LAUNCH OF EQUISTONE PARTNERS EUROPE

Management buyout of Barclays Private Equity management company from Barclays Bank PLC   Equistone Partners Europe (“Equistone”) today announces that it has agreed to acquire the management company of Barclays Private Equity (“BPE”), a leading European mid-market private equity firm from Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”). The deal is a management buyout to form a new, independent firm called Equistone.  The acquisition will result in Equistone taking over the management of BPE Funds I, II and III previously managed by BPE into which Barclays itself will remain invested alongside a wide range of global institutional investors.  

Equistone will build on BPE’s strategy of partnering with management teams to support buyouts of developing businesses with strong growth potential and leading market positions. The Equistone  management team built at BPE a strong  proven track record, with 30 years of success in managing private equity investments.  This will continue, as Equistone, giving it a track record to raise further funds for investment in businesses with enterprise values between €50m and €300m.

BPE was focussed on backing management buyouts from 1996 and has invested €5.3 billion in 214 transactions in that time.  The majority of these investments have been realised or partially realised and generated excellent returns for BPE’s investors.

Guillaume Jacqueau, Managing Partner of Equistone commented:

“Our team’s successful investment track record has been established over many years by a consistent focus on identifying and partnering with winning management teams in the European mid-market to achieve long term growth and impressive returns for our investors.   This strong track record means Equistone is well positioned from the outset to capitalise on continuing investment opportunities in Western Europe as an independent investment firm. We look forward to working with our fund investment partners and management teams in continuing this for many years to come, and thank Barclays for its support to our business over many years.”