Private equity firms raise record cash in 2006

October 4 - Reuters - Private equity firms have raised a whopping $300 billion in new funding worldwide this year, easily topping the amount raised for all 2005 and with several mega funds still open, new research shows.

A string of mega fund raisings from some of the world's biggest private equity firms -- including Permira, The Blackstone Group and Cinven - has helped push 2006 to record volumes, already 6 percent higher than all of 2005, when a record $283 billion was raised. Read More.