Tag Archives: Funds

Bain Capital Closes Fourteenth Flagship Private Equity Fund at $14 Billion

BainCapital

Successful fundraise reflects the strength of Bain Capital’s global private equity platform, which combines scale with a differentiated investment strategy and now manages more than $27 billion across its latest vintage of North America, Europe, and Asia funds

BOSTON – October 3, 2025 – Bain Capital today announced it completed fundraising for its latest flagship private equity fund, Bain Capital Fund XIV, (“Fund XIV”), with $14 billion in total commitments, including approximately $11.8 billion of external commitments exceeding its original target of $10 billion. In keeping with the firm’s heritage across all of its funds, Bain Capital-related entities committed the balance of the capital and collectively are its single largest investor.

Together, Fund XIV and the recently closed Europe VI (2023) and Asia V (2023) private equity funds represent more than $27 billion of committed capital. Bain Capital’s private equity platform, which manages approximately $68 billion in total assets, combines the scale of a global leader with the agility of regionally focused funds and the connectivity of a fully integrated global team. This fundraise also reflects the continued confidence investors place in disciplined, durable platforms with strong alignment and a consistent record of performance across cycles.

Fund XIV is the latest vintage of Bain Capital’s global private equity business, a strategy the firm has executed consistently since 1984. Over four decades, Bain Capital has partnered with management teams to help companies grow and transform by driving operating improvements, unlocking transformational change, and achieving sustainable scale. The private equity team invests across five core verticals — Consumer, Healthcare, Industrials, Services, and Technology — and regularly draws on the insights and capabilities of the broader Bain Capital platform.

“Bain Capital’s ability to help companies reach their full potential, even in complex environments, has been the foundation of our private equity strategy for more than four decades,” said Chris Gordon, Partner and Global Co-Head of Private Equity. “Our growth-oriented approach connects global insight with deep industry expertise, empowering people across our firm and our portfolio companies to unlock transformational change and achieve sustainable scale. We are one hands-on, collaborative, and integrated team across our platform, which is particularly well-suited for today’s market. With the continued support of our investors and the strength of our global platform, Fund XIV positions us to carry this work forward and continue to create lasting impact.”

“In today’s competitive environment, scale without discipline is not enough,” added David Humphrey, Partner and Co-Head of North America Private Equity. “Our strategy has always been to focus on opportunities where Bain Capital can bring a true advantage — pairing sector specialists with cross-platform insights and the resources of our global team. That approach has enabled us to generate meaningful liquidity for our investors even in one of the most challenging exit markets since the financial crisis. Looking ahead, we remain focused on supporting transformation, driving growth, and continuing to serve as a trusted partner to leading businesses across the globe.”

Bain Capital’s global private equity platform brings together more than 330 investment and portfolio professionals worldwide, including a dedicated Portfolio Group of nearly 90 specialists. This team combines deep sector expertise with functional capabilities in areas such as digital transformation, supply chain, and talent, and works side by side with investment teams and management from diligence through ownership. This differentiated, hands-on model — with roughly 80% of value creation over the past decade driven by operating improvements rather than financial engineering — has enabled Bain Capital to build enduring businesses and deliver consistent results across market environments.

About Bain Capital 
Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms. We are committed to creating lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a culture of collaboration, advantages that enable us to innovate investment approaches, unlock opportunities, and create exceptional outcomes. Our global platform invests across five focus areas: Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. In these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and wide-ranging capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $185 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com. Follow @BainCapital on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

 

Media Contacts

 Scott Lessne / Charlyn Lusk

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CVC raises €10.4 billion for its European direct lending strategy

CVC Capital Partners

CVC Credit, the global credit management business of CVC, is pleased to announce the final close of its fourth European Direct Lending fund (“EUDL IV”)

CVC has raised €10.4 billion1 to deploy across the European Direct Lending opportunity, representing a significant increase over CVC’s prior European Direct Lending funds, which raised €6.3 billion1 in 2022 and €1.3 billion1 in 2020.

The growth of CVC’s European Direct lending platform has been underpinned by CVC’s deep local relationships across its network of sixteen European offices, and CVC’s focus on Europe for over forty years.

Rob Lucas, CEO at CVC said: “This is an excellent outcome for our latest European Direct Lending fund reflecting strong investment performance and deep and longstanding relationships with the highest quality institutional investors.

