Insight

Emerging-manager roundup: Z Capital, Great Point and Ashton Kutcher

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private equity, venture capital
Actor Ashton Kutcher arrives at the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 29, 2017. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Great Point Partners’ first fund has fully invested $156 million in 13 growing healthcare companies. Great Point’s platform is built on a view that there are profitable synergies from investing in both private and public companies spanning the healthcare industry.

Z Capital Partners is the PE arm of Z Capital, the alternative-asset-management firm with $2.3 billion in assets under management. To date, the firm’s portfolio companies have posted total annual revenue of $1.3 billion, spanning 57 countries, and they employ more than 11,000 people.

Ashton Kutcher, yes, the Hollywood heartthrob from “That ’70s Show” and “Dude, Where’s my Car?” co-founded Sound Ventures. The firm has made more than 55 investments, primarily in the consumer sector, and is looking to transition into heavier investments in govtech, fintech, medtech and insurance.

Below are several emerging private equity and venture capital funds that Buyouts has identified as being in the market over the past two weeks.

Private equity funds

Horizon Capital’s Emerging Europe Growth Fund III raised more than $109 million. The fund focuses on midcap PE with investments primarily in Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. To date, EEGF has made 11 investments and exited six companies.

Z Capital Partners specializes in corporate carveouts, turnarounds, go-private transactions, growth platforms and restructurings. Z Capital Partners III-A fund raised over $321 million. The firm is looking for $1 billion in commitments.

Alta Growth Capital benefits from Mexico’s domestic growth and demographics by investing in its most promising midmarket companies. Alta Growth Capital, Mexico Fund III raised $85 million and is looking for a total of $250 million in commitments.

GenNx360 Capital Partners III fund raised $150 million and is targeting $800 million in total commitments. GenNx360 generally invests $25 million to $75 million in industrial and service-oriented companies.

Great Point Partners, a healthcare-investment firm, raised $116 million for Great Point Partners III fund. Great Point is looking for $250 million in commitments, $35 million more than its previous fund in 2013.

Strattam Capital makes majority investments in IT companies across North America. Strattam Capital Investment Fund II raised $200 million.

Perry Creek Capital raised more than $604 million for Perry Creek Capital II. The firm was founded in 2014 invests long-duration capital in a wide variety of industries and geographies.

Whitehorse Liquidity Partners makes preferred-equity investments in PE portfolios. Whitehorse Liquidity Partners II is seeking $1 billion in commitments. The firm has already raised more than $975 million.

Venture funds

With $80 million in capital across two funds, Aligned Partners is targeting $50 million in commitments for Aligned Partners Fund III. Aligned invests in startups and encourages them to be as capital-efficient as possible.

In a recourse-constrained world, Israel Cleantech Ventures invests in early-stage Israeli companies sharing a passion for technology innovation and sustainability. ICV III Fund is looking for $75 million in commitments.

Founded in 2005, Long Hill Capital works to improve the health industry throughout China by investing in technology-enabled healthcare and consumer companies. Long Hill Capital Venture Partners 2 fund raised its full target of more than $252 million.

Owl Ventures invests in education-technology companies like Quizlet. Owl Ventures III fund is looking for $225 million in commitments.

Founded in 2014, Armory Square Ventures provides first-round institutional funding to energy and technology companies across New York State. Armory Square Ventures II raised $18.5 million.

Lightspeed India Partners II raised its full target commitment of $175 million, $30 million more than its previous fund. Lightspeed India Partners seeks to invest in early-stage technology companies focused on consumer, e-commerce, mobile, data and media sectors in India.

Sound Ventures invests in technology companies. Sound Ventures II is looking for $150 million in commitments.

Lightspeed Venture Partners Select III fund raised its full target commitments of more than $1.8 billion. Lightspeed Venture is a female-founded early-stage firm aiming to accelerate innovations in consumer and enterprise industries. The firm has more than 330 active investments and $6 billion in committed capital.

Israel-based Maniv Mobility is a venture capital firm with a concentration in transportation technology. Maniv Mobility Fund II is seeking $80 million in investments.

Promus Ventures III fund is looking for $75 million in commitments. Chicago’s Promus Ventures invests in early-stage tech hardware and software companies. Names in the portfolio include AngelList, Huckleberry and Tulip Retail.