UK private equity tech investment bounces back in 2012

Figures from investment bank Altium predict nigh on 50 bounce back in after lacklustre 2011

Private equity investment in the UK technology market has rebounded robustly in 2012 after a sharp fall-off last year.

That is the conclusion of research from investment bank Altium, based on figures from Experian Corpfin. According to the data, UK tech investment from the private equity sector for the year to the end of October totalled £2.5bn across 130 deals.

This compares with a total of £2.1bn and 161 deals over the whole of last year, which marked a hefty drop on the £5bn figure seen in 2010, across just 141 deals. Altium expects total investment to nudge £3bn by the end of this year.

Big deals to have gone down this year include LDC's buyout of Mancunian broadband provider Metronet, and the acquisition of Surrey-based software house Kewill by Francisco Partners.

Altium managing director Aksana Pekun claimed the volatility of the stock market could prompt further private investment next year.

"While it remains difficult to float businesses and tricky for those currently listed, private equity looks like an attractive place to source finance," she said. "IPOs have been few and far between in 2012 and we do not expect that to change, certainly not among tech businesses."