Suzanne Weinstock
LeapFrog Investments aims to provide 25 million low-income individuals in Asia and Africa with access to microinsurance in the next 10 years. The market for microinsurance on the two continents includes more than one billion people.
The Brazilian private equity firm is nearing the close of its fourth private equity fund on R$120m.
The Illinois State Universities Retirement System has chosen to pursue its long-term private equity target allocation through continued investment while other LPs are pulling back on the asset class in an effort to combat over-weighting.
The Texas-focused venture firm has already made two investments from its 10th fund while simultaneously continuing to invest Fund IX.
Jay Light, former professor to Steve Schwarzman and a director of university endowment Harvard Management Company, has joined Blackstone’s board of directors. Separately, Blackstone has been named as an advisor in the $85bn bailout of AIG.
Should the insurance giant seek liquidity through the sale of its $758bn asset management arm, insiders say it will likely be slowed by the US government's newly acquired controlling stake, as well as issues including the mixture of AIG balance sheet capital with client funds.
Already active in Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe, the Dutch limited partner is looking to take advantage of the investment opportunity in Africa, CEO Volker Doeksen said today in New York. The Netherlands-based investor pursues fund, secondary, co-investment and mezzanine opportunities.
The Brazilian private equity firm fell slightly short of its fundraising target, but is ‘bullish’ on its ‘perfect timing’ for acquiring companies at low valuations.
Fisker Automotive has raised $65m from the Qatar Investment Authority, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Palo Alto Investors. The capital will support the development of the company’s four-door, plug-in hybrid sports car.
The Carl Marks & Co affiliate, which specialises in government-related companies, has exited its 2004 investment in data services company 3001 International to defense and technology company Northrop Grumman.