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Kedaara Capital Closes Debut Fund at US$540 Million (Asia)
India-focused private equity firm Kedaara Capital has held a final close of its debut fund with US$540 million in capital commitments, hitting its hard cap and exceeding its target of US$500 million. Investors in the fund include anchor investor Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, family offices, fund-of-funds and endowments. Kedaara Capital will focus on corporate divestitures… Read More
Enterprise Investors Acquires a 100 Percent Stake in Poland-based Danwood for EUR57 Million (CEE and CIS)
Enterprise Investors, a private equity firm focused on Poland and CEE, has acquired a 100 percent stake in Poland-based Danwood, a producer of prefabricated timber houses, for EUR57 million (approximately US$77 million). The firm purchased the stake from Ferrovial Agroman's Polish subsidiary Budimex, structuring the transaction through Polish Enterprise Fund VII. Danwood intends to use the capital injection for reinforcing… Read More
Actis to Acquire Three Power Assets in Cameroon for US$220 Million (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Pan-emerging markets private equity firm Actis has signed an agreement with United States-based energy company AES to acquire the majority interest in three power assets in Cameroon for US$220 million. The investment will give Actis a 56 percent stake in Cameroon’s national integrated utility, Société Nationale d’Electricité (SONEL), and in two independent power plants, Kribi and Dibamba. SONEL provides 933… Read More
Zomato Raises US$37 Million from Sequoia Capital and Info Edge (Asia)
Venture capital firm Sequoia Capital has led an INR2.3 billion (approximately US$37 million) funding round in India-based Zomato Media, which runs an online restaurant and event-listing and review platform. Existing investor and majority shareholder Info Edge, an India-based online classifieds company, also participated in the round. Sequoia invested INR1.7 billion (approximately US$27.5 million) for around a 17.2 percent stake, while… Read More
Horizon Equity Partners Invests in South Africa-based Qorus Software (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Horizon Equity Partners, provider of growth and buyout capital to small and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa, has made a minority investment in South Africa-based software developer and Microsoft partner Qorus Software. The transaction was structured through Horizon Fund III. Qorus Software’s technology adds document automation functionality to Microsoft SharePoint, Word and PowerPoint. The company intends to use the capital… Read More
PineBridge in Sale and Leaseback Deal with Dubai School Operator GEMS Education (MENA)
Global asset manager PineBridge Investments Middle East has acquired a United Arab Emirates-based school campus operated by global education services provider GEMS Education in a sale and leaseback transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, GEMS Education will lease the school campus for a term of over 20 years, with no change to the schools’ operations, faculty, management or support… Read More
IDFC Alternatives and Oman India Fund Pick Up Minority Stake in NCDEX (Asia)
IDFC Alternatives, the alternative asset management vertical at infrastructure financing company IDFC, and Oman India Joint Investment Fund, the co-investment vehicle between Oman’s State General Reserve Fund and the State Bank of India, have picked up a minority stake in India-based agriculture commodity derivatives exchange National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) from financial services firm Jaypee Capital Services. IDFC Alternatives,… Read More
NBK Capital Acquires a 49 Percent Stake in U.A.E.-based Shakespeare and Co. (MENA)
NBK Capital, an alternative investment firm focused on growth capital in middle market companies throughout the MENA region, has acquired a 49 percent stake in United Arab Emirates-based casual dining chain Shakespeare and Co. The transaction was structured through NBK Capital Equity Partners Fund II. Shakespeare and Co., which owns and operates 17 establishments in the U.A.E. and one in… Read More
NBK Capital Holds US$217 Million First Close (MENA)
NBK Capital, an alternative investment firm focused on growth capital in middle market companies throughout the MENA region, has reached a first close on its second private equity fund, NBK Capital Equity Partners Fund II, with US$217 million in capital commitments. The fund will continue the firm’s strategy of investing in growth opportunities in MENA-based middle market companies. NBK Capital… Read More
Mekong Capital Exits Three Vietnamese Technology Companies (Asia)
Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital has exited its investments in three Vietnam-based technology companies: Ngo Han, MK Smart and Digiworld. Last month, Mekong Capital sold its entire 29.7 percent stake worth VND101.2 billion (approximately US$4.8 million) in magnet wire producer Ngo Han to the company’s Chairwoman Ngo Thi Thong. The transaction was structured through Mekong Enterprise Fund I and… Read More
Darby Exits India-based Symbiotec Pharmalab, Actis Ups Stake (Asia)
Darby Overseas Investments, the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, has exited its investment in India-based active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturer Symbiotec Pharmalab to pan-emerging markets private equity firm Actis. Last month, Actis invested US$48 million for a significant minority stake in the company and has subsequently increased its holding by buying Darby’s interest. Darby originally invested INR450 million (approximately… Read More
Blackstone Buys Stake in Chinese Mall Developer (Asia)
Global investment and advisory firm The Blackstone Group and investment banking service provider ICBC International have purchased a 40 percent and a six percent stake, respectively, in China-based mall developer and operator SCP Company. Blackstone’s investment, which was structured through Blackstone Real Estate Partners Asia, is reported to be worth US$400 million. SCP has developed over 60 projects and currently… Read More