Private equity investments in Israel hit an all-time high in the second quarter of 2015, the Israel Venture Capital (IVC) research center said today. David Shamah, technology reporter for The Times of Israel, reported more.

According to Marianna Shapira, Research Manager at IVC, “Israeli high-tech companies appealed to many private equity investors, who invested $1.4 billion in capital during the quarter. We’ve observed a rapidly growing interest in local high-tech by investors from around the world. Based on current trends in Israeli high-tech and our conversations with investors, private equity funds believe that Israeli technology sector offers various engagement opportunities.”

A previous IVC report showed that investments in Israeli tech overall – by venture capital funds, private equity groups, and angels – had hit an all-time high in the second quarter. The new report focuses on PE deals, in which funds finance a total buyout of a target company, as opposed to acquiring a partial or majority share in a firm. There were 29 such deals in the second quarter of 2015, worth $1.67 billion, said IVC.

Much of this investment came from foreign markets, especially China.

IVC reported in April that Israeli high-tech companies raised nearly $1 billion during the first quarter of the year.

[Photo: Yossi Zamir / Flash90 ]