Global private equity firms raised 20% more in 2013 to the end of September than in the same period last year, despite a fall in the number of firms successfully raising funds, according to new findings from data provider Preqin.

So far this year, $311 billion has been raised by private equity funds, up from $259 billion over the same period last year. However, the number of firms successfully raising funds fell from 686 to 613 over the period.