U.S. and European private equity funds raised more capital in more funds in the first quarter than they did a year earlier, with U.S. funds raising $38.1 billion in 136 funds and European funds, $22.3 billion in 43 funds, according to data from Dow Jones LP Source.
The capital raised by U.S. funds was up from $36.7 billion and 130 fund closings in the first quarter last year. The European fund increases were up from $12.3 billion in capital and 39 fund closings a year earlier.
Dow Jones data are based on multiple fund closings.
Meanwhile, U.S. venture capital fundraising in the quarter ended March 31 was $4.9 billion in 42 funds, down 35% by dollar commitments and 9% by number of funds from the first quarter last year, according to data from Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association.
Dow Jones LP Source counted $7 billion raised in 47 U.S. venture capital fund closings in the first quarter, compared to $6.7 billion in 35 funds in the same quarter a year ago. Dow Jones said $953 million was raised in 11 European venture capital funds in the first quarter, compared to $881 million in the same number of funds a year earlier.
