Canada

Large North American public pension plans may be fuelling one part of the secondaries market, while pouring cold water on another.

The secondaries firm has hired George Weekes, a former Canada Pension Plan Investment Board funds, secondaries and co-investment professional.

The $256bn Canadian pension has sold stakes before, including a large private markets portfolio to Ardian in 2016.

Northleaf Capital Partners' latest fund is more than three times larger than its predecessor. Managing director Michael Flood discusses how the firm plans to deploy the vehicle and the additional $500m it amassed in SMAs.

A survey carried out by 17Capital suggests most LPs do not feel their liquidity needs are met by the secondaries market.

The preferred equity specialist has raised $729m a month after Secondaries Investor reported that the firm was preparing to hold a close in the first quarter.

Matt Shafer will lead the New York team and focus on the origination and execution of secondaries transactions.

The fund has a 14-year life and 60% of the GP commitment will be put forward by the firm's parent.

The preferred equity specialist is targeting $750m for Whitehorse Liquidity Partners II with a $1bn hard-cap, Secondaries Investor has learned.

Former CDPQ private equity head Patrick Lynch is to join Fiera Comox, a Montreal-headquartered joint venture founded in 2016.