Actis related stories
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European People News, March 2011Simon Cook says 2011 will be another tough go for European VC firms; TA Associates adds to its London-based office
- Actis Selects FirstRain As Provider of Investment Research Services
Actis Capital LP of London, UK selected FirstRain Inc. for use in its investment research process. FirstRain is a California-based provider of real-time business intelligence solutions that has VC backers including Ampersand Ventures, Diamond Ventures and Oak Investment Partners.
- Reckitt Benckiser to Buy Paras Pharma for $726M
Reckitt Benckiser will pay 32.6 billion rupees ($726 million) for private equity-backed Paras Pharmaceuticals, Reuters reported. Buyout shop Actis owns 63% of India’s Paras. Other shareholders include Silicon Valley-based venture firm Sequoia Capital. UK-based Reckitt Benckiser produces a wide range of household, health and personal care products. Actis has $4.7 billion under management.
- Actis Promotes Four To Partner
Private equity firm Actis has promoted four directors to the post of partner: Mumbai-based Sanjiv Aggarwal and Shomik Mukherjee; and Beijing-based Tao Sun and Dong Zhong. Aggarwal joined Actis in 2008 and focuses on infrastructure investments. Mukherjee joined in 2007 and focuses on the consumer and retail sectors. Sun joined in 2008 and focuses on consumer and retail investments. Zhong, who joined in 2001, also focuses on consumer and retail investments. London-based Actis has $4.7 billion under management.
- Actis Pours $58 Million into Brazil’s XP Investimentos
London-based private equity firm Actis has paid $58 million for a minority stake in Brazilian independent brokerage firm XP Investimentos. Actis, which focuses on emerging markets, said it will work with XP to help it prepare for an initial public offering. The deal is London-based Actis’ third Brazilian investment in as many months. XP Investimentos is based in Sao Palo, Brazil.
- Actis Capital Invests $53M in Brazilian Cleaning Products Group
Actis Capital LLP of the U.K. invested $53 million in Gtex, a Brazilian-based cleaning products company that sells uner the Urcam USE and Amazon brands. Actis plans to initiate a growth plan for Gtex in the Brazilian market to include new product lines, geographical expansion and acquisitions.
- ConJoin Group Pays $250M for Healthcare-focused PHNS
Backed by the private equity firm Actis, business process outsourcing company The ConJoin Group has acquired PHNS for $250 million. Dallas-based PHNS provides information technology and business process outsourcing services for the healthcare industry. The ConJoin group is based in Boston.
- 3i India Leads $270 Million Investment in GVK Energy
Venture fund 3i India Infrastructure Fund will lead a 12 billion rupee ($270 million) investment in GVK Energy, a unit of GVK Power & Infrastructure, Reuters reported. The investment amounts to a 21.1% stake in the business unit. According to Reuters, 3i India will invest 8 billion rupees ($180 million), and the remaining 4 billion rupees ($90 million) will come from an undisclosed firm.
- As Valuations Rise, China Private Equity Executives Retire
Amid increased competition and rising valuations, some executives in China’s private equity market are stepping out of the game. Benjamin Cheng, a China partner with London-based private equity shop Actis, will retire after seven years at the firm, Reuters reported. Cheng’s retirement comes shortly after the Financial Times reported that two of the three founders of Beijing-based Hopu Investments planned to retire as the firm winds down investments, Reuters said.