Fundraising

As LPs get comfortable with Asian property, a recent private equity real estate fund has raised more than $500m to invest in Indian real estate—and is widely thought to be one of the largest co-mingled vehicles focused on the subcontinent. By Aaron Lovell.

Robert Johnson’s second hospitality fund will have $2.5bn in buying power, most of which will be used to acquire a $1.7bn hotel portfolio from White Lodging Services.

The London-based buyout firm is nearing a first close of a new fund targeting £250m for distressed opportunities in Europe.

Lime Rock Partners, a Connecticut private equity firm, today announced the closing of its fourth energy-focused fund on $750m, nearly as much as its three previous funds combined.

CDC has boosted its commitments in India by $104 million and invested in three private equity funds since March.

Kendall Court Capital Partners has closed its maiden mezzanine fund on $90m, with commitments from CDC, Citigroup Venture Capital International and TIF Ventures.

Nine funds have raised $1.5 billion in the MENA region in the first half of 2006, compared to $5.8 billion in total for the period between 1994 and 2005.

AP Alternative Assets, the publicly quoted private equity fund launched last week by Apollo Management, a US buyout house, has raised a third more then expected.

The real estate arm of the New York-based investment bank has closed its third open-ended funded on $2.2bn. It will have exposure to private and public equity and debt securities.

Private equity firms Berkshire Partners and Freeman Spogli have announced a major investment in TH Lee Putnam Ventures’ call-center portfolio company N.E.W. Customer Service.