We've said this before, but the money keeps cascading in.
We've said this before, but the money keeps cascading in.
U.S. private equity firms, which includes venture capital firms that invest in start-ups, continue to raise more money than ever before.
They've raised $172.2 billion in 253 funds so far this year through the close of the third quarter of 2006 -- an increase of about 72 percent in capital from this point last year, according to Dow Jones.
The total this year has already exceeded the $162.5 billion raised in all of 2005. The year's total is expected to easily exceed 2000, when a record $177.9 billion was raised. Private equity is a term that includes buyout and corporate finance funds, venture capital, mezzanine funds and funds-of-funds.
We should note that venture capital firms themselves are no where near raising the record levels they hit in 2000. But they are raising more than last year: They raised $21.8 billion so far in 2006, about 18 percent more than was raised at this point last year, the report said.