The first quarter of 2014 set the bar for equity capital markets in Europe, with activity hitting the highest level since the financial crisis. The first three months of 2015 cleared that level, and then some.

There was $67.4 billion worth of activity in Europe in the first quarter of 2014, which at the time was the highest since records began in 1995. However, the first three months of 2015 outpaced last year's milestone by 14%.