Number of private equity investment funds in the UK 2018, by stage

The source added the following classifications:

Buyout fund: Funds acquiring companies by purchasing majority or controlling stakes, financing the transaction through a mix of equity and debt.

Growth fund: Funds that make private equity investments (often minority investments) in relatively mature companies that are looking for primary capital to expand and improve operations or enter new markets to accelerate the growth of the business.

Venture capital:
• Early-stage fund: Venture capital funds focused on investing in companies in the early stages of their lives.
• Later-stage fund: Venture capital funds providing capital for an operating company, which may or may not be profitable. Typically in C or D rounds.
• Venture fund (all stages): Venture capital funds focused on both early and later stage investments.

Other includes replacement capital, refinancing bank debt and rescue/turnaround.