En 2001, tandis que le montant total de l'investissement européen dans les entreprises non cotées (private equity) progressait légèrement pour atteindre son deuxième record historique, on a constaté un report important sur les rachats d'entreprises, moins risqués, et un renforcement des investissements de suivi, qui ont laissé l'investissement en capital de départ (early stage investment), notamment en capital d'amorçage (seed investment), dans une situation difficile.
Whereas the total amount of EU private equity investment has slightly increased over 2001, and is the second largest ever, there has been an important shift towards less risky buy-outs and more focus on follow-on investments leaving investment in early stage, particularly for seed investment in a difficult situation.
