Companies owned by private equity investors grew clearly faster than peer companies, even during the pandemic

According to the study, companies owned by private equity investors have fared much better than their peers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The annual growth of companies that have received venture capital or buyout investments (later private equity) is significantly faster compared to peer companies: their turnover has increased by almost half (48.7%) and the number of employees by approximately one fifth (23.2%) annually. Companies were analysed for three years after they received an initial investment from a private equity investor.

Peer companies saw more moderate growth, as turnover increased by 5.5% and the number of employees by five per cent annually.

The investment activities of private equity investors have also continued actively throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. According to statistics published earlier in the spring, venture capital investments in Finnish startups broke all previous records in 2020. The amount of buyout investments made in more established growth companies remained at the level of previous years.

”During the pandemic, we have seen how private equity investors also help portfolio companies navigate challenging situations – not just helping them survive but also find new growth opportunities, for example through digitalisation,” comments Kenneth Blomquist, Head of Private Equity at KPMG.

”Finnish startups have received a record-breaking amount of funding, which has been used, for example,  for developing new solutions for tackling climate change. We can be proud that Finnish companies are at the forefront of solving the challenges of our time,” says Pia Santavirta, Managing Director of FVCA.

Private-Equity-Backed Companies Significant Employers

The portfolio companies of private equity investors employ about 73,000 people in Finland. It is more than five percent of the total number of employees in Finnish companies. In addition, some of the employees of Finnish private equity investors’ portfolio companies, approximately 10,000 employees, are located outside Finland.

”Private-equity-backed companies are significant employers. Finland has an aging population, and these fast-growing, interesting companies can play a part in attracting much needed international talent to Finland,” Santavirta comments.

”The number of employees in companies owned by private equity investors grows five times faster than in peer companies, and a significant part of that growth comes from entirely new jobs,” Blomquist continues.

The combined turnover of Finnish companies owned by domestic and foreign private equity investors is over €25 billion. It corresponds to more than 5% of the total turnover of Finnish companies.

”Private equity investors share risk with entrepreneurs and bring their growth expertise to their portfolio companies. Together, investors and entrepreneurs create successful growth stories, building both stronger and more international SMEs to Finland as well as developing our innovative startups into becoming global leaders,” Santavirta concludes.

Source: Finnish Venture Capital Association