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Paga Secures New Investments to Scale Money Transfer Services Nationwide (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Nigerian money transfer service Paga has secured new investments from a consortium of investors including Adlevo Capital, Omidyar Network, Acumen Fund, Capricorn Investment Group and current investor Goodwell West Africa Microfinance Development Company. Paga enables any person with a mobile phone or internet access to send cash to anyone in Nigeria, buy or send airtime credit, pay bills and make… Read More
The Africa Health Fund Managed by Aureos Invests in Togolese Private Hospital (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Global growth markets private equity fund manager Aureos has invested US$1.7 million in Clinique Biasa, a private hospital and clinic based in Togo. Aureos made the investment through the Africa Health Fund, a US$105 million fund which includes the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IFC, the African Development Bank and DEG among its investors. The fund has made six investments… Read More
Brookfield Acquires 45 Percent of Chilean Highway Operator from Hochtief for EUR230 Million (Latin America)
German construction firm Hochtief AG has sold a 45 percent stake in Chilean toll highway operator Vespucio Norte Express (VNE) to a consortium led by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners for EUR230 million (US$290 million). VNE, in operation since January 2006, was developed by Hochtief under a BOT (build, operate, transfer) contract approved by the Chilean Ministry of Public Works in 2001.… Read More
Translink, Vangoo Back Chinese Mobile Ad Platform with US$12 Million (Asia)
Silicon Valley-based Translink Capital and Japan’s Vangoo Investment Partners have led a US$12 million Series B round of fundraising for Chinese mobile-based advertising platform Adwo. The new funding will be used to expand the company’s operations, and to open offices in Hong Kong and Japan. This investment follows a US$1 million Series A round in the first half of 2011. Read More
MARG Karaikal Port Attracts Equity Investment of INR1.3 Billion (Asia)
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has purchased a minority stake in Karaikal Port Private Limited, a subsidiary of Indian infrastructure company MARG, for INR1.3 billion (approximately US$23 million) through both primary and secondary investments. The new capital will be used to expand the port’s capacity to 28 million metric tons per year from 21 million tons. Existing investors in Karaikal… Read More
ChrysCapital Sells over 9 Percent Stake in Balkrishna Industries for US$38 Million (Asia)
India-focused private equity firm ChrysCapital has exited the majority of its 9.59 percent stake in publicly-listed Balkrishna Industries. ChrysCapital sold over nine million shares in the manufacturer of off-highway tires for INR2.17 billion (approximately US$38 million). ChrysCapital originally acquired the stake in 2005. Read More
Just Dial Raises US$57 Million from Sequoia, SAP Ventures (Asia)
Global venture capital investors Sequoia Capital and SAP Ventures have invested INR3.27 billion (approximately US$57 million) in Just Dial, an Indian local search service that is available via web, phone or mobile internet. Sequoia Capital contributed INR3.05 billion (approximately US$53 million) to the latest financing round, representing its third investment in the company, while SAP Ventures invested INR220 million (approximately… Read More
Ares Makes Second Close on US$500 Million Asia Fund (Asia)
U.S.-based alternative asset manager Ares Management has held a second close on the Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund Asia with US$90 million in commitments. The fund is targeting US$500 million in total commitments. The private equity fund will be Ares’s first focused on Asia, where the firm has offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Read More
Cinven Invests in Pronet (CEE and CIS)
European private equity firm Cinven has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Pronet Güvenlik, a provider of security electronic alarm systems in Turkey. Cinven is purchasing its stake from Turkish private equity firm Turkven and the Dutch development bank FMO. The transaction, the financial details of which were not disclosed, is subject to… Read More
Milestone Backs China Restaurant Chain IPO (Asia)
Milestone Capital, a China-based growth capital fund manager, has agreed to become a cornerstone investor in Chinese restaurant chain Xiao Nan Guo’s Hong Kong IPO. Xiao Nan Guo, which has 57 branches across the country, specializes in Shanghai cuisine. The company is looking to sell 341.25 million shares at HKD1.50 (US$0.13) per share to raise HK$511.5 million (approximately US$65.9 million).… Read More
XSML Supports the Education Sector in Congo
Netherlands-based private equity fund manager XSML has invested in Le Palmier, an education institution operating three schools in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). XSML made the investment through its Central Africa SME Fund, which provides capital and managerial support to entrepreneurs in DRC and the Central African Republic. XSML’s investment will support the construction of a fourth school… Read More
OPIC Board Approves over US$600 Million in New Commitments to Private Equity (Pan-Emerging Markets)
The Board of Directors of U.S. development finance institution Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has approved over US$600 million in financing for private equity funds investing in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. OPIC’s recently announced commitments include: US$185 million for the Tacna and Panamerica solar power projects in Peru, to be developed by Conduit Capital Partners, an… Read More