Mercer More Than Halfway To Goal On PE Fund

It isn’t clear from the filing just what kind of private-equity fund it is. However, the nature of Mercer Investment Management’s business, which includes conducting manager searches for institutional investors, as well as the LinkedIn profile of the general partner of the fund, suggests the pool is a fund of funds. A spokesman for the firm declined comment.

According to the Feb. 1 Form D, Mercer Private Investment Partners III LP has secured $78.8 million toward an “offering amount” of $150 million. The offering amount usually refers either to the target or hard cap of a fund. Nine investors have signed on to the fund, at a minimum investment each of $1 million. The filing does not list a placement agent. It notes that the offering is not expected to last more than a year.

Key executives listed on the filing include Atlanta-based Michael J. Forestner, general partner; and St. Louis-based Harry B. Leggat, portfolio manager. Forestner’s LinkedIn profile says that at Mercer Investment Consulting he is “responsible for overseeing the global private equity research effort” and is “lead portfolio manager for a series of private markets funds of funds.”

Forestner was a director of private markets at Hammond Associates until January 2011, when the firm was acquired by Mercer Investment Consulting Inc. According to Forestner’s LinkedIn profile he also served at Hammond Associates as “lead PM for a series of private market funds of funds,” suggesting that Mercer Private Investment Partners III traces its roots to Hammond Associates.

Leggat’s LinkedIn profile says he was previously associate director of private markets at Hammond Associates.

Mercer, a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, is one of a number of consulting and advisory shops that have expanded into private-equity asset management services. Others include Cambridge Associates and Fund Evaluation Group; the latter wrapped up its debut private-equity fund of funds at $122.3 million last summer.