Friday, December 12, 2008

Babson Capital closes $1.58B fund

By Mass High Tech staff

Babson Capital Management LLC, an investment management firm with local offices in Boston and Springfield, has closed Tower Square Capital Partners III, LP, a $1.58 billion mezzanine and private equity fund.

Fund investors include individuals, insurance companies, domestic and global corporate and public pension plans, and funds of funds. The fund will be used to invest in companies in “the small end of the middle market, or companies with enterprise values of less than $200 million,” Babson Capital officials reported.

Tower Square Capital Partners III is made up of 18 people, including Mike Hermsen, managing director of Babson Capital.

Babson Capital manages about $5 billion in direct and indirect private equity assets, including its $265 million Tower Square I fund and $1 billion Tower Square II fund.

In total, the firm manages $99 billion as of Sept. 30, Babson Capital officials reported. The firm also has six other offices in the U.S., as well as in Australia, London and Tokyo.