H1 2022 European Private Equity Activity (Invest Europe)

Summary

• Preliminary H1 2022 fundraising figures for Europe reached €64.5bn, close to the H1 2021 record figure of €66.0bn.p.8
• A total of 382 funds completed a fundraising during the first six months of 2022.p.8
• Preliminary figures indicate that €56.8bn of equity was invested into European companies throughout H1 2022.p.8
• Buyout investments reached €30.8bn for the first half of 2022.p.8
• Growth investments reached €15.0bn in H1 2022, representing the highest non-2021 level seen in the past decade.p.8
• Venture Capital investments reached €10.5bn in H1 2022, with ICT attracting 49% of the total.p.8
• Divestments at cost for H1 2022 reached €14.3bn, with trade sales and sales to another private equity firm totalling 77%.p.8

Key insights

1. Venture fundraising reached €9.9bn in H1 2022, marking the highest level recorded in any half year period over the past ten years.p.8
2. Buyout fundraising reached €42.0bn in H1 2022, standing 16% above the average raised for all half year periods during the past five years.p.8
3. Growth funds raised €9.3bn in H1 2022, a 23% increase from H1 2021 and 40% above the five-year half-year average.p.8
4. ICT remained the top sector for Buyout investments at 32% of the total, followed by Consumer goods & services at 21%.p.8
5. Venture stage divestments at cost reached €1.7bn in H1 2022, representing the highest level in the past decade.p.8
6. Growth stage divestments at cost totalled €2.9bn in H1 2022, while Buyout stage divestments totalled €9.6bn.p.8