Private equity is on track for the largest investment volume since before the recession despite a seasonal decline in the third quarter, according to the Private Equity Growth Capital Council's latest quarterly trends report.
Quarterly U.S. private equity investment deal volume decreased by 10%, from $136 billion in the second quarter to $123 billion in the third quarter, the report said. First quarter deal volume was $140 billion.
Third-quarter fundraising also fell, with volume decreasing to $31 billion raised by about 25 funds from $53 billion raised by some 46 funds in the previous quarter.
"We saw a seasonal dip in the third quarter, but we are tracking toward 2014 having the most private equity investment volume in seven years," Bronwyn Bailey, PEGCC's vice president of research, said in a statement.
"Exit volumes also indicate that this will be a strong year for private equity investors."
