Fundraising

Market professionals are expecting The Carlyle Group to announce the formation of a $2bn private equity fund aimed at investment opportunities in Japan.

The pan-European LBO leader has told prospective investors that Permira Europe IV will accept an additional €1bn in commitments to close on a revised target of €10.835 billion.

The quoted trust vehicle of Dunedin Capital Partners has reported a profit of £24m on sales of £70m for the year ended 30 April 2006.

The fund, which has already made three investments, will focus on emerging Asian business leaders with extension capital.

Stockholm-headquartered private equity firm CapMan has corralled €440m of commitments for its eighth buyout vehicle, ahead of its original €375m target.

The Stavanger, Norway-based private equity firm has already invested approximately 20 percent of its fourth vehicle, which focuses on growth capital and buyout investments in the oil and gas sector in Europe and the US.

The London-based investor, founded by former 3i executives, has made its fourth investment from its vintage 2004 £400m debut fund.

With the addition of Ron Cao as partner at the Menlo Park-based venture firm, Lightspeed Venture Partners is positioning itself to tap early stage opportunities in China.

London-listed European mezzanine provider ICG is growing rapidly - despite being more selective on deals than ever. Robert Venes reports.

The Dubai-based firm’s new Frontier Opportunities Fund I LP will initially focus on Syria, as well as Lebanon and Jordan.