Banker reemerges with $2bn PE fund

One of China’s best known bankers is launching a US$2-billion investment fund after a three-year hiatus, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources. Fang Fenglei, a former Goldman Sachs banker and co-founder of Hopu Investment Management, has launched Hopu Master Fund II. Fang told some investors that the fund has already received US$1 billion (RMB6.1 billion) in commitments, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Fang’s first fund under the Hopu name raised US$2.5 billion and launched in 2008. It generated a 46% rate of return at year end 2012. Fang is also non-executive chairman Goldman Sachs Gao Hua Securities, which could raise concerns over conflicts of interest.