Private Equity’s Quest for Mines Stalls as Commodities Slide

The push by private equity funds to acquire mining assets is slowing as investors struggle to land major deals while commodity prices slide.

The funds have raised $1.1 billion for investments in mining and metals this year, compared with about $8.8 billion in 2013, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Less than $2 billion has been spent by the funds on mining assets in the past two years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence research.