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US$45 Million Investment in Inox India Limited (Asia)

Standard Chartered Private Equity, the Asia-focused private equity arm of Standard Chartered Bank, has announced an investment of INR2.5 billion (approximately US$45 million) in Inox India, an Indian manufacturer of cryogenic storage and transportation equipment, for a minority stake. Inox India has a manufacturing presence in India, the United States, China and Brazil and plans to use the funding for… Read More

SBCVC, BlueRun Ventures Invest in Newly Established B2C Site (Asia)

Chinese venture capital firm Softbank China Venture Capital Co. and U.S.-based venture capital firm BlueRun Ventures have reportedly invested US$10 million in Chinese flash sale platform Tianpin.com. Tianpin.com offers discounts and promotions on a range of items including clothing, footwear, fashion accessories, home products, gifts and timepieces. Read More

Penta Invests EUR3 Million into Slovak Hospitals (CEE and CIS)

Central Europe-focused private equity firm Penta Investments has announced the purchase of a 100 percent stake in Estate Consult, the owner of Slovak hospital chain Svět zdraví, for EUR3 million (approximately US$3.7 million). Svět zdraví operates ten hospitals throughout Slovakia and plans to use the funding to modernize the hospitals. Read More

Nexxus Capital Announces an Investment in Maak Holding (Latin America)

Mexican private equity fund manager Nexxus Capital has announced the purchase of a 38.85 percent stake in local natural stone retailer Maak Holding. The transaction was carried out through Nexxus Capital IV (Nexxus IV) and Nexxus Capital Private Equity Fund V (Nexxus V). Maak Holding owns and operates a group of companies that specialize in the commercialization of granite, marble… Read More

Warburg Pincus Exits Stake in Kasen International Holdings (Asia)

Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus has exited an approximate 11.67 percent stake in China’s Kasen International Holdings through a strategic sale on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to Hongkong Greatstar International. Warburg Pincus sold over 135.5 million shares at HKD1.10 per share, resulting in HKD149.3 million (approximately US$17.5 million) in proceeds. Kasen manufactures upholstered furniture, furniture leather and automotive… Read More

Mekong Nears End of Debut Fund with Sale of Toymaker Nam Hoa (Asia)

Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital has announced its exit from Nam Hoa Production & Trading Corporation, a Vietnamese manufacturer of wooden toys. Mekong Capital originally invested in Nam Hoa in June 2004, through its debut fund the Mekong Enterprise Fund. This is Mekong Capital’s eighth exit from the Mekong Enterprise Fund. Read More

Actis Invests in Sri Lanka’s Asiri Central Hospitals (Asia)

Emerging markets-focused private equity investor Actis has reportedly acquired a 10.8 percent stake in Sri Lanka’s Asiri Central Hospitals for LKR604 million (approximately US$4.5 million). Actis purchased 2.4 million shares in the company, which is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, from Softlogic Holdings, Commercial Bank of Ceylon and Pan Asia Banking Corporation. Separately, Actis invested US$40 million in AGS… Read More

India Equity Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Dental Chain Axiss (Asia)

India-focused private equity firm India Equity Partners (IEP) is reportedly acquiring a majority stake in Indian dental clinic chain Axiss Dental. Founded in 2007, Axiss Dental operates 17 dental clinics in India’s Delhi and National Capital Region. The investment size was not disclosed, but India Equity Partners typically targets investments in the US$20 million to US$50 million range. Read More

GGV Capital, with US$625 Million in New Funds, Targets China, U.S. Growth (Asia)

U.S.-based venture capital firm GGV Capital has reportedly closed its fourth fund with US$625 million in commitments. The fund has a dual structure comprising of a US$520 million U.S. dollar vehicle and a RMB650 million (approximately US$105 million) local currency vehicle. The U.S. dollar fund will invest in both the United States and China, while the RMB-denominated fund will invest… Read More

PE Firm to Fund Second Kenyan Spur Restaurant (Sub-Saharan Africa)

Africa and Middle East-focused SME financier GroFin Capital has agreed to fund the expansion of South African restaurant chain, Spur Group, into Kenya. Johannesburg-listed Spur plans to open its second location in Kenya at the Eka Hotel in the capital of Mombasa. GroFin has agreed to provide between KES40 million and KES45 million (approximately US$500,000) in financing. Read More

KKR Announces Investment to Support Growth of China Apparel Retailer Novo (Asia)

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) has announced a US$30 million investment into Chinese fashion apparel retailer Novo Holdco through the KKR China Growth Fund, a China-focused private equity fund. Novo Holdco manages 11 proprietary retail stores within China and operates a franchise of over 80 stores under the brand “Le Sportsac.” Read More

Alta Ventures Mexico Fund I Announces a US$70 Million Final Close (Latin America)

Mexican venture capital fund Alta Ventures Mexico has announced the final close of its first Mexico-focused venture capital fund, Alta Ventures Mexico Fund I, with US$70 million in total commitments. The fund will focus on technology companies in sectors such as SaaS (software as a service), mobile, big data, healthcare, consumer, non-banking financing and education. The fund, which held a… Read More