Direct investing

The $37bn investment arm of Denmark’s Novo Nordisk Foundation is building a roster of homegrown GPs in Asia and growing its regional headcount, says managing partner Amit Kakar.

The San Francisco-headquartered firm has made investments in sports clubs such as the San Antonio Spurs, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF.

Catalyst, a sustainability-focused private markets strategy, is drawn to opportunities in China’s burgeoning renewable energy sector, APAC head Matthew O’Sullivan tells PEI.

In this first episode of our miniseries, Private Markets and the End of Cheap Money, we talk to dealmakers from Corsair, OEP, Vestar and more to hear how sponsors are coping with the higher price of 'L' in LBOs.

Although HNWIs have not been precluded from acquiring positions in pre-IPO businesses via the secondaries market, the process can be complex and fraught with risk.

The start-up is expected to reach $100m of total fund commitments later this month.

The UK-listed firm, which owns a stake in multi-family office Stonehage Fleming, plans to make three investments every two years via its rebranded direct investment unit.

The pension expects its investment in security services provider Allied Universal to complement its real estate portfolio.

Two mega-deals – both involving large Canadian pension plans – accounted for almost 70% of investment activity in the country in the first half of the year.

The Canadian pension has teamed up with Investcorp to invest in UTA in a deal valuing the talent agency at up to $800m.