Firms & Funds

Altor, a private equity firm focused on mid-market opportunities in the Nordic region, has closed its third fund with €2 billion in capital commitments. Its previous fund closed with €1.15 billion in 2006. Monument Group served as placement agent.

Cathay Financial Holding of Taiwan has committed $100 million to The Blackstone Group’s sixth private equity fund, which recently held a first close of approximately $7.1 billion. The fund’s overall target is $20 billion.

Citic Capital of China is in talks to raise a yuan-denominated private equity fund. It is expected to receive a 1 billion yuan ($146M) commitment from government-owned National Social Security Fund, and another 1 billion yuan from its parent company Citic Group.

Cowen Group has completed its previously-announced acquisition of Latitude Capital Group, a Hong Kong-based boutique investment bank. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

Credit Suisse Alternative Investments has acquired a majority interest in New York-based Asset Management Finance Corp. from National Bank of Canada. The deal calls for Credit Suisse to receive an 80 percent stake in exchange for $384 million of newly-issued Credit Suisse stock.

Evercore Partners (NYSE: EVR) has agreed to a $120 million investment from Mizuho Corporate Bank, via a sale of debt and warrants.

Guggenheim Investment Management is raising up to $500 million for an Energy Opportunities Fund, which will invest in both debt and equity of U.S. energy companies, according to a regulatory filing. It has already secured around $150 million from LPs like Midland National Life Insurance.

Lehman Brothers reportedly has asked private equity firms Bain Capital, KKR and Hellman & Friedman to remain in the bidding for its asset management arm, although it has not yet decided whether or not to sell the unit.

Platinum Equity has closed its second fund with $2.75 billion in capital commitments.

Prudential Capital Partners is raising up to $900 million for its third mid-market mezzanine fund, according to a regulatory filing. It has already secured around $200 million in capital commitments. Its second fund closed in March 2005 with $775 million.