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.
The Abraaj Group Backs Côte d’Ivoire’s African Industrial Services (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Global growth markets investor The Abraaj Group has invested in Cote d’Ivoire-based engineering services and component manufacturing and distribution company African Industrial Services Group (AIS). AIS intends to use the capital injection to accelerate its next phase of expansion across West Africa. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Matrix Partners India Invests in Stayzilla.com (Asia)
Investment firm Matrix Partners India has acquired a significant minority stake in India-based Stayzilla.com, an online hotel booking platform. Matrix Partners India is the only investor in the company’s first institutional round of equity funding. Stayzilla.com, which was previously known as Insara.com, raised US$500,000 from Indian Angel Network in March 2012. It intends to use the new funding to increase… Read More
Henderson Equity Partners Completes Exit from HT Media (Asia)
Henderson Equity Partners, the private equity operation of Henderson Global Investors, has completed an exit from India-based HT Media, owner of English newspaper Hindustan Times, Hindi newspaper Hindustan and business newspaper Mint, by selling its remaining three percent stake on the National Stock Exchange of India. Henderson sold a little over seven million shares for INR526.9 million (approximately US$ 8.4… Read More
Aavishkaar Invests in Swarna Pragati and Arohan Financial Services (Asia)
Aavishkaar Venture Management, a venture capital firm focused on India’s rural areas, has participated in venture rounds for two India-based microfinance institutions: Swarna Pragati Housing Microfinance and Arohan Financial Services. Aavishkaar, alongside existing investor non-banking finance institution Asia Pragati, invested INR200 million (approximately US$ 3.2 million) in Swarna Pragati. For Arohan Financial Services, Aavishkaar participated in an INR220 million (approximately… Read More
IK Investment Partners to Acquire DNV Petroleum Services (Asia)
European private equity firm IK Investment Partners has entered into an agreement with Norwegian foundation Det Norske Veritas (DNV) to acquire its Singapore-based subsidiary DNV Petroleum Services (DNVPS), a provider of fuel management services for the maritime and power sectors. DNVPS intends to use the new capital to expand its service offerings and research and development capabilities, and use its… Read More
Aqua Capital Closes US$173 Million Agribusiness & Food Fund (Latin America)
Aqua Capital, a private equity firm focused on growth investments in mid-market companies in Latin America, has held a final close on its Agribusiness & Food Fund with total capital commitments of US$173.4 million, exceeding its target of US$150 million. Limited partners in the fund include United States, European, Middle Eastern and Latin American development finance institutions, endowments, family offices,… Read More
Jacana Partners and Soros Economic Development Fund Complete Investment in Tanzania (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Pan-African SME private equity firm Jacana Partners and non-profit private foundation Soros Economic Development Fund have invested a reported US$ 1 million in Tanzania-based dry bulk cargo handling company DSM Corridor Group (DCG). DCG intends to use the capital injection to finance the expansion of its storage capacity with respect to both volume and range of commodities. Read More
Qingdao Haier, KKR Form Strategic Partnership (Asia)
Global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) and China-based home appliance manufacturer Qingdao Haier have announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which KKR will acquire a ten percent stake in Qingdao Haier for a reported RMB3.4 billion (approximately US$556 million). The company intends to use the new funding to grow its global platform. The transaction is subject… Read More
Discovery Americas-Backed Volaris Completes US$346 Million Initial Public Offering (Latin America)
Controladora Vuela Compañia de Aviación (Volaris), a Mexico-based low-cost airline backed by private equity fund manager Discovery Americas, has completed an initial public offering on the Mexican Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. During the first week of trading, Volaris' American depositary shares gained 21.1 percent from the IPO price to close at $14.53 on Tuesday, 24 September.… Read More
TradeHero Creator Raises US$10 Million (Asia)
China-focused venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers China and IPV Capital have invested US$10 million in Singapore-based MyHero, creator of the stock market simulation app TradeHero. Since its launch in January, the app has reportedly attracted 250,000 users from 200 countries. MyHero intends to use the capital injection to expand product development and marketing. Read More
Mid Europa Partners Completes Investment in Jaworzyna Krynicka (CEE and CIS)
CEE and CIS-focused buyout investor Mid Europa Partners has acquired a 75 percent stake in Poland-based ski lift operator Kolej Gondolowa Jaworzyna Krynicka from Polish financial institutions PZU and PKO BP for a reported EUR11.8 million (approximately US$15.9 million). The transaction was completed through Polskie Koleje Gorskie (PKG), an entity that is currently majority owned by Mid Europa, as an… Read More
Warburg Pincus Picking Up Around a 30 Percent Stake in Biba for Over US$50 Million (Asia)
Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus has struck a deal to purchase around a 30 percent stake in India-based retailer Biba Apparels. Warburg Pincus will buy retail operator Future Ventures’ 28.3 percent stake for around INR2.97 billion (approximately US$47.4 million) and pick up a two to three percent stake from company promoter Siddharth Bindra for around INR300 million (approximately US$4.8… Read More