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.
Kenyan Private Equity Firm Catalyst Raises US$125 Million (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Catalyst Principal Partners, an East Africa-focused private equity firm, has secured US$125 million in commitments for its first private equity fund. Catalyst Fund 1, which was targeting US$100 million in commitments, will invest in the consumer goods, retail, technology, services, manufacturing and engineering sectors in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Investors in the… Read More
Warburg Pincus Increases Stake in Capital First to 68.4 Percent (Asia)
Warburg Pincus has invested INR2.7 billion (approximately US$49.7 million) in Indian financial services company Capital First, formerly Future Capital, for an additional 24.43 percent stake, raising its total stake in the company to 68.4 percent. The investment took place through a share purchase on the Bombay Stock Exchange, following a September 2012 purchase of a 42.73 percent stake for INR4.7… Read More
GP Investments Announces the Acquisition of Centauro (Latin America)
Brazilian private equity firm GP Investments, along with multiple co-investors, will invest BRL450 million (approximately US$221 million) to acquire a 30 percent stake in SBF Group, the owner of Brazilian sporting goods retailer Centauro. GP Investments will contribute US$150 million through its GP Capital Partners V private equity fund, with the remainder of the capital coming from co-investors. SBF operates… Read More
Warburg Pincus Makes US$54 Million on Greentown China Exit (Asia)
Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus has fully exited its investment in Greentown China, a Chinese residential property developer. Warburg reportedly sold shares amounting to a 4.86 percent stake in Greentown China on the public market for approximately US$54 million. Previously, Warburg partially exited the company through a similar share sale in 2009. Read More
The AAF SME Fund Invests in Cameroonian Commercial Farm (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Africa-focused private equity group Databank Agrifund Manager Limited (DAFML) has invested in Cameroonian commercial farm West End Farms (WEF) through the AAF SME Fund. AAF SME Fund, a sub-fund of the African Agribusiness Fund (AAF) managed by private equity firm Phatisa, is focused on African food production and processing. The fund held a first close with US$30 million in commitments… Read More
Vivo Ventures Leads Financing for Shanghai Jingfeng Pharmaceutical (Asia)
U.S.-based venture capital firm Vivo Ventures has invested RMB190 million (approximately US$30 million) in Chinese pharmaceuticals company Shanghai Jingfeng Pharmaceutical. Vivo Ventures closed its seventh healthcare-focused fund at US$375 million in 2011 and plans to devote 45 percent of the fund’s capital to Chinese investments. Read More
Dymon Asia Private Equity Holds First Close (Asia)
Dymon Asia Capital, a Singapore-based alternative investor, has held a first close on its Southeast Asia-focused private equity fund, Dymon Asia Private Equity, at SGD203 million (approximately US$165 million). The fund will invest in small- and medium-sized enterprises in Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries and is targeting SGD300 million (approximately US$245 million) in total capital commitments. Read More
EILSF Exits Sutures India with 3.2x Returns as CX Partners Buys Stake for US$37 million (Asia)
Evolvence Capital, a Middle East and India-focused private equity firm, has sold its entire equity stake in Indian surgical consumables manufacturer Sutures India to Indian private equity firm CX Partners for US$37 million. Evolvence Capital had invested in Sutures India in September 2009 through its healthcare and life sciences-focused private equity fund Evolvence India Life Sciences Fund (EILSF), and earned… Read More
Pera Capital Hits EUR50 Million Second Close (CEE and CIS)
Turkish private equity firm Pera Capital Partners has reached a second close on its Pera Capital Partners Fund I at EUR50 million (approximately US$65 million). The fund, which is targeting EUR120 million (approximately US$155 million) in total commitments, will invest EUR15 million per deal (approximately US$19 million) in middle market companies. Pera Capital also has completed its first deal, acquiring… Read More
Huaxia Dairy Raises US$50 Million of Additional Capital (Asia)
Asia-focused private equity firm Olympus Capital Holdings Asia has led an investment round of US$50 million in China’s Huaxia Dairy Farm, a producer of milk and dairy products. Additional investors in the round includedCalifornia Technology Ventures, Grand River Capital and Herostar Holdings. Olympus Capital previously led a US$45 million investment round in Huaxia Dairy in July 2011. Having invested US$38… Read More
KV Asia Reaches US$100 Million First Close (Asia)
Singapore-based private equity firm KV Asia Capital has reached a first close on its first fund, which will focus on growth capital and early stage deals in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Commitments for the first close were reportedly greater than US$100 million, with the fund targeting US$250 million in total commitments. The fund was originally targeting a… Read More
55Social Lands Series B from Redpoint e.ventures (Latin America)
Venture capital firm Redpoint e.ventures, the Brazil-focused partnership between U.S-based firms Redpoint Ventures and e.ventures, has invested US$10 million in the Series B round for 55Social, a Brazilian social media marketing platform. 55Social plans to use the funding to develop its team and product offerings and to expand into other South American countries. Read More