Key Takeaways
- • Old Mutual Private Equity and The Carlyle Group exited TiAuto Investments, a South African automotive retailer and wholesaler operating 161 stores across 5 African countries, by selling their stake to Marubeni Corporation for an undisclosed amount following a decade-plus investment period.
- • Gulf Capital completed two separate exits: a management buyout of ECLAT Health Solutions and a secondary sale of its stake in Egyptian glass manufacturer Middle East Glass (MEG) to the majority shareholder.
- • The exits reflect a broader acceleration in private equity exit activity as market conditions improve following a period of elevated interest rates and subdued transaction activity in the PE sector.
- • Old Mutual Private Equity has established a track record of disciplined capital deployment, with 21 completed exits since inception and recent transactions including the Medhold sale to Sanlam (expected Q4 2025) and the Holdsport Group exit, which generated sales exceeding R3 billion.
Summary
Old Mutual Private Equity and The Carlyle Group have exited their long-held investment in TiAuto Investments, selling their combined stake to Japan-based Marubeni Corporation. The transaction marks a significant milestone for both PE sponsors, as they divested the portfolio company after maintaining the investment for more than a decade. TiAuto, a South African-headquartered retailer and wholesaler specializing in tyres, batteries, and automotive products, operates an extensive network of 161 retail locations across five African countries, positioning it as a meaningful regional player in the automotive aftermarket sector. While the purchase price remains undisclosed, the sale represents a successful capital redeployment for both sponsors within their fund lifecycle management objectives.
Concurrent with the TiAuto transaction, Gulf Capital has executed multiple exits, demonstrating increased momentum in the broader PE exit environment. The Abu Dhabi-based firm completed a management buyout of ECLAT Health Solutions and separately divested its stake in Egypt-listed Middle East Glass (MEG) through a secondary sale to the company's majority shareholder. These transactions underscore Gulf Capital's shift toward realizing gains across its regional portfolio holdings.
The uptick in PE exit activity reflects a fundamental improvement in market conditions following an extended period of constrained deal activity driven by elevated interest rates. Industry observers have noted that conditions are increasingly favorable for sponsors seeking to execute exits, with improving demand for quality portfolio assets and greater availability of financing alternatives. Old Mutual Private Equity's broader exit cadence—including 21 completed exits since inception and recent high-profile transactions such as the Medhold disposition to Sanlam and the Holdsport Group exit—demonstrates consistent execution within standard PE fund lifecycle windows of 8 to 12 years, aligning with institutional LP expectations for capital return timing and performance realization.
Concurrent with the TiAuto transaction, Gulf Capital has executed multiple exits, demonstrating increased momentum in the broader PE exit environment. The Abu Dhabi-based firm completed a management buyout of ECLAT Health Solutions and separately divested its stake in Egypt-listed Middle East Glass (MEG) through a secondary sale to the company's majority shareholder. These transactions underscore Gulf Capital's shift toward realizing gains across its regional portfolio holdings.
The uptick in PE exit activity reflects a fundamental improvement in market conditions following an extended period of constrained deal activity driven by elevated interest rates. Industry observers have noted that conditions are increasingly favorable for sponsors seeking to execute exits, with improving demand for quality portfolio assets and greater availability of financing alternatives. Old Mutual Private Equity's broader exit cadence—including 21 completed exits since inception and recent high-profile transactions such as the Medhold disposition to Sanlam and the Holdsport Group exit—demonstrates consistent execution within standard PE fund lifecycle windows of 8 to 12 years, aligning with institutional LP expectations for capital return timing and performance realization.
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