Highland Capital Delays Fund Close
Highland Capital Partners has pushed back the first close for its eighth venture fund from the end of June to mid-July, according to multiple LP sources. The Lexington, Mass.-based firm also has reduced the fund's carried interest from 25% to 20 percent. Highland began marketing in in early spring with a $400 million target, which was just half of the $800 million it raised for each of its prior two funds. I lauded the move, writing that Highland was one of the few VC firms willing to put common sense above fee-mongering. After all, the deflated fundraising and deal-making environment makes it the perfect time to raise less. If things pick up, you can always go back for more. Of course, I also assumed that Highland's lowered target would make fundraising a breeze. For example, it could lose half of its LPs, so long as the other half committed pro rata.
