--Coller helped by banks off-loading high quality assets to boost capital
--New fund will buy stakes from owners liquidating their positions
--Coller committed $800 million of the new fund's capital
By Marietta Cauchi
LONDON--Coller Capital said Thursday said it has raised $5.5 billion for its sixth fund investing in secondary private-equity assets as banks worldwide continue to offload rafts of high quality assets to boost their capital reserves.
Like its predecessors, Coller International Partners VI, will buy stakes in private equity funds and interests in privately-held companies from existing owners who are looking to liquidate their positions.
The announcement from secondaries specialist Coller Capital comes just a day after Credit Suisse Group AG (CS) said it had launched a sale of Customized Fund Investment Group, the bank's private-equity fund-of-funds, and its Strategic Partners secondary fund business.
"We are delighted to have formed this new fund partnership at such an exciting time in the secondaries market when investors from all over the private equity world are looking to re-shape their portfolios or exit from the asset class," said Jeremy Coller, Coller Capital's chief investment officer.
"We have already committed $800 million of the new fund's capital and we have a very full pipeline of potential investments," Mr. Coller added.
Secondary investors such as Coller Capital are attracted by the maturity of the assets they buy because investment periods are much shorter than primary investments, meaning quicker sales.
Over the last year or so banks worldwide have been selling private equity assets as they seek to comply with tough new capital regulatory requirements and exit riskier investments.
Last year Citigroup (C) sold a $1.7 billion portfolio of private equity assets while U.K. rival Barclays PLC (BCS) offloaded a $740 million portfolio. Both were snapped up by AXA Private Equity. Other European banks, including BNP Paribas SA (BNP.FR), have also launched sales of private-equity assets.
-Write to Marietta Cauchi at marietta.cauchi@dowjones.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 19, 2012 07:38 ET (11:38 GMT)
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