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Mercapital Invests in the Rubaiyat Restaurant Group to Support Its Expansion in Latin America (Latin America)
Spain-based private equity firm Mercapital has announced the acquisition of a 70 percent stake in Brazilian restaurant group Rubaiyat for approximately EUR46 million (US$56 million). Mercapital purchased the stake from Rubaiyat’s founder, Belarmino Fernández Iglesias. Rubaiyat plans to use the capital to expand its business by opening ten new restaurants in four years in Brazil and Mexico. Read More
Mid Europa Partners Agrees to Purchase 50 Percent Stake in Walmark (CEE and CIS)
Central Europe and Turkey-focused private equity firm Mid Europa Partners has announced an agreement to purchase a 50 percent stake in Walmark, an e-retailer of vitamins and nutritional supplements based in the Czech Republic. Financial terms of the transaction, which is pending regulatory approval, were not disclosed. Read More
Open English Secures US$43 Million Investment Led by Insight Venture Partners (Latin America)
Open English, an online English language school launched in Venezuela in 2006, has raised US$43 million in a financing round led by Insight Venture Partners, with Redpoint Ventures and existing investors Flybridge Capital Partners and Kaszek Ventures also participating. Open English currently serves over 50,000 students in 20 Latin American markets through live online classes led by native English-speaking teachers.… Read More
CVC, Standard Chartered to Sell Infastech to Stanley Black & Decker for US$850 Million (Asia)
Global private equity firms CVC Capital Partners and Standard Chartered Private Equity Limited (SCPEL) have announced the sale of Hong Kong-based fastener manufacturer Infastech to Stanley Black & Decker, a global diversified industrial company. The transaction, which is valued at US$850 million, is pending regulatory approval. CVC and SCPEL initially invested in Infastech in August 2010. Read More
The Carlyle Group Makes Fifth Partial Exit from China Pacific Insurance Company (Asia)
The Carlyle Group has sold shares of China Pacific Insurance Company (CPIC), equivalent to a 9.6 percent stake, for HKD5.64 billion (approximately US$727.9 million) through an open market transaction on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The shares were owned by Carlyle Asia Partners (CAP), The Carlyle Group’s Asia-focused fund, which first invested in CPIC in 2005. The transaction marks Carlyle’s… Read More
Clearwater Closes Fund IV at US$575 Million (Asia)
Asia-focused credit and special situations investment firm Clearwater Capital has announced the final close of Clearwater Capital Partners IV with US$575 million in total commitments. Clearwater raised capital from a variety of investors including corporate and state pension plans, fund of funds, endowments, foundations and family offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia, as well as the Overseas Private Investment… Read More
Macrocapitales Announces First Close of US$50 Million for Fund Targeting Midsize Enterprises in Peru (Latin America)
Peru-based investment manager Macrocapitales has held a first close of US$50 million for its Fortaleza Private Equity Fund, which will invest in middle-market Peruvian companies. According to local reports, the fund is targeting US$80 million in total commitments, with the remaining capital to be raised from international investors. Read More
Forbes Private Capital Group Announces Final Closing of US$1 Billion Kerogen Energy Fund (Global)
Hong Kong-based private equity firm Kerogen Capital has announced the final close of Kerogen Energy Fund with US$1 billion in total commitments. The fund aims to provide growth capital to junior upstream oil and gas companies focused on international emerging oil and gas basins and unconventional assets. Investors in the fund included endowments and foundations in the United States, family… Read More
FountainVest Raises over US$1 Billion (Asia)
China-based private equity firm FountainVest Partners has held a first close for its second China-focused fund, FountainVest China Growth Capital Fund II, with more than US$1 billion in commitments. The fund, which was launched in March 2012, is targeting a fund size of US$1.25 billion. Several of FountainVest’s prior investors have reportedly committed to the second fund, including Canada Pension… Read More
Legend Capital Invests in Chinese Cosmetic Brand (Asia)
Legend Capital, the venture capital arm of China-based investment group Legend Holdings, has invested RMB100 million (approximately US$15.8 million) in cosmetic retailer Yesa Cosmetic Group. Yesa, which carries five in-house cosmetic lines, as well as global brands, currently has 70 stores across China with plans to reach 300 by 2015. The company will use Legend’s investment to support retail expansion… Read More
Redpoint e.ventures Closes US$130 Million First-Time Fund Dedicated to Brazil (Latin America)
Redpoint e.ventures, the Brazilian partnership formed by global venture capital firms Redpoint Ventures and e.ventures, has closed its maiden early-stage fund at US$130 million. The fund, which already includes five active investments, will provide seed, Series A and Series B financing to Brazil-based entrepreneurs with a focus on consumer internet, mobile, media and cloud services. Read More
Navis Sells Nirula’s to Indian Hospitality Group A2Z Excursions (Asia)
Malaysia-based private equity firm Navis Capital Partners has sold its 100 percent stake in Indian restaurant chain Nirula’s Corner House through a strategic sale to A2Z Excursions, an India-based hotel, travel and real estate group, for an undisclosed amount. Navis Capital Partners purchased a controlling stake in Nirula’s in 2006 and made subsequent investments in 2010 and 2012. The sale… Read More