Exits Set to Increase Worldwide as Venture Capital Industry Continues to Globalize, Says Ernst & Young

Business Wire, May 2, 2006

LONDON -- A significant increase in venture-backed exits is signaling a new phase in the evolution of the global venture capital industry, according to a report released today by leading professional services provider Ernst & Young.

Venture-backed company exits grew in value and number in 2005, as the United States and Israel saw increasing M&A valuations, while Europe experienced an increase in IPOs - a trend that is set to continue this year and into 2007, according to Transition, the fourth annual Ernst & Young Venture Capital Insight Report.

"Market demand continues for great companies, including venture-backed companies, both in terms of initial public offerings and acquisitions," Gil Forer, Global Director of Ernst & Young's Venture Capital Advisory Group, said. "At the same time, the number of exit options available to venture-backed companies - whether the exchange or the funding vehicle - is increasing, making it more important than ever to allow a company's business imperatives to determine the choice of exit."

Global consumer markets, increased international competition, investment opportunities in emerging markets, the higher cost of building a company in the mature markets and advancements in technology are all continuing to drive the globalization of both venture funds and their portfolio companies. "Private, venture-backed companies must increasingly act like multinationals earlier in their life cycles, taking advantage of the new global ecosystem that matches the increased demand for innovation with an international supply of talent, technologies, business models and capital," said Forer.

Collaboration among funds is also increasing as global investors seek out local funds in the emerging innovation hotbeds for help in making the right investments and penetrating large developing consumer markets. As cross-sector innovation increases, so will collaboration among funds to complement each other with the right skills and expertise when investing in the cross-sector deals that will likely characterize the next wave of disruptive technology or business models.

This annual report on the state of the venture capital industry indicates that while in the near term in the US there will probably be continued reliance on both M&A and exploration of more innovative exit opportunities, improving market conditions and investor demand for venture-backed offerings are likely to result in increased venture-backed IPO activity in both the US and Europe through 2006. In the emerging markets, the increasing number of China-focused venture capital funds being raised and invested suggests that there is a robust population of venture-backed Chinese companies in the IPO pipeline.

Other highlights of the report include:

--Venture capital investments worldwide reached the level of US$31.3 billion. The United States, Canada, Europe, and Israel represent 93% of capital invested, while China and India account for the remainder.

--Venture capital firms in the United States have raised US$41 billion in new funds in the last two years. European firms closed on EUR 3.7 billion in 2005, more than double the previous year's figure.

--Venture-backed company exits grew in value and number in 2005, setting the stage for continued investment in 2006:

--In the United States, 356 companies were acquired for an aggregate amount paid of US$27.3 billion, an increase of 17% as the median amount paid rose to US$23 million with more mature companies being acquired and increased competition among buyers.

--In Europe, venture-backed IPO activity surged last year with 60 offerings that raised EUR 2.03 billion (US$2.40 billion), a 71% increase in transactions and a 185% increase in capital raised.

--Private equity firms are increasingly buying-out venture-backed companies, providing an exit to venture capital investors - a trend that looks set to continue.

--Leading investment bankers and venture capital investors believe that the challenge of meeting Sarbanes-Oxley requirements in the United States and the increased bar to listing on NASDAQ are creating new interest among venture-backed companies in listing on global exchanges such as Hong Kong, Tokyo and AIM. AIM, in particular, has become a growing destination for growth-company listings.

--The number of companies in the pool of private venture-backed companies in the U.S., Europe and Israel continues to contract. The contraction is concentrated in segments such as information services, communications, consumer and business services and retailers, as positions taken during the tech boom are being traded for promising new opportunities in biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, semiconductors, electronics, and Web 2.0 offerings.

--The rebalancing of the venture capital portfolio is ultimately a positive sign for the future of the industry as it makes way for new start-ups to attract investors' attention. The contraction in the number of companies also increases the chances of the winners to achieve market leadership through strategic acquisitions, ability to penetrate new markets and innovation of customer need-based products and services.