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Private equity impact funds represent 54% of the total number of funds in the Phenix Impact Database, up from 52% in 2021. The number of funds totalled 1250 (end of January 2023) growing by 10.2% from 2021. Assets in private equity impact funds grew by 1.9% to reach €161 billion.
The private equity market in general in 2022 was a story of two halves. Growth and innovation continued with the 2021 momentum for the first half of the year, but the second half saw private equity firms become more cautious as the global macro impact of the war in Ukraine and rising inflationary pressures restricted access to financing.
From a private equity impact investment point of view, the ongoing impetus for the energy transition was turbocharged when the EU’s self-imposed sanctions on gas imports from Russia led to the end of gas supplies to Europe.
It was food security, however, which jumped into the spotlight. UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Affordable and Clean Energy retained its 3rd place in terms of capital raised in impact private equity funds in 2022, while SDG 2: Zero Hunger jumped from 14th place to 5th slot.
Key Insights
- 87 private equity impact funds were launched in 2022
- Committed capital grew by 1.9% reaching €161 billion
- Private equity funds represent 54% of the total and are the largest category in the database
- Developed market private equity funds raised 53% of the geographical total
- Venture capital impact funds make up 59% of the private equity sub-strategy funds
Download the full report and discover data from the Phenix Capital’s Impact Database, the database of impact investments and impact funds worldwide.
