Private investment firms Spruce Capital Partners and Xeraya Capital announced the first close of MLS Capital Fund II with US$150 million in capital commitments. Investors in the fund included both institutional and global corporate investors. MLS Capital Fund II is co-managed by Spruce Capital Partners and Xeraya Capital, and will target companies at all stages of development in sectors such as plant and animal agriculture; bio-renewable chemicals and materials; production, harvesting and use of national resources; and synthetic biology. It is the successor fund to the US$162 million Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund.