Private equity firm Blue Ridge is moving into China in a big way. The company has developed a China-focused fund that is about twice the size of what JP Morgan is commiting at the moment to the whole of Asia. The Blue Ridge fund will have $1.45 billion to invest in China, according to reuters.

John Ong over at Blogging Buyout sees the new Blue Ridge fund as opportunistic, taking advantage of the credit vaccum created by the sub-prime mortgage losses than many larger firms have suffered from:

When you see the U.S. banks and many of the European banks in more and more trouble and with write-downs growing, it is no surprise that newer and previously less-known funds may get their chance to rise. Blue Ridge doesn't have to worry about answering endless questions on things like CDO's, mortgages, credit woes, and the like.

Blue Ridge, which has invested in more than $7.5 billion worth of assets globally. The new fund will target e energy, retail, real estate, technology and consumer products sectors of China's economy.