N&Q: Family office deals; private equity and family offices

Family offices and private individuals were among the biggest investors in private equity in Europe last year, according to Invest Europe, against a background of a very buoyant private equity market. Family offices and private individuals provided 15% of the €71.7.6 billion in private equity investment in 2017, the third highest contribution after pension funds and fund of funds. In total, private equity investment in European companies hit a ten-year high in 2017, representing a 29% year-on-year increase, according to Invest Europe. Almost 7,000 companies received investment, of which 87% were small and medium-sized enterprises.