Fund Notes 02/28/05

Mobility Venture Capital is planning to raise between $75 million and $150 million for its inaugural fund. The vehicle will be called Mobility Ventures II, since the firm is serving as a successor to Dallas-based Genesis Campus. Mobility Venture Capitalís three principals are Roman Kikta (managing partner of Genesis Campus); Frank Lee (former partner with Vertex Partners); and Michael Buckland (Genesis Campus venture partner). Wu-Fu Chen, a general partner with Genesis Campus, will serve as a senior advisor and special limited partner.

Celtic House Venture Partners is raising its third fund with a target capitalization of $200 million. It already has received a $50 million commitment from the CPP Investment Board. Celtic House is an Ontario, Canada-based venture firm focused on early-stage opportunities in the semiconductor, MEMS, optical and software spaces.

AEA Investors, a New York-based private equity firm, has agreed to merge with hedge fund-of-funds and real estate private equity firm Aetos Capital. The combined company reportedly would be worth about $7 billion, although specific terms have not been disclosed.

NIF Ventures and SMBC Capital ó the venture capital arms of Daiwa Securities Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, respectively ó have agreed to merge, effective Oct. 1. The combined group will have more than $1 billion under management. In addition, the two parent companies plan to discuss details of reorganizing and reinforcing their buyout businesses.

Brooks, Houghton Interim Funding, a New York-based provider of bridge and interim capital to U.S.-based companies, has closed its second fund with $200 million in limited partner commitments. Far Hills Group served as placement agent for the fund.

Catamount Ventures of San Francisco has raised an additional $12 million from 36 accredited investors for Catamount Ventures II LP. This brings the total amount raised to about $24 million. The venture capital firm has downgraded its initial target of $50 million. Among its investors are Land Meets the Sea LLC and Michael Murray Trading Partners. The firm invests in early stage information technology companies.

JLL Partners of New York has raised $333 million for JLL Partners Fund V LP. The buyouts firm has a target of $634 million for the fund. In its regulatory filing, the firm lists such investors as Harvard Management Private Equity Corp. and Virginia Retirement System. LPs from previous funds include Church Pension Fund of the Episcopal Church, General Electric Investments, New York State Comptrollerís Office, Pension Reserves Investment Management Board and Wisconsin State Investment Board.

Roark Capital Partners LP of Atlanta has filed to raise $400 million through a private placement of partnership interests. At the time of its SEC filing, the fund had already raised $338 million from 35 accredited investors. The partnership is a private equity fund. The Trustees of Princeton University and RCP Holdings are listed as investors in the fund.

The information in Fund Notes is compiled by PE Week staff from press releases, news articles and other sources. Some of the briefs are derived from filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and are only as current as the filings themselves. The listings are not an advertisement for the sale of securities