Whitehorse makes partner promotions

The preferred equity specialist has also hired a general counsel as it seeks $1.5bn for its third vehicle.

Whitehorse Liquidity Partners has promoted two of its investment professionals, including a Secondaries Investor Young Gun, and has hired a general counsel.

The Toronto-headquartered preferred equity firm promoted Rob Gavin and Sean Connor to partner, according to a statement. Gavin joined the firm in 2016 from energy and resources-focused private equity firm Denham Capital. He ranked ninth in the Young Guns of Secondaries Class of 2017.

Connor joined the firm in 2016 as chief financial officer. He previously spent two years in private investments at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board where he conducted due diligence on private equity fund investment. Before that he was a senior financial analyst at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.

Leah Boyd, who has experience in private equity secondaries deals, fund formation and corporate activity, will join as general counsel in February. Boyd spent at least 10 years at Canadian law firm Goodmans where she was a partner.

The firm’s headcount stands at 28, having grown from seven around two years ago, according to the statement.

Whitehorse is seeking $1.5 billion for its third vehicle, as Secondaries Investor reported in November. The firm’s sophomore fund, a 2018-vintage, beat its $800 million target to close on $1 billion, and is more than double the size of its debut 2016-vintage vehicle, according to Secondaries Investor data.