Please Wait.....
Report
Europe Private Equity - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026 - 2031)
Market Report I 2026-01-16 I 120 Pages I Mordor Intelligence
Europe Private Equity Market Analysis
Europe private equity market size in 2026 is estimated at USD 3.63 trillion, growing from 2025 value of USD 3.24 trillion with 2031 projections showing USD 6.41 trillion, growing at 12.03% CAGR over 2026-2031. A blend of strong dry-powder deployment pressure, regulatory moves toward sustainable finance, faster digital adoption after the pandemic, and innovative exit tools such as continuation vehicles underpins this expansion. Buyout managers still dominate deal flow, yet secondary and continuation strategies gain traction as institutional investors seek liquidity without exiting the asset class. Technology retains the largest industry allocation while healthcare accelerates fastest, both benefiting from macro themes of digitization and population ageing. At the same time, the United Kingdom keeps its lead in capital raised and deals closed, even as Spain posts the highest forward growth rate due to pro-investment reforms and solid GDP momentum. Competitive intensity rises as mega-managers consolidate assets, but mid-market specialists stay relevant by targeting fragmented European SME niches.
Europe Private Equity Market Trends and Insights
Persistent Dry-Powder Overhang and LP Pressure to Deploy Capital
European limited partners now hold unprecedented uncalled commitments, which fuel steady deal activity despite cyclical headwinds. Fundraising reached USD 118.8 billion in the first three quarters of 2024, almost matching the prior year total as pension plans and sovereign funds raised their allocation targets. Average holding periods stretch to 6.7 years, intensifying the need for larger tickets and off-market sourcing to absorb capital. Managers compete for scarce high-quality assets, often agreeing to higher entry multiples while concurrently designing ambitious operational-value plans to sustain returns. This behavior supports near-term growth in the Europe private equity market.
EU Green Deal Incentives Steering PE Toward Sustainability-Linked Assets
The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation pushes Article 8 and 9 funds to nearly two-thirds of Europe's fund launches. Private equity houses embed ESG targets directly into carried-interest hurdles, aligning teams with emissions-reduction or diversity metrics. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive demands extensive disclosures, raising compliance costs for smaller managers yet rewarding early movers with access to larger pools of capital. Green-tilted deals in renewables, resource-efficient manufacturing, and circular business models regularly command premium exit valuations, pulling fresh capital into the Europe private equity market.
Valuation Reset Amid Higher Interest Rates Compressing Exit Multiples
European Central Bank rate hikes raise discount rates and debt service costs, trimming equity valuations for levered businesses. Lower-growth industrial assets suffer the largest multiple compression, compelling sponsors to lean more on revenue and margin expansion rather than financial engineering. Private debt funds step in to bridge financing gaps, but pricing still trails the record-low coupons of the pre-2022 cycle. This environment weighs on exit proceeds and temporarily tempers expansion momentum in the Europe private equity market.
Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:
Digital-First Business Models Scaling Rapidly in Post-COVID EuropeSecondary Buyout Wave Driven by Fund-to-Fund TradesRegulatory Scrutiny on "National Champions" Deals Delaying Approvals
For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.
Segment Analysis
Buyout funds controlled 55.78% of the Europe private equity market in 2025, attracting institutional investors that value strong governance rights and cash flow predictability. Yet, secondaries and fund-of-funds log a 12.17% CAGR to 2031, fueled by record LP demand for liquidity. Continuation funds now comprise 84% of GP-led secondary volume, a structure that extends hold periods without forgoing upside. Main Capital's USD 603 million software vehicle and Corsair's USD 600 million fintech continuation fund illustrate this shift. The Europe private equity market size for secondaries is therefore poised to widen materially.
Ongoing regulatory clarity under AIFMD II and the expansion of specialist secondary managers broaden the investor base. Pension boards allocate more to these strategies to smooth cash-flow profiles and dampen vintage-year risk, gradually nudging market share away from pure buyout pools. Even so, flagship buyout franchises retain scale advantages in sourcing and portfolio support, defending their lead in the Europe private equity market.
The Europe Private Equity Market is Segmented by Fund Type (Buyout and Growth, Venture Capital, Mezzanine, and More), Sector (Technology, Healthcare, Real Estate, Financial Services, Industrials, Telecom, and More), Investments (Large Cap, Upper-Middle Market, and More), and Country (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).
