In the third quarter of this year, 83 private equity (PE) funds across the world raised as much as $59 billion, a 20 per cent increase from the previous quarter.
Although improved from the previous quarter, Q3 private equity fund raising fell short of the $66 billion raised in Q1 of this year, amid challenging market conditions, a report by global research firm Preqin said.
Buyout funds raised the most capital in the third quarter this year, with 13 such funds raising an aggregate $21 billion, followed by real estate funds, with 18 such funds raising a combined $8.7 billion.
The aggregate capital raised by buyout funds increased significantly from the second quarter this year, when 14 such funds raised an aggregate $13.9 billion.
Meanwhile, venture funds were the most abundant, as 20 such funds which closed in the quarter raised $3.7 billion, while just three infrastructure funds, which closed in the September quarter, raised as much as $8.4 billion.
Of the 83 funds that reached a final close during Q3 2010, 45 per cent are primarily focused on making investments in North America.
Europe-focused funds raised the second-largest amount under the quarter under review.
As for the Asia and the rest of the world focused funds, $7.8 billion was collected by 23 such funds in the third quarter, accounting for just 13 per cent of total global capital raised.