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Sarona Asset Management Closes Its Second Emerging Markets Fund of Funds in Commitments (Global)
Private equity firm Sarona Asset Management has held a final close for Sarona Frontier Markets Fund 2 with US$150 million in capital commitments. Investors included institutional investors, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. Sarona Frontier Markets Fund 2 targets locally-based private equity funds across Africa, Asia and Latin America and has already completed seven primary fund investments and two fund investments… Read More
Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Commits to Simba Properties Investment Company (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Africa-focused mezzanine investor Vantage Capital has provided US$10 million worth of financing to Uganda-based Simba Properties Investment Company, the property investment arm of Simba Group, which houses three operating properties and two properties under development. The transaction was structured through Vantage Mezzanine Fund II. Simba Group’s three operating properties are a 70 bed luxury hotel; a five story office block… Read More
Consortium Including Hony Capital, Goldman Sachs and CPPIB Agree to Invest in Neusoft (Asia)
China-focused private equity firm Hony Capital, global investment bank Goldman Sachs, IT solutions provider Neusoft Holdings, global investment management organization Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), venture capital firm Frontline BioVentures and others have agreed to invest US$614 million in two medical subsidiaries of China-based IT services provider Neusoft. The consortium will invest RMB1.6 billion (approximately US$260 million) and purchase RMB1.13… Read More
Badia Impact Fund and Jabbar Internet Group Invest US$2 Million in ArabiaWeather (MENA)
Badia Impact Fund, part of the global group of venture funds managed by Silicon Badia, has led a US$2 million financing round for Jordan-based provider of weather products and services ArabiaWeather. Existing investors including technology company Jabbar Internet Group, early-stage investor Dash Ventures and angel fund MENA Venture Investments also participated in the round. The company seeks to expand its… Read More
The National Investor-led Consortium Acquires a 50 Percent Stake in National Catering Company (MENA)
Investment management and advisory firm The National Investor has led a consortium of investors in the acquisition of a 50 percent stake in United Arab Emirates-based National Catering Company (NCC), a private sector industrial catering and facility management business. The company intends to replicate its business model across the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Financial details of the transaction were not… Read More
BlackRock Private Equity Partners Leads a US$300 Million Financing Round for Coupang (Asia)
Global investment management company BlackRock Private Equity Partners has led a US$300 million financing round for South Korea-based online retailer Coupang. Investment firms Wellington Management Company, Greenoaks Capital Management and Rose Park Advisors also participated in the round. This new financing will help the company strengthen its market position and further expand its e-commerce offerings. Coupang previously raised a US$100… Read More
The Riverside Company Acquires Specialty Chemical Distributor Drex-Chem Malaysia (Asia)
Global private equity firm The Riverside Company has acquired Malaysia-based specialty chemical distributor Drex-Chem Malaysia. Riverside intends to grow Drex-Chem Malaysia’s product and service offerings and expand the company’s geographic footprint. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Zouk Capital and SolarCity Lead a US$16 Million Investment for Off Grid Electric(Sub-Saharan Africa)
Private equity fund manager Zouk Capital and solar energy company SolarCity have led a US$16 million investment round for Tanzania-based off-grid energy provider Off Grid Electric. Vulcan Capital, the private investment firm of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, also participated in the round. Off Grid Electric plans to increase its product offerings and quality of service. Read More
Enterprise Investors Acquire a 19 Percent Stake in JS Hamilton Poland for EUR8 Million (CEE and CIS)
Central and Eastern Europe-focused private equity and venture capital firm Enterprise Investors has agreed to acquire a 19 percent stake in JS Hamilton Poland, a Poland-based provider of laboratory analysis and inspection services, for EUR8 million (approximately US$9.8 million). The transaction, which is conditional upon regulatory approval, will be structured through Enterprise Venture Fund I. JS Hamilton Poland operates a network… Read More
The Carlyle Group Invests US$32.8 Million in Newgen KnowledgeWorks (Asia)
Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has acquired a 55 percent stake in India-based publishing and technical services provider Newgen KnowledgeWorks from existing investors for US$32.8 million. The transaction was structured through First Carlyle Ventures III. Carlyle acquired the stake held by private equity investors Franklin Templeton Private Equity Strategy, Aureos South Asia Fund (now managed by The Abraaj… Read More
Amethis Finance and Retail Holding Jointly Invest in Compagnie de Distribution de Côte d’Ivoire (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Amethis Finance, a fund manager that provides debt and equity financing to companies in Africa, and Retail Holding, the parent company of Moroccan food distributor Label’Vie Group, have jointly invested in Côte d'Ivoire-based food distribution company Compagnie de Distribution de Côte d'Ivoire (CDCI). CDCI owns and operates wholesale, semi-wholesale and retail stores. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Actis Invests in Université Centrale Group (MENA)
Pan-emerging markets private equity firm Actis has invested in Tunisa-based Université Centrale Group, a provider of private tertiary education in Tunisia. The university’s four schools offer courses across medical, legal, engineering and business disciplines. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More