Saints

Emmanuel Roubinowitz launched Ponte Partners earlier this year, bringing on a former Saints Capital managing director and current San Jose Police and Fire Retirement Plan board of trustees member.

The partnership will make direct secondary investments in French private equity, with a focus on venture capital, leveraged buyouts and growth capital.

Venture firm Rustic Canyon has sold its stake in 19 companies from its decade-old debut fund. The firm also has sold 20% of its holdings in eight Fund II portfolio companies in order to provide liquidity to the firm’s largest LP.

The San Francisco buyer of direct secondary interests in venture-backed companies has closed two side-by-side funds and acquired six companies from Safeguard Scientifics for $100 million.

The heart valve implant maker is the second venture-backed company to be purchased by Abbott this month.

Several 3i partners will join DFJ Esprit’s venture secondaries arm, which will manage a portion of 3i’s European VC assets with backing from Coller and HarbourVest.

In the absence of exit opportunities, venture firms are increasingly turning to the secondaries market to generate liquidity. Christopher Witkowsky reports

The New York direct secondary investment specialist has nearly tripled the amount of its last vehicle.