GPCA covers the latest fund, investment and industry news across our markets in two newsletters: NewsWatch is a weekly round-up of key transactions across asset classes; the Global Tech Brief is a bi-weekly review of tech transactions and innovations with cross-border applications. Subscribe in the left-hand sidebar.
Access past editions of NewsWatch here.
Investec Invests in Richfield Holdings and Mobisol (Sub-Saharan Africa)
The Africa-focused private equity arm of banking and investment group Investec Asset Management has acquired a controlling stake in South Africa-based tertiary education provider Richfield Holdings. The company, which primarily operates under the Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology brand, has more than 20,000 enrolled students across 40 campuses in South Africa and offers distance learning courses throughout Southern Africa. Separately,… Read More
Warburg Pincus Invests in Capillary Technologies and OnlinePajak (Asia)
Global private equity fund manager Warburg Pincus has led a new financing round for Singapore-based customer relationship management (CRM) software provider Capillary Technologies. The company develops artificial intelligence-based consumer loyalty, engagement and analytics solutions for retailers in Asia and plans to use the funds primarily to expand its presence in China. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Separately,… Read More
SEAF Invests in Kyna and AKM Glitters (Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa)
Global SME-focused impact investing firm SEAF has invested in Vietnam-based Dream Viet Education, an online education provider operating under the Kyna brand. SEAF, which invested through the SEAF Women’s Opportunity Fund, will partner with Kyna to expand the reach of its educational offerings in Vietnam. Separately, SEAF has invested in Tanzania-based integrated poultry business AKM Glitters Company. AKM will use… Read More
AfricInvest Reaches Second Close for Maghreb Private Equity IV (MENA)
Pan-African private equity fund manager AfricInvest has held a second close for Maghreb Private Equity IV with EUR172 million (approximately US$199 million) in capital commitments. New investors in the fund include OeEB, the Development Bank of Austria, and a South Africa-based fund of funds. Other investors include development finance institutions FMO, IFC, AfDB and SIFEM. The fund aims to raise… Read More
The Carlyle Group Leads Investment in Adicon (Asia)
Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group, along with its portfolio company Meinian Onehealth Healthcare Holdings, has invested in China-based clinical laboratory company Adicon Holding. The company operates 20 laboratories offering outsourced diagnostic testing services to more than 10,000 customers across 28 provinces in China. Carlyle invested through Carlyle Asia Partners V. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Linklogis Raises US$220 Million Series C Round (Asia)
China-based supply chain finance and technology company Linklogis has raised US$220 million in a Series C financing round led by Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC. Additional participants in the round include GLP, Skyworth, China Oceanwide and Welight Capital, as well as existing investors Bertelsmann Asia Investments, Tencent Holdings, CITIC Capital and Loyal Valley Capital. Linklogis uses big data, artificial intelligence… Read More
Advent International Acquires Controlling Stake in Manjushree Technopack from Kedaara Capital and Kedia Family (Asia)
Global private equity fund manager Advent International has acquired a controlling stake in India-based rigid plastic packaging manufacturer Manjushree Technopack. As part of the transaction, India-focused private equity fund manager Kedaara Capital, which originally invested in Manjushree in 2015, exited its reported 40 percent stake in the company. Advent also acquired a portion of the founding Kedia family’s stake. Manjushree… Read More
Chiratae and Alkemi Invest US$3 Million in Elawoman (Asia)
India-focused venture capital fund managers Chiratae Ventures, formerly known as IDG Ventures India, and Alkemi Venture Partners have invested US$3 million in a Series A financing round for India-based fertility services solutions provider Elawoman. The company uses artificial intelligence to match patients with doctors and services and also provides a patient management system for doctors and clinics. Elawoman plans to… Read More
Hahn & Co. Acquires SK Shipping for US$3.7 Billion (Asia)
Korea-focused private equity fund manager Hahn & Company has acquired a 79 percent stake in Korea-based SK Shipping for US$3.7 billion. Hahn will commit US$1 billion in equity to the deal, which includes the assumption of debt and a new capital injection of approximately US$1.4 billion. SK Shipping operates 92 vessels and will partner with Hahn to grow its core… Read More
Meicai Raises US$600 Million from Tiger Global and Hillhouse Capital (Asia)
China-based grocery delivery company Meicai has reportedly raised US$600 million in a new funding round led by private investment firms Tiger Global Management and Hillhouse Capital. Meicai operates an e-commerce platform that enables farmers to sell fresh produce directly to restaurants and plans to use the capital to expand operations in China. Read More
Mid Europa Partners to Exit PKL (CEE and CIS)
Central and Eastern Europe-focused private equity fund manager Mid Europa Partners has agreed to sell its 99.8 percent stake in Poland-based Polskie Koleje Linowe (PKL) to the government-backed Polish Development Fund. PKL provides cable car, funicular, ski lift and ski slope services across seven locations in Poland. Mid Europa originally invested in PKL in 2013 through Mid Europa Fund III.… Read More
I&P Invests in Afribon, AMI and CoinAfrique (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Sub-Saharan Africa-focused impact investing group Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) has invested in three companies through I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs 2: Afribon, a food flavor producer operating in Cameroon and East Africa; African Management Initiative (AMI), a Kenya-based provider of workforce training programs and educational tools; and CoinAfrique, a Francophone Africa-focused online classifieds platform. I&P will partner with the companies to support… Read More