
Advent raises EUR6.6bn global buyout fund
Fund
Advent International has closed its sixth global buyout fund GPE VI on its hard cap of EUR6.6bn. Touted as the largest mid-market buyout fund ever raised, it is also the ninth-largest global buyout fund and the largest one that Advent has ever raised. GPE VI exceeded its original EUR5bn target by more than 30% and was oversubscribed, with LPs wanting to invest more than EUR10bn. The fund has a lifespan of 10+1+1 years and is based in the Cayman Islands. Terms and conditions are described as industry standard. Legal advice was provided by Goodwin Procter.
Investors
GPE VI attracted 160 investors, with two-thirds of the capital raised from returning investors. Geographically, 42% of the capital was raised from North American LPs, 41% from European LPs, 11% from Asia Pacific, and 6% from the Middle East.
The largest investors are Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, GIC Special Investments, AlpInvest Partners, Pantheon, California State Teachers' Retirement System, SL Capital Partners LLP (previously known as Standard Life Investments Private Equity Ltd.), Universities Superannuation Scheme and Partners Group.
Investments
The fund follows the strategy of its predecessor, GPE V, which was closed in 2005 on EUR2.5bn to invest in the mid-market and upper mid-market segments predominantly in Europe and North America. The fund will focus on companies with a value of between EUR200m-1bn. For Germany however, Advent sees transactions of up to EUR2bn as possible, albeit not in the current market conditions. The fund will invest in between 30-35 companies.
GPE VI will focus on three core strategies: international buyouts, strategic realignment opportunities, and growth-focused buyouts. The GPE team will concentrate on augmenting the profitability of portfolio companies through the strengthening of their operative businesses, their strategic realignment and expansion into domestic as well as international markets.
Target sectors are financial services, retail, consumer goods and leisure, health, technology, media and communications, and the manufacturing industry. The investor anticipates that it will invest around 60-70% in Europe, 25-35% in North America, and 10-15% in other regions.
People
GPE VI is managed by 69 investment professionals in Western Europe and North America. They are supported by around 50 Advent transaction specialists in Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Japan.
Name: GPE VI
Closed on: EUR6.6bn
Focus: Mid-market buyout
Contact
Advent International Corporation
Address
75 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
US
Tel: +1 617 951 9400
Fax: +1 617 951 0566
Advisers
Goodwin Procter (Legal).
Latest News
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme
Multi-family office has seen strong appetite, with investor base growing since 2016 to more than 90 family offices, Meiping Yap told Unquote
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m
Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO
Partners Group to release IMs for Civica sale in mid-September
Sponsor acquired the public software group in July 2017 via the same-year vintage Partners Group Global Value 2017
Change of mind: Sponsors take to de-listing their own assets
EQT and Cinven seen as bellweather for funds to reassess options for listed assets trading underwater