"Unitas Exits Korea Retail Chain" (Asia)
Financial Times (01/26/10)

Asia-focused private equity firm Unitas Capital has sold South Korean convenience store chain Buy the Way to local retailer Lotte Group for approximately US$232 million. Unitas paid US$200 million for Buy the Way in 2006.

"Nexxus Tees Up Fourth PE Fund" (Latin America and the Caribbean)
Latin Finance (01/10)

Mexico-based private equity firm Nexxus Capital is set to begin raising money for its fourth fund. Nexxus plans to raise up to US$280 million through the issuance of CCDs, or certificado de capital de desarollo, a newly-introduced framework allowing Mexican pension funds to invest in alternative assets through a listed public trust from which managers can draw down capital. Nexxus aims to raise up to an additional US$150 million from international investors later in the year. The fund will focus on companies that offer products and services to the lower and middle classes of Mexico.

"Fund Commits EUR10 Million for Clean Energy in Southern Africa" (Africa)
Renewable Energy Focus (01/27/10)

The Global Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF) is committing EUR10 million to the Evolution One Fund managed by Inspired Evolution Investment Management of South Africa. The fund is focused on clean energy investment in Southern Africa. GEEREF is supported by the European Union, Germany and Norway and advised by the European Investment Bank Group.

"GE Healthcare and Gulf Capital to Create Chain of Medical Diagnostic and Healthcare Service Centers" (Middle East)
Zawya.com (01/30/10)

GE Healthcare, the healthcare subsidiary of General Electric (GE), has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Abu Dhabi-based private equity firm Gulf Capital to develop the largest regional chain of medical diagnostic and healthcare service centers in the Middle East and North Africa. The initiative will focus on Egypt and Saudi Arabia, followed by expansion to other high growth markets in the region.

"BaltCap Inks EUR30 Million Latvian VC Fund Agreement With EIF" (Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States)
AltAssets.com (01/22/10)

Eastern European private equity firm BaltCap has signed an agreement with the European Investment Fund (EIF) to establish a venture capital fund that will provide start-up and expansion financing to Latvian companies. The fund is targeting commitments totaling EUR30 million, EUR20 million of which will come from the EIF-managed JEREMIE Holding Fund and the remainder from local private investors, including Parex Asset Management, Hipo Fondi, LKB Krajfondi, and Pirmais Slegtais Pensiju Fonds.

"CVC to Buy Leading Indonesian Store Chain" (Asia)
Financial Times (01/25/10)

U.S.-based private equity firm CVC Capital Partners has reportedly agreed to acquire an 80 percent stake in Indonesia's biggest department store chain, Matahari Department Stores, for approximately US$770 million. Pending regulatory approval, the investment will be CVC's first in Indonesia.

"CITIC Private Equity Raises US$1.3 Billion for First Fund" (Asia)
Reuters (01/27/10)

CITIC Private Equity Funds Management, the private equity arm of Chinese financial conglomerate CITIC Group, has raised US$1.3 billion in total commitments for its first industrial investment fund. The CITIC Mianyang Private Equity Fund is reportedly the largest yuan-denominated fund ever raised in China, with the National Council for Social Security Fund, China’s state pension fund, serving as the largest investor.

"IFC Commits to East African Private Equity Fund" (Africa)
The Financial (01/23/10)

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is committing US$7.5 million to the Fanisi Venture Capital Fund, which will focus on investing in startups and small and medium enterprises in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. The fund has raised US$40 million in commitments to date toward its target of US$55 million. The Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund) is an investor in the fund and a shareholder in the fund’s management company, which is majority-owned by Kenya-based Amani Capital.

"IL&FS Education Raises PE Funding" (Asia)
India Infoline (01/27/10)

India Equity Partners has invested approximately US$38 million in IL&FS Education and Technology Services, the education unit of Indian infrastructure development and finance company IL&FS Group. IL&FS Education and Technology Services provides education and training to schools, colleges, vocational training institutes, the government and the corporate sector.

"I&M Acquires Stake in Tanzania Bank" (Africa)
Daily Nation (Kenya) (01/25/10)

Kenya’s I&M Bank, alongside French development financial institution Proparco and Kibo Fund, a Mauritius-based private equity fund, have jointly acquired a majority stake in CF Union Bank of Tanzania. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed.

"Wire Maker Lists on Ho Chi Minh Bourse" (Asia)
VietNamNet Bridge (01/27/10)

The largest investment of Mekong Capital's Mekong Enterprise Fund (MEF), electromagnetic wire maker Ngo Han Joint Stock Company, has commenced trading on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange. Since MEF invested in Ngo Han in 2004, the company has achieved net profit growth of 439 percent, as of the end of 2009.

"CDC Group Commits US$10 Million to ShoreCap II Microfinance Fund" (Africa)
Microfinance Focus (01/26/10)

U.K.-based CDC Group is committing US$10 million to ShoreCap II, a private equity fund managed by ShoreCap Management that will invest in small business banks and microfinance institutions in emerging African and Asian markets. The fund is targeting commitments totaling US$100 million.

"BTS Investment Plans US$150 Million Clean Energy Fund in India" (Asia)
Bloomberg (01/28/10)

BTS Investment Advisors, a private equity fund based in India and Switzerland, is set to launch a fund which will invest in Indian clean energy companies. BTS expects to launch the fund by April with an initial US$60 million toward its goal of US$150 million in total commitments.

"Abraaj Launches US$50 Million Palestinian Fund for SMEs" (Middle East)
ArabianBusiness.com (01/28/10)

Dubai-based private equity firm Abraaj Capital and the Palestine Investment Fund, a publicly-owned investment fund that aims to strengthen the Palestinian economy, have launched a fund focused on investing in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Palestinian territories. The fund has achieved a first close of US$15 million and seeks to raise total commitments of US$50 million.