Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Dow Jones VentureSource 2Q’14 Europe Venture Capital Rep

VentureSource
The following report presents Dow Jones VentureSource’s quarterly findings for European venture capital fundraising, investment, and liquidity. The included charts and graphs offer a comprehensive view of the trends currently affecting the venture capital market.

Highlights for 2Q 2014 include:

- European venture capital fundraising rallied from customary first quarter decline to match 2Q 2013;
- Venture capital investment into European companies improved to reach highest quarterly investment figure since 3Q 2001;
- Despite a slide in mergers and acquisitions (M&As), overall exit activity improved from the previous quarter due to the highest number of initial public offerings (IPOs) in a quarter since 4Q 2006.

FUNDRAISING

European Venture Capital Fundraising Rallies in 2Q 2014

20 European venture capital funds accumulated 1.03 billion during 2Q 2014, equating to an increase of 58% in euros raised from 1Q 2014 despite the number of fund closings remaining flat. Though level with 2Q 2013, the raised figure falls short of the 1.18 billion raised during 2Q 2012.
A total of 1.68 billion were raised by 40 European venture capital funds during the first half of 2014, representing a dip of 5% in euros raised despite fund closings increasing by 29% from the first half of 2013.
The largest fund of the quarter was Index Ventures’ VII LP fund which raised 400 million, and accounted for 39% of the total amount raised for 2Q 2014.
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FINANCING

Investment into European Venture-backed Companies Improves in 2Q 2014

European companies raised 2.1 billion for 365 deals during 2Q 2014, an increase of 2% in the number of deals and 41% in capital raised from the previous quarter. 2Q 2014 enjoyed the highest quarterly investment figure since 3Q 2001 when 2.7 billion were raised.
In contrast with 2Q 2013 figures, despite deal flow decreasing by 10%, investment improved by 42%.
For the first half of 2014, European venture-backed companies drew in 3.6 billion in 723 deals, a decline of 5% in deals completed but a rise of 35% in euros invested from the first six months of 2013 .

Equity Financings into Europe-based, VC-backed Companies, by Industry Group (2Q 2014)

The Consumer Services sector received the largest allocation of investment during 2Q 2014 (37%), accumulating 788 million through 109 deals. While deal flow picked up by just 2% from 1Q 2014, sector investment rose by 76%. The five largest deals completed for the quarter were all for companies in Consumer Services.
Business and Financial Services placed second in terms of equity financing, taking a 26% share of all 2Q 2014 investment. The sector raised 540 million across 108 deals, an increase of 33% in capital raised despite a 5% dip in deal flow. The sector’s investment total was the largest for a single quarter since 1Q 2001.
Healthcare remained third, with companies gathering 18% of the total amount invested during the quarter. The sector received 375 million across 52 deals, an uptick of 6% in both deal flow and capital invested from 1Q 2014.
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Equity Financings into Europe-based, VC-backed Companies, by Country (2Q 2014)

The U.K. remained the favoured destination for equity financing in 2Q 2014 with a 28% share of investment into European VC-backed companies. The country received 598 million across 97 deals, an increase of 7% in deal flow and 58% in amount invested from 1Q 2014.
France placed second with a 19% share of investment. While deal flow saw an increase of 42% from 1Q 2014 with 74 completed, investment more than doubled from the 184 million drawn in during the previous quarter to reach 395 million.
Germany occupy third spot, raising 322 million, representing a 15% share of investment. The Netherlands rose to fourth spot with an 8% share, raising 166 million during 2Q 2014. It was the country’s highest quarterly investment total since 3Q 2000.
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LIQUIDITY

Venture Exits in Europe See Overall Increase in 2Q 2014 Despite M&A Slide
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38 venture-backed M&As took place in Europe during 2Q 2014, a decline of 19% from 1Q 2014 but an uptick of 6% from 2Q 2013.
The largest M&A of 2Q 2014 was Crossknowledge Group Ltd., a corporate e-learning service provider, which was acquired by John Wiley & Sons for 127 million.
19 venture-backed IPOs took place during 2Q 2014, 11 more than in 1Q 2014 and the most since 4Q 2006. Companies raised 407 million for their listings during 2Q 2014, a slight decline from the 449 million seen in 1Q 2014. 

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