Carlyle reportedly raises $14bn for new US buy-out fund

Commitments to the fund come at a time when fundraising has been particularly difficult given the economic downturn and various difficulties that institutional investors are facing.

The fund will focus on LBOs in the US.

Mega buy-outs were the ones first and arguably most affected by the credit crunch, which started in summer last year. To finance a sizeable LBO, private equity firms typically arrange a debt package with a syndicate of banks.

Carlyle is now expected to hold a final closing on its new vehicle in the coming months.

A spokesperson for the firm declined to comment.

Carlyle's fundraising effort is a sign that despite all the gloom and doom sophisticated investors still have confidence in the asset class.

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