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PineBridge in Sale and Leaseback Deal with Dubai School Operator GEMS Education (MENA)
Global asset manager PineBridge Investments Middle East has acquired a United Arab Emirates-based school campus operated by global education services provider GEMS Education in a sale and leaseback transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, GEMS Education will lease the school campus for a term of over 20 years, with no change to the schools’ operations, faculty, management or support… Read More
IDFC Alternatives and Oman India Fund Pick Up Minority Stake in NCDEX (Asia)
IDFC Alternatives, the alternative asset management vertical at infrastructure financing company IDFC, and Oman India Joint Investment Fund, the co-investment vehicle between Oman’s State General Reserve Fund and the State Bank of India, have picked up a minority stake in India-based agriculture commodity derivatives exchange National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) from financial services firm Jaypee Capital Services. IDFC Alternatives,… Read More
NBK Capital Acquires a 49 Percent Stake in U.A.E.-based Shakespeare and Co. (MENA)
NBK Capital, an alternative investment firm focused on growth capital in middle market companies throughout the MENA region, has acquired a 49 percent stake in United Arab Emirates-based casual dining chain Shakespeare and Co. The transaction was structured through NBK Capital Equity Partners Fund II. Shakespeare and Co., which owns and operates 17 establishments in the U.A.E. and one in… Read More
NBK Capital Holds US$217 Million First Close (MENA)
NBK Capital, an alternative investment firm focused on growth capital in middle market companies throughout the MENA region, has reached a first close on its second private equity fund, NBK Capital Equity Partners Fund II, with US$217 million in capital commitments. The fund will continue the firm’s strategy of investing in growth opportunities in MENA-based middle market companies. NBK Capital… Read More
Mekong Capital Exits Three Vietnamese Technology Companies (Asia)
Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital has exited its investments in three Vietnam-based technology companies: Ngo Han, MK Smart and Digiworld. Last month, Mekong Capital sold its entire 29.7 percent stake worth VND101.2 billion (approximately US$4.8 million) in magnet wire producer Ngo Han to the company’s Chairwoman Ngo Thi Thong. The transaction was structured through Mekong Enterprise Fund I and… Read More
Darby Exits India-based Symbiotec Pharmalab, Actis Ups Stake (Asia)
Darby Overseas Investments, the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, has exited its investment in India-based active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturer Symbiotec Pharmalab to pan-emerging markets private equity firm Actis. Last month, Actis invested US$48 million for a significant minority stake in the company and has subsequently increased its holding by buying Darby’s interest. Darby originally invested INR450 million (approximately… Read More
Blackstone Buys Stake in Chinese Mall Developer (Asia)
Global investment and advisory firm The Blackstone Group and investment banking service provider ICBC International have purchased a 40 percent and a six percent stake, respectively, in China-based mall developer and operator SCP Company. Blackstone’s investment, which was structured through Blackstone Real Estate Partners Asia, is reported to be worth US$400 million. SCP has developed over 60 projects and currently… Read More
Two Private Equity-backed Chinese Companies List in the United States (Asia)
Two China-based companies, online marketplace 58.com and travel website Qunar, have listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ , respectively. 58.com, which is backed by global private equity firm Warburg Pincus, Asia-focused private equity firm SAIF Partners and early stage venture capital firm DCM, raised US$187 million in its initial public offering (IPO), and its shares closed… Read More
Goldman Sachs Exits IL&FS Transportation Networks (Asia)
The private equity arm of Goldman Sachs has exited its investment in India-listed IL&FS Transportation Networks, a subsidiary of IL&FS that develops and manages toll roads. Goldman Sachs, through GS Strategic Investments, sold a 1.3 percent stake, or around 2.6 million shares, on 31 October on the National Stock Exchange of India for a total of INR276 million (approximately US$… Read More
CNEI Completes US$25.4 Million Investment in Chinese Biopharmaceutical Company (Asia)
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI), a China-focused growth capital fund manager, has invested US$25.4 million in China-based biopharmaceutical company Shanghai Fudan-Zhangjiang Bio-Pharmaceutical (FDZJ). CNEI completed the transaction in two steps, investing US$21 million earlier this year and an additional US$4.4 million in October. The firm acquired a 17 percent stake in the company from two state-owned enterprises, becoming FDZJ’s second… Read More
The Abraaj Group Sells Stake in Opalia Pharma (MENA)
Global growth markets investor The Abraaj Group has announced its full exit from Tunisia-based pharmaceutical company Opalia Pharma. The Abraaj Group, which originally invested in Opalia in 2009, sold its entire stake to Italy-listed Recordati, an international pharmaceutical company. In addition to The Abraaj Group’s stake, Recordati has agreed to acquire a total of 90 percent of Opalia Pharma. Financial… Read More
Affinity Seals a US$123 Million Dairy Joint Venture with Chinese SOE (Asia)
Asia-focused buyout fund manager Affinity Equity Partners has invested US$123 million in a dairy farming joint venture with Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) Beijing Capital Agribusiness Group, also known as Sunlon. Sunlon will spin-out its dairy farming operation into the joint venture, taking a 60 percent stake to Affinity’s 40 percent stake. The assets will comprise 32 farms with 46,000 cattle.… Read More