Christopher Witkowsky

The energy-focused firm is set to close its Fund X by the end of the month, having aborted attempts to raise a separate vehicle for a water resources and agriculture-focused strategy.

The Kauffman Foundation, a $1.8bn institution, believes the model of the LP/GP partnership is flawed and LPs are to blame for being ‘seduced’ by ‘misleading’ performance data.

The firm's initial public offering debuted at $22 per share, below its low-end expectation of $23 per share. The firm raised $671m in the offering.

Credit Suisse has published its first quarter report showing that limited partners have been working to build exposure to emerging markets and infrastructure funds.

Under Steve LeBlanc’s leadership, the private markets programme expanded at a fast clip, with the system averaging ‘two to three’ investments per month.

The Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana has seen a lot of managers over the past few months and has been able to pick and choose its favorite funds, a luxury limited partners enjoy in the crowded fundraising environment.

US financial institutions want to unload impaired assets as they have become more willing to take write-offs and are pushed by regulations, while European institutions are slowly moving toward de-leveraging, according to delegates at a recent industry conference.

The firm has held a first close on its flagship fund for North America mostly from existing investors and has expanded its LP base from 275 to 400.

The pension system, with $144.8bn in assets, is altering its private equity investment policy to allow for investments in separately managed accounts, a model that appears to be gaining popularity among large institutions.

The stingy fundraising environment requires firms to bring something more to the table than just great performance, according to speakers at Private Equity International’s annual CFOs & COOs Forum in New York.