Fundraising

Following the G8 Summit, Richard Laing of emerging markets investor CDC outlines why Africa needs long-term private equity capital for a long-term solution.

Babcock & Brown, the Australian investment and advisory firm, has launched a co-investment vehicle with one of London’s most formidable corporate financiers at the helm. By Andy Thomson.

The Munich-based VC firm’s latest fund has received €150 million of commitments from investors in Europe, the US and central Asia.

The Denver-based middle market buyout firm finished fundraising for the oversubscribed vehicle in about half a year, continuing its buy-and-build strategy for new acquisitions.

The UK government-owned emerging markets investor has announced commitments of more than $100m to four separate African private equity vehicles.

Former director at Adams Street Partners Ronan Cunningham is joining Ireland’s National Pension Reserve Fund to head up its new €3bn private equity programme.

The first closings of Abraaj Capital’s second buyout fund on $300m and Shuaa Partners’ debut vehicle on $160m indicate strong investor appetite in the Middle East for local private equity.

The European mid-market firm has closed its first independent fund since spinning out from HSBC bank in 2003, backed by a range of global institutions.

American International Group’s AIG Highstar Capital has agreed to sell Southern Star Central, the largest natural gas pipeline in the central US, to GE’s Energy Financial Services and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec.

With plans to invest in Hungary and other CEE countries, Euroventures has held a final close of a €51m fund backed by local and European institutional investors.