A total of 45 new investment funds were launched during first quarter 2019, the highest number of first quarter funds since the launch of 47 funds in first quarter 2016. The first quarter of every year seems to always start off strong, but first quarter 2019 is ahead of the curve. The new funds launched during the first quarter are seeking an aggregate fundraising target of $40.9 billion, up more than $24 billion from first quarter 2018’s aggregate of $16.2 billion and up almost $15 billion from first quarter 2017’s aggregate of $26 billion.

The Europe strategy leads first quarter 2019 for the geographic focus, launching 10 new funds with a targeted fundraising volume of approximately $19.8 billion (48.50 percent). The largest fund launched during first quarter 2019 also had a European investment focus.

The Blackstone Group’s Blackstone Real Estate Partners Europe VI was the largest fund launched in first quarter 2019. The closed-end opportunistic fund was launch