U.S. private equity fundraising up 27% from a year ago

Dow Jones reported today that U.S. private equity funds raised $44 billion during the second quarter of 2012. The total amount raised during the first half of the year was $86 billion for 235 funds - a 27% increase in capital raised from the first half of 2011. Fund closings, however, were down 4% in the first half of 2012 compared to a year earlier.