Munich/ Stockholm — EQT’s flagship private equity fund receives commitments totaling EUR 22 billion (USD 24 billion) in its largest fundraising to date, of which EUR 21.7 billion (USD 23.5 billion) relates to assets under management, exceeding the target of EUR 20 billion (USD 21.6 billion).
This represents an increase of almost 40 percent over EQT IX, thanks to strong support from existing and new investors, with a greater proportion of commitments coming from private assets.
EQT X builds on EQT Private Equity’s 30-year track record of investing primarily in the healthcare, technology and technology-enabled services sectors in Europe and North America.
EQT is pleased to announce that EQT X (the “Fund”) has completed its final close and has raised a total of EUR 22 billion (USD 24 billion) in commitments, of which EUR 21.7 billion (USD 23.5 billion) are fee-generating assets under management. The fundraising exceeded the target of EUR 20 billion (USD 21.6 billion) and represents an increase of almost 40% compared to EQT IX, which closed in April 2021 at EUR 15.6 billion. It is also one of the largest private equity funds ever launched.
The fund received commitments from a wide range of investors, including pension and sovereign wealth funds, asset managers and the private wealth segment. The latter accounted for a larger share of total commitments, reflecting EQT’s recent strategic efforts to offer this segment better access to EQT funds with the launch of EQT Nexus. The fund investors were based in North and South America, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Europe and the Nordic countries.
EQT X is the latest fund in EQT’s private equity strategy
The strategy has been investing in the healthcare, technology, technology-enabled services and industrial technology sectors in Europe and North America for thirty years and has achieved a gross multiple on invested capital of 2.7x during this time. The fund has announced seven investments since June 2022, starting with the acquisition of Envirotainer, the world’s leading provider of mission-critical transportation services to the biopharma industry. Other investments include advanced medical components provider Zeus, leading accounts receivable automation company Billtrust and veterinary pharmaceuticals company Dechra Pharmaceuticals.
Per Franzén (photo), Head of Private Capital Europe & North America at EQT and Chairman of the EQT Private Equity Investment Committee, said: “We remain focused on supporting and future-proofing businesses in attractive and resilient sectors such as healthcare and technology and have proven our ability to perform and return capital through cycles. We are continuing to invest in our sector expertise, sharpening our investment model and developing our value creation tools. Our thematic investment strategy and our strong local presence are competitive advantages when it comes to sourcing opportunities, not least in an environment where deals are slower to close. EQT X has made a good start: We have already announced four take-privates and offer extensive co-investment opportunities.”
Suzanne Donohoe, Chief Commercial Officer at EQT, said: “We would like to thank both our long-standing and new clients for their support of EQT X. We look forward to working with them in the future. Around 70 percent of commitments to the fund came from existing EQT IX investors, a testament to the long-term trust we have built together. We are also grateful for the support of new clients who have recognized our 30-year track record of delivering strong and consistent returns. We look forward to further strengthening our partnerships over the next 30 years and beyond.”
As one of EQT’s eleven business units, the EQT Private Equity team consists of more than 130 investment professionals spread across 15 offices in Europe and North America. They work with portfolio companies to accelerate growth, strengthen profitability and increase resilience through an active participation model. This is done by providing practical support to management teams, taking a long-term perspective and contributing in-depth expertise in areas such as AI, digitalization and sustainability. The teams also draw on the expertise of EQT’s network of over 600 industry consultants, all of whom have experience in managing companies in EQT Private Equity’s core sectors. EQT Private Equity works closely with EQT’s other private capital businesses, which include EQT Private Capital Asia, EQT Future, EQT Healthcare Growth, EQT Growth and EQT Ventures.
About EQT
EQT is a global investment organization focused on active ownership strategies. With its Nordic heritage and global mindset, EQT has an almost three-decade track record of developing businesses across geographies, sectors and strategies. EQT has investment strategies that cover all stages of a company’s development, from start-up to maturity. EQT has total assets under management of EUR 232 billion (EUR 130 billion in fee-earning assets) in two business segments — Private Capital and Real Assets.
EQT has its roots in the entrepreneurial mindset of the Wallenberg family and their philosophy of long-term ownership and is guided by a strong set of values and a distinctive corporate culture. EQT manages and advises funds and vehicles that invest globally with the aim of future-proofing companies, generating attractive returns and making a positive impact with everything EQT does. www.eqtgroup.com