Value of Q2 private equity transactions in Europe hits record €33.5bnThe total value of private equity transactions in Europe hit a record €33.5bn in the second quarter of 2005, compared to €21.6bn recorded in the first quarter of 2005, and €24.2bn the second quarter a year ago, according to the Private Equity Barometer Q2 2005, published by Incisive Media and sponsored by Candover.
A total of 139 buy-outs worth €32.6bn were recorded in the last quarter, up from 118 deals worth €20.5bn in the first quarter of 2005 and 124 deals worth €22.1bn in Q2 2004.
Eight of the top 20 largest buy-outs completed in Q2 2005 were above the €1bn mark and three quarters of the top 20 were above €500m.
By geography, the Nordic region captured the largest single share of the Q2 European buy-out market by value with €9.8bn logged, compared to €2.8bn in the first quarter of 2004.
The UK saw the value of deals increase from €6.4bn in Q1 to €7.7bn in Q2 2005, while France experienced a decrease from €5.2bn in Q1 to €2.8bn in Q2 2005.
German-speaking regions saw €2bn of transactions, almost identical to the €2.1bn in the first quarter. In the Benelux region the value of deals went down to €2.5bn compared to €3bn in Q1 2005.
Colin Buffin, managing director of Candover, said, 'The European buy-out market has now roared into life in the second quarter of '05. There have been a huge number of deals in the middle and upper end of the market as private equity buyers become an increasingly important force in European M&A. At the half way stage, it would seem that 2005 is on target to be another landmark year for European private equity."
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Private Equity News» By Region» Europe» Western Europe
Private Equity News» By Region» Europe» Western Europe