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This is an excellent outcome for our latest European Direct Lending fund reflecting strong investment performance and deep and longstanding relationships with the highest quality institutional investors

Rob LucasCEO, CVC

“CVC’s Credit platform benefits greatly from our international network of 30 local offices and its deep investment expertise. We are the number one CLO manager and a top three Private Credit manager in Europe. Our Liquid and Private Credit strategies have grown consistently over recent years and together now account for nearly a quarter of CVC’s total assets under management. We continue to see a significant number of opportunities for further growth in our Credit platform and forms a key part of our broader ambitions in Insurance and Private Wealth.”

Andrew Davies, Managing Partner, Head of CVC Credit, said: “We are extremely grateful for the continued trust and support of CVC’s global investor base. The European private credit market has developed significantly in recent years, driven by structural tailwinds and the increasing relevance of private credit within the wider credit ecosystem. We have capitalised on this market shift to scale our platform and deepen our resources, establishing CVC Credit as one of the top three private credit players in Europe.

“Looking ahead, our focus remains on delivering compelling financing solutions for Europe’s leading financial sponsors. By leveraging the insights from CVC’s leading Private Equity platform and the strength of the wider CVC Network, we are ideally positioned to act as a reliable long-term partner and to continue to take advantage of the significant European credit opportunity.”

EUDL IV has already made strong progress, committing to more than 30 investments. Recent transactions completed by EUDL IV include: KKR’s buyout of Immedica Pharma; the acquisition and growth strategy of smartTrade; Cinven’s acquisition of idealista; acting as sole lender for the acquisition of Innovative Beauty Group; and, supporting the delisting of Alpha FMC from the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange by Bridgepoint.

CVC Credit manages total assets of more than €48 billion (€43 billion of fee paying AUM) across its Liquid Credit and Private Credit businesses. The Private Credit platform comprises its European Direct Lending and Capital Solutions strategies with assets of more than €18 billion.

1. Taken together with parallel investment funds and accounts

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Apollo Expands Wealth Platform with Three Evergreen ELTIFs, Unlocking Broader Access to Private Markets

Apollo logo

Apollo European Private Credit ELTIF, Apollo Global Diversified Credit ELTIF and Apollo Global Private Markets ELTIF Receive Regulatory Authorization

Launch Provides Investors in EMEA as well as Asia and LatAm with Greater Access to Institutional-Quality Private Markets Strategies Under the ELTIF 2.0 Regime

LONDON, Sept. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that it has received regulatory authorization to launch three new evergreen, semi-liquid European Long-Term Investment Funds (“ELTIFs” or the “Funds”):

  • Apollo European Private Credit ELTIF (“AEPC ELTIF”), an evergreen, semi-liquid fund that will seek to provide investors with attractive income from newly originated, primarily first-lien, senior secured direct lending to large-cap and upper middle-market European companies
  • Apollo Global Diversified Credit ELTIF (“AGDC ELTIF”), an evergreen, semi-liquid fund that will seek to provide investors with attractive income through a global, multi-asset credit strategy. The fund is designed to invest dynamically across private credit sectors, including direct lending and asset-backed finance
  • Apollo Global Private Markets ELTIF (“AGPM ELTIF”), an evergreen, semi-liquid fund that will seek to provide investors with long-term capital appreciation by investing in private companies globally via secondaries and co-investments sourced across the Apollo platform

Apollo expects to bring the ELTIFs to market in the coming months via the Apollo Private Markets Umbrella SICAV, having received authorization from Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (“CSSF”). With these launches, Apollo’s Global Wealth business will have eight evergreen Luxembourg products available on its platform, where it continues to build a full suite of solutions and turnkey access points to institutional-quality private markets strategies that are available to investors in Europe, Asia and Latin America, subject to applicable local law and investor eligibility requirements.

The three new products will launch under the ELTIF 2.0 fund regime, providing individual investors with greater access to Apollo’s private markets expertise via tailored, evergreen formats and broader distribution channels.

Veronique Fournier, Head of EMEA Global Wealth, said: “With these three new ELTIFs, we continue to bring the best of Apollo’s investing expertise to wealth investors in Europe and around the world, in product formats tailored to their needs. Apollo has been an early mover under the ELTIF regime, launching the closed-end ACT Equity ELTIF in 2023, and we’re thrilled to now have authorization for three new evergreen formats under the 2.0 regime.”

Fournier continued, “In our Global Wealth business we continue to expand our holistic suite of solutions to meet growing demand from investors seeking to build diversified portfolios with meaningful private markets exposure.”

