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.

TPG and Actis Exit 42 Percent Stake in AGS Transact Technologies (Asia)

Global private investment firm TPG and growth markets investor Actis have exited their combined 42 percent stake in India-based payment services provider AGS Transact Technologies via a management buyback. TPG and Actis sold 26 percent and 16 percent stakes, respectively, in the company, which provides banking automation, payment and cash management services to the banking, retail, petroleum and transit sectors.… Read More

Bozano Investimentos and Triaxis Capital Exit Digital Commerce Group for US$18 Million (Latin America)

Criatec 2, the early-stage venture capital fund managed by Brazil-focused alternative asset managers Bozano Investimentos and Triaxis Capital, has sold its stake in Brazil-based e-commerce company Digital Commerce Group (DCG) to Brazil-listed software developer Linx. Linx will acquire the company for a total of BRL49 million (approximately US$13 million) in cash, as well as BRL18 million (approximately US$5 million) contingent… Read More

Aqua Capital Acquires Controlling Stake in Lac Lélo for US$26 Million (Latin America)

Aqua Capital, an agribusiness private equity fund manager focused on control investments in South America, has acquired a majority stake in Brazil-based dairy company Lac Lélo for BRL100 million (approximately US$26 million). The company, which produces various types of cheese and dairy products, plans to partner with Aqua to expand its product line into new segments. Read More

The Abraaj Group Exits Middlesex University’s Dubai Campus for US$100 Million (MENA)

Global growth markets investor The Abraaj Group has agreed to sell its stake in the Dubai campus of U.K.-based Middlesex University to Amanat Holdings, a U.A.E.-based investor in health care and education, for approximately US$100 million. Abraaj acquired a stake in the overseas campus, which serves about 3,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, in January 2017. Read More

Delta Capital Myanmar Reaches US$70 Million Final Close for Second Fund (Asia)

Myanmar-focused private equity fund manager Delta Capital Myanmar has reached a final close for Myanmar Opportunities II with about US$70 million in capital commitments. The fund, which launched in 2016 with a US$100 million target, reached a first close in November of that year with US$30 million in capital commitments. Investors in the fund include family offices from Europe and… Read More

VIPKID Raises US$500 Million Series D+ Round Led by Coatue Management, Sequoia Capital, Yunfeng Capital and Tencent (Asia)

China-based online education company VIPKID has raised a US$500 million Series D+ round led by private equity and venture capital fund managers Coatue Management, Sequoia Capital and Yunfeng Capital and strategic investor Tencent. The company connects students in China and 35 other countries with North American teachers for one-on-one online English lessons. Sequoia Capital, Yunfeng Capital and Tencent also participated… Read More

Matrix Partners Raises US$750 Million for Fifth China Fund (Asia)

Global venture capital fund manager Matrix Partners has reached a final close for Matrix Partners China V with US$750 million in capital commitments. The fund, which received commitments from 53 undisclosed investors, will invest in technology, education, energy, health care and financial services companies in China. Read More

Centurium Capital Reaches US$925 Million First Close for Debut Fund (Asia)

China-focused private equity firm Centurium Capital has reached a first close for its debut fund with US$925 million in capital commitments. Investors in the fund include Asia-, North America- and Europe-based sovereign wealth funds, funds of funds and family offices. Centurium will allocate up to 45 percent of the fund’s corpus to control deals and the remaining capital to minority… Read More

Multiples Alternate Asset Management to Acquire Controlling Stake in APAC Financial Services for US$37 Million (Asia)

India-focused investment advisory firm Multiples Alternate Asset Management has reportedly agreed to invest about INR2.5 billion (approximately US$37 million) for a 60 percent stake in India-based non-banking finance company APAC Financial Services. The company plans to use the funds to expand both its wholesale lending business and its affordable housing vertical, which it operates through subsidiary APAC Housing Finance. Read More

The Carlyle Group Reaches US$6.55 Billion Final Close for Fifth Asia Fund (Asia)

Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has reached a final close for Carlyle Asia Partners V with US$6.55 billion in capital commitments. Investors in the fund include Asian sovereign wealth funds, U.S. pension funds and high-net worth individuals. Launched in July 2017 with a target of US$5 billion, the fund will focus on buyouts and strategic investments across the… Read More

Criterion Africa Partners Reaches US$81 Million First Close for Africa Sustainable Forestry Fund II (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Criterion Africa Partners, a Sub-Saharan Africa-focused private equity firm specializing in the forestry sector, has reached a first close for Africa Sustainable Forestry Fund II with US$81 million in capital commitments. Investors in the fund include impact investment advisor Obviam, the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and development finance institutions CDC Group, FMO, EIB and BIO. The… Read More

Novastar Ventures Leads US$1 Million Series A Round for Perennial Foods Group (Sub-Saharan Africa)

East Africa-focused venture capital fund manager Novastar Ventures has led a US$1 million Series A investment in Ethiopia-based specialty food supplier Perennial Foods Group. The Enterprise Development Programme, the impact investing arm of Oxfam Great Britain, also participated in the funding round. Perennial Foods sources organic foods from smallholder farmers and markets and distributes them in Europe and the Middle… Read More