Deloitte & Touche is the first of the Big Four accountants to open a fundraising agency for private equity firms as they find investors for the greatest amount of capital ever sought. Deloitte's unit of seven staff will be headed by Chris Ward, head of corporate finance advisory, and John Maxey, a tax partner.

Ward said there was room for the team in the mid-market as banks, such as JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank, have lost interest in private equity fundraising because investors are reluctant to join the funds.