Middle East & North Africa

Citigroup and CDC launch $200 million African fund(2)

Citigroup joins forces with a UK government-backed investor to target African opportunities.

Abraaj holds first close on infrastructure fund on $500m(2)

Dubai-based Abraaj Capital has secured one-quarter of its targeted fund size at the first close of its infrastructure and growth capital fund.

Mid Europa snaps up another telecoms business(2)

European private equity firm Mid Europa Partners has broken new ground in the Baltic region with the €450m acquisition of a mobile telephone operator.

Wellington Partners holds first close on €50m(2)

German venture capital firm Wellington Partners has held a final close of its third life science fund on €50m and expects to hold a final close by the summer on €120m.

Carlyle brings in North African specialist for MENA push(2)

The Carlyle Group has recruited North African specialist Hassan El-Khatib as a managing director to bolster its newly formed MENA team in Cairo.

Animated profits

As part of a flurry of recent investment activity, Finance Wales has put £600,000 in an animation company producing children’s programming. But with its aggressive strategy targeting new digital media, the company may be venturing into risky territory. Dave Keating reports.

3i makes two investments in two days

3i has made its second investment in two days as it returns to a third round of $125m fundraising for an Indian broadcaster alongside a US supplier of networking equipment for the internet and Oman Investment Fund.

Trouble for Indian start-ups

A study by Stanford University and TiE shows India is drastically falling behind its counterparts when it comes to early-stage VC funding, and the study’s author warns this could have dire consequences for the quality of later-stage companies down the road. Dave Keating reports.

Investcorp buys inspection company from Close Brothers for $311m(4)

Investcorp has made its first investment in the energy sector with the $311 million acquisition of an inspection services company from Close Brothers.

Roberts: ‘We don’t believe there is a bubble’

Henry Kravis and George Roberts of KKR shared their thoughts on the current state of the private equity industry in a rare interview published today in The Wall Street Journal.