List of Companies Covered in this Report:
EQT CVC Capital Partners Permira Apax Partners Ardian Bridgepoint Group Cinven HgCapital Partners Group BC Partners Nordic Capital 3i Group Bain Capital Silver Lake KKR Oakley Capital Antin Infrastructure Partners IK Partners Sofinnova Partners SoftBank Vision Fund
Additional Benefits:
The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
3 months of analyst support
1 Introduction
1.1 Study Assumptions & Market Definition
1.2 Scope of the Study
2 Research Methodology
3 Executive Summary
4 Market Landscape
4.1 Market Overview
4.2 Market Drivers
4.2.1 Persistent dry-powder overhang and LP pressure to deploy capital
4.2.2 EU Green Deal incentives steering PE toward sustainability-linked assets
4.2.3 Digital-first business models scaling rapidly in post-COVID Europe
4.2.4 Secondary buyout wave driven by fund-to-fund trades
4.2.5 Niche funds targeting succession in Mittelstand family businesses
4.2.6 Surge in GP-led continuation vehicles unlocking trapped value
4.3 Market Restraints
4.3.1 Valuation reset amid higher interest rates compressing exit multiples
4.3.2 Regulatory scrutiny on 'national champions' deals delaying approvals
4.3.3 Fund-level ESG disclosure costs squeezing smaller GPs (under-reported)
4.3.4 Talent crunch in operational value-creation teams (under-reported)
4.4 Value / Supply-Chain Analysis
4.5 Regulatory Landscape
4.6 Technological Outlook
4.7 Porter's Five Forces
4.7.1 Threat of New Entrants
4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
4.7.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
4.7.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
4.8 Macroeconomic & Geopolitical Impact Analysis
5 Market Size & Growth Forecasts
5.1 By Fund Type
5.1.1 Buyout & Growth
5.1.2 Venture Capital
5.1.3 Mezzanine & Distressed
5.1.4 Secondaries & Fund of Funds
5.2 By Sector
5.2.1 Technology (Software)
5.2.2 Healthcare
5.2.3 Real Estate and Services
5.2.4 Financial Services
5.2.5 Industrials
5.2.6 Consumer & Retail
5.2.7 Energy & Power
5.2.8 Media & Entertainment
5.2.9 Telecom
5.2.10 Others (Transportation, etc.)
5.3 By Investments
5.3.1 Large Cap
5.3.2 Upper Middle Market
5.3.3 Lower Middle Market
5.3.4 Small & SMID
5.4 By Country
5.4.1 United Kingdom
5.4.2 Germany
5.4.3 France
5.4.4 Sweden
5.4.5 Italy
5.4.6 Spain
5.4.7 Netherlands
5.4.8 Rest of Europe
6 Competitive Landscape
6.1 Market Concentration
6.2 Strategic Moves
6.3 Market Share Analysis
6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products & Services, and Recent Developments)
6.4.1 EQT
6.4.2 CVC Capital Partners
6.4.3 Permira
6.4.4 Apax Partners
6.4.5 Ardian
6.4.6 Bridgepoint Group
6.4.7 Cinven
6.4.8 HgCapital
6.4.9 Partners Group
6.4.10 BC Partners
6.4.11 Nordic Capital
6.4.12 3i Group
6.4.13 Bain Capital
6.4.14 Silver Lake
6.4.15 KKR
6.4.16 Oakley Capital
6.4.17 Antin Infrastructure Partners
6.4.18 IK Partners
6.4.19 Sofinnova Partners
6.4.20 SoftBank Vision Fund
7 Market Opportunities & Future Outlook
7.1 White-space & Unmet-Need Assessment
- Not Sure / Need Reassuring
- Confirm Content
-
Content is provided by our partners and every effort is made to make Market Report details as clear as possible. If you are not sure the exact content you require is included in this study you can Contact us to double check. To do this you can:
Use the ‘? ASK A QUESTION’ below the license / prices and to the right of this box. This will come directly to our team who will work on dealing with your request as soon as possible.
Write to directly on support@scotts-international.com with details. Please include as much information as possible including the name of report or link so our staff will be able to work on you request.
Telephone us directly on 0048 603 394 346 and an experienced member of team will be on hand to answer.
-
- Sample Pages
-
With the vast majority of our partners we can obtain Sample Pages to support your decision. This is something we can arrange without revealing your personal details.
It is important to note that we will not be able to provide you the exact data or statistics such as Market Size and Forecasts. Sample pages usually confirm the layout or the Categories included in Charts and Graphs, excluding specific data.
To ask for Sample Pages by contact us through ‘? ASK A QUESTION’, support@scotts-international.com, or by telephoning 0048 603 394 346.
-
- Check for Alternatives
-
Whilst we try to make our online platform as easy to use as possible there is always the possibility that a better alternative has not been found in your search.
