Private equity fundraising hits highest level since financial crisis began

Preliminary data released Monday by Preqin reveal private equity firms raised a total of $122 billion during the second quarter of 2013. That amount is the highest since the fourth quarter of 2008, just as the financial crisis in the U.S. was beginning to unfold. While the amount of capital raised during the quarter was up 36% from a year ago, the number of funds that reached a final close (154) was actually down 36% from the second quarter of 2012.