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BlueRun Ventures, Northern Light Venture Capital and Heli Capital Invest US$30 Million in Taodangpu (Asia)
China-based online pawn shop Taodangpu has raised US$30 million in a Series B financing round from venture capital firms BlueRun Ventures, Northern Light Venture Capital and Heli Capital. Taodangpu runs two interconnected websites: online pawn shop Taodangpu.com and peer-to-peer lending platform 51dang.com. The start-up plans to use the investment to expand to cities beyond Beijing and Shanghai. Read More
8 Miles Invests in Biyinzika Poultry International (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Africa-focused private equity firm 8 Miles has purchased a stake in Uganda-based Biyinzika Poultry International, a company that sells day-old chicks and poultry feed. The company has 21 outlets in Uganda and intends to use the funding to scale its product offerings. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Suryoday Microfinance Raises US$4.5 Million from IFC, Aavishkaar Goodwell and Lok Capital (Asia)
Pan-emerging markets private equity firm Actis has sold a 6.7 percent stake in Uganda-based electricity distribution company Umeme to Ugandan retail investors and Umeme management and directors for US$13 million. This is the second part of a two-part transaction in which Actis has sold a total of a 45.7 percent stake in Umeme for US$98 million. In May 2014, Actis… Read More
NBK Capital Completes Sale of Nayifat Instalment Company (MENA)
NBK Capital’s Alternative Investments Group, a private equity and mezzanine fund manager in the Middle East and North Africa, has completed the sale of a 38 percent stake in Saudi Arabia-based consumer finance company Nayifat Instalment Company to Falcom Financial Services, a Saudi Arabia-based investment bank. The transaction was structured through NBK Capital Equity Partners Fund I. NBK Capital originally… Read More
Samena Capital Acquires a Stake in RAK Ceramics (MENA)
Investment group Samena Capital has acquired more than a 30 percent stake in United Arab Emirates-listed ceramics manufacturer Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Ceramics from the firm’s founding shareholder. The acquisition was structured through Samena Capital’s subsidiary, Samena Limestone Holdings, and was made with a consortium of international investors including two Gulf sovereign wealth funds. RAK Ceramics exports tiles and other… Read More
GP Investments to Sell Its Stake in BR Towers for Around US$250 Million (Latin America)
Latin America-focused alternative investment company GP Investments has signed definitive agreements to sell its stake in Brazil-based cellphone tower management company BR Towers to a subsidiary of United States-based wireless communications provider American Tower Corporation. The transaction will be structured through GP Investments’ GP Capital Partners V and GPCP5 I Fundo de Investimento em Participações (jointly GPCPV). The enterprise value… Read More
3TS Capital Partners Invests US$7.2 Million in Visual Unity (CEE and CIS)
Central and Eastern Europe-focused private equity firm 3TS Capital Partners has invested US$7.2 million in Czech Republic-based multiscreen solution provider Visual Unity. The transaction was structured through 3TS-Cisco Growth Fund III. The company intends to use the funding to increase its sales efforts with the aim of expanding its international customer based. Read More
The Kibo Fund II Holds a First Close with US$50 Million in Commitments (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Private equity fund manager Kibo Capital Partners has reached a first close on its second fund, The Kibo Fund II, with US$50 million in capital commitments. Investors included development finance institutions, pension funds, family offices and other institutional and commercial investors. The Kibo Fund II will make growth capital investments of US$4 million to US$8 million in East Africa, Southern… Read More
Bain Capital Partially Exits Hero MotoCorp for Around US$250 Million (Asia)
Alternative investment firm Bain Capital has sold one-third of its stake in India-listed motorcycle and scooter manufacturer Hero MotoCorp for about US$250 million. The shares were sold on 13 June 2014 to investors in the United States, Europe and Asia at an average price of INR2,627 (approximately US$44) per share, a three percent discount to Hero MotoCorp’s closing price on… Read More
Hopu and Trustbridge Lead a US$200 Million Series D Financing Round for Mogujie (Asia)
China-based online shopping platform and social network Mogujie has raised US$200 million in a Series D financing round led by private equity firms Hopu Investment Management and Trustbridge Partners. Existing investors venture capital firms Qiming Venture Partners and IDG Capital Partners also participated in the round, which valued the company at around US$1 billion. Mogujie intends to use the investment… Read More
Genesis Capital Invests in Slovakia-based 3070 Group, Acquires Czech Republic-based Swell (CEE and CIS)
Czech Republic- and Slovakia-focused private equity fund manager Genesis Capital has acquired a 51 percent stake in 3070 Group, a Slovakia-based retail design consultancy company. The investment will allow 3070 to enter the financial services, fashion and automobile markets, with plans to expand the business in Europe in the next five years. Separately, Genesis Capital has acquired a 100 percent… Read More
EuroMena Fund III Reaches a US$100 Million First Close (MENA)
Private equity, real estate and corporate finance advisory firm The Capital Trust Group has reached a first close on its fourth Middle East and North Africa-focused private equity fund, EuroMena III, with US$100 million in capital commitments. Investors included development finance institutions European Investment Bank, DEG and International Finance Corporation, as well as French electricity business Electricité de France. The… Read More