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Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia Receives Approval for Yongye International Take-Private (Asia)
A take-private bid supported by Asia Pacific private equity investor Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) to delist China-based agricultural nutrient company Yongye International from the NASDAQ Stock Market has received shareholder approval. The investing consortium, which is led by Yongye's chairman and CEO Zishen Wu and includes MSPEA, will pay US$7.10 per share for all outstanding American depository shares,… Read More
Syntaxis Capital Provides Financing for the Management Buyout of Expert Petroleum (CEE and CIS)
Syntaxis Capital, a provider of mezzanine financing in Central Europe, has supplied financing to support the management buyout of Romania-based oil and gas services business Expert Petroleum. The transaction was structured through Sytnaxis Capital’s second mezzanine fund. Expert Petroleum intends to use the financing for the development of production-enhancement activities across Romania and internationally. Financial details of the transaction were… Read More
CNEI Invests US$10.5 Million in Qinghai Weide Special Sugar (Asia)
China-focused growth capital fund manager China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has invested US$10.5 million in China-based Qinghai Weide Special Sugar, a producer of inulin and fructooligosaccharide, two prebiotics and dietary fiber products that are used in baby formula, drinks, food, animal feed, cosmetics and personal care products. CNEI’s investment will help Weide develop better planting and production techniques and upgrade… Read More
KKR Invests in Afriflora, Forms Partnership with Baring Private Equity Asia, Hopu and Boyu to Invest in COFCO Meat (Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa)
Global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) has invested a reported US$200 million in Afriflora, a rose grower and distributor with a main growing facility in Ethiopia. The transaction was structured through KKR’s European fund. Afriflora grows about 730 million flowers a year for export to Europe. Separately, KKR and private equity firms Baring Private Equity Asia, Hopu… Read More
PineBridge Investments Reaches a First Close on GCC Real Estate Fund I (MENA)
Global asset manager PineBridge Investments Middle East has held a first close on PineBridge GCC Real Estate Fund I with more than US$140 million in capital commitments. The Shari’a compliant fund, which has a final target of US$200 million, will invest in income-producing real estate assets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with a focus on logistics and warehousing,… Read More
Octro Receives a US$15 Million Funding Round from Sequoia Capital (Asia)
India-based gaming company Octro has received a US$15 million Series A financing round from venture capital firm Sequoia Capital. Octro, which takes existing games and makes them available on a mobile platform, has a portfolio that includes games such as Rummy and Tambola. Read More
IDG Capital Partners Closes IDG China Venture Capital Fund IV on US$586 Million, Leads a US$20 Million Financing Round for DewMobile (Asia)
Technology-focused venture capital firm IDG Capital Partners has reached a final close on IDG China Venture Capital Fund IV with US$586 million in capital commitments. The fund, which was oversubscribed, will make investments in the early-stage technology, media and telecom (TMT) sector. Investors included existing limited partners as well as new investors, such as global investment and venture philanthropy firm… Read More
Helios Investment Partners Backs ARM Pension Managers (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Pan-African private equity firm Helios Investment Partners has agreed to acquire a minority stake in Nigeria-based pension fund manager ARM Pension Managers, a subsidiary of asset manager Asset & Resource Management Company (ARM). ARM Pension Managers has more than US$2.2 billion of pension assets under management and intends to use the investment to consolidate its market position. Financial details of… Read More
Darby Private Equity Exits Bioenergy Geradora de Energia (Latin America)
Darby Private Equity, the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, has exited its investment in Brazil-based renewable energy company Bioenergy Geradora de Energia. Darby originally invested in the company through its Brazil Mezzanine Infrastructure Fund in September 2011. Darby’s investment funded wind parks that have been operational since December 2011 and are part of Bioenergy's portfolio of 1,500 MW… Read More
Sentient Group Enters into a New Financing Agreement with Marengo Mining (Asia)
Papua New Guinea-based mining company Marengo Mining has signed a loan conversion and debenture purchase agreement with existing investor Sentient Group, a global natural resources fund manager. The transaction will be structured through Sentient Global Resources Fund IV. Post-transaction, Sentient’s holding will increase from a 22 percent stake to about an 80 percent stake. Marengo Mining intends to use the… Read More
Practica Capital Participates in a Financing Round for Rewalon, Invests EUR1.45 Million in MCT (CEE and CIS)
Lithuania-based Rewalon, a provider of corporate rewarding services and operator of gifting mobile app Gifty, has received a follow-on financing round from Lithuania-focused venture capital firm Practica Capital and venture capital fund Online Venture. Practica Capital’s investment was structured through Practica Seed Capital fund. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Separately, Practica Capital has invested EUR1.45 million (approximately… Read More
The Carlyle Group Partners with JV Resguardo (Latin America)
Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group and JV Resguardo, operator of Peru-based security companies Liderman and Clave 3, have entered into a partnership to expand the Liderman and Clave 3 brands. JV Resguardo currently has operations in Peru and Ecuador with plans to expand to more countries in the region through organic growth and potential acquisitions. Financial details of… Read More