The Blackstone Group will conclude fundraising for its latest buyout fund, Blackstone Capital Partners VI LP,  on 1/7/12, having reportedly raised just over $16 billion in a 4-year process challenged by the global financial crisis.  Fundraising for the latest buyout fund began at the start of 2008 and the firm kicked off the fund's investment period on 1/7/11 - giving it a 12-month deadline to reach final fundraising goals. According to the data firm, Preqin, the fund is the largest in the market to complete its fundraising process and the sixth biggest private equity fund ever raised. BCP VI has reportedly attracted some of the world's largest private equity investors, including the CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System), the New Jersey Division of Investment, and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Having raised approximately $16 billion, Blackstone demonstrated that, in this environment, pension funds and other investors are willing to put invest in private equity funds - though they are getting more picky about which PE firms they trust their money with.  Some of the investors also were able to get better deals on fees by negotiating large commitments. Private equity firms raised $263 billion in 2011, slightly less than in 2010, according to Preqin - though a far cry from the $600 billion raised during the height of the buyouts boom. the period leading up to 2007.    [Reuters 1/4/12]