ABS Capital nears close on sixth fund

ABS Capital Partners has raised $350 million toward its sixth middle-market buyout fund, says a source familiar with the situation.

The Baltimore-based firm seeks $400 million and is waiting on a few more commitments before holding a final close in the first quarter.

The firm has invested almost all of its fifth buyout fund, a $286 million vehicle that it raised in 2006. ABS is a later stage growth company, with holdings in the health care, communications, business services and software industries.

Just last week, ABS Capital, realized anl exit from American Education Group, an online education business it purchased in 2000 for $10 million. That exit is noteworthy because it returned 17.1x its money to the firm, and also because it was a public exit. ABS Capital invested in American Education from its fourth fund, a $448 million vehicle it raised in 2000. —Erin Griffith