MENA
Saudi Arabia’s PIF commits $500m to China-Russia fund
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will invest $500 million into the Russia-China Investment Fund (RCIF), a vehicle established in 2012 by China Investment Corporation (CIC) and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
ADIA hires ex-KKR executive to lead India, SE Asia PE
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has hired Kabir Mathur, a former member of KKR’s Asia leadership team, to head its private equity investments in India and Southeast Asia.
Abraaj files for restructuring
The Abraaj Group – which has been under pressure since governance concerns emerged in February – has appointed provisional liquidators to work on a restructuring of the firm after a second creditor filed a petition seeking to recover unpaid debts.
Abraaj releases LPs from commitments to latest fund
The Abraaj Group is releasing investors from commitments made to its latest flagship fund – which targets growth markets in Asia and other regions – having previously decided to suspend the fundraising process in the wake of governance concerns.
Abraaj founder steps back as part of governance review
Arif Naqvi, founder of The Abraaj Group, has stepped back from the fund management business as part of changes to the firm’s governance and operating model. This comes after LPs expressed concerns that a healthcare fund had been misused.
Q&A: Samena Capital's Shirish Saraf
With its focus on Asia and the Middle East and a roster of big-name owner-shareholders, Samena Capital is a GP with a difference. Shirish Saraf, the firm’s founder and vice chairman, explains the strategy
Chinese GP to buy Camtek's printed circuit board business
Chinese private equity firm Principle Capital has agreed to buy the printed circuit board (PCB) business of Israel-based semiconductor component manufacturer Camtek for $35 million.
Japan's Softbank invests $100m in Cybereason
SoftBank Corp. has agreed to invest $100 million in a Series D funding round for Cybereason, a US-headquartered cybersecurity platform provider targeting expansion in Japan.
Warburg Pincus invests $300m in emerging markets TMT platform
Warburg Pincus has invested $300 million in Princeton Growth Ventures (Princeton GV), a telecom, media and technology (TMT) buy-out platform that seeks to acquire assets in emerging markets.
PE and Islamic finance: Underlying themes
Encouraging trends in population, social mobility, commodities, technology, and governance standards are converging on Islamic finance. PE plays a small role with strong upside in Asia
Hong Kong's AID Partners buys Israel's GeneSort
Hong Kong-listed private equity firm AID Partners has acquired Israel-based molecular diagnostics company GeneSort for $23 million.
Japan’s Orix to acquire 22% of PE-backed Ormat
Japanese financial services group Orix Corp. has agreed to buy a 22.1% stake in Israeli geothermal energy producer Ormat Technologies for $627 million from an investor group led by PE firm FIMI Opportunity Funds.
CMIG to create $15b One Belt One Road fund
China Minsheng Investment Group (CMIG), the largest privately-held investment group in China, has initiated a new fund that could raise up to $15 billion for investment in overseas projects under the government-backed "One Belt One Road" initiative.
GE Ventures backs Hong Kong digital logistics business
GE Ventures, the VC arm of General Electric, has led a $25 million extended Series B round of funding for Freightos, a Hong Kong-based logistics technology company. It brings total funding for the business to $50 million.
Hong Kong's Kerogen makes Israel energy investment
Kerogen Capital, a Hong Kong-headquartered GP specializing in international energy investments, has committed an initial $50 million to a planned $1.3 billion development in gas fields off the coast of Israel.
China’s CreditEase reaches $32m first close on Israel VC fund
Chinese asset manager CreditEase Wealth Management has reached a first close of $32.2 million on its second Israel-focused venture capital fund.
Israel's Yozma to invest $41m in Korean health tech start-ups
Israeli venture capital firm Yozma Group has agreed to invest KRW50 billion ($41.4 million) in Korean biotechnology and healthcare start-ups, starting in the first half of 2017.
XIO Group to acquire Israel's Meitav Dash for $387m
XIO Group, a PE firm founded by several Asia-based investment professionals with a view to buying companies in North America and Europe and helping them tap emerging market opportunities, has agreed to acquire Israeli investment firm Meitav Dash for ILS1.48...
Sequoia, Mayfield in $19m Series C for India's Knowlarity
Sequoia Capital India and Mayfield have participated in a INR1.3 billion ($19.3 million) Series C round for Indian cloud telephony solutions provider Knowlarity Communications.
ADIA to open Hong Kong office
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), a sovereign wealth fund of the government of Abu Dhabi, has announced plans to open an office in Hong Kong.
China’s Neusoft partners with Israeli PE firm for $250m medtech fund
Infinity Group, a China-Israel cross-border private equity firm, has partnered with Chinese IT services provider Neusoft Corporation to launch a $250 million medical technology fund.
Singapore's UOB backs $72m Series C for OurCrowd
Singapore-based UOB Group has joined a $72 million Series C round for Israeli equity crowdfunding platform OurCrowd.
L Capital supports acquisition of global rights to Jones the Grocer
L Capital Asia has taken a significant minority stake in a company that has acquired the global rights to Jones the Grocer, a gourmet food retailer that originated in Australia.
China tech group launches Israel innovation fund
Chinese tech company Kuang-Chi has launched an Israel-based global innovation fund and is targeting a corpus of $300 million within the next three years.
