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.
Linear Venture Reaches Final Close for China-focused Venture Capital Fund (Asia)
China-focused venture capital fund manager Linear Venture has reached a final close for its second fund with approximately US$70 million in capital commitments. The fund comprises both RMB- and U.S. dollar-denominated tranches. Investors in the fund include an Asia-focused hedge fund, as well as founders and executives of internet companies including Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings, Baidu, Meituan-Dianping, Qunar, Baixing, Facebook,… Read More
Biopharm Lists on Algiers Stock Exchange (MENA)
Algeria-based pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution company Biopharm, which is backed by private equity firms Development Partners International (DPI), EuroMena and Mediterrania Capital Partners (MCP), has completed a listing on the Algiers Stock Exchange. The shares listed represent 20 percent of the company’s equity and are valued at DZD6.3 billion (approximately US$57 million). DPI, EuroMena and MCP, along with development finance… Read More
LIV Capital Invests in E-commerce Platform Linio and Ticketing Platform Boletia (Latin America)
Mexico-focused growth equity and venture capital investor LIV Capital and global private equity fund manager Northgate Capital, along with digital consumer-focused investment company Kinnevik, have invested US$55 million in Mexico-based e-commerce platform Linio. The company, which operates in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina, plans to use the new capital to roll out new payments and logistics solutions, release… Read More
Genesis Capital Reaches Final Close for Genesis Private Equity Fund III (CEE and CIS)
Czech Republic- and Slovakia-focused private equity firm Genesis Capital has reached a final close for Genesis Private Equity Fund III with CZK2.2 billion (approximately US$91 million) in capital commitments. Investors in the fund include Czech Republic-based bank Česká Spořitelna, the European Investment Fund, asset manager IKS KB, eQ Private Equity and insurance companies Kooperativa Pojišťovna and Česká Podnikatelská Pojišťovna. The… Read More
ViSenze Raises US$10.5m in Series B Round Led by Rakuten Ventures, WI Harper & Enspire Capital(Asia)
ViSenze, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence company for e-commerce and digital businesses, has completed a US$10.5 million Series B funding round led by Rakuten Ventures, the venture capital arm of internet company Rakuten, and venture capital firms WI Harper Group and Enspire Capital. Other investors in the round included Singapore Press Holdings’ SPH Media Fund, FengHe Fund Management, Raffles Venture Partners,… Read More
Oasis Capital Ghana Reaches First Close for Oasis Africa VC Fund (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Growth equity and venture capital fund manager Oasis Capital Ghana has reached a first close for its second fund, Oasis Africa VC Fund (OAF), with US$27 million in capital commitments. Development finance institutions Dutch Good Growth Fund and International Finance Corporation have invested US$5 million and US$7 million, respectively, with the remaining US$15 million committed by five Ghanaian institutions and… Read More
Sequoia Capital and Ascent Capital Exit Citrus Pay to PayU (Asia)
Venture capital firms Sequoia Capital and Ascent Capital have sold their stakes in India-based payments technology company Citrus Pay as part of the company’s 100 percent acquisition by PayU, a global online payment service provider owned by South Africa-based internet company Naspers, for US$130 million. Sequoia reportedly sold a 32 percent stake in the company, generating a 4x cash multiple;… Read More
Enterprise Investors Acquires Intersport (CEE and CIS)
Central & Eastern Europe-focused private equity firm Enterprise Investors has agreed to acquire 100 percent of the shares in Intersport, a sporting goods retailer in the Balkans, from Mercator Group, Intersport’s Slovenia-based parent company. Enterprise Investors will invest through Polish Enterprise Fund VII. The transaction will be valued at up to EUR 34.5 million (approximately US$39 million) and is conditional… Read More
DILA Capital Invests in Mexico-based Alameda (Latin America)
Mexico-focused venture capital firm DILA Capital has participated in an investment round for Mexico-based furniture and home decoration e-commerce company Alameda. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
SP Ventures Invests in Brazil-based Biotecnologia Pesquisa e Inovação (Latin America)
Brazil-focused venture capital firm SP Ventures has invested BRL2 million (approximately US$600,000) in Brazil-based genotyping and molecular biology services company Biotecnologia Pesquisa e Inovação (BPI). SP Ventures invested through Sao Paulo Innovation Fund. BPI is using the capital injection to open new headquarters in Botucatu, Brazil. Read More
LIV Capital to Invest in Central de Corretajes (Latin America)
Mexico-focused venture capital and growth equity fund manager LIV Capital has agreed to invest MXN450 million (approximately US$23 million) in Mexico-based financial markets infrastructure and brokerage company Central de Corretajes (CENCOR). CENCOR will use the capital to operate the Bolsa Institucional de Valores (BIVA) project, a new stock exchange that CENCOR is in the process of establishing in Mexico. Read More
DPI Acquires Stake in Atlantic Business International for US$100 Million (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Africa-focused private equity firm Development Partners International (DPI) has agreed to subscribe to a US$100 million capital increase in Côte d’Ivoire-based financial services company Atlantic Business International (ABI). DPI invested through African Development Partners II. ABI has active banking and insurance operations in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Niger, Mali and Guinea Bissau. The company will use the… Read More