Press Release | September 22, 2023
Keensight Capital has raised circa €3 billion to invest in European Technology and Healthcare companies
Keensight Capital, one of the leading private equity managers dedicated to European Growth Buyout[1] investments, announced today that it has raised €2.8 billion in funds to invest in leading Technology and Healthcare companies.
Keensight Capital’s recent fundraise was significantly oversubscribed, with strong support from existing LPs, as well as new investors from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. This globally diverse LP base generated c.90% of subscriptions from institutional investors (asset managers, pension funds, insurance companies, banks and sovereign wealth funds), and c.10% from former portfolio company CEOs and family offices.
Keensight Capital will continue to pursue its consistent and successful investment strategy as a leader of European Growth Buyouts. This highly differentiated investment strategy positions Keensight as a partner to passionate entrepreneurs of companies benefiting from profitable growth, and generating revenues in the range of €10m to €400m.
The Keensight team is comprised of 80 people, made up of 20 different nationalities, who pursue investments across Europe with a ticket size of between €10 million and €400 million. The team’s expertise is in attractive niches of the Technology and Healthcare sectors. Since its creation over 20 years ago, the team has invested in 69 companies and successfully completed 48 exits, generating an overall gross IRR of 39% and an average gross multiple of 3.4x. Keensight’s portfolio companies have achieved an average annual sales growth rate of 20% over the last 5 years and an average EBITDA margin of 25% in 2022, proof that Keensight has generated value through profitable growth independent of market cycles.
Overall, Keensight enjoys one of the best value creation records in the private capital sector, including a zero-loss ratio with its Growth Buyout strategy.
Jean-Michel Beghin, Managing Partner at Keensight Capital, said: “This successful fundraise makes Keensight Capital one of the undisputed leaders in European Growth Buyouts. The size demonstrates the value our investors see in our differentiated positioning and the discipline of our team. We have a proven track record of delivering value through profitable growth, independent of market cycles, with an overall gross IRR of 39% and an average gross multiple of 3.4x. We feel privileged to have the continued support of our existing investors and are delighted to welcome new investors to our globally diverse LP base.”
Nicolas Dufourcq, Chief Executive Officer of BPI, added: “I am glad to have supported Keensight in this record fundraising. Bpifrance is proud to be working alongside Keensight to support the tech buyout approach, the development of businesses and the transformation of the economic fabric, particularly in the tech and healthcare sectors.”
Keensight was advised by Park Hill as placement agent.
[1] Growth Buyout: investment in profitable, private companies experiencing strong growth, in minority or majority positions, with or without leverage, using a flexible approach tailored to the needs of individual entrepreneurs, in order to finance organic growth projects, acquisition strategies or provide historic shareholders with liquidity.
About Keensight Capital
Keensight Capital (“Keensight”), one of the leading European Growth Buyout firms, is committed to supporting entrepreneurs as they implement their growth strategies. For over 20 years, Keensight Capital’s team of seasoned professionals has leveraged their knowledge of investment and growth industries to invest for the long term in profitable companies with high growth potential and revenues in the range of €10 million to €400 million. Drawing on its expertise in the Technology and Healthcare sectors, Keensight identifies the best investment opportunities in Europe and works closely with management teams to develop and achieve their strategic vision. Keensight Capital’s success has also earned it a Gold Award from the Private Equity Exchange & Awards each year for the last six consecutive years, and in particular, the Best European Growth Private Equity Fund.
keensight.com
Press contacts
Keensight Capital
communication@keensight.com +33 (0)1 83 79 97 15
H/Advisors for Keensight Capital
David Stürken – david.sturken@h-advisors.global +44 (0) 799 059 5913
Mael Evin – mael.evin@havas.com +33 (0) 644 12 14 91