News & Analysis
driven by the PitchBook PlatformEurope
European financial services see surge in PE investment
Asset managers accounted for four of the ten largest financial services PE deals this year.
EQT expects slow exits amid tariff uncertainty
Geopolitical risks, a slowdown of global economic activity and inflationary pressure are the firm’s main concerns as the US applies a new tariff regime.
Europe’s VC market defies headwinds with strong start to the year
Funding for European startups is on track to surpass last year’s annual total.
Bain Capital cashes out of Esure in €1.5B sale to Ageas
Bain Capital is exiting investment in British insurance firm Esure through a €1.5 billion sale to Ageas
Economic uncertainties shake up European PE dealmaking
After a strong 2024, European PE faced a stark slowdown in Q1 2025 as geopolitical tensions and macro uncertainty reshaped investor behavior.
The future of VC may have more borders
Trade wars signal a shift away from the globalization that has underpinned many VC strategies.
UK looks to ease regulation for smaller PE firms
The UK’s financial regulator and finance ministry have launched a consultation to lighten regulation for a significant portion of the UK’s PE market.
The Benchmark
2021 Vintage European PE Funds
Median IRR
9.89%
Top Quartile IRR
23.55%
0.00x
Median DPI
Select top performers
Next Wave Partners IV
H.I.G. Europe Capital Partners III
Endless Fund V
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Data & Tools
Global league tables: Q1 2024
Which venture investors, acquirers, and law firms made the most deals last quarter? Click to see the full data in interactive tables.
European VC female founders dashboard
How are female-founded startups in Europe faring in 2024? Click to see the full data.
PitchBook VC Dealmaking Indicator
Last year’s shift toward a more investor-friendly environment may have reversed slightly in 2024. Click to see the full data.
More Europe news
Trump’s tariffs are a wake-up call for European VCs
European VCs brace for the impact of US tariffs while calling for increased tech sovereignty.
Dealmakers grapple with fresh uncertainty following Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs
Private market dealmakers expect fewer IPOs and must reset projections for interest rates and recession risks.
Cambridge and Oxford lead UK cities for VC funding outside London
Over 40% of the UK’s VC deal value has been raised by startups outside of London.
World’s most valuable surgical robot startup pulls in another $200M
CMR Surgical will use the funds to launch its surgical robot in the US
Is US volatility Europe’s tech IPO opportunity?
European VC-backed companies are increasingly migrating toward the US for their listings, but current market conditions could push more to stay local.
IK Partners closes its largest fund yet on €3.3B
IK Partners is one of four European mid-market PE funds firms to close a fund over the past two weeks.
Money, money, money: ABBA star-backed firm secures €1.2B in debut fundraise
PE deals in the entertainment industry was second-highest ever in Europe last year
EQT raises record $23B+ for European infrastructure fund
The new vehicle is the largest-ever infrastructure fund in Europe
Bain Capital acquires Italian software provider for €1.1B
Bain has picked up Italian software provider Namirial as demand for digital trust and identity verification grows due to new EU regulations.
