Middle East & North Africa

Ronald Cohen: Europe needs a NASDAQ

Last year’s PEI Private Equity Leader Award winner has said that the European venture capital market will not achieve the same status as that of the US or Israel without the creation of a functioning public market for high growth companies.

Carlyle names MENA senior advisor

Nader Sultan will help the global private equity firm source energy deals in the MENA region.

KFH forms JV shipping fund

Kuwait Finance House and Cyprus’ SFS Group have teamed to launch a $150m sharia-compliant private equity fund focused on shipping.

Lightspeed loses Indian venture director

Srini Vudayagiri was promoted to his current role from managing director less than three months ago. He will depart the firm at the end of May and ‘will continue to be part of the venture capital industry”.

Israeli venture investments drop by 57%

Venture capital investments in Israeli high-tech companies fell from $617 million in the first quarter of 2008 to $265 million in the first three months of 2009, making it the slowest quarter in the last three years.

Capital Trust raises $100m for MENA fund

The alternative investment firm will close its third MENA-focused private equity fund 'in two weeks'. The fund will invest in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia.

GIH appoints head of private equity in Egypt

Mohamed Abdelsalam will drive deal sourcing and portfolio management in Egypt. The appointment forms part of the firm’s strategy to expand in the North African region.

BlueRun closes fourth fund on $250m

The former venture unit of telecoms giant Nokia had originally targeted $300m for BRV IV. The fund will make most of its investments in the US and China, where it is looking to expand its investment team.

Global exits Indian refinery

The Kuwaiti-headquartered firm has sold its interest in Reliance Petroleum, generating an IRR of more than 70%.

Private equity-backed Cobalt signs Angolan JV

Cobalt, which is backed by Riverstone, Goldman Sachs and First Reserve, has tied up with Sonangol, the national oil company of Angola, to let the oil and gas exploration firm access Africa's third largest oil producing nation.