Q2 Barometer: Aggregate PE deal value reaches 10-year peak

unquote" and SL Capital
08 August 2017

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The aggregate value of European private-equity-backed deals jumped 50% to тЌ42.9bn in Q2 2017, compared to тЌ28.6bn in the first quarter, according to the latest unquoteт Private Equity Barometer, published in association with SL Capital Partners.

Deal numbers climbed for the second consecutive quarter, boosted by buyouts and growth capital investments. The total number of PE-backed transactions rose by 11% from 400 to 444, the highest figure since Q4 2015. This lifted the average deal value to €96.5m, up 35% on the €71.6m posted in Q1.

The buyout space saw the most notable increase in activity, with the 200 deals marking an 18% increase in dealflow quarter-on-quarter and representing the highest level of activity since Q2 2008. This was seen across the small-cap space (deals valued below €100m), mid-market (€100m-1bn) and large-cap space (>€1bn).

Meanwhile, the aggregate value of buyouts across all value ranges rose 56% to €35.8bn, compared with the €22.9bn recorded in Q1 2017. The mid-market saw the total value of deals rise 59% to €17.2bn, while the large-cap space saw an increase of 151% from €5.3bn to €13.3bn.

Regionally, dealflow increased in the Benelux, DACH, France, Nordic and Rest-of-Europe regions. And, while the number of UK deals slipped, activity actually remained comparatively robust in the light of Brexit uncertainty and the government's much-weakened majority following June's general election: there were 48 buyouts in the UK in Q2, down from 51 in Q1 (the busiest quarter since 2012).

Click here to download the full report, including detailed commentary and statistics for the growth capital and venture capital markets, as well as regional breakdowns.