FUNDRAISING NEWS | November 14, 2024
Total fundraising in Europe increased year over year in the first half of 2024 to €58.5B, even as equity investments in companies in the region decreased to €39.6B, according to a report from Invest Europe published November 12.
Preliminary data in the “Private Equity Activity H1 2024” report showed that total fundraising in Europe rose 16% in the first six months of 2024, compared with the prior-year period, though notably fundraising still fell well short of the €82.3B tallied in the second half of 2023. Buyouts accounted for €40.3B of the total fundraising, marking an increase of 32% from a year ago, and during the reporting period 366 funds closed funding rounds.
Meanwhile, equity investments in the first half of 2024 fell to the lowest half-year level since the last six months of 2018. During the reporting six-month period, total equity investments fell 28% year over year, with the biggest drag being buyouts, which saw investments drop 38% to €23B. Growth investments contributed to the decline, while investments from venture capital firms rose 26% year over year in the first half.
Divestments also declined in the period, falling 18% compared to the same period in 2023 to €14.1B, with venture-stage divestments accounting for €1B, buyout-stage €9.3B, and growth-stage investments €3.1B.
