Evercore Private Funds, part of Evercore Inc., and Lazard Ltd.'s Private Capital Advisory were the top placement agents in terms of involvement in the number of funds that closed in the first half of 2021, according to Preqin data.

Evercore was placement agent for the $10.2 billion Genstar Capital Partners X LP, which closed oversubscribed about four months after its official launch in December 2020. The fund was among the top five largest U.S.-based vehicles reaching final close in the first half.

Another notable firm was Park Hill Group LLC, which served as placement agent on GI Partners Fund VI LP, one of the larger U.S.-based funds raised during the first half. It closed oversubscribed on $3.9 billion in June.

Chile-based Picton Advisors was the top placement agent globally in terms of aggregate dollar size of funds closed with $56.2 billion across four vehicles.

Throughout the pandemic, placement agents have been raising the majority, if not all, capital through online meetings with investors. Despite the lack of in-person communication, global placement agents that worked on at least two funds reaching final close in the first half in aggregate raised $452.8 billion across 206 vehicles, Preqin data shows.