Firms & Funds

Adlevo Capital Managers has held a $52 million first close on a fund that will make expansion equity investments in African tech-enabled companies. A final close in expected in the first quarter of 2011.

Argosy Capital has closed its fourth fund with $180 million in capital commitments. The Wayne, Penn.-based firm focuses on lower middle-market operating companies and real estate.

Atlas Holdings has closed its debut fund with $365 million in capital commitments. It had originally targeted $250 million, and used Capstone Partners as placement agent. The Greenwich, Conn.-based firm, which previously had used a fundless sponsor model, focuses on mid-market special situations with an emphasis on the industrial sector.

BTG Pactual, a Brazilian securities firm, reportedly is raising at least $1 billion for a pair of private equity funds (one of which would focus on health care).

Elbrus Capital has been launched as a new Russian private equity firm following last year’s purchase of Renaissance Private Equity from Renaissance Group. The group still has about $160 million in legacy dry powder to invest. Its principals are: Dmitri Krukov, former managing partner of Renaissance Private Equity, Alexander Savin, former CEO of A1 Group, and Robert Thielen, founder and managing partner of Waterland Private Equity.

Global Environment Fund is raising $150 million for a private equity fund solely focused on sustainable forestry in sub-Saharan Africa. It already has secured a $50 million commitment from U.K.-based development finance group CDC.

HitecVision, a European private equity firm focused on the oil and gas sector, has raised $420 million for its “asset solutions” fund. The capital will be used to invest in the asset-based side of the international offshore oil and gas service industry. MVision served as placement agent.

Intrepid Investment Bankers LLC has launched as a Los Angeles-based, mid-market M&A advisory. Its principals previously were with Barrington Associates, which was acquired by Wells Fargo in 2006.

Olympus Capital Partners has raised $150 million for its debut fund. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based firm plans to make late-stage and growth equity investments in clean-tech and IT companies.

Polaris Private Equity, a private equity firm focused on SMEs in Denmark and Sweden has closed its third fund with €365 million in capital commitments.