Global alternative investment firm Investcorp has secured a $110m special managed account (SMA) mandate focussing on private equity investments, from Malaysia’s Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP), one of the country’s top two pension funds.

Sky Island Capital, a private equity firm based in Dallas that specialises in the lower middle market, has closed its second fund, Sky Island Capital II LP (Fund II), surpassing its original target of $225m, and securing $300m in capital commitments.

Canada’s Sagard Holdings is launching a private equity fund aimed at retail investors, marking a significant move as alternative asset managers expand their focus beyond institutional clients and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, according to a report by Wealth Management.

A group of investors, advised by Maverick Carter – business partner of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James – is aiming to raise $5bn from private capital to establish a global basketball league that could compete with the NBA, according to a report by Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the

The People’s Pension, one of the largest independent master trusts in the UK, is to start investing a significant proportion of the £31bn of assets it manages into private markets later this year, with a target to grow this allocation to £4bn by 2030.

Strategic Value Partners (SVP), a global alternative investment firm with $19bn AUM, will provide €200m in preferred equity to support Bjelin Group’s long-term growth objectives.

Braemont Capital, a relationship-driven investment firm, has invested in TEC Services, a premier provider of essential janitorial and sanitation services to the grocery and food distribution end markets.