Middle East & North Africa

Al Masah readies $500m fund launch

The MENA-focused manager has been given a license to operate from Dubai’s main financial centre.

Economies of scale

In frontier markets plagued by corruption and other issues, there is still investor appetite for first-mover advantage.

Actis pays $151m for West African fashion

The firm has brought in former Laura Ashley veteran Hans Ouwendijk to run Vlisco, a Dutch maker of fabrics for West African clothing.

Dutch first-timer reaches halfway mark on €150m fund

Netherlands-based Holland Private Equity has held a €77m interim close on its way to a target of €150m. The firm has also inked its first investment.

Sequoia, Morningside exit Comsenz

The Chinese social networking provider has been sold to internet company Tencent for a reported $60m.

Riverside reaps 10x return on manufacturer exit

The firm has generated a 68% IRR on its investment in CLC, a Virginia-based manufacturer of window film, said partner Stephen Dyke.

AXA spin-out collects €150m for secondaries

Former AXA Private Equity executives Daniel Benin and Barthelemy de Beaupuy have formed Committed Advisors, which also recently hired two more ex-AXA professionals.

Abraaj opens in Ramallah

The MENASA-focused firm has hired Fayez Husseini to lead up to 25 Palestinian SME investments over the next four years.

BVCA seeks chief executive

Simon Walker plans to leave the UK trade association next year.

Palamon processes $317m partial exit

The sale of Retail Decision's Australian payment processing division has returned 'substantially all' of the initial investment made by Palamon, Alpinvest and Morgan Stanley.