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.
Warburg Pincus & General Atlantic Buy The Abraaj Group’s Stake in Network International (MENA)
Global private equity firms Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic have agreed to acquire a 49 percent stake in United Arab Emirates-based payments solutions provider Network International from global growth markets investor The Abraaj Group. The Abraaj Group originally invested in the company, which has a reported enterprise value of more than US$1 billion, in 2011. Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic… Read More
Actis Invests US$62 Million in Nigeria-based Sigma Pensions (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Pan-emerging markets private equity firm Actis has acquired a majority stake in Nigeria-based pension fund administrator Sigma Pensions for US$62 million. Actis has partnered with Sigma’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Umaru Modibbo and the company’s current management team in the transaction. Sigma Pensions was founded in 2004 and reportedly has 650,000 registered customers. With Actis’s support, the company intends… Read More
Northstar Equity Partners IV Reaches a Final Close with US$810 Million in Capital Commitments (Asia)
Southeast Asia-focused private equity fund manager Northstar Group has reached a final close on Northstar Equity Partners IV with US$810 million in capital commitments. The fund was launched in 2014 with a target of around US$800 million. Northstar Equity Partners IV will follow a similar strategy to its predecessor, aiming to commit 70 percent of the fund in Indonesia and… Read More
Partners Group Purchases a Minority Stake in Aiyingshi from China New Enterprise Investment (Asia)
Global private markets investment manager Partners Group has acquired a minority stake in China-based maternity, baby and children’s products retailer Aiyingshi from China-focused growth capital investor China New Enterprise Investment and two other existing shareholders. With Partners Group’s backing, Aiyingshi plans to improve operations and expand internationally. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Alothon Group Acquires a Controlling Interest in Grupo MPR (Latin America)
Brazil-focused private equity firm Alothon Group has acquired a controlling interest in Brazil-based holding company Grupo MPR. The transaction was structured through Alothon Fund III. Grupo MPR’s main commercial activities are in its ownership of Brazil-based cleaning product and consumer good producer CNA and Brazil-based industrial alcohol provider Alcool Ferreira. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
The Abraaj Group, IFC and IFC AMC Agree to Exit Saham Finances (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Global growth markets investor The Abraaj Group, development finance institution International Finance Corporation (IFC) and IFC Asset Management Company (IFC AMC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of IFC, have agreed to sell a combined 30 percent stake in Morocco-based insurance group Saham Finances to Saham Finances’ parent company Saham Group and Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed financial services provider Sanlam Group. IFC AMC and… Read More
The Carlyle Group Signs a Deal to Sell Eastern Broadcasting Corporation (Asia)
Dan Mintz, Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles-based media company DMG Entertainment, has signed a deal to acquire a 62 percent stake in Taiwan-based television network Eastern Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) from global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group for a reported deal value of US$600 million. Carlyle originally invested in EBC in 2006. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Read More
IDG Ventures India and Accel Partners India Invest US$2 Million in RentoMojo (Asia)
Venture capital firms IDG Ventures India and Accel Partners India have participated in a US$2 million pre-Series A round for India-based online home appliances and furniture rental start-up RentoMojo. The company, which was founded in November 2014, plans to use the funding to expand across India. Read More
Warburg Pincus Private Equity XII Reaches a Final Close (Global)
Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus has reached a final close on its latest global fund, Warburg Pincus Private Equity XII, with US$12 billion in capital commitments. Investors included public and private pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations and wealthy individuals, with considerable participation from investors outside the United States. The fund will invest globally in businesses… Read More
CDH-backed Dali Foods Group IPO Raises HKD8.9 Billion on Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Asia)
China-based snack and beverage group Dali Foods Group has raised HKD8.9 billion (approximately US$1.1 billion) in an initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company sold 1.69 billion shares at HKD5.25 (approximately US$0.68) apiece. Dali Foods Group is backed by private equity and venture capital firm CDH Investments. CDH, which originally invested in the company through… Read More
Tiger Global Management Participates in a Series C Round for Argentina-based Avenida (Latin America)
Global investment firm Tiger Global Management has participated in a US$30 million Series C round for Argentina-based e-commerce company Avenida. The round was led by multinational internet and media group, Naspers. Avenida, which was launched in 2013 and reportedly processes 20,000 orders a month, will use the new capital to improve its technology platform and expand within Argentina. Read More
Amethis Finance Invests in HMAO Group (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Amethis Finance, a fund manager that provides debt and equity financing to companies in Africa, has acquired a minority stake in Côte d’Ivoire-based healthcare clinic and laboratory provider HMAO Group. Through this transaction, Amethis supported the management’s take-over of HMAO Group, which was previously owned by Morocco-based business conglomerate Saham. With Amethis’s backing, HMAO intends to consolidate its existing network,… Read More