Apollo’s Global Wealth business reported $9 billion of inflows in the first half of 2025, across 18 separate strategies. The business continues to invest in its product and distribution, growing global team and educational resources to bring turnkey access to diversified private markets.

To learn more about Apollo’s Global Wealth business, please visit Apollo.com/Wealth.

About Apollo
Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of June 30, 2025, Apollo had approximately $840 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

Contacts
Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0540
IR@apollo.com

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0491
Communications@apollo.com / EuropeanMedia@apollo.com

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EQT broadens access to private markets for individual investors – introduces ELTIF evergreen fund

eqt

EQT Nexus ELTIF Private Equity

  • EQT introduces a European Long-Term Investment Fund (ELTIF) structure to its Nexus evergreen product suite – providing a new way to access private markets to more non-professional individual investors across the EU and EEA
  • EQT Nexus ELTIF Private Equity aims to provide exposure to a globally diversified portfolio of EQT’s well-established Private Capital strategies investing across healthcare, technology, and services
  • EQT Nexus ELTIF Private Equity marks an important step in EQT’s European Private Wealth strategy, enabling strategic distribution partnerships in key growth markets

ELTIF 2.0 (“ELTIF”) is a European Union legislative regime for a regulated fund structure designed to channel capital into long-term, illiquid asset classes, such as private equity, infrastructure and real estate, enabling access for both eligible individual investors and institutions.

EQT Nexus ELTIF Private Equity (the “Fund”) is an extension of the existing EQT Nexus evergreen product suite. The Fund can give individual investors exposure to a similar portfolio as institutions, focused on EQT’s Private Capital strategies spanning early-stage investments, growth and large-scale buyouts, investing in healthcare, technology, and services across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.

The ELTIF regulatory framework expands access to private markets for the non-professional investor category, increasing coverage to more countries within the EU and EEA, and at a lower minimum investment threshold than traditional private asset structures. Like EQT’s broader platform of evergreen products, the Fund will be made available via third-party distributors, including private banks and wealth platforms, with third party subscriptions starting in November 2025.

Peter Beske Nielsen, Global Head of Private Wealth & Evergreen Solutions at EQT, said: “The launch of EQT Nexus ELTIF Private Equity is an exciting evolution of EQT’s European Private Wealth offering, paving the way for new strategic distribution partnerships and client segments that are meaningfully under-allocated to private markets. Today, many individual investors’ portfolios are concentrated in shares, bonds, and mutual funds with publicly listed companies – even though public markets only account for a fraction of the total investable economy. The ELTIF expands access to private markets for non-professional investors across the EU and EEA, enabling broader diversification beyond traditional public holdings.”

With the launch of EQT Nexus ELTIF Private Equity, EQT’s evergreen platform now includes five evergreen solutions, including private equity, infrastructure and real estate strategies and solutions available to eligible individual investors and institutions in a number of jurisdictions in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security, and may not be used or relied upon in connection with any offer or solicitation. Any offer or solicitation in respect of the Fund will be made only through a confidential private placement memorandum and related documents which will be furnished to qualified investors on a confidential basis in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The information contained herein is not for publication or distribution to persons in the United States of America. Any securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold without registration thereunder or pursuant to an available exemption therefrom. Any offering of securities to be made in the United States would have to be made by means of an offering document that would be obtainable from the issuer or its agents and would contain detailed information about the issuer of the securities and its management, as well as financial information. The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration.

Contact
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

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Platinum Equity Completes Capital Raising for Second Lower Middle Market Fund

Platinum

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 5, 2025) – Platinum Equity confirmed today the recent completion of capital raising for Platinum Equity Small Cap Fund II, L.P., its latest fund focused on investment opportunities in the lower middle market. The fund exceeded its target of $1.75 billion and closed with $2.28 billion in commitments.

It employs Platinum Equity’s highly specialized M&A&O® strategy that integrates investment expertise with deep operational capabilities and is being deployed by the firm’s dedicated lower middle market investment team, which was established more than a decade ago to focus on the space as the firm’s flagship funds moved upstream into larger deals.

“We’ve built a powerful lower-middle market franchise that draws on three decades of experience and allows us to create value across the full spectrum of investment opportunities. The team has deep roots and tremendous momentum, and the overwhelming response to our latest fund is a testament to that.”

