australia’s Macquarie are among the final bidders for RBS Aviation Capital, the aircraft leasing business being divested by Royal Bank of Scotland. The only other potential...
CDB to launch overseas operation, partner with KKR, TPG
China Development Bank (CDB) will reportedly launch an overseas investment operation in Hong Kong and sign strategic partnerships with several global private equity players, including TPG, KKR and Permira.
WI Harper, Matrix back game developer SNS Plus
WI Harper and Matrix Partners have co-led a $4 million round of funding for SNS Plus, an Asia-focused gaming company. SNS Plus has published more than 60 games on Facebook and a further 15 on other social networking platforms.
Chinese regulators poised to clamp down on illegal fundraising
China’s National Development and Reform Commission is looking into domestic private equity firms’ fundraising operations with a view to tightening regulatory oversight on the sector.
India’s Maini Global Aerospace gets $10m in PE funding
Maini Global Aerospace (MGA) has received a $10 million investment from a foreign private equity fund. The Indian company will use the funding to build a new factory and is already looking for an additional $50 million to further expand its capacity.
CIC plans to invest in Western infrastructure projects
China Investment Corp. (CIC) will commit funds to improving infrastructure in developed countries, starting with the UK, where it plans to team up with fund managers or participate through public-private partnerships.
India alters rules on anchor investors, PE disclose for IPOs
Anchor investors in IPOs by Indian companies must put in at least INR50 million under new rules introduced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The threshold, designed to ensure that only serious players enter the fray, comes alongside...
Actis gets $250m from Washington State Investment Board
Washington State Investment Board has committed $250 million to Actis’ latest emerging markets vehicle as part of a more than $550 million allocation to global private equity managers made earlier this month. The other beneficiary was Apax Partners’...
Shenzhen PE firm reaches first close on debut property fund
PTiFund, a Shenzhen-based private equity firm backed by Hong Kong-listed property developer Top Spring International Holdings, has announced a first close of RMB125 million ($19.6 million) on its debut fund. The full target is RMB500 million.
JPMorgan to back Bangalore residential property projects
A JPMorgan proprietary fund will invest INR2 billion ($40 million) in five Bangalore-based residential projects being developed by Nitesh Estates. With the US investment bank’s backing, the Indian real estate firm is expected to raise debt to fund the...
Indian emu processing unit tipped for VC backing
India’s first-ever emu processing unit may receive backing from the Ministry of Agriculture through the Poultry Venture Capital Fund.
Indian investors reconsider structures
Proposed tax reforms are threatening Mauritius’ dominant position as the preferred foreign investment conduit for India
In defense of PIPEs
India fund managers see investments in public equities as part of a flexible strategy that is essential to success in the country