San Francisco - U.S. venture capitalists ended 2007 on a high note, garnering nearly $16.2 billion in liquidity from the sale of 106 venture-backed companies and more than $2 billion from the initial public offerings of 26 others during the fourth quarter, according to a new report from Dow Jones VentureSource.

The strong quarter pushed the annual total for venture-backed liquidity to roughly $52.9 billion, the highest yearly total since 2000.

The totals raised through mergers and acquisitions in the quarter were more than double the amounts raised over the same period last year, while IPOs saw a 65% jump in amounts raised compared with the same quarter in 2006.

"Without question, 2007 was a banner year for venture-backed liquidity," said Jessica Canning, the director of global research for Dow Jones VentureSource.

"Not only did the industry have the largest number of completed public offerings since 2000 with 74, but it also saw the annual median amount raised at IPO break $75 million for the first time on record."

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