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.
Souq.com Raises US$275 Million from Tiger Global, Naspers, SCPE, IFC and Baillie Gifford (MENA)
United Arab Emirates-based online marketplace Souq.com has raised US$275 million from global investment firm Tiger Global Management, South Africa-based internet and media company Naspers, Standard Chartered Bank’s private equity arm Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE), development finance institution International Finance Corporation (IFC) and global investment management firm Baillie Gifford. SCPE contributed US$50 million to the round. Read More
Actis Exits Plateno Hotel Group and Agrees to Sell Stake in Emerging Markets Payments (Asia, MENA)
Pan-emerging markets private equity firm Actis has sold its minority stake in China-based budget and mid-range hotel chain Plateno Hotel Group to China-based hotel group Shanghai JinJiang International Hotels (JinJiang Hotels). The transaction took place as part of JinJiang Hotels’ acquisition of an 81 percent stake in Plateno at an enterprise value exceeding CNY10 billion (approximately US$1.53 billion). Financial details… Read More
Elbrus Capital-led Consortium Agrees to Acquire HeadHunter from Mail.ru Group (CEE and CIS)
Mail.ru Group, a London-listed internet access service company headquartered in Russia, has agreed to sell Russia-based online recruitment website HeadHunter to a consortium of investors led by Russia and CIS-focused private equity firm Elbrus Capital for RUB10 billion (approximately US$131 million). The amount will be paid in two tranches before the end of April 2016. HeadHunter was founded in 2000… Read More
Multiples Alternate Asset Management, CDC, PGGM and CPPIB Invest INR850 Million in PVR (Asia)
Private equity firm Multiples Alternate Asset Management (Multiples PE) and two investment entities co-owned by pension funds Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and PGGM and development finance institution CDC have invested INR850 million (approximately US$12.4 million) for an additional 2.6 percent stake in India-listed multiplex theater chain operator PVR. Multiples PE structured its transaction through Multiples Private Equity Fund… Read More
Amadeus Capital Partners Invests US$2 Million in Hepstar (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Technology-focused venture capital firm Amadeus Capital Partners has invested US$2 million in South Africa-based digital insurance distributor Hepstar. The transaction was structured through Amadeus’s Digital Prosperity Fund. Hepstar will use the new capital to expand globally, accelerate technology development and grow its brand. Read More
Warburg Pincus and Mr. Sun Dongping to Invest in D&J Industrial Property Investment (Asia)
Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus has agreed to invest US$220 million in China-based industrial facilities developer and operator D&J Industrial Property Investment (D&J China) along with D&J China’s founder Mr. Sun Dongping. Warburg Pincus will structure its contribution through Warburg Pincus Private Equity X. D&J China, the second platform co-founded by Warburg Pincus and Mr. Sun, was established in… Read More
3TS Capital Partners Invests US$6 Million in SALESmanago (CEE and CIS)
CEE-focused venture capital firm 3TS Capital Partners has invested US$6 million in Poland-based marketing technology company SALESmanago. The company uses cloud-based technology to automate marketing for e-commerce and business-to-consumer companies. SALESmanago will use the new capital to build out its technology platform and expand in Europe. Read More
Goodwell Investments Acquires a Minority Stake in Musoni Services (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Impact investment firm Goodwell Investments has acquired a minority stake in Musoni Services, a company that provides banking software for microfinance institutions in Africa. Musoni Services, which has licensed its services to 39 microfinance institutions across eight countries in Africa and one in Myanmar, plans to use the new capital to expand into West Africa. Financial details of the transaction… Read More
IDFC Alternatives Agrees to Acquire a 76 Percent Stake in Bangalore Elevated Tollway (Asia)
India-focused private equity firm IDFC Alternatives has agreed to acquire a 76 percent stake in India-based Bangalore Elevated Tollway—a special purpose vehicle that has developed and is currently operating an elevated highway in Bangalore—from India-based infrastructure development companies NCC Infrastructure and Soma Enterprise. NCC and Soma each hold a 38 percent stake. The transaction, which will be structured through IDFC… Read More
Global Environment Fund Backs Compagnie des Bois du Gabon (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Global alternative asset manager Global Environment Fund (GEF) has invested in Compagnie des Bois du Gabon, a vertically-integrated tropical forest harvesting and wood processing company that manages a contiguous forest concession near the southern coast of Gabon. The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, a philanthropic organization, co-invested with GEF. GEF structured its investment through GEF Forestry Fund.… Read More
Enko Capital Managers Reaches a Final Close for Enko Africa Private Equity Fund (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Enko Capital Managers, an Africa-focused asset management firm, has reached a final close for Enko Africa Private Equity Fund (EAPEF) with US$83.25 million in capital commitments. Investors in the fund included development finance institutions Proparco and African Development Bank, boutique investment manager Massena Partners, private family office Soros Brothers Investments and other institutional, family office and high net worth investors.… Read More
MIRA Closes Its Asian Regional Infrastructure Platform with US$3.1 Billion in Commitments (Asia)
Global infrastructure asset manager Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) has closed its Asian regional infrastructure platform with US$3.1 billion in capital commitments. The platform includes the Macquarie Asia Infrastructure Fund, which reached its hard cap of US$2.3 billion, and specialist investment vehicles. Investors included pension funds New Mexico State Investment Council and PGGM. The platform will focus on investment… Read More