|
AltAssets is the private equity news and research service from Almeida Capital
|
|
|
PRINT THIS PAGE Value of European buy-outs in 2007 at €175bn13/02/2008. Source: AltAssets. 
Last year the value of European buy-outs increased by 0.7 per cent to €175.3bn from €174bn in 2006, according to the latest European Buyout Review by Incisive Media in association with Bridgepoint. The volume of deals was up six per cent to 775 transactions in 2007. The UK, the largest buy-out market in Europe, demonstrated the highest level of growth with the value of buy-outs increasing by 71 per cent to almost €70bn from €40.8bn last year. A significantly higher proportion of buy-outs were completed in the UK compared to the rest of Europe. In 2007 the UK comprised almost 40 per cent of the overall value of buy-outs across Europe, compared to only 23 per cent in 2006.
European buy-outs valued at between €250m and €1bn increased by over 38 per cent in 2007, while deals in the €250-500m range were up by 43 per cent. The value of €1bn-plus buy-outs in 2007 fell by 14 per cent with a five per cent volume decline. By value, €1bn-plus deals still comprised 50 per cent of the European buy-out market in 2007, although this fell from 59 per cent in 2006.
The value of buy-outs in Germany was up by 14 per cent to €29.1bn, compared to €21.4bn in France. This is the first time since 2004 that Germany has recorded a higher aggregate value of buy-outs. By value, buy-outs in Germany represented 16 per cent of all European buy-outs, second only to the UK. However, the number of buy-outs recorded in France broke the 200-mark for the first time, leaving it just shy of the figure for the UK, the study found. The overall value of buy-outs in France fell by 38 per cent to €21.4bn, representing 12 per cent of European buy-outs.
Kevin Reynolds, partner at Bridgepoint, said, '€1bn-plus buy-outs were far less a feature of the European buy-out market in 2007. Despite the slowdown in the market towards the end of the year as the credit crunch started to bite, 2007 still saw the highest level of buy-out activity ever recorded. The mid-market saw, by far, the greatest level of activity - especially in the €250-500m range - with UK buy-out activity remaining very buoyant.'
Copyright © 2008 AltAssets
|
 
|
|
|
