A total of 41 new investment funds were launched during fourth quarter 2015, bringing the year-end total to 153 new funds launched in 2015. With a slight dip during second and third quarters this number is similar to the higher number of funds launched in first quarter at 43 new funds. The new funds launched during the fourth quarter are seeking an aggregate fundraising target of $24.4 billion, just slightly more than third quarter’s target of $21.5 billion.

Despite the Americas strategy dominating the geographic focus with a targeted fundraising volume of $10.7 billion, the largest fund was in the global strategy. The Blackstone Group launched Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies III, a closed-end limited partnership launched at the beginning of October 2015. The new vehicle, number three in the Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies fund series, comes as Fund II raised $1.74 billion of its $4 billion target. Fund III will focus on debt and specifically on the re