Listed private equity giant Blackstone has reported 7 per cent growth in its private equity funds for the third quarter of 2012.

According to a statement, the growth was driven by an increase in performance fees and investment income. Significant performance fees were driven by its BCP IV fund, and more recently by its sixth fund and energy fund. 

Blackstone invested $1.4bn (€1.07bn) during the third quarter, with an additional $907m (€694.7m) committed but not invested. Its private equity division returned $285m (€218.3m) of capital to investors during the quarter. 

“Over the past 12 months, we achieved gross organic inflows of $38 billion and returned $14 billion to our investors, driving us to record total assets under management of $205 billion,” commented Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone's chairman and chief executive.