Articles by Tim Burroughs
LP interview: Pictet
Switzerland-headquartered private bank Pictet is adding headcount in Asia – to assess investments as well as woo clients – as the introduction of new strategies increases exposure to the region
Asia exits: Pass the parcel
Sponsor-to-sponsor exits are set to reach a record high in Asia this year as private equity firms increase velocity of deployment and some strategics remain in a pandemic-induced funk
Longreach to exit Taiwan bank after 14-year hold
The Longreach Group has agreed to sell Taiwan’s EnTie Commercial Bank to IBF Financial Holdings for NT$33.7 billion ($1.2 billion), ending a 14-year journey marked by several frustrated exit attempts.
Blue Sky spinout backs Australia cosmetic medical business
Fortitude Investment Partners, an Australia-based private equity firm established by professionals from Blue Sky Alternative Investments, has backed cosmetic medical business Aura Medical Group.
KKR promotes Chris Sun to partner
Chris Sun (pictured), a managing director at KKR who focuses on investments in China’s consumer sector, has been promoted to partner.
CVC backs take-private of Hong Kong-listed Razer
CVC Capital Partners is supporting a proposed founder-led privatization of Hong Kong-listed gaming hardware and software provider Razer that values the business at HK$24.7 billion ($3.17 billion).
China's Didi to delist in New York
China ride-hailing platform Didi, which has traded poorly ever since being targeted by regulators in the wake of its IPO in June, plans to delist from the New York Stock Exchange and relist in Hong Kong.
Bain leads $63m Series C for Korea's PeopleFund
Bain Capital has led a KRW75.9 billion ($64.5 million) Series C round for PeopleFund, a Korean lending platform. It is described as the largest funding round in the country’s P2P finance industry.
KKR hires Asia growth equity head
KKR has appointed Mukul Chawla, formerly of Temasek Holdings, to the newly created position of partner and head of growth equity for Asia Pacific.
Wise Road buys semiconductor assets from Taiwan's ASE
Wise Road Capital, a China-based private equity firm that focuses on high-tech investments, has agreed to buy a package of assets from Taiwan-listed semiconductor business ASE Technology Holding for $1.46 billion.
Grab completes SPAC merger, sees volatile trading debut
Southeast Asia ride-hailing platform turned super app Grab experienced a tumultuous first day of trading on NASDAQ following the completion of its merger with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise valuation of $30.4 billion.
Vision Fund leads $188m investment in Naver's metaverse
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 is the largest participant in a KRW223.6 billion ($187 million) investment in Naver Z, the metaverse platform unit of Korean internet giant Naver Corporation.
STIC commits $840m to Korea's Iljin Materials
STIC Investments has led a KRW1 trillion ($840 million) investment in Iljin Materials, a Korean producer of electric foils used in lithium batteries and consumer electronics, to support the international expansion of its manufacturing footprint.
Vision Fund joins $300m round for China vaccine developer
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and 5Y Capital have led a $300 million Series C extension for Suzhou Abogen Biosciences, a Chinese vaccine developer focused on mRNA products, including one for COVID-19.
Deal focus: Permira passes Tricor baton to Baring
Permira helped Tricor Group consolidate its position in Asian corporate services and upgrade its product offering. Under Baring Private Equity Asia’s ownership, the CEO wants to build a $10 billion company
Fund focus: A91 basks in India afterglow
Having increased its Fund II hard cap to $550 million in response to investor demand, the Indian manager is ready to address an Indian market that is increasingly digital, VC-exposed, and expensive
Deal focus: Serving biryani at scale
With biryani the dish of choice on India’s food delivery apps, Biryani By Kilo is looking to build out a standardized cloud kitchen model. It has $35 million in Series B funding to pursue this ambition
Australia deal-by-deal player Alceon sees investment uptick
Australia-based deal-by-deal investor Alceon Private Equity expects to complete four investments this year, having expanded its scope from consumer and retail to include healthcare, childcare, and IT services.
DCP leads $235m round for China's Datong Insurance
DCP Capital Partners has become the largest institutional shareholder in Datong Insurance Service, one of China’s leading insurance brokerages, after leading a RMB1.5 billion ($235 million) round.
PE investors wary of inflation in 2022 - AVCJ Forum
Inflation is top of mind for Asia-focused private equity investors as they assess the various uncertainties facing the industry in 2022, the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum heard.
Legend hits first close on healthcare fund, launches TMT vehicle
Legend Capital has reached a first close of $177 million on its third US dollar-denominated China healthcare fund. It is one of five vehicles the GP has in the market, including its recently launched ninth flagship technology, media, and telecom (TMT)...
Japan space debris start-up Astroscale gets $109m Series F
Astroscale, a Japanese space tech start-up dedicated to cleaning up orbital debris, has raised $109 million in Series F funding from investors including London-listed Seraphim Space Investment Trust, Japan Growth Capital Investment, and Axa Life Insurance.
HESTA backs PEP-owned Australia software business
HESTA has acquired a A$120 million ($85 million) equity stake in Australian enterprise software and IT services provider Citadel, following its merger with medical practice software specialist Genie Solutions.
CVC exits Malaysia snacks business to Universal Robina
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to sell Malaysia-based snack foods producer Munchy Food Industries to Universal Robina Corporation (URC) – a branded consumer food and beverage business in the Philippines – for MYR1.93 billion ($454 million).