Blackstone and Goldman top PE rankings

The Blackstone Group topped preliminary rankings for private equity activity this year based on the total value of deals done, while Goldman Sachs booked the most revenue from buyout advisory work.

The Blackstone Group completed 15 deals this year worth a combined $16.7 billion, making it the most active private equity firm in terms of total deal values, according to preliminary 2011 figures from data provider Dealogic.

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts was second with 14 deals totalling $15.9 billion, ahead of Apax Partners (10 deals worth $9.8 billion) and Bain Capital (16 worth $9.2 billion). The Carlyle Group, Hellman & Friedman, Crestview Partners, Natural Gas Partners, Clayton Dubilier & Rice, and AXA Private Equity made up the rest of the top ten.

Carlyle was the most acquisitive firm in volume terms, agreeing 27 buyouts (worth a combined $8 billion) according to Dealogic.

On the advisory side, Morgan Stanley topped the investment banking table based on the value of deals worked on. The bank advised on 45 deals worth a total of $45.5 billion, putting it ahead of Barclays Capital (33 deals worth $44.9 billion) and Goldman Sachs (51 deals worth $40.3 billion).

However, Goldman actually booked more fee revenue from private equity-related advisory work than any other bank, with $316 million. JPMorgan was second with $275 million, ahead of Morgan Stanley ($233 million), Credit Suisse ($227 million), Bank of America Merrill Lynch ($221 million) and UBS ($156 million).

Apax Partners paid the most fees of all sponsors globally, with $121 million, ahead of the Blackstone Group ($109 million), KKR ($106 million) and the Carlyle Group ($96 million), according to the Dealogic figures.