FIRM & FUND BRIEFS –

3i Group reportedly is hoping to raise e3 billion for a new fund focused on European buyouts. The vehicle will be raised from “traditional” private equity sources like pension funds and endowments.

Apollo Management has closed its sixth buyout fund with $10.1 billion in capital commitments.

AXA Private Equity has formed a $550 million Asia-focused fund, in partnership with Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec.

Birch Hill Equity Partners, a standalone successor to TD Capital Canadian Private Equity Partners, has closed its latest fund with Cdn$850 million in capital commitments, according to a regulatory filing. Limited partners include CPP Investment Board and CalPERS.

Black Diamond Capital Management is looking to raise $750 million for its BDCM Opportunities Fund, according to a regulatory filing. C.P. Eaton & Associates is serving as placement agent, and the fund already has secured around $103 million in capital commitments.

Evercore Partners and Mizohu Group have signed a strategic agreement to provide cross-border M&A advisory services to clients in North America and Japan.

J.H. Whitney & Co. has closed its sixth fund with $775 million in capital commitments, according to a regulatory filing.

Mount Yale Capital Group of Minneapolis is looking to raise upwards of $75 million for a private equity fund, according to a regulatory filing.

Pacific Equity Partners of Australia has raised Au$1.3 billion for its third fund.

Permira is planning to raise up to e10 billion for its next buyout fund, according to reports. This would be the second-largest fund ever raised (Blackstone is about to close on $13.25 billion).

Revolution Partners, a Boston-based technology banking boutique, has opened satellite offices in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. The West Coast effort will be led by new managing directors Josh Tanzer and Michael Barker-both of whom once worked with Revolution co-founder David Lavallee at the CSFB Technology Group.

TriplePoint Capital has launched as a Menlo Park, Calif.-based provider of debt financial to venture-backed companies. It is supported by $310 million in institutional financing, and is run by Jim Labe, who previously served as founder and CEO of Comdisco Ventures.