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Actis Establishes Credit Services Holdings, Invests in Biscuit Brand Jiashili Food Group (Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa)
Pan-emerging markets private equity firm Actis has established Credit Services Holdings (CSH), a buy-and-build credit services business, and plans to invest US$100 million in the platform. CSH’s first investment will be acquiring 100 percent of South Africa-based credit bureau Compuscan. The investment will take place alongside the Compuscan management team. Separately, Actis has invested in China-based biscuit brand Jiashili Food… Read More
UFG Private Equity Invests in Santens Service Logistics Group (CEE and CIS)
UFG Private Equity, the buyout and growth capital arm of Russia-based alternative investment group UFG Asset Management, has acquired a minority stake in Russia-based pharmaceutical logistics firm Santens Service Logistics Group. The transaction was structured through UFG Private Equity Fund II. UFG plans on investing more than US$30 million in Santens over the course of its next growth cycle, and… Read More
DLM Invista Acquires a 35 Percent Stake in Clic Holding (Latin America)
Private equity firm DLM Invista has purchased a 35 percent stake in Brazil-based travel technology group Clic Holding, the parent of three companies, Argo IT, Travel Explorer and Connect-c, which provide software and services to travel agencies. Clic Holding intends to use the fresh funding to reinforce the domestic operations of the three companies and expand their Latin American presence.… Read More
CITIC Capital and Sonae Sierra to Form China-based Joint Venture (Asia)
Alternative investment management and advisory firm CITIC Capital and international shopping center manager Sonae Sierra have launched a joint venture to provide property management and leasing services to shopping centers in China. Headquartered in Shanghai, the joint venture will focus on enhancing the experience at shopping centers. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Matrix Partners Closes Third China-focused Fund with US$350 Million in Commitments (Asia)
Venture capital firm Matrix Partners has closed its latest China-focused fund, Matrix Partners China III, with US$350 million in capital commitments. The firm targets companies in the technology, media, and telecommunications and healthcare sectors. Read More
IDG Ventures and Vertex Lead an INR1.4 Billion Financing Round in Yatra.com (Asia)
Venture capital firm IDG Ventures India and Vertex Venture Holdings, the venture investment arm of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Temasek, have led an INR1.4 billion (approximately US$23.1 million) financing round in India-based online travel company Yatra.com. Existing investors venture capital firm Norwest Venture Partners, Intel Corporation’s venture capital arm Intel Capital, media company TV18 Group and Reliance Group’s corporate venture… Read More
The Abraaj Group Invests in Chocolate Confectionery Manufacturer Kool Food (MENA)
Global growth markets investor The Abraaj Group has acquired a stake in Kool Food, a Morocco-based chocolate confectionery manufacturer. Kool Food specializes in developing, producing and selling chocolate confections and powder drinks, as well as other sweet and salted food products under its own brand. The investment will be used to consolidate Kool Food’s market position in Morocco and for… Read More
The Carlyle Group Closes Carlyle Sub-Saharan Africa Fund at US$698 Million (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has reached a final close on its Carlyle Sub-Saharan Africa Fund (CSSAF) with US$698 million in capital commitments, surpassing its initial target of US$500 million. CSSAF will focus on investment opportunities linked to the growth of the emerging middle class across Sub-Saharan Africa, in sectors that include consumer, logistics, financial services and telecommunications.… Read More
AVentures Capital Participates in a Series A Financing Round for Augmented Pixels (CEE and CIS)
Ukraine and Russia-focused venture capital firm AVentures Capital and Torben Maygaard, founder of outsourcing company Ciklum, have participated in a Series A financing round for Ukraine-based augmented reality technology developer Augmented Pixels. Previously, the company received a seed investment from AVentures Capital in February 2013 for an estimated US$1 million and a 25 percent stake. Augmented Pixels offers products including… Read More
ChrysCapital Participates in a US$21 Million Financing Round for Au Financiers, Increases Stake in ING Vysya Bank (Asia)
India-focused investment firm ChrysCapital, private equity firm Warburg Pincus and development finance institution International Finance Corporation (IFC) have participated in a US$21 million financing round for India-based non-banking finance company Au Financiers. Financial services firm Motilal Oswal Securities also invested US$3 million in the round. The investment will be used for expanding the company’s network in ten states. Separately, over… Read More
ChrysCapital Increases Stake in Torrent Pharma (Asia)
India-focused investment firm ChrysCapital has invested INR700 million (approximately US$12 million) to increase its stake in India-based drug maker Torrent Pharmaceuticals from 1.9 percent to 2.6 percent. Torrent Pharmaceuticals, which is a subsidiary of diversified industrial conglomerate Torrent Group, recently received regulatory approval to acquire the domestic formulation business of Elder Pharmaceuticals for INR20 billion (approximately US$330 million). ChrysCapital first… Read More
RRJ Capital and SeaTown to Invest US$250 Million in Logistics Warehouse Developer Yupei (Asia)
Asia-focused private equity firm RRJ Capital and Singapore-based investment manager SeaTown Holdings International have agreed to invest US$250 million in Shanghai Yupei Group, a China-based logistics warehouse developer. This investment follows a US$200 million financing round for Yupei completed last year by global private investment firm The Carlyle Group and real estate investment management firm The Townsend Group. The combined… Read More