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Norwest Venture Partners Invests US$4.5 Million in Primary Care Clinic Chain Nationwide (Asia)

Global multi-stage investment firm Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) has, through its Indian affiliate NVP India, invested INR250 million (approximately US$4.5 million) in Indian healthcare chain Nationwide Primary Healthcare Services. Nationwide plans to use the funding to expand from 15 to 120 clinics over the next 18 months. This is NVP’s second venture capital deal in the Indian healthcare sector this… Read More

Blackstone Energy Partners Closes at US$2.5 Billion (Global)

Global investment firm Blackstone has announced the final closing of its first dedicated energy-focused private equity fund, Blackstone Energy Partners, with US$2.5 billion in total commitments. The fund will invest in the energy and natural resources sectors globally and has already made six investments valued at more than US$965 million. The fund will invest alongside Blackstone Capital Partners VI, Blackstone’s… Read More

SEAF Funds Complete Exit from Peruvian Logistics Firm (Latin America)

Emerging markets-focused small and medium enterprise investor Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF) has announced the completion of its July 2012 exit from logistics firm Outsourcing Peru. The owner of Outsourcing Peru repurchased the 53 percent stake owned by SEAF’s Fondo Transandino Peru and repaid the debt financing provided by SEAF’s SME Debt Facility. SEAF had originally invested US$4.1 million, through… Read More

Runa Capital Backs Dnevnik.ru Global Expansion (CEE and CIS)

Russian early stage venture capital firm Runa Capital has invested US$5 million in Dnevnik.ru, an online education platform operating in Russia and Ukraine. Dnevnik.ru was launched in 2009 and currently serves over 21,000 schools in Russia and almost 10,000 schools in Ukraine. Runa Capital invests in early stage technology companies in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with… Read More

PE Trio Ups China Investment to US$300 Million (Asia)

A consortium consisting of Olympus Capital, FountainVest Partners and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners has invested US$150 million in Chinese hydropower plant operator Zhaoheng Hydropower. The firms matched their previous US$150 million investment in the company in December 2010. Zhaoheng, which operates hydroelectric plants across seven Chinese provinces, plans to use the funding to expand both within and outside of China. Read More

Darby Divests Its Holding in Grupo Financiero Improsa in Costa Rica (Latin America)

Darby Overseas Investments, the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, has announced the exit of its holding in Grupo Financiero Improsa, a Costa Rican financial institution. Darby first invested in the company in 2000 through the Darby ProBanco I Fund, a specialized financial sector fund focused on Latin America. The divestment marks the final exit for the fund. Financial… Read More

The Carlyle Group to Acquire 25 Percent of Grupo Orguel (Latin America)

The Carlyle Group has announced the acquisition of a 25 percent stake in Brazilian equipment rental company Grupo Orguel. Grupo Orguel has 75 branch locations in 11 Brazilian states. The investment was made via Carlyle’s US$776 million South America Buyout Fund and Fundo Brasil de Internacionalização de Empresas, a BRL360 million fund advised by Carlyle and Banco do Brasil. Financial… Read More

Beltone’s Midcap Fund Buys 25 Percent of Bio Pharma (MENA)

Beltone Private Equity, the private equity subsidiary of Egyptian investment firm Beltone Financial, has invested EGP10 million (approximately US$1.6 million) for a 25 percent stake in Bio Pharma Egypt, a manufacturer of private label and branded nutritional supplements. Bio Pharma Egypt plans to use the funding to raise its production capacity and to launch new products. Read More

Foursan Group Announces Investment in Jordan Dubai Islamic Bank (MENA)

Middle Eastern private equity firm Foursan Group has invested an undisclosed amount in Jordan Dubai Islamic Bank (JDIB), a Jordanian Islamic bank listed on the Amman Stock Exchange. Founded in 2010, JDIB currently has 12 branches in three Jordanian cities. The investment was made through Foursan Capital Partners I, a US$100 million fund focused on the Levant and North Africa. Read More

Apollo Global Management Exits from NCGA Holdings (Asia)

Global alternative investment firm Apollo Global Management has sold its stake in China’s NCGA Holdings, an operator of luxury car dealerships listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, to Chinese automobile dealer Baoxin Auto Group. The transaction was valued at approximately US$305.4 million, with the share price set at HKD3.97 (approximately US$0.51). Read More

Beirut Fund Banks on Egypt-based Energy Firm (MENA)

U.K.-based private equity investment and advisory firm Capital Trust Group has invested US$20 million in Sakson Petroleum Services Holding, an Egyptian provider of oil and natural gas drilling services. The investment was made through EuroMena II, a US$90 million MENA-focused private equity fund. Separately, Capital Trust Group has reportedly announced the launch of EuroMena III, its fourth private equity fund… Read More

IFC Commits US$20 Million to Renewable Fund Domiciled in Mauritius (Asia)

International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector development arm of the World Bank, has agreed to commit US$20 million to Nereus India Alternative Energy Fund, a private equity fund managed by India-based alternative asset manager Nereus Capital. The fund, which is targeting US$250 million in total commitments, plans to make investments in the range of US$15 million to US$35 million.… Read More