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Northstar Holds a First Close for Its Fourth Fund (Asia)
Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm Northstar Group has reached a first close of approximately US$500 million on its fourth fund. Northstar aims to invest around 70 percent of Fund IV, which has a hard cap of US$1 billion, in Indonesia, with the remaining capital slated for deals in the rest of Southeast Asia. Read More
Darby Private Equity Invests in Enzen Global Solutions (Asia)
Darby Private Equity, the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, has invested in India-based engineering consultancy Enzen Global Solutions. The transaction was structured through Darby Asia Opportunities Fund III. Enzen Global Solutions provides advisory, management and engineering design services for projects in the power, gas and water infrastructure sectors in India and the United Kingdom. Financial details of the… Read More
Carlyle Reaches First Close for Brazilian Buyout Fund (Latin America)
Global private investment firm The Carlyle Group has reportedly reached a first close on its second Brazilian buyout fund with BRL375 million (approximately US$170 million) in capital commitments. Investors in the fund, which has a BRL1 billion (approximately US$452 million) target, include Banco do Brasil and Brazilian pension funds. Carlyle raised BRL360 million (approximately US$225 million) in 2011 for its… Read More
Ascent Capital Closes Ascent Rift Valley Fund with KES4.3 Billion in Commitments (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Private equity firm Ascent Capital has closed its Ascent Rift Valley Fund with KES4.3 billion (approximately US$48 million) in capital commitments. The growth fund is focused on companies in Eastern Africa and will invest in eight to 12 countries with ticket sizes between KES87 million (approximately US$1 million) and KES791 million (approximately US$9 million). Investors in the fund included international… Read More
Patria Brazilian Private Equity Fund V Closes on US$1.8 Billion (Latin America)
Patria Investimentos, a Brazil-focused private equity firm partially owned by The Blackstone Group, has reached a final close on its fifth private equity fund, Patria Brazilian Private Equity Fund V, with US$1.8 billion in capital commitments, surpassing its original US$1.5 billion target. Investors in the fund hailed from the United States, Canada, the Middle East and Asia. The Brazil-focused fund… Read More
General Atlantic to Invest in SAS Sistema de Ensino (Latin America)
Global growth investor General Atlantic will invest in Brazil-based learning system provider SAS Sistema de Ensino (SAS). The company provides technology-enabled services, including curriculum content, teacher training and consulting services, to educational institutions. SAS intends to use the investment to enhance its educational content offerings and expand its geographic footprint throughout Brazil. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Sequoia Leads Series B Financing Rounds for Two China-based Companies, Daoxila.com and Miyabaobei.com (Asia)
Venture capital firm Sequoia Capital China has led a Series B financing round for China-based online-to-offline wedding planner Daoxila.com. Fidelity Worldwide Investment’s venture capital arm Fidelity Growth Partners Asia also participated. The new funding will be used for customer experience enhancement, technology upgrades and talent recruitment. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Separately, Sequoia Capital China has led… Read More
Armstrong Commits US$22.5 Million to Construct Mini-Hydro Plants in Indonesia (Asia)
Southeast Asia-focused clean energy investor Armstrong Asset Management has agreed to invest up to US$22.5 million in a 50MW portfolio of mini-hydropower plants in Indonesia. The facilities are being developed by PT Inti Duta Energi, the mini-hydropower development subsidiary of Jakarta-listed construction company PT Nusa Konstruksi Enjiniring. The transaction will be structured through Armstrong’s South East Asia Clean Energy Fund.… Read More
Riverwood-backed Globant Launches an IPO on the NYSE (Latin America)
Private equity-backed Globant, a software development and maintenance company whose principal operating subsidiary is based in Argentina, launched an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), valuing the company at almost US$400 million. Globant priced the offering at US$10 a share, raising US$66 million, and began trading on the NYSE on 18 July 2014. Private equity… Read More
The Carlyle Group Exits Repco Home Finance (Asia)
Global private investment firm The Carlyle Group has fully exited its stake in India-listed housing finance company Repco Home Finance for INR4.7 billion (approximately US$78.4 million) via an open market transaction. Carlyle sold 11 million shares, or a 17.7 percent stake, at INR428 (approximately US$7.12) apiece. The sale represents a reported 9x return for Carlyle, which first invested in the… Read More
Baring Private Equity Asia, CDH Investments and Hony Capital Complete Giant Interactive Take-Private (Asia)
Private equity firms Baring Private Equity Asia, CDH Investments and Hony Capital have completed the privatization of China-based online game developer and operator Giant Interactive Group, valuing the company at approximately US$3 billion. The company ceased trading on the New York Stock Exchange on 18 July, and deregistration will be completed within 90 days. The transaction was financed through a… Read More
Warburg Pincus Receives CCI Approval to Acquire a 32.3 Percent Stake in Laurus Labs (Asia)
Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus has received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for its proposed acquisition of a 32.3 percent stake in India-based pharmaceutical company Laurus Labs. Warburg will subscribe to compulsorily convertible preference shares of Laurus besides acquiring paid-up equity shares from certain existing shareholders. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More