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Alta Ventures Mexico Invests in Ondore (Latin America)
Mexican venture capital fund Alta Ventures Mexico has invested US$1.5 million in Ondore, a company specializing in big data analysis and online reputation management. Ondore, which has offices in Mexico City and San Francisco, plans to use Alta Ventures’ investment to expand sales and marketing efforts for its flagship product, Ondore Scout. Alta Ventures Mexico, which invests in Mexico- and… Read More
Senior Solution Joins BOVESPA Mais (Latin America)
Senior Solution, a Brazilian software company, has held an initial public offering in Brazil that raised BRL62million (approximately US$32 million). The company, which was listed on Brazil’s BOVESPA Mais without a share offering in May 2012, sold 3.5 million new shares. Brazilian investment and advisory firm Stratus Group and development bank BNDES sold an additional 2 million shares in a… Read More
McNally Bharat Engineering Raises US$7.5 Million from Tata Capital, Others (Asia)
Indian private equity firm Tata Capital, Indian wealth management company Vyana Advisory and investor Brijesh Kumar Biyani have collectively invested INR416 million (approximately US$7.5 million) in Indian engineering company McNally Bharat Engineering (MBE). MBE provides turnkey solutions for the power, metals and minerals industries. The consortium purchased non-convertible redeemable preference shares in MBE on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Read More
Actis Reaches Agreement with Veolia (MENA)
Emerging markets-focused private equity firm Actis has agreed to purchase French environmental solutions provider Veolia Environnement’s Moroccan water, wastewater and electricity services, operated by concession companies Redal and Amendis. The transaction is valued at around EUR370 million (approximately US$482 million). Read More
The Abraaj Group Announces Investment in Anoud (MENA)
Global growth markets-focused private equity firm The Abraaj Group has made an investment in Palestine-based Arabic educational games and toys maker Anoud Games. The Palestine Investment Fund (PIF), an independent investment company, is co-investing in the deal alongside Abraaj’s Palestine Growth Capital Fund (PGCF), in which PIF is a cornerstone partner. Anoud Games plans to use the investment to increase… Read More
Affinity Reaches US$1.5 Billion First Close on Fund IV (Asia)
Asia-focused private equity firm Affinity Equity Partners has reportedly held a first close on its latest buyout fund, Affinity Asia Pacific Fund IV, with US$1.5 billion in commitments. The fund, which has a hard-cap of US$3.5 billion, will pursue control-oriented investments throughout Asia, with an emphasis on Australia, Greater China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. Approximately 20 institutional investors… Read More
3i Invests in Brazilian Eyewear Retailer, Óticas Carol (Latin America)
A consortium of investors led by international investment firm 3i Group has agreed to acquire Brazilian eyewear retailer Óticas Carol (OC) from Brazilian entrepreneur Marcos Amaro for BRL108 million (approximately US$54.8 million). The investment is intended to support OC’s plan to expand throughout Brazil. Institutional investors Siguler Guff & Company and Neuberger Berman are co-investing alongside 3i. Read More
CDH Investments Sells Down Holding in Qihoo (Asia)
China-based alternative asset fund manager CDH Investments has partially exited its investment in Chinese software company Qihoo 360 Technology. CDH reportedly sold 6.73 million ordinary shares in the New York Stock Exchange-listed company, which held an initial public offering in 2011. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Amethis Finance Completes First Equity Transaction by Investing in Chase Bank (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Amethis Finance, a Luxembourg-based, Africa-focused investment firm, has invested US$10.5 million in Kenya’s Chase Bank. The deal represents Amethis Finance’s first equity investment and follows the December 2012 US$140 million first close of its maiden fund. Chase Bank, which specializes in lending to Kenyan SMEs, plans to use the investment to strengthen its market position and build out its retail… Read More
Sequoia Backs Chinese Publisher (Asia)
Global venture capital firm Sequoia Capital has reportedly invested RMB150 million (approximately US$23.8 million) in New Classic Culture Co., a Chinese publishing company. New Classic Culture publishes books and operates the website Readlife.com. The company has reportedly earmarked RMB40 million (approximately US$6.4 million) of the invested capital for new acquisitions. Read More
Summit Partners Invests in Jumia (Sub-Saharan Africa)
U.S.-based investment firm Summit Partners has invested US$26 million in Jumia, an online retailer based in Nigeria. Jumia sells a range of products in Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco, and the funding is intended to aid its expansion into additional African markets. Jumia was developed and launched by German incubator program Rocket Internet in 2012. Read More
Creation Investments Leads US$10 Million Grameen Equity Financing (Asia)
U.S.-based investment firms Creation Investments and MicroVentures, and Belgian microfinance investor Incofin have invested INR532 million (approximately US$10 million) in Indian microfinance company Grameen Financial Services. Creation Investments provided INR375 million (approximately US$6.8 million) of the invested capital, which is intended to help Grameen increase its coverage and expand its operations throughout India. Grameen provides credit and insurance to rural… Read More