Dow Jones has published their Q4 VentureSource report today and while investment in European companies “held steady” deal flow dropped.
According to the report, the UK garnered the bulk of the activity with no Brexit impact visible. At least just yet.
The report indicates that the number of deals in Q4 stood at 729. In comparison to the prior quarter, it dipped slightly from 738. When you compare year over year quarters the discrepancy is greater as Q4 2017 delivered 865 separate deals.
In total amount raised, Q4 2018 came in at € 5.19 billion. This is a decline from Q3 at €4.98 billion. But year over year the amount was down as well as Q4 2017 saw € 5.6 billion raised.
Mixed Picture
The UK was the largest player accounting for 30.4% of the total raised. This is down just slightly from the average since 2000 at 32.5%. The authors believe there is “no measurable impact” from Brexit fears.
France and Germany were in 2nd and 3rd place followed by Switzerland in 4th.
It is interesting to note that one of the top M&A events during Q4 was the acquisition of Bitstamp, a cryptocurrency exchange, by Belgium based NXMH for €346.4 million.
The top IPO was the Fintech Funding Circle which listed on the LSE raising €337.35 million in October.
Dow Jones says there is a mixed picture with some “serious headwinds.” But, all things considered, things could be worse.
See the report below.