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Fajr Capital Acquires Food and Beverage Platform Cravia Group (MENA)
Middle East- and Asia-focused private equity firm Fajr Capital has acquired Cravia Group, a United Arab Emirates-based food and beverage company with a presence in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The company operates franchises including: Zaatar w Zeit, Cinnabon, Seattle's Best Coffee, Carvel and Five Guys. The company plans to use the new investment to accelerate its immediate growth plans,… Read More
The Carlyle Group Invests in Mazarine Energy (MENA)
Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has invested in Mazarine Energy, an upstream oil and gas company with existing assets in Tunisia. Carlyle will also grant Mazarine Energy access to an equity line of up to US$500 million to fund future bolt-on acquisitions, focusing on conventional exploration, development and production opportunities in Europe, Africa and the broader Mediterranean region.… Read More
Properati Raises US$2m from NEVEQ Capital Partners, NXTP Labs & Telor International (Latin America)
Properati, an Argentina-based online and mobile platform for the Latin American real estate market, has received a US$2 million investment from venture capital firm NEVEQ Capital Partners, accelerator and seed fund NXTP Labs and private company Telor International. NEVEQ structured its contribution through NEVEQ II. Properati plans to use the new funds to expand and consolidate its regional presence in… Read More
CITIC Capital Partners Agrees to Exit Packaging Materials Company Tri-Wall Holdings to Rengo (Asia)
CITIC Capital Partners, the private equity arm of CITIC Capital, has agreed to sell its entire 67.1 percent stake in Hong Kong-based packaging materials company Tri-Wall Holdings to Japan-based packaging manufacturer Rengo for a reported US$222 million. CITIC originally invested in Tri-Wall in a transaction structured through CITIC Capital Partners Japan funds and CITIC Capital Partners International funds. The transaction,… Read More
Capital Float Raises US$25m from Creation Investments, Aspada, SAIF Partners & Sequoia Capital(Asia)
India-based online lending platform Capital Float has raised a US$25 million Series B financing round led by Creation Investments Capital Management, an investment management firm with a focus on financial services. India-focused investment firm Aspada and venture capital firms SAIF Partners and Sequoia Capital also participated in the round. Capital Float plans to use the new capital to expand its… Read More
Warburg Pincus Invests in China-based Hospital Chain UIB (Asia)
Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus has completed an investment in UIB, a China-based obstetrics, gynecology (OB/GYN) and pediatrics hospital chain. The transaction was structured through Warburg Pincus XII. The investment will accelerate UIB’s development and expansion of its business offerings in the OB/GYN and pediatrics sector. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
XSML Invests in Democratic Republic of the Congo-based Institut Aurora & B.I.S. (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Central Africa-focused private equity firm XSML has invested in two separate Democratic Republic of the Congo-based companies: Institut Aurora, a nursery, primary and secondary education provider, and B.I.S., a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer. The transactions were structured through XSML’s African Rivers Fund. Institut Aurora plans to use the new capital to expand its capacity from 500 to 1,500 students, while B.I.S.… Read More
IDG Ventures India & Inventus Capital Participate in Financing Rounds for HealthifyMe & Unbxd (Asia)
Venture capital firms IDG Ventures India, Inventus Capital and Blume Ventures have invested US$6 million in a Series A round for India-based Caeruz Ventures, operator of HealthifyMe, a health and fitness mobile app. The company plans use the capital to improve its technology and further develop its digital coaching platform. Separately, IDG Ventures, Inventus, venture capital firm Nirvana Venture Advisors… Read More
Baring Private Equity Asia to Acquire a 35 Percent Stake in TELUS International (Asia)
Asia-focused alternative asset management firm Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to acquire a 35 percent stake in Philippines-based business process outsourcing company TELUS International. The agreement values the company at approximately US$1 billion. With Baring Private Equity Asia’s support, TELUS International plans to expand its operations and invest further in the Asia-Pacific region. The transaction is subject to customary… Read More
China-based Ant Financial Closes a US$4.5 Billion Series B Funding Round (Asia)
Ant Financial, a China-based affiliate of e-commerce company Alibaba Group, has closed a US$4.5 billion Series B funding round at a reported enterprise valuation of close to US$60 billion. Investors in the round included China Investment Corporation’s affiliate CIC Capital and China Construction Bank’s subsidiary CCB Trust, as well as existing investors: insurance company China Life Insurance, Postal Savings Bank… Read More
Lenskart Raises a Series D Round from IFC, TPG Growth, Adveq Management & IDG Ventures India (Asia)
Lenskart, an India-based eyewear manufacturer, distributor and retailer, has raised INR4 billion (approximately US$60 million) in a Series D round led by development finance institution International Finance Corporation (IFC). Additional investors in the round included private equity firms TPG Growth and Adveq Management, venture capital firm IDG Ventures India and two individual investors. IFC contributed US$25 million to the round.… Read More
The Abraaj Group Exits Unimed via an IPO on the Tunis Stock Exchange (MENA)
Global growth investor The Abraaj Group has exited its investment in Tunisia-based pharmaceutical company Unité de Fabrication de Médicaments (Unimed) through an initial public offering (IPO) on the Tunis Stock Exchange. The IPO was priced at TND11.8 (approximately US$5.91) per share, implying a market capitalization of TND300 million (approximately US$150 million). Abraaj originally invested in the company in 2011. Financial… Read More