Global private equity and venture capital deals showed resilience in 2024 as aggregate deal value increased for the first time since 2021, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. Total deal value rose 24.7% year over year to $639.02 billion, with private equity of at least $5 billion significantly contributing to the growth. Transaction volume declined on an annual basis, however, falling to 12,672 deals in 2024 compared to 13,547 in 2023.
Key highlights from the analysis include:
Global private equity and venture capital deals accounted for 17% of global mergers and acquisitions, the highest share since at least 2019. Regionally, the U.S. and Canada led global private equity and venture capital mergers and acquisitions transactions, achieving a deal value of $188.72 billion. Europe recorded the most deal volume with 990 transactions last year, surpassing the US and Canada.
Private equity-backed mergers and acquisitions transactions in the utilities sector reached $606.4 million in 2024, nearly 2.5x their 2023 levels. Utilities held the top position with the highest deal activity in 2024, followed by real estate.
The energy sector experienced the most significant surge, with private equity deals totaling $346 million in 2024. That represented a sixfold increase year over year, likely due to the increasing power requirements of artificial intelligence. Other industries also gained traction, including healthcare, consumer discretionary and consumer staples.
In terms of private equity and venture capital funding rounds, value increased nearly 9% year over year to $283.71 billion. However, the number of transactions declined to 10,334 from 11,387.
For the complete analysis, visit: S&P Global Market Intelligence.
