Our history
Private equity is a cornerstone of Europe’s economy and society.
Over the past four decades, European private equity and venture capital has grown from a niche segment of the finance industry into a central element of Europe’s efficient capital markets and its healthy asset management universe.
Invest Europe has been at the industry’s side every step of the way, educating, informing, and safeguarding the industry’s reputation, while providing a forum for practitioners to meet and learn. In doing so, we have enabled our members to focus on what they do best – building better businesses and delivering superior returns that support European citizens’ savings and retirements.
1983: European Venture Capital Association (EVCA) founded
1987: First training course offered
1990: First performance, measurement and valuation guidelines for private equity industry published
1998: EVCA adds ‘private equity’ to its name
1999: First International Investors' Conference took place in Zürich (now called Investors' Forum and taking place in Geneva)
2000: First industry reporting guidelines published
2005: International private equity capital valuations guidelines published
2007: PEREP_Analytics data service launched; endorsed by 15 national associations and EVCA
2008: Public Affairs Executive begins work on Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD)
2012: Handbook of Professional Standards published in November
2015: EVCA became Invest Europe
2016: EDC launches
2019: Invest Europe developed market-leading standards in fields including valuation, investor reporting and responsible investment, enabling members to remain at the forefront of global industry best practice
2020: First virtual training and event
2020: Positive actions during the pandemic; established essential resources including a COVID-19 library for members and portfolio companies, while pushing policymakers for urgent liquidity measures
2021: A year of record-breaking activity for European private equity and venture capital
2022: Resilience and solidarity
2024: Highlights and achievements across Public Affairs, Industry Data & Research, Communication, Member Events & Training, Industry Standards, Governance & Finance
View the full history timeline here
Chairs 1983 – 2026
From driving the inclusion of ESG considerations, to supporting diversity, and championing European start-ups and innovation, Invest Europe’s Chairs have been a forefront of major industry shifts over the past four decades.
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