To avoid this possibility Contact us through ‘? ASK A QUESTION’, support@scotts-international.com, or by telephoning 0048 603 394 346 and a Senior Team Member can review your requirements and send a list of possibilities with opinions and recommendations.
-
- Confirm Content
- Prices / Formats / Delivery
- Prices
-
All prices are set by our partners and should be exactly the same as those listed on their own websites. We work on a Revenue share basis ensuring that you never pay more than what is offered elsewhere.
Should you find the price cheaper on another platform we recommend you to Contact us as we should be able to match this price. You can Contact us though through ‘? ASK A QUESTION’, support@scotts-international.com, or by telephoning 0048 603 394 346.
-
- Discounts
-
As we work in close partnership with our Partners from time to time we can secure discounts and assist with negotiations, this is part of our personalised service to you.
Discounts can sometimes be arranged for speedily placed orders; multiple report purchases or Higher License purchases.
To check if a Discount is possible please Contact our experienced team through ‘? ASK A QUESTION’, support@scotts-international.com, or by telephoning 0048 603 394 346.
-
- Available Currencies
-
Most Market Reports on our platform are listed in USD or EURO based on the wishes of our Partners. To avoid currency fluctuations and potential price differentiations we do not offer the possibility to change the currency online.
Should you wish to pay in a different currency to that advertised online we do accept payments in USD, EURO, GBP and PLN. The price will be calculated based on the relevant exchange rate taken from our National Bank.
To pay in a different above currency to that advertised online please Contact our team and a quotation will be sent within a couple of hours with payment details.
-
- Licenses
-
License options vary from Partner to Partner as is usually based on the number of Users that will benefitting from the report. It is very important that License ordered is not breached as this could have potential negative consequences for you individually or your employer.
If you have questions or need confirmation about the specific license we recommend you to Contact us and a detailed explanation will be provided.
-
- Global Site License
-
The Global Site License is the most comprehensive license available. By selecting this license, the Market Report can be shared with other ‘Allowed Users’ and any other member of staff from the same organisation regardless of geographic location.
It is important to note that this may exclude Parent Companies or Subsidiaries.
If you have questions or need confirmation about the specific license we recommend you to Contact us and a detailed explanation will be provided.
-
- Formats
-
The most common format is PDF, however in certain circumstances data may be present in Excel format or Online, especially in the case of Database or Directories. In addition, for certain higher license options a CD may also be provided.
If you have questions or need clarification about the specific formats we recommend you to Contact us and a detailed explanation will be provided.
-
- Delivery
-
Delivery is fulfilled by our partners directly. Once an order has been placed we inform the partner by sharing the delivery email details given in the order process.
Delivery is usually made within 24 hours of an order being placed, however it may take longer should your order be placed prior to the weekend or if otherwise specified on the Market Report details page. Additionally, if details have been not fully completed in the Order process a delay in delivery is possible.
If a delay in delivery is expected you will be informed about it immediately.
-
- Shipping Charges
-
As most Market Reports are delivered in PDF format we almost never have to add additional Shipping Charges. If, however you are ordering a Higher License service or a specific delivery format (e.g. CD version) charges may apply.
If you are concerned about additional Shipping Charges we recommend you to Contact us to double check.
-
- Prices
- Ordering
- By Credit Card
-
We work in Partnership with PayU to ensure payments are made securely in a fast and effortless way. PayU is the e-payments division of Naspers.
Naspers operates in over 133 International Markets and ranks 3rd Globally in terms of the number of e-commerce customers served.
For more information on PayU please visit: https://www.payu.pl/en/about-us
-
- By Money Transfer
-
If you require an invoice prior to payment, this is possible. To ensure a speedy delivery of the Market Report we require all relevant company details and you agree to maximum payment terms of 30 days from receipt of order.
With our regular clients deliver of the Market Report can be made prior to receiving payment, however in some circumstances we may ask for payment to be received before arranging for the Market Report to be delivered.
-
- By Credit Card
- Security
- Website security
-
We have specifically partnered with leading International companies to protect your privacy by using different technologies and processes to ensure security.
Everything submitted to Scotts International is encrypted via SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and all personal information provided to Scotts International is stored on computer systems with limited access in controlled environments.
-
- Credit Card Security
-
We partner with PayU (https://www.payu.pl/en/about-us) to ensure all credit card payments are made securely in a fast and effortless way.
PayU offers 250+ various payment channels and eWallet services across 4 continents allowing buyers to pay electronically, whether on a computer or a mobile device.
-
- Website security