HNWIs

The firm has raised £144m through its London-listed debt fund, more than doubling the size of the vehicle after seeking to raise in excess of £80m. One-third of the new money, which will be deployed over the next six months, came from new investors.

Sniper Capital, the Macau-focused fund management business, has launched its first private equity real estate fund as it aims to capitalise on a lack of non-gaming leisure real estate on the former Portuguese colony.

The Houston-based developer and fund manager has teamed with the real estate arm of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi as it seeks to increase its exposure to the region.

Economic turbulence is throwing up opportunities for emerging market-focused private equity funds to make investments at favourable prices, but capital-constrained LPs are urging caution.

SVG Asia’s first fund of funds has already made commitments to managers including CVC, Navis, Affinity and Actis. Its investment activities will be headed by former Hermes Private Equity executive Khim Tan.

HRJ Capital, the San Francisco fund of funds firm started by American pro-footballers Ronnie Lott and Harris Barton, has doubled its equity commitments for its latest vehicle.

Arif Naqvi, Abraaj Capital's chief executive, is looking forward to 2008 and continuing to invest in the development of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region’s basic building blocks.

Dubai-based distressed specialist HBG Holdings has held a second close on $120 million for its Middle East and South Asia-focussed fund. It is expected to close this year with commitments ‘north of $200 million’, more than double its initial target.

The orthopedics- and dental-focused private equity firm has closed its second fund on $420 million – more than double the size of its debut vehicle.

Menlo Park, California-based Institutional Venture Partners has closed a $600 million fund – twice the size of its previous fund.