Fundraising

Spectacular early returns from its third fund have helped Cinven, a European large cap buyout group, to a record fundraising but rival firm Permira is hard on its heels.

The buyout giant, currently in the market with its 2006 Fund, has set a ceiling for the vehicle that, if reached, will put KKR in the same size stratosphere as Blackstone and Texas Pacific.

Dutch bank ABN AMRO’s infrastructure fund has bought ESP Gas Pipeline Group ahead of the fund’s second close later this year.

Following the implication of yet another Vogo executive in the Korean government’s investigation of Lone Star’s ownership of Korea Exchange Bank, the Seoul-based private equity firm has halted an ongoing fund marketing process.

The increasingly global buyout firm is evaluating setting out to raise as much as $2bn next year, according to sources.

Following the implication of yet another Vogo executive in the Korean government’s investigation of Lone Star’s ownership of Korea Exchange Bank, the Seoul-based private equity firm has halted an ongoing fund marketing process.

With the Middle East’s whirlwind fundraising and dealmaking environment, a growing body of major law firms are establishing a presence in the region. By Judy Kuan.

Newly-quoted Swiss alternatives manager Partners Group has closed its second fund in as many months

Market professionals are expecting The Carlyle Group to announce the formation of a $2bn private equity fund aimed at investment opportunities in Japan.

The pan-European LBO leader has told prospective investors that Permira Europe IV will accept an additional €1bn in commitments to close on a revised target of €10.835 billion.