Fundraising

Private equity and real estate secondaries funds raised more than a combined $38bn last year, driven by Strategic Partners and Goldman Sachs Asset Management vehicles.

The Asian direct secondaries firm has hired Motoya Kitamura, previously founder of Roc Partners, as managing partner.

The private equity fundraising veteran will no doubt be called upon as the secondaries firm ramps up marketing for its eighth global fund.

The Swiss firm is seeking €300m to make investments of between €5m and €30m in small- and mid-market European targets.

The Swiss firm has raised €300m to invest in the smaller end of the market, seeking a net IRR of 20%.

Landmark and Partners Group occupy the fundraising top spots going into 2018.

This year may prove to be another record-breaking period for secondaries fundraising.

Managers of real estate secondaries funds are creating their own niches to put to work the huge sums of dry powder they collected in recent years.

The VC-focused secondaries fund is targeting $125m more than its predecessor, according to PEI data.

The fund is targeting $4bn and is aiming for a March final close.