Staff Writer

Asset management firm Franklin Templeton’s real estate arm has established a newly dedicated business team to analyse, select and invest in real asset fund opportunities including energy, water, agriculture and timber.

The global private equity firm will acquire a minority stake in CP Pokphand from Thai agribusiness conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group.

The so-called ‘real asset’ class is attracting increasing attention from LPs for its inflation-hedging capabilities. That has prompted one real estate fund of funds manager to also enter the space.

Earth Capital Partners has launched its Forestry Fund I targeting 12% IRRs through the acquisition of established plantations and agricultural land ripe for planting in Brazil and other Latin America countries.

Pan-Asian private equity firm CLSA Capital Partners is targeting a final close for its Clean Resources Asia Growth Fund by the fourth quarter of 2010.

Boston-based Summit Partners has invested $30m in an Indian seed company in what is its maiden Asian investment.

Biomass may not generate as many headlines as other renewable sources of energy but those looking at it have found a sector with growth potential, an interesting revenue stream, and solid government support across Europe - especially in the UK.