Matthieu Favas
Matthieu Favas is the editor of Agri Investor. He was previously the web editor of Infrastructure Investor, where he started in 2013 after a year as a reporter at Private Equity International. Prior to joining PEI he spent four years in the wine industry in London, Spain and Mongolia.
The injection of fresh capital comes after a year rich in deals for the firm’s social-minded vehicle.
The merger with InReturn Capital, an East Africa-focused SME investor, comes as the firm prepares to raise a $75m fund.
The first Egyptian sovereign buyout vehicle, managed by Cairo Financial Holdings, will soon start making its first investments.
Actis has raised at least $745.5 million for Actis Global 4, according to a document filed last week with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The sale marks the third exit in 12 months for the UK firm, which is expected to raise Fund V this year.
The Bahrain-based firm has acquired North America’s largest information security provider after a couple months that saw it realise more than $1bn in investment proceeds.
A renewed appetite for acquisitions among large corporates could create both challenges and opportunities for private equity firms.
Deal volume in the £10-£100m value range fell last year – but still accounted for almost half of UK buyout activity, thanks to a resurgence in consumer and TMT investments.
A concerted effort by big corporates to raise ‘fast cash’ – as evidenced in a new Ernst & Young study – could have tangible benefits for private equity firms.
Eyeing further growth in Europe and Asia, the Swiss private equity firm has backed a third add-on acquisition for its language services portfolio company.