"MIGA to Support Investments into Small Businesses in Sierra Leone" (Africa)
World Bank Group (01/15/10)

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the political risk insurance arm of the World Bank Group, has signed contracts with the Sierra Leone Investment Fund and the ManoCap Soros Fund of Mauritius to provide political risk insurance for up to twelve of the funds’ individual investments totaling an estimated US$16.2 million. The funds are raising commitments to invest in small companies in Sierra Leone.

"Macquarie Mexico Fund Gains Momentum" (Latin America and the Caribbean)
Latin Finance (01/10)

The Macquarie Mexican Infrastructure Fund has reportedly raised approximately US$410 million in commitments to date. The fund is targeting commitments totaling approximately US$1.2 billion.

"DB Masdar Cleantech Fund Completes First Close" (Middle East)
Zawya.com (01/19/10)

The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Deutsche Bank (DB) have announced the launch of the Masdar Clean Tech Fund and its first closing at US$265 million. The fund is co-managed by Masdar Venture Capital and DB Climate Change Advisors. Those making commitments include Siemens, which has committed US$50 million.

"C2C Acquires 50 Percent Stake in Natura" (Africa)
Cape Business News (01/18/10)

South Africa-based private equity firm Coast2Coast Investments has acquired a 50 percent stake in homeopathic brand Natura. The deal is valued at approximately US$8 million.

"Al Faiz Fund 1 Ventures into Local Aquaculture" (Asia)
Edge (Malaysia) (01/19/10)

Al Faiz Fund 1 has acquired a 60 percent stake each in Malaysia's K S Aquaculture and Ikmaju for an undisclosed sum. Al Faiz 1 is a private equity fund jointly managed by the licensed fund management subsidiaries of Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) and Kuwait-based Al-Aman KSCC. The acquisition marked the fund's first investment in the local aquaculture industry and its third investment in Malaysia.

"Agri-Vie Eyes US$100 Million Close for New Fund" (Africa)
Reuters (01/14/10)

Sub-Saharan Africa-focused private equity fund Agri-Vie is expected to reach its US$100 million target for investment in agricultural projects by March 2010. The fund recently invested US$6.7 million in New Forests Company, a forestry and timber products group with operations in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Mozambique, and US$3.5 million in africaJUICE, a company establishing fruit production and processing operations in East Africa. The fund, which is headquartered in South Africa, is being jointly managed by Sanlam Private Equity and SP Aktif.

"China's First Eastern to Launch US$250 Million Dubai Fund" (Middle East)
AltAssets.com (01/25/10)

Hong Kong-based private equity firm First Eastern Investment Group is preparing to launch a Dubai-focused investment fund. The fund is targeting commitments totaling US$250 million, including US$50 million in anchor capital from First Eastern.

"ARX Equity Partners Supports Portfolio Company Lexum in Acquisition of Intermedica" (Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States)
ARX Equity Partners (01/21/10)

ARX Equity Partners portfolio company Lexum Group, a leading player in the ophthalmology market in the Czech Republic, has acquired Intermedica, the largest chain of private ophthalmology clinics in Poland. ARX, a Central and Eastern European-focused private equity firm, has held a controlling stake in the Lexum Group since April 2009. It completed a second close of ARX CEE III LP at EUR102 million in August 2009.

"ICICI PE Fund Seeks US$200 Million From Overseas" (Asia)
Reuters (01/22/10)

ICICI Venture, the private equity arm of Indian lender ICICI Bank, is looking to raise US$150 to US$200 million from overseas investors for an India-focused fund, say insiders. The fund is targeting commitments totaling US$500 million, with an option to raise an additional US$300 million. The fund, which has reportedly already received US$350 million in commitments from domestic investors, will focus on firms that rely on domestic consumption as well as those in the healthcare, education and infrastructure sectors.

"Leopard Sri Lanka Funds to Open" (Asia)
Lanka Business Online (01/20/10)

Leopard Capital is set to launch two funds that will focus on investments in Sri Lanka. The Leopard Sri Lanka Fund, targeting total commitments of US$100 million, will invest in unlisted firms, while the Leopard Sri Lanka Value Fund is targeting total commitments of US$30 million and will invest in "under-researched" listed firms.

"Brazil's GP Investments Sells Stake in BR Malls" (Latin America and the Caribbean)
Dow Jones Newswires (01/21/10)

Brazil-based GP Investments has sold its 6.78 percent stake in local shopping center administrator BR Malls Participacoes through an auction on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange. The stake was sold for approximately US$167 million.

"Darby-advised Private Equity Portfolio Makes Investment in India-based Infrastructure Construction Company" (Asia)
CNNMoney (01/19/10)

Franklin Templeton Private Equity Strategy, a private equity portfolio managed by Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India), has invested approximately US$13 million in India's GKC Projects. It is advised by Darby Asia Investors (India), the Indian affiliate of Darby Overseas Investments, which is the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton. GKC provides construction services in key infrastructure areas such as roads, irrigation, power and pipelines.

"RHEA Invests in Turkey" (Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States)
Private Equity HUB (01/20/10)

Turkey-based RHEA Investments has agreed to acquire a majority stake in SETA Medical Products, a Turkish maker of disposable medical products, as well as a 60 percent stake in local Netsafe Information Technologies, a Network Security Unified Threat Management appliance manufacturer. The proposed transactions value SETA Medical at US$4.6 million and Netsafe at approximately US$1 million. Both investments are being made through RHEA’s public Venture Capital Investment Trust, Vakif Girisim.