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Wamda Capital Leads Seed Financing Rounds for BitOasis and Boxit (MENA)
MENA-focused venture capital firm Wamda Capital has led a seed financing round for United Arab Emirates-based bitcoin exchange platform BitOasis. Other participants in the round included incubator Digital Currency Group, payment systems company Payfort and several angel investors. BitOasis plans to use the funding to grow its team and strengthen its presence outside the United Arab Emirates. Financial details of… Read More
Eos Capital to Acquire a Majority Stake in Elso Holdings (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Namibia-focused private equity firm Eos Capital will acquire a majority stake in Namibia-based cleaning products manufacturer Elso Holdings. The transaction will be structured through Eos Capital’s Allegrow Fund. Elso Holdings plans to use the capital to expand within the Southern African Development Community region. Financial details of the transaction, which is pending regulatory approval, were not disclosed. Read More
Digital Media Partners Leads a US$3 Million Series A Round for Jirnexu (Asia)
Emerging markets-focused venture capital firm Digital Media Partners has led a US$3 million Series A financing round for Jirnexu, a Malaysia-based financial technology startup focusing on customer acquisition and management solutions. Other participants in the round included Indonesia-based investment company Celebes Capital; Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm Tuas Capital Partners; NTT DOCOMO Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Japan-based… Read More
Vision Knight Capital Leads a CNY1 Billion Series C Round for Weidai (Asia)
China-focused private equity firm Vision Knight Capital has led a CNY1 billion (approximately US$153 million) Series C financing round for Weidai, a China-based peer-to-peer lending platform that specializes in providing auto loans. Financial services company China Securities and Shenzhen-listed home improvement company Dong Yi Ri Sheng Home Decoration Group also participated in the round. Weidai plans to use the new… Read More
Darby Private Equity Invests in Fifor Polska (CEE and CIS)
Darby Private Equity, the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, has invested in Poland-based snack manufacturer Fifor Polska. The transaction was structured through Darby Converging Europe Fund III. Fifor Polska will use the new capital to invest in its production capacity and efficiency. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
CVC Capital Partners and Argyle Street Management Sell Shares in Indonesia-based Matahari (Asia)
Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners and special situations investor Argyle Street Management have sold shares worth IDR3.02 trillion (approximately US$223 million) in Indonesia-listed retailer Matahari Department Store. CVC’s latest share sale is the firm’s fourth sell-down in Matahari since Matahari’s initial public offering in March 2013. CVC originally acquired a 91 percent stake in the company in April 2010 for… Read More
Harith General Partners Invests in NOVO Energy (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Pan-African infrastructure fund manager Harith General Partners has invested in NOVO Energy, a South Africa-based power and technology company that supplies alternative fuel technologies and services in Africa. Harith structured the transaction through Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund 2. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Actis Backs l’Université Mundiapolis (MENA)
Global growth markets investor Actis has invested in Morocco-based private university l’Université Mundiapolis de Casablanca. Mundiapolis will use the investment to enhance the quality of its education and develop its international presence. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Maiyas Beverages and Foods Raises INR2 Billion from Peepul Capital and Ascent Capital (Asia)
India-focused private equity firms Peepul Capital and Ascent Capital have invested INR2 billion (approximately US$30 million) in India-based packaged foods company Maiyas Beverages and Foods. Peepul contributed about 80 percent of the total transaction amount, while Ascent contributed the remainder. The company will reportedly use the new capital to build a portfolio of products under the Maiyas brand targeted at… Read More
SaferPass Raises an EUR1 Million Seed Round Led by LRJ Capital and Neulogy Ventures (CEE and CIS)
SaferPass, a Slovakia-based developer of online identity, security and password management products, has closed an EUR1 million (approximately US$1.1 million) seed round led by venture capital firms LRJ Capital and Neulogy Ventures, with participation from a group of global angel investors. SaferPass will use the funds for continued development of privacy products and features and for global distribution of core… Read More
Phatisa to Develop a Residential Property in Zambia (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Private equity fund manager Phatisa and Zambia-based real estate company Camland Estate have entered into an agreement to develop a middle income residential property in Lusaka, Zambia. The transaction will be structured through Phatisa’s Pan African Housing Fund. The development, to be named Camland Villas, is a multi-phase, build-to-sell project consisting of 310 two- and three-bedroom homes. Financial details of… Read More
Mekong Capital Closes Mekong Enterprise Fund III with US$112 Million in Capital Commitments (Asia)
Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital has closed its latest fund, Mekong Enterprise Fund III, with US$112 million in capital commitments. Investors in the fund included development finance institutions FMO and International Finance Corporation, which committed US$17.5 million and US$15 million, respectively. The fund will target both minority and buyout investments in consumer-driven sectors in Vietnam, with typical investments ranging… Read More