UK government-backed private equity emerging markets fund of funds manager CDC Group has made new commitments totalling $250m to three funds focused on infrastructure and real estate investment in India. The funds are expected to raise a total of $1.6bn for investment. CDC has committed $100m to both the IDFC India Infrastructure Fund and the Actis India Real Estate Fund. The IDFC fund will invest between $15m and $75m in infrastructure projects in the energy, transportation and telecoms sectors. The fund will be managed by IDFC Project Equity, a newly established subsidiary of IDFC.   more »

ICICI Venture Fund Management is planning to list its $1.5 billion real estate fund on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). According to sources, the fund house will be providing the flexibility in the document to list the realty fund anytime during its life span. When contacted, an official spokesperson for ICICI Ventures offered no comments. At present, the fund house is in the process of preparing the documents for both its real estate and private equity (PE) funds. This is the first time that the country's largest PE fund is providing this option in its fund. "Internationally, private equities look at listing their funds. If it's a close-ended fund, investors have to wait till its maturity. However, if the listing option is built into the document, then the PE fund can exercise it at any future date," said a senior executive of a large domestic PE fund.   more »