First setback for Italian private equity market as investment levels fall

The Italian private equity market suffered its first setback after a decade of stable growth. The amount of funds invested fell 26 per cent - to E2.185bn - in 2001. The number of deals also declined, falling 24 per cent from 646 in 2000 to 489 in 2001, according to AIFI, the Italian venture capital association, in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers.