Private-equity and venture-capital groups across Europe raised $52.4 billion (or €45.6bn) in the first half of 2018,: Private-equity and venture-capital firms saw a 40% spike in the first six months of 2018, compared with the second half of 2017, according to Invest Europe Private-equity and venture-capital groups across Europe raised $52.4 billion (or €45.6 billion) in the first half of 2018, a 40% increase from the second half of last year, as yield-starved investors continued to search for higher returns in a low-interest-rate environment.