Sam Sutton

Secondary platforms are helping smaller investors to engage with this burgeoning market. However, some GPs are concerned about the potential risks, writes Sam Sutton.

If adopted, the $235bn pension system would place most of its alternative investments in buyout funds, with an additional 30% in credit related investments and growth/expansion funds.

David ibnAle has experience working with the firm’s co-founder, former Blackstone Group managing director Chip Schorr, who launched Augusta Columbia in a spin-out from Blackstone earlier this year.

The firm has already completed its first investment with its fifth European mezzanine fund, backing the buyout of business intelligence provider Bureau van Dijk.

The firm beat its $150m target for its second mezzanine fund, capitalising on a growing strategy amid a slowing credit market.

In addition to receiving an additional $55m in investment capital, the cargo airline has renegotiated its credit agreements to extend debt maturities to 2015.

The two groups will provide an initial $400m to invest in Turkey and the surrounding region, and may raise a further $600m next year.

The private equity firms will invest $50m each in Amalgamated Bank for a shared 40% stake in its common stock.

The US IPO market, analyzed in this month’s edition of Private Equity International, has slowed considerably after coming out of the gate with a bang during the first half of 2011.

Secondary platforms are helping smaller investors to engage with this burgeoning market. However, some GPs are concerned about the potential risks.