MENA
Clearwater sells jack-up rig to Middle East buyer
Asia special situations investor Clearwater Capital Partners has sold a jack-up rig built in a Singapore shipyard to a drilling services partnership between the Saudi Arabian government and Schlumberger.
Apax benefits from Bright Food’s ambition
Apax Partners' 6x return on its investment in Israel-based Tnuva Food Industries has been hard earned.
Abraaj invests in Thai education provider
The Abraaj Group has acquired an undisclosed stake in KPN Academy, an out-of-school education service provider in Thailand.
Apax sells Israeli food company to China's Bright Food
Apax Partners has agreed to sell a 56% stake in Israel-based Tnuva Food Industries to Bright Food Group as the Chinese company continues to expand its business overseas.
Kerogen invests $100m in Kurdistan oil developer
Hong Kong-based energy investor Kerogen Capital has invested $100 million in HKN Holding, which owns HKN Energy, an oil and gas developer with an exclusive focus on Kurdistan.
NVP raises $1.2b for global VC fund
Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) has reached a final close of $1.2 billion on its latest fund, which will make early to late stage venture and growth investments out of the US and via subsidiaries in India and Israel.
China Everbright, Catalyst Equity to launch Israel-focused fund
China Everbright, an investment arm of Chinese conglomerate China Everbright Group, and Catalyst Equity Management, an Israeli-based private equity firm, have teamed up to establish a PE fund that will invest in Israeli companies.
Q&A: The Abraaj Group's Aman Lakhaney
The Abraaj Group’s acquisition of Aureos Capital last year was a massive short cut to a larger Asia presence. Aman Lakhaney, director at The Abraaj Group, explains the firm’s approach to non-BRIC emerging markets
India’s Tata Capital to launch $300m Africa fund
Tata Capital plans to launch an Africa private equity fund with initial capital of about $300 million. It will focus on consumer goods, agriculture and agri-processing.
Horizons, Infinity, IFC invest $65m in Israeli bio-agritech firm Kaiima
Kaiima Bio-Agritech, an Israel-based seed and breeding technology firm, has raised over $65 million from three new investors including Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing’s Horizons Ventures, International Financial Corporation (IFC), and Infinity Group....
King & Wood Mallesons merges with SJ Berwin
King & Wood Mallesons and London-based SJ Berwin will merge to form a single law firm valued at $1 billion. With over 2,700 lawyers in more than 30 countries, the combined entity is expected to be one of the 25 largest law firms in the world.
Samsung Electronics buys VC-backed Boxee
Samsung Electronics has acquired Boxee, a VC-backed Israeli start-up that manufactures digital video recorders (DVRs). The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Asia travel search engine Wego gets $17m in Series C funding
Crescent Point has led a Series C round of funding worth $17 million for Wego, an Asia travel search engine. Victoria Capital and existing investor Tiger Global also participated.
CDIB Capital finalizes $25m investment in China's Meilele
Taiwan-based CDIB Capital, the PE unit of China Development Financial, has completed a $25 million investment in a Chinese online home furnishings retailer Meilele.
Kuwait-based Asiya launches Hong Kong operation
Kuwait’s Asiya Investments has opened a Hong Kong office, only its third service center globally, in response to rising demand from Arab investors for exposure to Asia.
CDIB Capital backs duty-free operator Flemingo International
CDIB Capital has invested $19.9 million in Dubai-based travel retail operator Flemingo International.
Malaysia plans $500m global halal fund
Malaysia-based specialist private equity firm Azka Capital will manage a MYR1.55 billion ($503 million) fund focused on global opportunities in the halal industry. It is expected to acquire companies in the food and agri-business sector and reorient them...
Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holdings leads $400m round for 360Buy
Chinese online retailer 360Buy has raised $400 million through a Series F round of funding led by Kingdom Holding, an investment company controlled by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a Saudi Arabian billionaire.
China's Cathay Fortune abandons Discovery Metals bid
Cathay Fortune Corporation (CFC), the private equity group founded by Chinese billionaire Yong Yu, has abandoned its A$830 million ($848 million) takeover bid for Australian copper miner Discovery Metals. Discovery shares plummeted as much as 7.5% to...
EMPEA’s Alexander to join Abraaj
Sarah Alexander, CEO of the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA), has agreed to join The Abraaj Group as a managing director. EMPEA’s executive committee has recommended that Jennifer Choi, currently vice president of industry and external...
Bamboo Finance buys controlling interest in microfinance fund
Bamboo Finance, the Luxemburg-based social investment firm with a strong focus on Asia, has acquired a controlling interest in specialist private equity fund Accion Investments in Microfinance for $105 million.
ADIA hires new head of principal investments
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has appointed Colm Lanigan as head of principal investments in its private equities department. Working alongside senior management, Lanigan is responsible for the identification, execution and management of direct...
Carlyle’s General Lighting completes Malaysia acquisition
General Lighting (GLC), a Saudi Arabia-based portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, has agreed to buy Davex, Malaysia’s largest lighting fixtures manufacturer and supplier, for MYR183 million ($60 million). The company sees the acquisition as a platform...
Abraaj appoints Tom Speechley as Aureos CEO
Tom Speechley, a senior partner at Abraaj Capital, has been named CEO of Aureos Capital. The appointment coincides with the completion of Abraaj’s acquisition of Aureos and its emerging markets small- and mid-cap investment platform.
