David Rubenstein, co-founder of US buyout giant The Carlyle Group, has joked that raising money for new funds presents a bigger challenge than "brain surgery or rocket science” at present. But the tricks to getting it right are probably at lot simpler than firms might think.

Rubenstein used his keynote speech at the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Summit yesterday to tell attendees that the above pursuits were "relatively easy" when compared to fundrasing in the current environment.