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MCI Invests in Answear.com (CEE and CIS)
Central and Eastern Europe-focused private equity group MCI Management has acquired a minority stake in Wearco, the company that operates online clothing store Answear.com. Answear.com intends to use the capital injection to grow its market share in Poland and neighboring countries. Financial details of the transaction, which was structured through the MCI.TechVentures Fund, were not disclosed. Read More
Southern Capital Closes Fund III (Asia)
Southeast Asia-focused private equity buyout firm Southern Capital Group (SCG) has reportedly closed its third fund with US$408 million in commitments, surpassing its target of US$350 million. SCG targets middle market businesses with enterprise values of between US$20 million and US$200 million. SCG’s prior funds include Mulberry Asia Fund II, which closed in 2009 on US$300 million. Read More
Aberdare Ventures Invests in Brazilian Pharmacy Benefits Firm (Latin America)
Healthcare-focused venture capital firm Aberdare Ventures and U.S.-based hedge fund Valiant Capital Management have jointly acquired a 45 percent equity stake in Brazilian pharmacy benefits company ePharma for an estimated BRL169 million (approximately US$74.6 million). Founded in 1999, ePharma serves as an intermediary between health insurance companies, employers and pharmaceutical companies. Read More
CNEI Invests US$9.7 Million in Chinese Prawn Company (Asia)
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI), a China-focused growth capital fund manager, has invested US$9.7 million in Zhanjiang Newpro Foods (Newpro), a China-based company involved in the breeding, culturing, farming and processing of prawns. Along with the investment, CNEI has introduced international experts to Newpro for future breeding of pathogen-free shrimp. Read More
Flipkart Raises US$200 Million in Funding from Existing Investors (Asia)
India-focused online retailer Flipkart has raised US$200 million in its fifth round of funding from existing investors, including Accel Partners, Tiger Global and global multi-family office ICONIQ Capital. South Africa-based multinational media company Naspers also participated in the round. In 2012, Flipkart raised a reported US$150 million in a Series D round led by Naspers. Flipkart intends to use the… Read More
Vaultize Raises Venture Capital Funding from Tata Capital Innovations Fund (Asia)
Tata Capital, the private equity arm of the Indian conglomerate Tata Group, has invested in India-based file sharing, sync and mobility vendor Vaultize. The new capital will be used to help the company scale up its go-to-market strategy, including expansion in the United States and Europe. Financial details of the transaction, which was structured through Tata Capital Innovations Fund, were… Read More
ImpressPages Raises EUR200,000 from Practica Capital (CEE and CIS)
Lithuania-focused venture capital firm Practica Capital has invested EUR200,000 (approximately US$257,000) in ImpressPages, a Lithuanian software developer. ImpressPages, creator of an open-source, drag-and-drop online content management system, intends to use the additional capital to grow its number of product users and to develop its ImpressPages Marketplace, where developers of ImpressPages plug-ins can sell their products. Read More
LJ International Announces Shareholders’ Approval of Take-Private Transaction (Asia)
Hong Kong-based LJ International, a leading colored gemstone and diamond jeweler with retail and wholesale businesses, has announced its shareholders’ approval of a proposed management buyout by China-focused private equity firm FountainVest. Upon completion of the transaction, LJ International will be delisted from the NASDAQ Stock Market and owned by a consortium of investors including FountainVest and LJ International’s Chairman… Read More
CVCI Invests INR3.4 Billion in Engineering Firm (Asia)
International middle-market private equity firm Citi Venture Capital International (CVCI Private Equity) has invested INR3.4 billion (approximately US$55.8 million) in India-based engineering company Sansera Engineering. The company, which operates seven manufacturing and machining plants across four Indian states, intends to use the funds for further business expansion. Read More
Baring Private Equity Asia Set for Korea Logistics Buyout (Asia)
Asia-focused private equity firm Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) has agreed to buy South Korean courier services provider Logen Logistics from Mirae Asset Private Equity, an international asset management firm, for roughly KRW160 billion (approximately US$139 million). The transaction will be structured through BPEA Fund V. Mirae Asset Private Equity acquired a 100 percent stake in Logen Logistics for KRW80… Read More
KKR Reaches Final Close on Asian II Fund (Asia)
Global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) has announced the final close of its Asian II Fund at US$6 billion. The new fund will target local industries such as consumer, retail, healthcare and education that can take advantage of an increase in Asia’s domestic consumption. Read More
PLUSS Polymers Raises INR150 Million from Tata Capital Innovations Fund (Asia)
Tata Capital, the private equity arm of India’s Tata Group, has invested INR150 million (approximately US$2.5 million) in India-based PLUSS Polymers, a chemicals and polymers research and manufacturing company. The transaction was structured through Tata Capital Innovations Fund. PLUSS Polymers intends to use the new financing to further the company’s research, development and manufacturing initiatives. Read More