PE fundraising down, buyout activity rises

Asia-focused private equity funds took in $4.3 billion in the third quarter, down from the $17.2 billion raised in the same quarter last year, according to data provider Preqin. The region follows a global trend which has seen $83 billion raised by 212 vehicles in the third quarter of 2013, compared with $87 billion raised by 179 private equity funds in the same prior-year quarter. However, over the past 12 months there has been an overall improvement in fundraising trends in No…