Fund News in Brief

3i Group has raised 525 million euros ($707 million) in the final close of its CLO fund Harvest IX. According to the firm, the fund is the first loan-only Volcker Rule-compliant collateralized loan obligation issued in Europe.

Ascent, a Kenyan private equity firm, has raised $50 million for investment in about a dozen fast-growing companies across the east Africa region, the firm said.

Consonance Capital Partners has raised $500 million, its hard cap, in the final close of its healthcare private equity fund. The target was $350 million. Monument Group was the placement agent for Consonance Capital.

Wayne, Pennsylvania-based Guardian Capital Partners has raised $87.1 million for Guardian Capital Partners Fund II, more than halfway toward its target of $150 million, the firm revealed in a regulatory filing.

Meritech Capital Partners has closed its fifth fund, Meritech Capital Partners V LP, on target at $500 million, according to an SEC filing. A sidecar vehicle, Meritech Capital Partners V Sidecar LP, has raised $65 million, according to the filing,

New Capital Partners has closed its third fund, New Capital Partners Private Equity Fund III, on its $232 million hard cap. Fund III beat its $200 million original target. The Birmingham, Alabama-based firm launched fundraising in March. Lazard worked as placement agent on the fundraising.

Post Oak Energy Capital has committed $150 million to CP Exploration II (CPX). Funding from the commitment will be used for acquisitions and growth capital. CPX is a newly formed oil and gas company co-located in Dallas and Lafayette, Louisiana.

The White House Rural Council has launched a $10 billion rural infrastructure fund. The fund’s anchor investor is CoBank. Capitol Peak Asset Management will manage the fund.