Sub-Saharan Africa

4D raises $181m for hydrocarbons(2)

Paris-based 4D Global Energy Advisors has closed another fund exclusively focussed on small to medium sized companies in the hydrocarbons sector.

Oak backs Reunion.com(2)

US VC firm Oak Investment Partners has completed a $25 million funding round for social networking site Reunion.com, one of the biggest investments in the area to date.

Ontario Teachers expands to London(2)

Teachers’ Private Capital, the private equity arm of the Canadian pension, has launched its first foothold outside of Toronto with a London office led by Andrew Claerhout.

Alex Forbes consortium raises offer(2)

The consortium buying Alexander Forbes, a South African financial services group, has increased its offer despite having agreed the deal three months ago.

OPIC sponsors three Jordan-related funds(2)

US investment agency Overseas Private Investment Corporation is committing $200 million to three private equity funds that will be investing in Jordan.

Bain Capital in largest ever South African buyout(2)

US group Bain Capital has agreed a $3.5 billion deal for South African retailer Edgars Consolidated Stores, the largest buyout ever recorded in the country.

Music veteran leaves Elevation(2)

Les Bider has left his position as ‘executive-in-residence’ at upstart private equity firm Elevation Partners to become chief strategist at Los Angeles-based venture firm ITU.

Sequoia makes 44 times return on YouTube(2)

Google has revealed that its acquisition of YouTube last year netted a return of nearly $500 million for Sequoia Capital, the US venture capital firm behind the video sharing website.

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.

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.