GPCA covers the latest fund, investment and industry news across our markets in two newsletters: NewsWatch is a weekly round-up of key transactions across asset classes; the Global Tech Brief is a bi-weekly review of tech transactions and innovations with cross-border applications. Subscribe in the left-hand sidebar.

Access past editions of NewsWatch here.

Investcorp Acquires a 30 Percent Stake in Saudi Arabia’s Theeb Rent a Car (MENA)

Investcorp, a Bahrain-based manager of alternative investment products, has acquired a 30 percent stake in Saudi Arabia-based car rental company Theeb Rent a Car. The transaction was structured through Investcorp’s Gulf Opportunity Fund. Theeb currently employs 900 people and operates a fleet of over 10,000 cars. The company intends to use the new capital to consolidate its market position and… Read More

IDG Invests in Chinese Personal Finance App Developer (Asia)

China-focused investment firm IDG Capital Partners has participated in a Series A funding round for Hangzhou Wacai Science, a China-based personal finance management mobile app. The transaction amount was reportedly more than US$10 million. Hangzhou Wacai Science, which has developed two mobile apps that record a user’s daily spending and manage credit card expenditure, previously received a seed investment for… Read More

Havenvest Private Equity Middle East and Al Rashed Group Acquire Stake in IT Integrator Omnix International (MENA)

MENA-focused private equity firm Havenvest Private Equity Middle East, formerly known as HSBC Private Equity Middle East, and Saudi Arabia-based trading and industrial conglomerate Al Rashed group have jointly arranged the acquisition of a significant minority stake in UAE-based IT systems integrator Omnix International. Omnix intends to use the new financing for company growth. Financial details of the transaction were… Read More

The Abraaj Group Exits Filipino Medical Hospital Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center (Asia)

Global growth markets investor The Abraaj Group has announced a full exit from its investment in Philippines-based tertiary medical hospital Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center (DMMC) through a buy back arrangement with the Mercado family. The Abraaj Group originally invested in DMMC in September 2010 alongside the Mercado family. DMMC used the financing to expand its market reach, service offering… Read More

Medu Capital in Two South African Bookstore Deals (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Medu Capital has partnered with former Exclusive Books chief executive officer Benjamin Trisk and private investor Marke Barnes to buy two entities, South Africa-based book retailer Exclusive Books and academic book distributer Van Schaik Bookstores, from South Africa’s Times Media Group (TMG). The consortium will pay ZAR325 million (approximately US$32.8 million) for Van Schaik’s assets and ZAR90 million (approximately US$9.1… Read More

KKR and CDH in US$140 Million Investment to Boost Milk Production in China (Asia)

Global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR), international alternative asset fund manager CDH China Management Company and China-based milk producer Modern Dairy have announced the formation of a joint venture designed to deliver raw milk to Chinese consumers. Under the agreement, KKR, CDH and Modern Dairy will invest US$140 million over the next 18 months to build two new… Read More

GEF Invests INR750 Million in Rishabh Instruments (Asia)

Global alternative asset manager Global Environment Fund (GEF) has invested INR750 million (approximately US$12 million) in India-based Rishabh Instruments, a manufacturer, designer and developer of measuring instruments and industrial control products. The transaction was structured through GEF’s South Asia Clean Energy Fund. Rishabh Instruments intends to use the new financing to transform from a product-based company to a solution provider… Read More

responsAbility Picks Up Stake in Biomass Aggregator Punjab Renewable Energy Systems (Asia)

Independent asset manager responsAbility Social Investments has picked up a minority stake in India-based biomass aggregator Punjab Renewable Energy Systems (PRES). The deal was structured through responsAbility Ventures I. PRES intends to use the capital injection for expansion into new locations in India and abroad. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More

GP Investments Sells Remaining Stake in Estácio (Latin America)

Latin America-focused alternative investment company GP Investments has sold its remaining stake, which was held by GP Capital Partners (GPCP) IV, in Brazil-based education company Estácio Participações. GPCP IV sold all of its 22,064,215 shares at BRL17.61 each through a block trade, generating proceeds of BRL388.6 million (approximately US$172.8 million). The fund originally acquired a 20 percent stake in Estácio… Read More

Blue River Capital Exits Aurangabad Electricals with 2x Returns (Asia)

India-focused private equity firm Blue River Capital has exited its 22.1 percent stake in India-based auto ancillary company Aurangabad Electricals for INR780 million (approximately US$12.3 million). Blue River Capital sold the stake back to Aurangabad Electricals, making a reported 2x return on the firm’s original March 2006 investment. In 2011, Aurangabad Electricals filed a draft red herring prospectus with India’s… Read More

Mantiq Investimentos’ Fundo Caixa Ambiental and BNDESPar Invest in Energia Renováveis do Brasil (Latin America)

BNDES Participações (BNDESPar), the investment arm of Brazilian development bank Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social (BNDES), and private equity fund manager Mantiq Investimentos have approved a share subscription for BRL93.3 (approximately US$41.5 million) and BRL120 (approximately US$53.5 million), respectively, in Brazil-based designer, builder and operator of cogeneration power plants Energia Renováveis do Brasil (ERB). Mantiq’s transaction will be… Read More

Ancora Closes Second Fund on US$128 Million (Asia)

Indonesia-focused private equity firm Ancora Capital has held a final close on its second fund with US$128 million in capital commitments. The vehicle is currently 40 percent deployed, having made three investments since its launch in early 2011. The fund, which was originally targeting US$300 million, reached a first close of US$70 million in April 2011. Khazanah Nasional, the Malaysian… Read More