Clayton Dubilier & Rice, a US-based buy-out house, closed it’s latest round of fundraising at $5 billion but failing to reach its target goal of $7.5 billion which it had hoped to garner from its latest fundraising circuit. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the firm had trouble raising as much as hoped during a touch fundraising climate.

In spite of being incapable of raising the desired $7.5 billion the firm was able to raise more than its predecessor which collected $4 billion in 2006. The Clayton Dubilier & Rice Fund VIII only managed a billion less than this year’s round.

Last year, CD&R finished out the year with the purchase of British Car Auctions an acquisition gained from Montagu Private Equity. The purchase was valued at £400 million. CD&R is the parent company of such distinguished companies like Hertz rental firm. Hertz will be the primary user of BCA to sell used vehicles as a way to renew its fleet of rental vehicles.

Last October, the firm also invested in a $477 million deal at 46 cents per stake for a sanitation, cleaning, and hygiene solutions provider, JohnsonDiversey. Additionally, the firm made a $250 million investment in the NCI Building Systems, which operates on the New York Stock Exchange as a manufacturer of metal products specially made for non-residential building.

CD&R was founded in 1978 and manages investments for over 43 US and European-based businesses totaling $12 billion in value. The company has two main firms based in New York and London.