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Yamsafer Secures US$1 Million in Venture Capital (MENA)
Palestine-focused venture capital firm Sadara Ventures has led a consortium of investors in a US$1 million Series A investment in Palestinian online travel service Yamsafer. Yamsafer was launched in 2011 and provides hotel booking services as well as activity packages to travelers in the Middle East. Sadara Ventures manages a US$30 million early-stage venture capital fund focused on the technology… Read More
Kaizen Commits US$4.5 Million to Indian School Management Firm (Asia)
Kaizen Private Equity, an Indian private equity firm focused on the education sector, has invested INR250 million (approximately US$4.5 million) in Altus Learning, an Indian company that specializes in school management. Altus, which currently manages seven greenfield schools and nine preschools, plans to use the funding to expand into northern India. Read More
RRJ Capital Invests US$50 Million in Chinese Biotech Firm (Asia)
Singapore-based private equity firm RRJ Capital has reportedly invested US$50 million in Triplex International Biosciences, a Chinese manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Triplex manufactures products that can detect Hepatitis B and C, as well as certain cancers from blood and tissue samples. RRJ Capital is reportedly raising its second Asia-focused private equity fund, targeting US$5 billion in commitments. Read More
Innova Capital Will Invest in Polish Obstetrics and Neonatology (CEE and CIS)
Central European private equity fund Innova Capital has invested in Ujastek Gynaecological and Obstetrics Hospital, a Polish provider of gynecological and obstetric care. The investment, which could exceed PLN150 million (approximately US$44.9 million) over the next two years, is intended to build a chain of hospitals and clinics providing advanced medical care in the area of gynecology and obstetrics, pathology… Read More
Nexus Venture Partners Closes Fund III (Asia)
Indian venture capital firm Nexus Venture Partners has announced the closing of its third fund with US$270 million in commitments. The firm reported that Nexus III closed six months ago and includes endowments, foundations and financial institutions among its investors. The fund will follow the investment pattern of its predecessors, which have made over 40 investments in early stage companies… Read More
GIC and Northstar Buy into Indonesian Oil (Asia)
Indonesian investment firm Northstar Pacific Partners has invested US$200 million alongside Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) for a minority stake in Indonesian palm oil producer Triputra Agro Persada. The investment consists of equity and convertible bonds, and the terms of the agreement allow Northstar and GIC to invest an additional US$50 million at a later… Read More
Darby Gets into Dall Deal (Latin America)
Darby Overseas Investments, the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, has invested BRL35 million (approximately US$17.1 million) in Dall, a Brazilian supplier of foods and logistics services for hotel and offshore platforms. The investment was made through Darby’s BRL387.5 million (approximately US$235 million) Brazil Mezzanine Infrastructure Fund, which has made five investments since 2008. Dall plans to use the… Read More
Tiantu Capital Invests in Sunshine Kitchen (Asia)
Chinese private equity firm Tiantu Capital has invested RMB60 million (approximately US$9.4 million) in Chinese restaurant operator Sunshine Kitchen, which specializes in Cantonese cuisine. The investment, which was part of Sunshine Kitchen’s Series A round of funding, was made through the Tianjin Tiantu Xinghua Equity Investment Enterprise fund. Read More
Norwest Venture Partners Invests US$4.5 Million in Primary Care Clinic Chain Nationwide (Asia)
Global multi-stage investment firm Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) has, through its Indian affiliate NVP India, invested INR250 million (approximately US$4.5 million) in Indian healthcare chain Nationwide Primary Healthcare Services. Nationwide plans to use the funding to expand from 15 to 120 clinics over the next 18 months. This is NVP’s second venture capital deal in the Indian healthcare sector this… Read More
Blackstone Energy Partners Closes at US$2.5 Billion (Global)
Global investment firm Blackstone has announced the final closing of its first dedicated energy-focused private equity fund, Blackstone Energy Partners, with US$2.5 billion in total commitments. The fund will invest in the energy and natural resources sectors globally and has already made six investments valued at more than US$965 million. The fund will invest alongside Blackstone Capital Partners VI, Blackstone’s… Read More
SEAF Funds Complete Exit from Peruvian Logistics Firm (Latin America)
Emerging markets-focused small and medium enterprise investor Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF) has announced the completion of its July 2012 exit from logistics firm Outsourcing Peru. The owner of Outsourcing Peru repurchased the 53 percent stake owned by SEAF’s Fondo Transandino Peru and repaid the debt financing provided by SEAF’s SME Debt Facility. SEAF had originally invested US$4.1 million, through… Read More
Runa Capital Backs Dnevnik.ru Global Expansion (CEE and CIS)
Russian early stage venture capital firm Runa Capital has invested US$5 million in Dnevnik.ru, an online education platform operating in Russia and Ukraine. Dnevnik.ru was launched in 2009 and currently serves over 21,000 schools in Russia and almost 10,000 schools in Ukraine. Runa Capital invests in early stage technology companies in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with… Read More