About private equity
How private equity invests in privately-owned businesses, supports jobs and creates prosperity.
Section Highlights
About us
We represent Europe’s private equity, venture capital and infrastructure industry.
Section Highlights
Industry standards
Invest Europe is the guardian of the industry’s professional standards.
Section Highlights
Policy
Working with policymakers to develop legislation that helps drive growth and prosperity.
Section Highlights
Research
The authoritative data source on European private equity activity.
Section Highlights
Events & training
A comprehensive suite of conferences, networking events and training courses.
Section Highlights
News & opinion
Up-to-the-minute policy and industry news, insights and opinions.
Section Highlights
Members
Login to access your exclusive member-only content and account information.
Login
Not a member? Join us
- Operate to the highest level of professional standards
- Access authoritative industry research and data
- Navigate the complex EU regulatory environment
- Network and engage with industry leaders
2018 Key Findings
The amount of funds raised by European private equity and venture capital managers, including breakdowns on stage focus, sources of funds by type of institutional investor and geographic source.
Total Fundraising
Total fundraising for Europe in 2018 reached €97.3bn, narrowly ahead of 2017’s total of €96.6bn, which was revised upwards on the availability of new data. The total was the highest of the current decade and only exceeded in 2006. The number of funds raising new capital dropped by 5% to 581, but still remained 13% above the annual average of the previous five years.
Pension funds
Pension funds provided 31% of all capital raised, followed by funds of funds & other asset managers (18%), family offices & private individuals (11%), insurance companies (11%) and sovereign wealth funds (9%). Institutional investors from outside Europe contributed 46% of total fundraising, led by LPs from North America (25%) and Asia (15%).
Buyout
Buyout fundraising decreased by 8% to €66.5bn. Pension funds remained the most significant investor group in buyout funds, accounting for 37% of the total, followed by funds of funds & other asset managers (19%), sovereign wealth funds (11%) and insurance companies (11%). A record of 55% was committed by investors from outside of Europe, with those from North America representing 28%, followed by Asian LPs at 19% their highest ever contribution.
Venture
Venture fundraising increased 11% compared with 2017’s restated level to a record €11.4bn. The majority of capital was committed by private investors, including family offices & private individuals (20%), funds of funds & other asset managers (19%), government agencies (18%), corporate investors (12%) and pension funds (9%). A record of 20% was raised from LPs outside of Europe.
Growth capital
Growth capital fundraising increased by 5% to €7.8bn, reaching the highest level recorded to date. The strategies of these funds range from scaling up venture capital-backed companies, to making minority equity investments in mature SMEs, or pursuing regional development policies with the backing of banks or public institutions. Generalist funds, which pursue investments across buyout, venture and growth strategies, raised €10.6bn in 2018, their highest level since 2007.
Incremental amounts raised during 2018
2018 fundraising at a glance
| 2018 | All private equity | Venture capital(1) | Buyout(1) | Growth(1) |
| Incremental - Amounts raised | €97.3bn | €11.4bn | €66.5bn | €7.8bn |
| Incremental - No. of funds | 581 | 229 | 108 | 110 |
| Final closings - Cumulative amount since inception | €89.1bn | €8.6bn | €72.0bn | €3.4bn |
| Final closings - No. of funds | 199 | 93 | 57 | 27 |
Source: Invest Europe/EDC
Note: (1) relates to fund focus
In this section
Meet the team
Research
Julien Krantz
Research
Research Director
Ariane Mortelmans
Research
Research Officer