Spanish Investments See Rise in Numbers –

Spanish private equity investments continue to rise, according to the Spanish venture capital association, ASCRI. For the first six months of the year, 597 million was committed, with the number of investments also up, reaching 197 transactions.

Of these commitments, 117 were new investments, while the remainder were in follow-on investments. Seed investments accounted for 7.5% in the first semester compared to a 17.8% share in 2000. Growth capital continues to be a major source of deal flow, representing over two thirds of amount invested.

“The level of investment is growing. It is not a big jump in activity, but at least it is not a decrease,” said Dominique Barthel of ASCRI. She added that the growing number of investments is due to an expanding private equity culture in Spain and a handful of new entrants to the market.

Following a boom in fundraising activity in Spain over the past year, total funds managed dedicated exclusively to Spain grew by 10%. This was largely due to Spanish veteran Mercapital‘s euro600 million offering, the second largest country-specific fund in Europe.