Fundraising

Ilshin Investment, the venture capital subsidiary of a Korean cotton spinner, has joined hands with Australia’s Macquarie Bank to raise a $100 million Korean mid-market growth and buyout fund.

Fundraising for infrastructure investments in emerging markets has grown tremendously in 2006 – across virtually all regions. By Judy Kuan.

The jointly-managed Korea Emerging Infrastructure Fund will make private equity and mezzanine investments in private companies within Korea’s transportation, environmental, logistics, energy and utilities sectors.

UK affiliate of US placement agent Monument Group has hired Laurence Zage from Helix Associates to develop its business.

First Reserve, a US-based energy investor, has strengthened its domestic and London offices. The firm is expected to close its eleventh fund on $8bn in the next few weeks.

GI Partners, a trans-Atlantic private equity firm, has raised $1.45bn from investors including CalPERS, ATP and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

The second real estate vehicle from the UK-based private equity firm will largely stick with the investment strategy of its predecessor.

New York-based Conduit Capital Partners has wrapped up fundraising for its third fund targeting power generation projects in Latin America, with commitments totaling $393 million – making it the largest PE fund to be raised for the region since 1998.

Aberdeen Property Investors is expanding into Asia with the launch of an Asian fund of property funds.

Greylock Partners has raised $150m for its first fund dedicated to investing in Israel’s high-tech sector, which received $404m of venture capital funding in the second quarter.