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IFC Invests in Amen Bank (MENA)
International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector development institution of the World Bank Group, and two funds managed by IFC Asset Management Company (the IFC Capitalization Fund and the African Capitalization Fund) have agreed to invest up to US$48 million in Tunisia’s Amen Bank. The commitment will help Amen Bank realize its goal to lend US$800 million to small businesses… Read More
GEF to Invest US$8.4 Million in Integrated Cleanroom Technologies (Asia)
Global private equity investor Global Environment Fund (GEF) has invested INR450 million (approximately US$8.4 million) in India’s Integrated Cleanroom Technologies (IClean) through its South Asia Clean Energy Fund. IClean provides contamination-free and temperature-controlled room facilities for industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food and beverage, healthcare and electronics. The company plans to use the funding to expand its manufacturing facilities. Read More
Amwal AlKhaleej Exits Investment in Al Rowad Private Education Group (MENA)
Middle East-focused alternative investment firm Amwal AlKhaleej has exited its investment in Al Rowad Private Education Group (Rowad), a private school operator in Saudi Arabia, through a trade sale to an undisclosed buyer. Amwal AlKhaleej originally invested in Rowad in 2008 through its Amwal II private equity fund and reportedly earned a cash-on-cash return of 1.8x from the exit. Read More
Globalturk Capital Facilitates Japanese Venture-Growth Capital to Enter Turkey (CEE and CIS)
Turkish investment management and advisory services firm Globalturk Capital has partnered with Japanese trading and investment company Mitsui & Co. to invest in Turkish call center operator Tempo Cagri Hizmetleri. Globalturk, which invested in Tempo in 2011, facilitated this recent co-investment alongside Mitsui. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
Ethos Fund VI Raises US$800 Million (Sub-Saharan Africa)
South African fund manager Ethos Private Equity has closed its sixth private equity fund, Ethos Fund VI, with US$800 million in capital commitments. Institutional investors participating in the fund included corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and funds of funds. Ethos Fund VI will focus primarily on South Africa and selectively make investments into other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Read More
Everstone Acquires Stake in India’s Transpole Logistics (Asia)
Indian private equity firm Everstone Capital has invested INR2.2 billion (approximately US$41 million) in Transpole Logistics, an Indian freight logistics company. The investment will allow Transpole to expand its overseas operations in China, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. As part of the transaction, Everstone will acquire part of the stake previously owned by private equity investor Fidelity Growth Partners India. Read More
Fanisi Backs Sophar (Sub-Saharan Africa)
East Africa-focused private equity firm Fanisi Venture Capital Management has invested in Rwandan pharmaceutical company Sophar. The funding will allow Sophar to build a World Health Organization-certified warehouse, which will increase the company’s storage capacity from 900 products to 3,000 products. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More
A LeapFrog Partnership to Boost Nigeria’s Financial Services Industry (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Asia and Africa-focused investment firm LeapFrog Investments has announced its intention to invest US$7.5 million in a partnership with Asset and Resource Management Company (ARM), a Nigerian non-banking financial company. ARM recently acquired a majority stake in CrystaLife Assurance, a Nigerian life insurance provider. With LeapFrog’s investment, CrystaLife intends to expand its operations in Nigeria. Read More
PineBridge Investments to Invest EUR26 Million in Work Service (CEE and CIS)
Global multi-asset class investment manager PineBridge Investments has signed an agreement to acquire a 20.02 percent stake in Polish temporary staffing and personnel outsourcing company Work Service for EUR26 million (approximately US$34.6 million). Work Service is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and operates in Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany and Turkey. PineBridge invested through its EUR522 million (approximately… Read More
ASG Eye Hospitals Raises INR500 Million from Sequoia Capital (Asia)
Indian eye hospital chain ASG Eye Hospitals has received INR500 million (approximately US$9.1 million) from global private equity firm Sequoia Capital. ASG currently operates hospitals in six cities in India’s northwestern state of Rajasthan, and the funding will be used to support ASG’s expansion into northern and central India. Read More
QSR Brands, KFC Privatization Led by CVC (Asia)
Global private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Johor Corporation, the investment arm of Malaysia’s Johor state, have finalized the MYR5.2 billion (approximately US$1.7 billion) privatization of Malaysian Pizza Hut franchise operator QSR Brands and KFC’s Malaysian operations paving the way for the delisting of both companies. CVC and Johor originally made the offer to… Read More
Catalyst Buys Chai Bora from TransCentury (Sub-Saharan Africa)
East Africa-focused private equity firm Catalyst Principal Partners has acquired a 95 percent stake in Tanzanian packaged tea producer Chai Bora from Kenya-based investment holding company TransCentury. Catalyst invested in the company through Catalyst Fund I, its US$125 million focused private equity fund. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Read More