Fundraising

The specialist European investor in the wind market has reached an interim close of its second dedicated wind energy fund after six months of fundraising.

Chicago-based Linden LLC has held a more-than $100m first close on its inaugural fund. The firm, launched by One Equity vet Eric Larson, is competing on the fundraising trail with another One Equity spinout with an overlapping track record.

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation is turning its attention to Central America and the Caribbean, where the US investment agency will provide up to $45 million to private equity funds targeting these regions.

Connecticut-based Portfolio Advisors wrapped up its third fund of funds, bringing in $661 million in commitments for a vehicle that lets LPs ‘customise’.

According to figures presented at the AVCA’s annual conference in Mombasa earlier this week, VCs active in Africa invested $1.3bn last year, up 60% on 2003.

As more and more generalist firms target its space, San Francisco’s Energy Investors Funds strengthened its toehold in the power sector, closing on $750 million for its latest fund.

The Norwegian venture firm has raised $125 million to invest in secondary direct transactions.

A private equity arm of J O Hambro Capital Management has held a final closing of its second buyout fund focused on investments in UK smaller unquoted companies.

Abbott Capital Management held an $805m close on its fifth private equity fund of funds, surpassing a $750m target.

Chicago-based Lake Capital held an $800m close on its latest fund, representing a 60 percent increase over its inaugural, service-industry vehicle raised just three years earlier.