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Mekong Nears End of Debut Fund with Sale of Toymaker Nam Hoa (Asia)
Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital has announced its exit from Nam Hoa Production & Trading Corporation, a Vietnamese manufacturer of wooden toys. Mekong Capital originally invested in Nam Hoa in June 2004, through its debut fund the Mekong Enterprise Fund. This is Mekong Capital’s eighth exit from the Mekong Enterprise Fund. Read More
Actis Invests in Sri Lanka’s Asiri Central Hospitals (Asia)
Emerging markets-focused private equity investor Actis has reportedly acquired a 10.8 percent stake in Sri Lanka’s Asiri Central Hospitals for LKR604 million (approximately US$4.5 million). Actis purchased 2.4 million shares in the company, which is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, from Softlogic Holdings, Commercial Bank of Ceylon and Pan Asia Banking Corporation. Separately, Actis invested US$40 million in AGS… Read More
India Equity Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Dental Chain Axiss (Asia)
India-focused private equity firm India Equity Partners (IEP) is reportedly acquiring a majority stake in Indian dental clinic chain Axiss Dental. Founded in 2007, Axiss Dental operates 17 dental clinics in India’s Delhi and National Capital Region. The investment size was not disclosed, but India Equity Partners typically targets investments in the US$20 million to US$50 million range. Read More
GGV Capital, with US$625 Million in New Funds, Targets China, U.S. Growth (Asia)
U.S.-based venture capital firm GGV Capital has reportedly closed its fourth fund with US$625 million in commitments. The fund has a dual structure comprising of a US$520 million U.S. dollar vehicle and a RMB650 million (approximately US$105 million) local currency vehicle. The U.S. dollar fund will invest in both the United States and China, while the RMB-denominated fund will invest… Read More
PE Firm to Fund Second Kenyan Spur Restaurant (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Africa and Middle East-focused SME financier GroFin Capital has agreed to fund the expansion of South African restaurant chain, Spur Group, into Kenya. Johannesburg-listed Spur plans to open its second location in Kenya at the Eka Hotel in the capital of Mombasa. GroFin has agreed to provide between KES40 million and KES45 million (approximately US$500,000) in financing. Read More
KKR Announces Investment to Support Growth of China Apparel Retailer Novo (Asia)
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) has announced a US$30 million investment into Chinese fashion apparel retailer Novo Holdco through the KKR China Growth Fund, a China-focused private equity fund. Novo Holdco manages 11 proprietary retail stores within China and operates a franchise of over 80 stores under the brand “Le Sportsac.” Read More
Alta Ventures Mexico Fund I Announces a US$70 Million Final Close (Latin America)
Mexican venture capital fund Alta Ventures Mexico has announced the final close of its first Mexico-focused venture capital fund, Alta Ventures Mexico Fund I, with US$70 million in total commitments. The fund will focus on technology companies in sectors such as SaaS (software as a service), mobile, big data, healthcare, consumer, non-banking financing and education. The fund, which held a… Read More
MBK Partners Buys Stake in Woongjin Coway for KRW1.2 Trillion (Asia)
North Asia-focused private equity firm MBK Partners has reportedly purchased a 31 percent stake in Woongjin Coway, the water purification business of South Korean conglomerate Woongjin Holdings, for KRW1.2 trillion (approximately US$1.1 billion). The acquisition took place through a PIPE transaction in which MBK paid KRW50,000 (approximately US$44.14) per share, a 33 percent premium to its most recent closing share… Read More
FMO and Fairview Introduce Fund-of-Funds for Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Dutch development bank FMO has announced the creation of an Africa-focused fund-of-funds in partnership with U.S.-based fund-of-funds manager Fairview Capital Partners. The FMO Fairview Africa Fund will make commitments to private equity funds in Africa and selectively co-invest alongside these funds. The fund’s target size is US$200 million, of which US$50 million has already been committed by FMO. Read More
212 Capital Partners Leads Second Round Investment into Hemenkiralik.com (CEE and CIS)
Turkish venture capital firm 212 Capital Partners has announced the second round of funding for Turkish online rental service Hemenkiralik.com. Hemenkiralik.com provides an online marketplace where people can list and book short-term rentals in Turkey and the surrounding region. 212 Capital Partners invested alongside two individual investors. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
The Carlyle Group Acquires 13.5 Percent Stake in Meinian Onehealth (Asia)
The Carlyle Group has announced the acquisition of a 13.5 percent stake in Chinese preventative healthcare provider Meinian Onehealth Healthcare. The investment was made through Beijing Carlyle Investment Centre, Carlyle’s RMB-denominated fund that was established in cooperation with the Beijing Municipal Government. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Actis Exits Poulina (MENA)
U.K.-based emerging markets private equity investor Actis has announced the sale of its stake in Poulina, a Tunisian food conglomerate. Actis acquired the stake in 2008 by investing in Poulina’s flotation on the Tunis Stock Exchange through The Canada Investment Fund for Africa, a private equity fund Actis co-manages alongside Cordiant Capital, a Canada-based fund manager that specializes in emerging… Read More