Firms & Funds

Acap Partners has formed the first private equity fund focused on Afghanistan. To date, it has raised $20.3 million in capital commitments from LPs like The Asian Development Bank and CDC (UK-government-backed fund-of-funds). The fund is led by former McKinsey & Co. consultant Pierre Van Hoeylandt, who previously worked with the Afghan Ministry of Finance in designing Afghanistan’s private sector development strategy.

Advanced Technology Acquisition Corp., an Israel-based blank check acquisition company focused on Israeli companies, has filed for a $200 million IPO. It plans to trade on the OTC, with CRT Capital Group serving as lead underwriter. Apax Partners Aureos China Capital is raising $70 million for its inaugural fund, which will focus on small and mid-sized businesses in the Shandong province in Eastern China. It recently received a $20 million LP commitment from CDC, a UK government-backed private equity organization focused on emerging markets.

CalPERS has formed a $500 million private equity fund to support underserved rural and urban markets, primarily in California. Approximately half of the capital will be earmarked for California-based private equity funds, while the other half will be used for direct investments. Hamilton Lane has been chosen to manage the fund, out of its new San Francisco office.

The Carlyle Group is planning to raise $15 billion for its next U.S. private equity fund, according to Bloomberg. It also reportedly is seeking €5 billion for its next European private equity fund.

Capital Today has held a $280 million final close on its inaugural fund, which will focus on private equity opportunities in China. C.P. Eaton Partners served as placement agent.

CITIC Capital Partners has held a $220 million first close on its inaugural China-focused private equity fund. The fund has a target capitalization of $250 million, and will concentrate on buyouts and privatizations of established Chinese companies.

Citigroup’s South Korean offices were raided by South Korean prosecutors as part of an ongoing investigation into Lone Star Funds. Citigroup had been involved in Lone Star’s controversial 2003 acquisition of a control stake in Korea Exchange Bank.

DLJ Merchant Banking Partners has closed its fourth fund with $2.1 billion in capital commitments.

Dunedin Capital Partners of Scotland has closed its second mid-market buyout fund with £250 million in capital commitments.

Flag Capital Management of Stamford, Conn. has raised $161 million for an international fund-of-funds, according to a regulatory filing.

GIMV has begun fundraising for the Eagle Russia Fund, which is a successor to the Eagle Venture Partners funds. It has a target capitalization of between $60 million and $100 million, with GIMV expected to contribute a maximum of $20 million. The fund will focus on private equity opportunities in Russia.

Horsley Bridge Partners of San Francisco is raising up to $1 billion for its fourth international fund-of-funds, according to a regulatory filing.

Invision of Switzerland has held a €63 million first close on its fourth private equity fund. Axon Partners is serving as placement agent.

Istithmar PJSC has acquired a 2.7% stake in UK bank Standard Chartered, for approximately $1 billion.

Lehman Brothers is planning to raise around £4 billion for a new private equity real estate fund, according to The Telegraph. Up to half of the capital will be allocated to Asia.

Partners Group of Switzerland has held a €1.1 billion final close for its latest secondary fund.

Piper Jaffray of Minneapolis is raising up to $275 million for its third leveraged buyout fund, according to a regulatory filing. It also is raising up to $225 million for a new venture capital fund.

Quintana Capital Group of Houston, Texas is raising up to $650 million for a private equity fund focused on the energy sector, according to a regulatory filing. It already has secured around $424 million in capital commitments.

Shamrock Capital Advisors has closed its second private equity fund with $311.5 million in capital commitments. The Burbank, Calif.-based firm focuses on lower and middle-market companies in the media and communications space. Examples include a leveraged buyout of Harlem Globetrotters International Inc. and a growth equity play for online lead-generation network NextWave Media Group.

Spire Equity has launched as a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage opportunities in the software and new media markets. Its principals are: Michael Edell, founder of Warehouse Auction Centers and founding partner of real estate-focused Warp Nine Partners; Ron Means, former CEO of Market Scan Information Systems; and Frederick Ackourey, former vice president of product development with Zhone Technologies Inc.