Eque2 supplies business management software to more than 2,700 customers in the construction, housebuilding and contracting industries. Its software enables builders, contractors, architects, engineers and estimators to integrate the commercial and financial aspects of their business, driving efficiencies and ultimately improving profitability. Revenues have grown significantly over the last four years and it has proven to be exceptionally resilient during the Covid pandemic. The company continues to invest significantly in customer service and product development to allow customers to further integrate and mobilize the commercial and financial aspects of their business to drive efficiencies and ultimately improve profitability.
The transaction values Eque2 at £46.5m. Kempen co-invests in the management buyout together with its long-time UK investment partner WestBridge Capital and as a group they have a majority stake in the capital of the business, with the balance owned by the Eque2 management team. This is the 7th direct deal in the Kempen European Private Equity Fund and the second UK-focused deal for the Fund.
Sven Smeets, Managing Director Kempen Private Markets, comments: “Eque2 is a very attractive business. The management team is experienced with a proven track record and the company operates in a resilient market that is expected to grow strongly over the next few years as the UK emerges from the economic impact of Covid and Brexit. We are delighted to be able to back this highly experienced management team, who we are confident will successfully steer the business to its next level of growth.”
Edzard Potgieser, Director Kempen Private Markets, adds: “together with our partner WestBridge Capital, we are looking forward to supporting and helping drive further investments and growth in the Eque2 business in the years to come.”
Guy Davies, Managing Partner at WestBridge Capital, said: “We are pleased to report that with the support of our co-investor Kempen we have successfully closed the £46.5m management buyout of construction software company Eque2. We are delighted that Kempen has chosen WestBridge as its UK private equity investment partner and that they are co-investing with us in Eque2. We look forward to working with Kempen and the Eque2 management team on this very exciting opportunity. We have worked together with Kempen for years on various other successful deals and we view the Kempen team as a partner in an alliance that offers room for professional, long term entrepreneurial investing.”
About Eque2
Eque2 is a specialized supplier of software for the construction industry. The company provides software to over 2,700 clients and employs over 150 staff in 4 offices in the UK.
About the
The Kempen European Private Equity Fund was launched at the start of 2019 and is a closed-end investment fund with a minimum duration of ten years. The fund focuses on the small and lower mid-sized segment of the European buy-out private equity market in five regions: the Benelux, the German-speaking countries, France, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. The aim is to construct a broad investment portfolio over a period of three to five years by diversifying across the listed regions and a range of sectors. The reason for this is risk diversification.
As of February 2021, the portfolio already contained seven direct investments in companies and nine partnerships with local European investment partners that are well established in their respective regions. The fundraise for the Kempen European Private Equity Fund was successfully completed in 2019 on a total committed capital of € 192.5 million.The Kempen European Private Equity Fund has now been closed to new participants/entrants.
The information in this document provides insufficient information for an investment decision. Please read the Key Investor Document (available in Dutch and English) and the prospectus (available in English). These documents of the Fund are available on the website of KCM (www.kempen.com/en/asset-management). The information on the website is (partly) available in Dutch and English. The Subfonds is registered for offering in a limited number of countries. The countries where the subfund is registered can be found on the website.
The value of your investment may fluctuate. Past performance provides no guarantee for the future.
About Kempen Capital Management
Kempen Capital Management is a specialist asset manager with a focused approach and a clear investment philosophy. We believe in long-term stewardship for our clients and other stakeholders. Kempen provides sustainable returns, fiduciary management services, manager selection, portfolio construction and monitoring, alongside a number of actively-managed investment strategies. As of 30 June 2020, Kempen Capital Management had a total of €79.1 billion in client assets under management.
Kempen Capital Management, part of Van Lanschot Kempen Wealth Management NV, is a specialist and independent wealth manager. Kempen Capital Management NV is licensed as a manager of various UCITS and AIFs and authorised to provide investment services and as such is subject to supervision by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. Kempen Capital Management (UK) Ltd is licensed as a manager and subject to supervision by the Financial Conduct Authority.
