Targeting $1 billion in commitments, will be backed by International Finance Corporation (IFC). It will be a 10-year closed-end generalist private equity fund, domiciled in the Cayman Islands.
Carlyle Asia Growth Partners Fund-V, as it is called, is apparently to look primarily at China and India, and to an extent, South Korea. It is expected to make 15 to 20 investments of a size of $30-75 million each, in high-growth companies that are expected to create new employment opportunities by focusing on middle market growth equity investments. It will focus on small-cap and mid-cap companies that need growth capital.
The proposal is for IFC to make an equity investment of up to $25 million in the fund, not to exceed 20 per cent of total fund commitments. Their participation, said IFC, would encourage other investors in currently challenging money-raising environment, with institutional investors' reduced risk appetite for emerging markets.
IFC said it would also look at whether it could participate in co-investment opportunities alongside the fund.
Carlyle had $158 billion in assets under management (AUM) across 113 active funds and 168 fund-of-funds, as of end-December. In emerging markets, it managed seven private equity fund families, with total AUM of $11 bn as of that date.
 "Carlyle Group")