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KKR to Invest US$100 Million in Avantha Group (Asia)

Global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) has signed a deal to invest US$100 million in India-based Avantha Group, a business conglomerate with diverse interests ranging from pulp and paper to power transmission to food processing. KKR will subscribe to five-year callable securities issued by Avantha Holdings, the holding company of Avantha Group. The company intends to use… Read More

BaltCap Private Equity Fund II Holds First Close (CEE and CIS)

BaltCap, a private equity and venture capital investor in the Baltic States, has reached a first close on its latest fund, BaltCap Private Equity Fund II, with EUR50.6 million (approximately US$68.4 million) in capital commitments. The fund is targeting EUR100 million (approximately US$135.1 million) and will make equity investments in companies in the Baltic region, seeking to acquire controlling stakes… Read More

Ashmore Acquires an Interest in Airport Runway Concessionaire Compañía de Desarollo Aeropuerto Eldorado (Latin America)

A fund managed by Ashmore Colombia, an Andean private equity investment manager and subsidiary of emerging market-focused investment manager Ashmore Group, has acquired an 85 percent interest in Colombia-based Compañía de Desarollo Aeropuerto Eldorado (Codad), the concessionaire of the two runways at El Dorado Airport in Bogotá, from international telecommunications infrastructure group Abertis Infraestructuras for a total consideration of COP132… Read More

AFIG Funds Closes a US$50 Million Recapitalization of the Atlantic Coast Regional Fund (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Private equity fund manager Advanced Finance and Investment Group (AFIG Funds) has announced the December 2013 close of a US$50 million recapitalization of its Atlantic Coast Regional Fund (ACRF), bringing its assets under management to US$122 million. Development finance institutions CDC Group and African Development Bank participated in the recapitalization, with CDC Group announcing a US$18.4 million commitment. ACRF is… Read More

Cordiant Backs US$100 Million Loan for Agribusiness Company Fiagril (Latin America)

Emerging markets-focused debt and equity fund manager Cordiant Capital has contributed US$10 million to a US$100 million trade financing facility for Brazil-based agribusiness company Fiagril. Cordiant’s loan, structured through Cordiant Emerging Loan Fund (CELF) IV, was made in syndication with global agribusiness company Bunge International Commerce, part of food processing group Bunge. Fiagril is a supplier of seeds, fertilizer and… Read More

Insight Venture Partners Leads a US$27 Million Series B Round in Vinted (CEE and CIS)

Global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Venture Partners has led a US$27 million Series B financing round in Lithuania-based Vinted, a mobile marketplace for second-hand clothes. Existing investor venture capital firm Accel Partners also participated in the round. Vinted intends to use the funding to expand its business in the United States and to continue product development. The… Read More

VTB Capital and Goldman Sachs Acquire 50 Percent of Russian Fitness Group (CEE and CIS)

VTB Capital, the investment arm of Russia-based VTB Group, and global investment firm Goldman Sachs’s Special Situations Group (SSG) have acquired a 50 percent stake in Russian Fitness Group (RFG), a fitness operator in Russia. As part of the transaction Goldman Sachs, which has been an investor in RFG since 2006, increased its stake in the company. The investors intend… Read More

Da Vinci Private Equity Fund II Acquires a Controlling Stake in Online Broker IT Invest (CEE and CIS)

Da Vinci Capital, an independent asset manager focusing on mid-market private equity investments in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, has acquired a controlling 63 percent stake in Russia-based IT Invest, a provider of online brokerage services. The transaction was structured through Da Vinci Private Equity Fund II, which held a first close with US$100 million in capital commitments… Read More

Actis Invests in AutoXpress (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Pan-emerging markets private equity firm Actis has acquired a 36 percent stake in Kenya-based tire wholesaler and retailer AutoXpress Group. AutoXpress operates 20 company-owned stores in Kenya and Rwanda, distributing tire, battery and suspension brands to both corporate customers and the local retail market. The company intends to use the fresh funding to accelerate its expansion across East Africa. Financial… Read More

VIYM Invests in Russia-based Family Doctor Medical Company (CEE and CIS)

Venture Investments & Yield Management (VIYM), a partnership focused on private equity fund and consortium investments in Europe, has acquired a significant stake in Russia-based Family Doctor Medical Company, which operates three outpatient clinics across Moscow. The company intends to open four additional clinics in Moscow and enter regional markets. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More

Aavishkaar Invests in HR Food, Nalanda Learning and MeraDoctor (Asia)

Aavishkaar Venture Management, a venture capital firm focused on India’s rural areas, has invested around INR252 million (approximately US$4 million) in three India-based companies. The firm invested INR150 million (approximately US$2.4 million) in dairy company HR Food Processing and INR40 million (approximately US$600,000) in education provider Nalanda Learning Systems. Aavishkaar also participated in an INR62 million (approximately US$1 million) investment… Read More

The Gores Group and Technology4Medicine Agree to Acquire a Controlling Stake in Fotona (CEE and CIS)

Global investment firm The Gores Group and medical laser company Technology4Medincine have entered into an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Slovenia state-owned-asset Fotona, a developer of medical and military laser gear. The Gores Group, structured through its Small Capitalization Partners fund, and Technology4Medicine will privatize the company for a reported EUR18 million (approximately US$24.6 million). This will be… Read More