Canadian private equity firms have raised just under $40 billion over the last 10 years, but only about two thirds of that is currently invested, according to Preqin, an independent research firm focusing exclusively on alternative assets.

London, England-based Preqin says that, according to its database, there are currently 172 private equity firms headquartered in Canada. About half of these firms are focused on venture capital investments, Preqin reports, while almost a quarter of them focus mainly on buyout investments.

‘Collectively, these firms have raised approximately US$36.3 billion through private equity funds over the last 10 years, and have an estimated US$12.2 billion available in dry powder,” it says.

According to Preqin, the five largest Canadian firms in terms of aggregate capital raised for private equity funds over the last 10 years are Onex Corporation, Brookfield Asset Management, ARC Financial Corp, Brookfield Special Situations Group and Birch Hill Equity Partners.

IE