Investment management firms have announced several new initiatives spanning different sectors and geographic regions, highlighting continued activity in private equity and hedge fund markets.

Creative Artists Agency and TPG have backed a $250 million fund targeting YouTube talent, according to Bloomberg. The fund represents a move by traditional investment firms into digital entertainment and influencer marketing platforms.

In the Middle East, Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) is planning a $15 billion leveraged investment in hedge funds, Bloomberg reported. The substantial commitment reflects sovereign wealth funds' continued appetite for alternative investment strategies.

Meanwhile, Blackstone has agreed to support a new quantitative hedge fund startup led by a veteran from Two Sigma, one of the industry's prominent systematic trading firms. The backing demonstrates ongoing institutional interest in quantitative investment approaches.

Separately, an embattled Brazilian hedge fund is working on a turnaround strategy, with executives quoted as saying "We're traders, not nuns" in their defense of their trading practices, according to Bloomberg reporting.

The various announcements come as the private equity industry faces scrutiny over valuations and returns. A Financial Times report quoted an Apollo executive saying the private equity sector had gotten "a little out of whack," though specific details of those comments were not provided in the available reporting.