In the first quarter of 2014, Europe saw a significant rise in the number of tech exits, with a total of 86 deals reported. This represents an increase of 29% compared to the last quarter of 2013. The UK led the way with 23 exits, followed by Germany with 14 and France with 10. The total disclosed exit volume reached €3.26 billion, a substantial increase of 160% compared to the previous quarter.
Interestingly, the number of IPOs remained relatively stable, with 11 companies going public. The most notable IPO was Just Eat, a UK-based online food order and delivery service, which raised €360 million.
Acquisitions were the most popular form of exit, with 75 deals reported. Major acquisitions included King.com (€4.9 billion), Viber (€664 million), and NaturalMotion (€389 million).
Despite the promising figures, the report also highlighted some areas of concern. The number of undisclosed exits rose from 33% to 45%, indicating a lack of transparency in the market. Additionally, the average exit value dropped from €60 million in Q4 2013 to €38 million in Q1 2014.
Lastly, the report showed that US companies were the most active buyers of European tech firms, accounting for nearly half of all deals. This suggests that Europe’s tech sector is becoming an increasingly attractive target for foreign investors.
Go to source article: http://tech.eu/features/1061/tech-exits-europe-eu-report-q1-2014/