Black Americans reach more milestones in private equity

Black Americans have accomplished much in private equity despite their relatively small numbers. In recent weeks they have ratcheted up the pace of achievements.

Former investment bankers Evan Lyons (pictured) and Jershon Jones unveiled new investment firms; Daphne Dufresne of Awani Capital landed a state pension fund as a backer for a debut fund well on its way to a $500 million target; and 5th Century Partners, co-founded by Bruce Hampton and Marques Torbert, closed its second healthcare and business services-focused fund above target at $276 million with an assist from placement agency Monument Group.

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Infrastructure firm with Onex pedigree makes fundraising hire

Wes Dick, who recently assembled a transportation-focused portfolio at alternatives investment firm Onex, has added a head of investor relations and capital formation at his new firm, New York City-based Mascarene Partners.

The hiring of Catherine Holzapfel sets the stage for the firm to become more active in fundraising. It also marks a reunion for Mascarene Partners executives and Holzapfel, who previously served as a principal of client and product solutions at Toronto-based Onex. Dick and several former Onex colleagues launched the firm in 2024.

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RedBird hires former CNN White House senior correspondent: team page

Television journalist Kayla Tausche, who until last year worked as a senior White House correspondent at CNN, has joined buyout firm RedBird Capital Partners as a managing director, according to its team page.

The New York City-based sports, media, entertainment and financial services investment firm recently added a bio of Tausche to the company’s web site. Tausche, according to that bio, will work on sports, media and entertainment investments, as well as partnerships and growth initiatives.

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Ex-Sverica exec joins parade of healthcare PE firm founders

Healthcare rainmaker Gregg Osenkowski, who spent nearly 19 years at lower-middle-market buyout firm Sverica Capital Management, has started his own Boston-based private equity firm.

Haelan Capital Partners is led by Osenkowski alongside investor Jack Vailas, a former investor at healthcare and life sciences firm RA Capital Management. Together they plan to acquire healthcare services and technology companies generating EBITDA of $2 million to $20 million.

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NYS Common opens search for PE investment officers

The New York State Comptroller’s Office, which manages the $297.8 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund, is recruiting for a senior investment officer and an investment officer to join its private equity team.

The jobs may be based in Albany or New York City and come with expected salaries of $210,676 to $278,093 for the senior officer and $141,269 to $186,475 for the investment officer.

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Varsity Healthcare alums lead emerging PE shops

Ex-rainmakers of Varsity Healthcare Partners have launched firms specializing in healthcare services and technology.

Merrick Axel, a former partner at the firm, has teamed up with Dr. Pat Basu, a former managing partner there, to back healthcare companies through their Chicago private equity firm, Lincoln Liberty Capital. Axel and Basu lead a team of about 15, not including six advisory board members. Last fall they acquired platform company P&A Group, a health benefits administrator.

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Wanted: First class of founding associates at tech PE firm

Miami-based technology investor New Private Equity, launched in 2023 by ex-executives of AlixPartners and Hg, is recruiting its first class of founding associates.

The new hires will “work side by side with both founders on every deal,” according to a LinkedIn post made last month by Co-Founder Francesco Barosi. “You’ll be helping build a firm, not just joining one.”

 

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Ex-head of IR at WM Partners joins start-up PE firm

The former head of fundraising and IR at health and wellness brand investor WM Partners has joined Miami-based lower-middle-market firm Mako Capital Group several months after its launch.

In a LinkedIn post last month, Partner and Head of IR Vanessa Gabela wrote that she was “excited to help scale Mako into an exceptional platform alongside my partners.” PE executive Pete Amaro, family office executive Angel Morales and former United Airlines Chairman and CEO Oscar Muñoz co-founded Mako Capital Group last year to back healthcare, financial services and consumer services companies.

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Big PE roles open at NYC Comptroller, MassPRIM, SC RSIC

Pension systems in New York City, Massachusetts and South Carolina are scouting for new private equity investment leaders.

The New York City Comptroller’s Office has launched a search for a head of private equity, while the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board and South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission are recruiting for investment officers to work on their private equity portfolios.

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