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.

InFrontier Afghanistan Fund Reaches First Close with US$22 Million in Commitments (Asia)

Frontier markets-focused private equity firm InFrontier has reached a first close for InFrontier Afghanistan Fund with US$22 million in capital commitments. Investors in the fund include development finance institutions CDC Group, which committed US$15 million, and the Dutch Good Growth Fund. The fund is targeting a final close in 2017. Read More

Aspada Advisors Invests in Arya (Asia)

Aspada Advisors, an investment firm focused on small and medium-sized enterprises in India, has invested in India-based post-harvest agriculture value chain service provider Arya Collateral Warehousing Services. Aspada invested through Aspada Investment Company. Arya will use the new capital to scale in primary markets with low warehousing penetration and availability of finance for post-harvest storage of commodities. Financial details of… Read More

The Blackstone Group Fully Exits Multi Commodity Exchange of India for US$45 Million (Asia)

The Blackstone Group has fully exited its 4.79 percent stake in Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) for an estimated INR3 billion (approximately US$45 million) through an open market transaction on the National Stock Exchange of India. Blackstone originally invested in MCX in 2013.  Read More

Global Capital Management Acquires 100 Percent Stake in Yum Yum Tree Food Court (MENA)

Global Capital Management, the alternative asset management arm of MENA-focused investment group Global Investment House, has acquired a 100 percent stake in Bahrain-based quick service restaurant manager Yum Yum Tree Food Court. With Global’s support, Yum Yum will focus on expanding its brand portfolio and presence across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More

Equator Capital Partners Invests US$5.9 Million in Jamii Bora Bank (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Impact investment fund manager Equator Capital Partners has acquired a 15 percent stake in Kenya-based financial institution Jamii Bora Bank for US$5.9 million. Equator Capital Partners invested through ShoreCap II. Jamii Bora reportedly serves more than 400,000 customers through 26 branches located across Kenya. Read More

Samara Capital Invests US$25 Million in Sahajanand Medical Technologies (Asia)

India-focused private equity firm Samara Capital has invested approximately INR1.7 billion (approximately US$25 million) in India-based medical devices manufacturer Sahajanand Medical Technologies. The company plans to use the funds on research and development to expand its product line in the cardiovascular segment.  Read More

KKR and Temasek to Invest US$265 Million in SBI Life Insurance (Asia)

Global investment firm KKR and Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings have agreed to acquire a 3.9 percent stake in India-based SBI Life Insurance Company for INR18 billion (approximately US$265 million). KKR and Temasek will each acquire 1.95 percent stakes. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval Read More

Quaestus Private Equity Exits Metronet Telekomunikacije to Telekom Austria Group (CEE and CIS)

Central and Eastern Europe-focused private equity firm Quaestus Private Equity has exited its stake in Croatia-based fixed-line provider Metronet Telekomunikacije to Vipnet, the Croatian subsidiary of Telekom Austria Group. Quaestus originally invested in Metronet in 2005 through its first fund, Quaestus Private Equity Kapital. The transaction, which is pending regulatory approval, is expected to close in the first quarter of… Read More

DST Global Leads US$80 Million Series D Round for Nubank (Latin America)

Private investment firm DST Global has led a US$80 million Series D round for Brazil-based mobile credit card platform Nubank. Existing investors Founders Fund, QED Investors, Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global Management, as well as new investors Redpoint Ventures and Ribbit Capital, also participated in the round. Nubank will use the new capital to invest in data science infrastructure and… Read More

MBK Partners’ Fourth Fund Reaches US$4.1 Billion Final Close (Asia)

North Asia-focused private equity firm MBK Partners has reached a final close for its fourth fund with US$4.1 billion in commitments. Investors in the fund include Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings and China-based sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation. The New Jersey Division of Investment reportedly committed US$100 million to… Read More

Meridiam Invests US$9 Million in Ten Marina (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Global infrastructure investment firm Meridiam has invested EUR8.5 million (approximately US$9 million) in Senegal-based 30 megawatt photovoltaic solar power plant Ten Marina. Meridiam’s investment, which was completed through Meridiam Africa Infrastructure Fund, forms part of an EUR43 million (approximately US$45 million) financing package, which also includes an EUR34.5 million (approximately US$36 million) 18-year loan provided by development finance institutions Proparco… Read More

EMX Capital Invests in Orben Communications (Latin America)

Mexico-focused private equity fund manager EMX Capital has invested in Mexico-based information and communications technology service provider Orben Communications through a convertible debt structure. EMX Capital made its investment through EMX Capital I. Orben plans to use the new funds to strengthen its services in data security. Financial details of the transaction were not disclos Read More