Sources told The Wall Street Journal that private equity-owned discount retailer Dots LLC is readying itself to file for bankruptcy as the company struggles from the competition given by flash sites.

RSP Permian Inc, a private equity-backed shale oil and gas exploration firm, was able to raise $390 million in its initial public offering after selling shares near the low end of its price range, Bloomberg reported.

Tyco International Ltd has shortlisted the list of private equity firms interested in acquiring the industrial conglomerate's South Korean unit, according to sources interviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Institutional investors contributed $216.56 billion to US private equity funds last year, a sign of their renewed confidence in the asset class, a report from Private Equity Beat of The Wall Street Journal Blogs said.

Alcatel-Lucent is in talks with interested buyers, including Unify GmbH & Co. KG, for the sale of its enterprise business, according to sources interviewed by Bloomberg.

New York-based private equity firm KKR & Co was able to gather $2 billion for a fund called the KKR Special Situations Fund that will provide financing to distressed firms in North America, Europe and Asia.

Citing sources, a PEHUB report said private equity firm Z Capital Partners is eyeing a hard cap of $750 million for Fund II after exceeding its target.

Sao Paulo-based investment bank and asset wealth manager Grupo BTG Pactual said Brazil's presidential elections scheduled in October 2014 will curtail the mergers and acquisitions activity this year, Bloomberg reported.

The private equity industry worldwide was able to reach $431 billion in fundraising last year, an increase of 13% from the funds raised in 2012, a Preqin study revealed.

The African private equity industry in Africa may be young and subject to various shortcomings but political stability, infrastructure growth and increasing consumer activity has given it a more positive outlook for this year, the Financial Times reported.