Firms & Funds

Alto Partners of Milan, Italy has closed its second mid-market Italian buyout fund with €165 million in capital commitments. Limited partners include Assicurazioni Generali, Alleanza Assicurazioni, Bear Stearns, Cassa Forense, EIF, F&C Asset Management, Fondiaria-SAI, Granite Capital, Inarcassa, Parish Capital and Partners Group.

Ascential Equity has launched as a private equity fund focused on small banks. Its initial fund target is $200 million, and is being managed by former Virginia Treasurer Bill Wiley and former Virginia Treasury investment pro Greg Schnitzler.

The Blackstone Group is targeting $10 billion for its sixth global real estate fund, according to Reuters.

Boston Ventures is raising up to $500 million for its seventh private equity fund, according to a regulatory filing. It already has secured around $200 million in capital commitments.

The Carlyle Group has closed its first Mexico Capital Partners fund with $134 million in capital commitments. The fund already is 29 percent invested with deals for both Universidad Latinoamericana and Hispanic Teleservices Corp.

Fortress Investment Group, a New York-based alternative asset manager, priced 34.2 million shares at $18.50 per share ($16.50-$18.50 range), for an IPO take of approximately $632.7 million. The IPO gives Fortress a market cap of approximately $7.4 billion.

Franklin Templeton Institutional has closed a European real estate fund-of-funds with $272.9 million in capital commitments.

Goldman Sachs Capital Partners is planning to raise upwards of $19 billion for its sixth buyout fund, according to The Wall Street Journal. It already has secured over $8.7 billion in capital commitments, according to a report in the previous issue of Buyouts.

Green Alliance, a Spanish private equity firm partially owned by SCS Venture Partners, reportedly has raised €120 million for a fund focused on renewable energy projects in Spain.

Hampshire Equity Partners is prepping its fourth mid-market buyout fund with a target capitalization of between $150 million and $200 million.

Kirtland Capital Partners has formed an operating resource team to work with its portfolio companies. It will be run by new operating partner Bob Fines, who previously was vice president and general manager of Avery Dennison’s $1.1 billion North American materials business. Other group members include Graeme Bennie and John Lalley.

MassPRIM has hired Hamilton Lane as its new private equity consultant. Hamilton Lane will be paid $4.5 million over the next three years, and beat out Aldus Equity Partners, Ennis Knupp and Franklin Park. Prior MassPRIM advisor Pathway Capital Management did not submit a bid.

MissionPoint Capital Partners has closed its inaugural fund with $335 million in capital commitments, according to a regulatory filing. The Norwalk, Conn.-based firm focuses on opportunities in the clean energy sector. Its management includes: Mark Schwartz, former president and CEO of Soros Fund Management and former chairman of Goldman Sachs (Asia); Jesse Fink, co-founder and former COO of priceline.com; and Mark Cirilli, CIO for Fink’s family office, Marshall Street Management.

Quintana Energy Partners, a Houston, Texas-based private equity fund formed to make control-oriented investments across the oil-and-gas, coal and power industries, has closed its inaugural fund with $650 million in capital commitments. Lehman Brothers served as placement agent.

SigmaBleyzer has closed its fourth private equity fund focused on Southeastern Europe with €250 million in capital commitments.

Teachers’ Private Capital and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have formed Actera Partners, a private equity fund focused on investment opportunities in the Republic of Turkey. As cornerstone investors, the two institutions each have committed €75 million.

TRG, a New York-based turnaround and financial advisory firm, has formed an asset management practice dedicated to managing distressed and underperforming private equity investments. In related news, the new group has been appointed investment advisor and fund manager of Raiffeisen CEE Private Equity Fund.

Tuareg Capital has held a $30 million first close on its inaugural Libya Fund, which has a total target of $100 million. The firm also announced a strategic partnership with Capital Management House of Bahrain, whereby the two firms will partner on certain opportunities in North Africa—particularly in regards to Islamic debt financing and other structured financing opportunities.

Victory Acquisition Corp., a New York-based blank check acquisition company, has filed for a $250 million IPO. It plans to trade on the AMEX, with Citigroup serving as lead underwriter. Most of Victory’s management team was involved in a prior SPAC called Endeavor Acquisition Corp., which purchased American Apparel Inc. last December. Those managers include: Chairman Eric Watson, also chairman of Cullen Investments Ltd.; President Jonathan Ledecky, founder of U.S. Office Products and; Director Edward Matthias, a partner and managing director of The Carlyle Group.

Vietcom Fund Management of Vietnam has raised $120 million for its second private equity fund. Vietcom is a joined venture between Vietcombank and Viet Capital Holding Pte. of Singapore.

Warburg Pincus is prepping its tenth fund with a $10 billion target, according to LBO Wire. Its ninth fund closed with $8 billion in 2005.

Webster Capital of Waltham, Mass. has held a $90 million first close on its second small-cap buyout fund, which has a total target of $150 million.