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LeapFrog Investments Exits Ghana-based Express Life to Prudential (Sub-Saharan Africa)
LeapFrog Investments, a specialist investor in emerging markets financial services, has exited Ghana-based insurance provider Express Life, selling its majority stake to financial services institution Prudential. LeapFrog originally invested US$5.5 million in the company in May 2012. Since then, Express Life, which provides savings and insurance products to emerging consumers in both urban and rural areas, has reportedly expanded its… Read More
Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital Fund Holds ZAR690 Million Final Close (Sub-Saharan Africa)
South Africa-based Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital Fund, managed by black-owned investment company Lereko and private equity fund management business Metier, has reached a final close with ZAR690 million (approximately US$67 million) in capital commitments, exceeding initial targets. The fund received commitments from retirement fund Transnet Retirement Fund and development finance institution International Finance Corporation, as well as follow-on commitments from… Read More
Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital Fund Holds ZAR690 Million Final Close (Sub-Saharan Africa)
South Africa-based Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital Fund, managed by black-owned investment company Lereko and private equity fund management business Metier, has reached a final close with ZAR690 million (approximately US$67 million) in capital commitments, exceeding initial targets. The fund received commitments from retirement fund Transnet Retirement Fund and development finance institution International Finance Corporation, as well as follow-on commitments from… Read More
Kinea Investimentos to Exit Brazil-based Grupo Multi (Latin America)
U.K.-based publishing and education company Pearson has agreed to acquire 100 percent of Brazil-based English-language training company Grupo Multi from the Brazilian Martins family, which holds a 78 percent stake, and alternative investment management firm Kinea Investimentos. The total transaction value will be around GBP440 million (approximately US$721 million). Kinea originally invested in Grupo Multi, which reportedly serves over 800,000… Read More
KV Asia Capital Acquires Singapore-based Derma-Rx International Aesthetics (Asia)
Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm KV Asia Capital has reached an agreement with India-based skin care company Marico Kaya Enterprises to acquire 100 percent of Marico’s subsidiary Singapore-based Derma-Rx International Aesthetics (DIAL). DIAL sells a line of skincare products under the brand Derma-Rx for conditions such as pigmentation disorders, acne, scars and wrinkles. Financial details of the transaction, which will… Read More
Montagu Private Equity to Sell Emitel to Alinda Infrastructure Funds (CEE and CIS)
European private equity firm Montagu Private Equity has agreed to a sell a 100 percent stake in Poland-based Emitel, owner and operator of a nationwide network of tower infrastructure sites, to investment funds managed by infrastructure investment firm Alinda Capital Partners. Montagu, along with co-investors private equity firms Innova Capital and Value4Capital and development finance institution European Bank for Reconstruction… Read More
The Abraaj Group to Acquire 80 Percent of Turkey-based Dairy Company Yörsan (CEE and CIS)
Global growth markets investor The Abraaj Group will acquire an 80 percent stake in Turkey-based dairy products manufacturer Yörsan. A player in the domestic cheese and yogurt market, Yörsan products are exported to 17 countries including the U.S. and Japan. Financial details of the transaction, which is subject to approval by the Turkish Competition Authority, were not disclosed. Read More
SaudConsult and Beltone Private Equity to Acquire Stake in Egypt-based PGESCo (MENA)
Saudi Arabia-based engineering firm SaudConsult and BPE Power and BPE Investments, two investment funds managed by Beltone Private Equity (BPE), an affiliate of Egypt-based Beltone Financial Holding, have concluded an agreement to acquire 40 percent of Egypt-based Power Generation Engineering and Services Company (PGESCo), a provider of engineering, procurement, project and site management services to electric power plants. SaudConsult will… Read More
ICICI Venture Invests US$22.4 Million in BTI Payments (Asia)
ICICI Venture, the alternative asset management arm of ICICI Bank, has acquired a significant stake in India-based supplier of ATM and point of sales (POS) deployment and managed services BTI Payments for INR1.4 billion (approximately US$22.4 million). The company intends to use the capital injection to enter the White Label ATMs (automated teller machines set up by non-bank entities) segment… Read More
ARIF Fund Acquires a 20 Percent Stake in Mass Céréales Al Maghreb (MENA)
Infra Invest, a management company for investment funds specializing in infrastructure projects in Africa and a subsidiary of asset manager RMA Capital, has announced the acquisition of a 20 percent ownership position in Morocco-based Mass Céréales Al Maghreb, a subsidiary of the family-owned conglomerate Holmarcom Group. The transaction was structured through Infra Invest, the investment advisor of ARIF Fund, an… Read More
21 Partners Raises EUR60 Million for Poland-focused Fund (CEE and CIS)
European private equity firm 21 Partners has held a first close on mid-market fund 21 Concordia with EUR60 million (approximately US$81 million) in capital commitments. Investors include development finance institutions European Investment Fund (EIF) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as Polish Growth Fund of Funds, an initiative supported by Bank Gospodartstwa Krajowego of Poland and EIF.… Read More
Mediterrània Capital II Reaches EUR90 Million First Close (MENA)
Mediterrània Capital Partners, a division of the Spanish financial group Riva y Garcia, has announced the first closing of Mediterrània Capital II with EUR90 million (approximately US$122 million) in capital commitments. Investors include development finance institutions International Finance Corporation, European Investment Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The fund, which has a final target of EUR150 million (approximately… Read More