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.
ShawKwei & Partners Asia Value Fund 2017 Final Close Raises US$812 Million (Asia)
Asia-focused private equity fund manager ShawKwei & Partners has reportedly reached a final close for its fourth pan-Asia investment vehicle, Asia Value Fund 2017, with US$812 million in capital commitments. Investors in the fund include insurance companies, family offices and other institutional investors based primarily in North America and Europe. ShawKwei focuses on middle-market opportunities in the precision engineering and… Read More
Helios Invests in KMR Holding Pédagogique to Develop Student Housing (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Africa-focused private investment firm Helios Investment Partners has invested in Morocco-based higher education group KMR Holding Pédagogique. Helios will partner with KMR to support its development in Morocco and throughout francophone Africa, as well as to establish a student housing platform in the region. KMR provides tertiary education to more than 8,000 students across three campuses in Morocco and Senegal.… Read More
Iron Pillar Raises US$90 Million in Final Close for Debut Fund (Asia)
India-focused venture capital firm Iron Pillar Capital Management has reached a final close for its debut fund with US$90 million in capital commitments. Investors in the fund, which raised around 65 percent of its capital from offshore investors, include the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Small Industries Development Bank of India and IIFL. The fund will focus on mid- and late-stage… Read More
ResponsAbility Invests in Suminter and REDAVIA Ghana (Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa)
Impact investment fund manager responsAbility Investments has acquired a minority stake in Suminter, an India-based supplier of organic food products from Asia and Africa. The company will use the funds for working capital financing and to expand its operating capacity. Separately, responsAbility and Germany-based distributed solar energy developer REDAVIA have agreed to provide US$4 million in debt financing to REDAVIA’s… Read More
Ethos Leads Buyout of Gammatek (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Southern Africa-focused alternative investment fund manager Ethos and Eskom Pension & Provident Fund (EPPF) have acquired a majority stake in South Africa-based Gammatek. Ethos acquired a 51 percent stake through Ethos Mid Market Fund I, with EPPF acquiring a further 9 percent stake. Gammatek distributes consumer electronics and technology accessories, such as earphones, phone cases and toys. The company plans… Read More
AfricInvest Reaches US$70 Million Second Close for FIVE (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Pan-African private equity fund manager AfricInvest has reached a second close for FIVE, a financial-services focused evergreen investment platform, with EUR61 million (approximately US$70 million) in capital commitments. New investors in the fund include the Central Bank of Kenya Pension Fund and development finance institutions Norfund and IFU. FMO and BIO committed to the fund as anchor investors in December… Read More
KKR Exits Masan Group for US$209 Million, Invests US$175 Million in Voyager Innovations Alongside Tencent Holdings (Asia)
Global alternative asset manager KKR has reportedly sold its 4.7 percent stake in Vietnam-based conglomerate Masan Group to Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC and other unnamed investors for US$209 million through a secondary offering. KKR originally invested US$100 million in Masan Group in 2017. Separately, KKR and China-based internet and technology conglomerate Tencent Holdings have agreed to invest up to… Read More
Gaja Capital Invests US$10 Million in KOOH Sports Region (Asia)
India-focused private equity fund manager Gaja Capital has invested INR750 million (approximately US$10 million) in India-based KOOH Sports. The company provides various youth sports development and talent scouting programs in India and the United Arab Emirates. Gaja plans to integrate KOOH into its existing sports management portfolio company SportzVillage. Read More
Phatisa Food Fund 2 Raises US$122 Million (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Africa-focused private equity fund manager Phatisa has reached a first close for Phatisa Food Fund 2 with approximately US$122 million in capital commitments. Phatisa will continue to focus on investment opportunities in farm mechanization, agricultural inputs, poultry and meat production, food processing, logistics and food distribution across Sub-Saharan Africa. The fund aims to raise US$300 million in total commitments. Read More
Siguler Guff Raises US$309 Million for Brazil Special Situations Fund (Latin America)
Global multi-strategy private equity firm Siguler Guff & Company has raised US$309 million for Siguler Guff Brazil Special Situations Fund. Investors in the fund include the University of Michigan Regents, which committed US$100 million. The fund will invest in legal claims against Brazilian government entities. Read More
IIX Leads Series A Round of US$1.66 Million for SOLshare (Asia)
Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), an Asia-focused impact investment firm, has led a Series A round of US$1.66 million for Bangladesh-based off-grid solar energy company SOLshare. Portugal-based power company Energias de Portugal and Innogy New Ventures, the venture capital arm of Germany-based utility company Innogy, also participated in the funding round. The deal represents IIX’s first investment from the IIX Growth… Read More
Horizon Capital Backs Intellias (CEE and CIS)
Horizon Capital, a private equity fund manager focused on investments in mid-cap companies in Ukraine and the neighboring region, has agreed to acquire a minority stake in Ukraine-based software developer and information technology services provider Intellias. The company plans to use the funding to open new delivery hubs in Ukraine, as well as locations in Central and Eastern Europe. Financial… Read More