Fundraising

The Africa and south Asia finance sector specialist has deployed almost half the fund, which had an initial target of $250m.

The fund is more than twice the size of its 2013 predecessor.

The firm founded by the former head of secondaries at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Yann Robard received a boost from the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.

The global investment firm has closed its 12th flagship vehicle on almost $14bn and will focus on investments in the US, Canada and Mexico.

The Paris-based life sciences specialist has held a first close on €106m for the fund, which is dedicated to renewable chemistry.

China-based Hosen Fund III, which focuses on food and agribusiness, raised $440m after eight months in market.

Private equity fundraising can only go in one direction – down – but don’t expect it to drop off a cliff.

145 deals were reported last year, including two by global buyout firm The Carlyle Group.

More than 6,400 votes were cast in PEI’s annual awards, recognising the firms, deals and advisors that shaped the industry in 2016.

Acquisition multiples reached ‘record or near-record highs across the US and Europe’ in 2016, according to a report from consulting firm Bain.