According to Invest Europe data European private equity investment increased 14% to €47.4bn in 2015 with investments into almost 5,000 European companies, 86% SMEs. SMEs attracted nearly half of the total attracted private equity funding for the first time. Venture capital investment increased by 5% at €3.8 billion, while buyout investment grew 16% to €36.3 billion. Growth investments reported an increase of 11% to €6.5 billion, reaching their highest level since 2008.
