Fundraising

Last year firms raised $352bn for the asset class, an almost 26% drop on the previous year, according to preliminary PEI data.

The Tunisia-headquartered firm will target around $500m for AfricInvest Fund IV, according to a source with knowledge of the fund.

Asia private equity in 2019 will see a reshaping of dealflow, strong investment activity in China and Japan, and a decrease in capital commitments from Asian insurers.

A key talking point with LPs was how UK firms are preparing for Brexit, managing partner Charles Ind told PEI.

PEI looks at the largest funds in market at the start of 2019.

Hefty funds coming to market and the potential for cheap deals after Brexit are on the minds of the continent's PE practitioners.

Investor appetite for the region will continue to be driven by large pan-Asian managers.

The strategy feels like it is at a critical juncture as a host of big names jump on the bandwagon.

The Singapore-based fund of funds manager also raised $210m for a co-investment fund, bringing the total to $600m more than its original target.

In 2018, listed giants Blackstone, Apollo, Carlyle and KKR gave us glimpses of what’s to come.