Firms & Funds

American Capital Strategies has formed a second-lien group. It will be led by new managing director John Capperella, who previously was a senior vice president with GE Capital Markets. Also joining the group will be vice presidents Steven Devloo and Ryan Brauns, and associates Dipalee Rathod, Matt Crumrine and Kathy Grabenstatter.

Alpine Investors of San Francisco has closed its third private equity fund with $125 million in capital commitments, according to a regulatory filing.

Aquiline Capital Partners has closed its inaugural fund with $1.1 billion in capital commitments. The New York-based private equity firm focuses on the financial sector and is run by former Marsh & McLennan CEO Jeffrey Greenberg.

The Blackstone Group is raising up to $10 billion for its sixth real estate fund, according to a regulatory filing. It already has secured about $1.2 billion in commitments.

Clarity Partners of Beverly Hills, Calif. is raising $750 million for its second LBO fund and $400 million for its first China-dedicated fund. The China fund will be managed by Clarity co-founder David Lee and new Shanghai-based hire Sheldon Liu.

Eureka Growth Capital of Philadelphia has closed its second fund with $130 million in capital commitments.

Fairmont Capital is raising up to $125 million for a new private equity fund, according to a regulatory filing. The Yorba Linda, Calif.-based firm focuses on middle-market consumer businesses. Fortress Group is serving as a placement agent.

Ivy Capital Partners, a Montvale, N.J.-based private equity firm focused on the musculoskeletal sector of the healthcare industry, is raising up to $100 million for its second fund, according to a regulatory filing. It already has secured over $21 million.

Kline Hawkes & Co. of Los Angeles is raising up to $250 million for a growth equity fund, according to a regulatory filing.

Lake Pointe Partners, a Chicago-based consultancy, has opened an office in Shanghai, China.

Lehman Brothers has purchased a 20 percent interest in D.E. Shaw group. No financial terms were disclosed, except that the deal included an up-front payment and the possibility of future earn-outs.

Lightyear Capital of New York has closed its second buyout fund focused on the financial services market, with over $850 million in capital commitments. The fund already includes two portfolio companies: Flagstone Reinsurance Holding Co. and Delos Insurance Group.

Patron Capital of London has closed its third real estate private equity fund with €895 million in capital commitments (including €45 million from the general partner). Monument Group served as placement agent.

Richardson Capital of Winnipeg, Canada, has closed its second private equity fund with $720 million in capital commitments. The fund is focused on providing expansion and transition capital to middle-market Canadian businesses, many of which are family-owned.

Standard & Poor’s has launched a Listed Private Equity Index, comprised of 25 private equity companies listed on exchanges in North America, Europe and Asia.

Susquehanna International Group has launched Susquehanna Growth Equity, a venture capital and growth capital group that will invest between $50 million and $100 million per year into companies in the software, business services and specialty finance sectors. PE Week Wire reported on this group last June, and that its first senior hire was former TL Ventures principal Amir Goldman. This latest announcement adds that the team also includes former Natural Gas Partners and EnerTech Capital pro Vincenzo La Ruffa, and that its first two portfolio companies are CashEdge and 29West.

Texas Pacific Group has formally changed its name to TPG.

Thompson Street Capital Partners of St. Louis has closed its second mid-market buyout fund with $300 million in capital commitments. Monument Group served as placement agent.

Tri-Artisan Partners LLC, a New York-based merchant bank, has opened an office in London and formed a European affiliate called Tri-Artisan Partners Europe. Julian Hirst, former head of corporate finance at Panmure Gordon & Co., and Simon Hirst, former executive vice chairman of Panmure Gordon & Co., have become the joint managing partners of Tri-Artisan Partners Europe. Benoit de Biolley, previously a senior managing director of Deutsche Bank, and Jason Bentley Moran, former deputy head of M&A at Commerzbank, have joined the European team as partners.

Union Square Partners (f.k.a. Capital Z) has held a $250 million first close on its latest fund. The fund focuses on financial services and is being marketed with a $500 million target and $750 million hard cap.

Wingate Partners of Dallas has closed its fourth buyout fund with nearly $200 million in capital commitments, according to a regulatory filing. Limited partners include RCP Advisors and the Permanent University Fund of the State of Texas.