BaltCap launches successor buyout fund focusing on the New Nordics
BaltCap held the first close of BaltCap Private Equity Fund III (BPEF III) at €126 million, being above the initially targeted size subscribed by the existing investor base. The new fund will continue the proven and successful buy-and-build strategy of its predecessor funds, BPEF I and BPEF II, by making equity investments in mature innovative enterprises to build them into business champions.
The new fund will aim to make 8 to 10 platform investments in the Baltic and Nordic countries with enterprise values of these companies typically being between €10 to €50 million and the fund’s equity investment between €10 to €20 million.
Martin Kõdar, Managing Partner of BaltCap, emphasised that the new fund broadens the scope of BaltCap target markets. “In addition to the Baltics, which have been the core region for BaltCap, the fund will also focus on Finnish and Swedish companies with a Baltic nexus. The Nordic and Baltic economies are increasingly forming a larger, integrated market, the New Nordics, with enhanced business opportunities. BPEF III expects to be one of the facilitators of further business integration in the New Nordics,” Kõdar explained.
The investors committing to the fund include the European Investment Fund (EIF) investing partially through Baltic Innovation Fund 2 (an initiative created by cooperation between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania and EIF), the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD), the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), LHV pension funds, SEB pension funds from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, eQ Asset Management and also family offices. “We highly appreciate our long-term cornerstone investors’ continued trust in our team and strategy. It is a remarkable achievement for us and our region to exceed the targeted fund size at first close,” added Kõdar.
Pier Luigi Gilibert, Chief Executive of EIF commented: “The investment into BaltCap Private Equity Fund III marks our continuous successful cooperation. Moreover, it is the first investment from the Baltic Innovation Fund 2 – the joint Pan-Baltic initiative created to continue development of the Baltic private equity and venture capital market.”
Charlotte Ruhe, EBRD’s Managing Director for Central and South Eastern Europe said investing in BaltCap’s new fund is a good strategic fit with the EBRD’s priorities in the Baltics. “We are supporting the emergence of a stronger, more sustainable private equity sector through the provision of equity and quasi-equity financing at all stages of company development. We are pleased with the role BaltCap already has and will continue to have, through this fund, in providing scarce equity finance to companies across the Baltic states,” she said.
SEB Investment Management fund manager Endriko Võrklaev stressed that SEB’s Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian pension funds are among the fund’s largest investors. „Today more and more growth stories can be found outside listed markets. We consider the local private companies a good match to the local pension funds with a long investment horizon. Our growing exposure to local economies also helps us to remain competitive against local inflation,” Võrklaev added.
Thor Thorsteinsson, Senior Financial Manager at the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) highlighted the green investments that will be made through the fund. “We are very pleased to continue our good cooperation with BaltCap and to invest in one of their funds targeting the Pan-Baltic region for the second time. NEFCO’s involvement in the fund will result in substantially increased investments directed into companies contributing to a positive environmental impact, related for example to recycling, energy efficiency and green transport,” said Thorsteinsson.
New Nordics as a concept includes the traditional Nordic countries – Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland – and the three Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Together these countries form a dynamically growing, technology-driven and diverse, yet synergy-providing business environment that opens up innovative business possibilities.
About BaltCap
BaltCap strives to build portfolio companies into internationally recognized business champions. We partner with top management teams and entrepreneurs, helping them to achieve their ambitions and deliver transformational growth, both regionally and internationally. Our approach has enabled BaltCap to become the most experienced and largest private equity investor dedicated to the Baltic region, covering buyout, growth capital, infrastructure and venture capital. Since our foundation in 1995, BaltCap has raised multiple generations of private equity funds with aggregate capital of over €600 million backed by institutional investors. We have invested in about 100 companies across a wide range of industry sectors and stages of development. Our team of 30 investment professionals covers the region through 6 offices in Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Helsinki and Stockholm.
About EBRD
The EBRD is a multilateral bank that promotes the development of the private sector and entrepreneurial initiative in 38 economies across three continents. The Bank is owned by 69 countries as well as the EU and the EIB. EBRD investments are aimed at making the economies in its regions competitive, inclusive, well-governed, green, resilient and integrated. Follow us on the web, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
About NEFCO
NEFCO is an international financial institution (IFI) established in 1990 by the five Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, with the aim of having a positive impact on the climate and environment in a cost-efficient way. By focusing on small and medium-sized projects with tangible results, NEFCO provides high additionality to governments, co-financiers and customers. Over the years, NEFCO has financed more than 1000 private and public sector projects across different sectors in 80 countries, with strong focus on Eastern Europe, the Baltic Sea, and the Arctic and Barents Regions. NEFCO’s headquarters is located in Helsinki, Finland. Read more at www.nefco.org
Additional information:
Martin Kõdar
Managing Partner
Martin.Kodar@baltcap.com
Phone: +372 665 0280