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Islamic Development Bank to Launch US$600 Million Agriculture Fund (MENA)

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB), an economic development organization based in Saudi Arabia with 56 member countries, has partnered with Dutch asset manager Robeco to launch a US$600 million private equity fund to invest in food and agriculture projects in Muslim nations. The fund, which will be managed by a joint venture between IDB affiliate Islamic Corporation for the Development… Read More

XSML Invests in 4G Internet Provider in Central African Republic (Sub-Saharan Africa)

XSML, a Netherlands-based emerging markets private equity fund manager, has announced an investment in Millenium Telecom, an internet services provider based in the Central African Republic. XSML made the investment through the Central Africa SME Fund. Millenium Telecom plans to develop a mobile broadband internet network serving individuals and businesses in Bangui.  Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More

SEAF Funds Complete Exit from Peruvian Hydropower Plant Investments (Latin America and the Caribbean)

U.S.-based global growth capital investor Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF) recently announced that three SEAF-managed Latin American funds have exited their investment in Peruvian power plant operator Hidroeléctrica Santa Cruz (HSC) in February 2012 through a strategic sale to a Brazilian renewable energy developer. Fondo Transandino Peru, Fondo LATAM Peru and LATAM Growth Fund first invested in HSC in December… Read More

Unitas Capital Partners with Korean Outdoor Brand NEPA (Asia)

Asia Mountaineering Holdings (AMH), a Netherlands-headquartered company owned by funds managed by Hong Kong-based private equity firm Unitas Capital will invest KRW190 billion (approximately US$162.4 million) to acquire a significant minority stake in NEPA, a Korean outdoor apparel and equipment manufacturer. AMH will make its investment through a subscription of new primary shares. NEPA plans to use the capital to… Read More

CapMan Invests in KDL Test Alongside EBRD and UFG Private Equity (CEE and CIS)

CapMan Russia, a fund managed by Finland-based asset manager CapMan, has partnered with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Russia-based UFG Private Equity to acquire 24 percent of KDL Test. A laboratory diagnostic services provider, KDL has operations across Russia. The deal, the financial details of which were not disclosed, represents CapMan Russia’s first in the Russian… Read More

IFC Invests in Convergence Partners Fund to Improve Africa’s Communications Infrastructure (Sub-Saharan Africa)

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will invest US$35 million in the Convergence Partners Communications Infrastructure Fund, which will focus on new, open access communications networks and related services across Africa. Fund manager Convergence Partners, an investment management and advisory firm based in South Africa, is targeting US$500 million for the fund. Read More

India’s Komli Media Inks US$39 Million Led by Norwest Venture Partners (Asia)

Komli Media, a media technology company based in Mumbai, has raised US$39 million in a financing round led by U.S.-based venture and growth equity investor Norwest Venture Partners. Komli Media plans to use the new funds to invest in the company’s core media technology platforms and expand its presence across the Asia Pacific region. Nexus Venture Partners, Helion Venture Partners,… Read More

Lupatech Raises BRL261 Million in Preferential Share Offer, GP Investments Commits BRL50 Million (Latin America)

Lupatech, a Brazil-based provider of products and services to the oil and gas industry, has concluded a preferential share offer in which it raised BRL260.7 million (approximately US$128 million). Of the 65.2 million shares that were subscribed at a price of BRL4 per share, Latin America-focused private equity firm GP Investments acquired shares equivalent to BRL50 million (approximately US$26 million)… Read More

Fortis Healthcare to Receive INR3.7 Billion Equity Infusion in SRL Through IFC and NYLIM Jacob Ballas India (Asia)

Fortis Healthcare, an integrated healthcare provider operating across the Asia Pacific region, has announced that International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Jacob Ballas India (JBC), an India-focused private equity advisor, will invest INR3.7 billion (approximately US$66 million) in Fortis subsidiary Super Religare Laboratories (SRL), an India-based diagnostic services network. JBC, through its NYLIM Jacob Ballas India Fund III, and IFC will… Read More

Meilele Closes US$40 Million Series B Financing Led by Lightspeed China Partners (Asia)

Lightspeed China Partners, the China-based division of global venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners, has invested in the Series B financing round of Meilele, a Chinese online furniture retailer. Meilele raised approximately US$40 million, with Temasek subsidiary Vertex Venture Holdings, Chinese growth capital firm LionRock Capital and Korean asset manager KTB Ventures also participating. Meilele plans to use the new… Read More

Samara Injects US$32 Million in Monte Carlo Fashions (Asia)

Samara Capital, a U.S.-based private equity firm focused on India, has acquired an 18 percent stake in Monte Carlo Fashions for INR1.75 billion (approximately US$32 million). Samara purchased 1.1 million shares from the company’s current ownership group and 2.9 million shares through a capital increase. Monte Carlo, a garment manufacturer and retailer, plans to use the new funds to support… Read More

Global Environment Fund Raises US$124 Million India-focused Fund (Asia)

Global Environment Fund (GEF), a U.S.-based private equity firm, has raised INR7 billion (US$124 million) for a fund targeting small and medium enterprises in India. The GEF South Asia Fund plans to make three to four minority investments in India a year, with tickets ranging from US$3 million to US$15 million, and will also invest in Nepal, Sri Lanka and… Read More