29 January 2013, Washington, DC: The Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (“EMPEA”) announces that Mark Kenderdine-Davies, General Counsel and Company Secretary of CDC Group plc (“CDC”), has been elected to the organization’s governing body, the Board of Directors.

Mark Kenderdine-Davies currently serves as the inaugural Chair of EMPEA’s Legal & Regulatory Council. As General Counsel and Company Secretary of CDC, he oversees the legal affairs of the world’s oldest development finance institution, which has been investing in businesses in developing countries since 1948. CDC has committed approximately US$5.8 billion to private equity funds and co-investments in Africa, Asia, Central America and Latin America since 2004. The company is currently developing a direct equity and debt investment program to supplement its fund program with a focus on Africa and South Asia.

EMPEA now serves approximately 320 member firms, representing both the fund management and institutional investor communities, who share a belief that private equity investment in emerging markets can generate attractive returns to investors while creating significant value for companies, economies and communities. Jeffrey Leonard, EMPEA’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented on the announcement, “We are very fortunate to have such an experienced and committed group of individuals leading EMPEA. Mark’s dedication at the helm of our Legal & Regulatory Council has been an asset for the organization and we are pleased to add his expertise in emerging markets to the leadership that helps shape EMPEA’s global programming to best address the needs of our members.”

About EMPEA
The Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA) is an independent, global membership association whose mission is to catalyze private equity and venture capital investment in emerging markets around the world. EMPEA’s 300-plus member firms, representing nearly 60 countries and more than US$1 trillion in assets under management, include the leading institutional investors and private equity and venture capital fund managers across developing and developed markets.

EMPEA’s Board of Directors
H. Jeffrey Leonard, (Chair), Global Environment Fund; Teresa Barger, (Vice Chair), Cartica Management LLC; Thomas C. Barry, Zephyr Management LP; Michael  Calvey, Baring Vostock Capital Partners; Okechukwu Enelamah, African Capital Alliance, Paul Fletcher, Actis; Mark Kenderdine-Davies, CDC Group plc; Roger S. Leeds, Johns Hopkins University SAIS; Piero Minardi, Gávea Investimentos; Arif Masood Naqvi, The Abraaj Group; Robert Petty, Clearwater Capital Partners; Andre Roux, Ethos Private Equity Ltd.; Jean Eric Salata, Baring Private Equity Asia; George W. Siguler, Siguler Guff & Company; Sev Vettivetpillai, Aureos Advisors Limited and Pote Videt, Lombard Investments.