NEW YORK, April 9, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Coming off the record-breaking fund raising of 2006, U.S. private equity firms have continued apace, raising $44.3 billion among 68 funds in the first quarter of 2007, according to Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst. This is up 67% from the 46 funds that raised $26.6 billion in the first quarter of 2006.
The private equity industry broke all previous records in 2006, raising $246.3 billion in 359 funds. So far in 2007, in addition to the $44.3 billion raised in the first quarter, some 400 other funds are known to be raising at least another $130 billion at present, according to the monthly newsletter's database of funds. Private equity includes buyout and corporate finance funds, venture capital, mezzanine funds and funds of funds.
An analysis of the fund raising activity is included in the April issue of the Private Equity Analyst. The buyout side of the private equity industry continues to be the primary focus, representing $35.2 billion of the total raised in the first quarter, the database found.
"The strength in fund raising this year shows the continued dominance of mega buyout funds which were responsible for 62% of the overall capital in the first quarter," said Jennifer Rossa, managing editor of Private Equity Analyst. "However, there are expectations in the private equity industry that there will be more room for other fund raising strategies this year."
In addition to the buyout funds, 22 venture capital funds raised $3.8 billion in the first quarter of 2007, down from the $4.4 billion raised by venture capital firms in the first quarter of 2006, the Private Equity Analyst funds database showed. Other private equity, funds of funds and mezzanine funds were responsible for the balance of $5.3 billion in the first quarter.
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Private Equity Analyst (www.privateequity.dowjones.com), published by Dow Jones Financial Information Services group, is the leading provider of data, news and analysis for private equity professionals. Related products include the daily online newsletter LBO Wire and the online database, Private Equity Analyst Plus, a series of senior level executive conferences including the Private Equity Analyst Conferences (NY and London), the Private Equity Analyst Outlook Conference (NY) and The Limited Partners Summit series (NY, SF, Europe); cutting edge research reports on critical private equity topics such as terms and conditions, compensation and liquidity trends; and the most respected and referenced directories for the industry including Galante's Venture Capital & Private Equity Directory and The Directory of Alternative Investment Programs.
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