Tom Gores, Chairman and CEO, Platinum Equity

“We’ve built a powerful lower-middle market franchise that draws on three decades of experience and allows us to create value across the full spectrum of investment opportunities,” said Platinum Equity Chairman and CEO Tom Gores, who founded the firm in 1995. “The team has deep roots and tremendous momentum, and the overwhelming response to our latest fund is a testament to that.”

The firm’s lower middle market team comprises more than 40 M&A and Operations professionals across North America and Europe. The group specializes in transactions involving founder- or family-owned businesses, complex corporate divestures, public-to-private transitions, and acquisitions from a diverse range of private sellers. Recent acquisitions include home appliance distributor R&B Wholesale Distributors, Italian pesto maker Polli, and HVAC/R distributors Global and MARS.

Small Cap II marked Platinum Equity’s second successful capital raise in back-to-back years. The flagship Platinum Equity Capital Partners VI closed in 2024 with $12.4 billion in capital commitments. The firm has raised more than $47 billion in equity commitments from institutional investors since launching its funds business more than two decades ago.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is Platinum’s fund counsel and legal adviser for Small Cap II.

About Platinum Equity

Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with approximately $50 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 60 operating companies that serve customers around the world. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 30 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 500 acquisitions.

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Blackstone Strategic Partners Closes Largest Infrastructure Secondaries Fund Ever Raised at $5.5 Billion

Blackstone

NEW YORK – September 2, 2025 – Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announced the final close on $5.5 billion for its latest infrastructure secondaries fund, Strategic Partners Infrastructure IV L.P., and its related committed program vehicles. SP Infrastructure IV is the world’s largest dedicated infrastructure secondaries fund raised to-date.

Verdun Perry, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Strategic Partners, said: “This fundraise reflects the breadth of our platform, the power of the Blackstone Strategic Partners brand, and our commitment to generating strong risk-adjusted returns for our investors. The substantial scale we’ve built over two decades positions us well to capitalize on the growing opportunity set across the infrastructure secondary market.”

Mark Bhupathi, Senior Managing Director and Head of Strategic Partners Infrastructure, said: “We are incredibly grateful to our investors for their continued support. With our scale, global reach, and deep insights, we look forward to deploying this capital in one of the fastest growing segments of the secondary market.”

About Blackstone Strategic Partners 
Blackstone Strategic Partners is a global capital solutions provider, with $91 billion of investor capital under management. We offer a range of liquidity opportunities to both limited and general partners, including secondaries, GP Stakes and co-investments across private markets. Founded in 2000, we are one of the world’s largest and most established secondaries platforms.

Contact
Paula Chirhart
Paula.Chirhart@Blackstone.com

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Frazier Life Sciences Closes Oversubscribed $1.3 Billion Venture Fund

Frazier Life Sciences

Frazier Life Sciences XII, L.P. will focus on creating and investing in pioneering companies developing novel therapeutics

PALO ALTO, Calif. – July 31, 2025 – Frazier Life Sciences (FLS), a longstanding investment firm focused on innovative therapeutics, today announced the closing of Frazier Life Sciences XII, L.P. (FLS XII), with over $1.3 billion in capital commitments. The oversubscribed fund received strong support from both longstanding and new limited partners. Consistent with prior FLS venture funds, FLS XII will primarily invest in company creation and early-stage private biopharmaceutical companies.

“We appreciate the continued support of our limited partners, many of whom have been with us since the launch of our first dedicated venture fund in 2016,” said Patrick Heron, Managing Partner at Frazier Life Sciences. “With FLS XII, we look forward to continuing to work with exceptional entrepreneurs to advance therapeutic programs with the potential to address significant medical needs.”

Frazier Life Sciences has raised over $3.6 billion across five dedicated venture funds since 2016, alongside more than $1.7 billion raised in long-only public funds since 2021.

The FLS team includes seven investment partners and a growing group of over 35 investment professionals, operating professionals, and senior advisors with broad biopharmaceutical experience across therapeutic areas and company stages. The firm takes a hands-on, collaborative approach to company building, leading to 25 new companies launched since 2020. Noteworthy investments include Alpine Immune Sciences (acquired by Vertex), Arcutis Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: ARQT), Mirum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MIRM), NewAmsterdam Pharma (NASDAQ: NAMS), Tarsus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TARS), and Amunix Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Sanofi), among others.

About Frazier Life Sciences:

Frazier Life Sciences (FLS) invests globally in private and publicly traded companies that discover, develop, and commercialize innovative biopharmaceuticals. Since 2016, the firm has raised over $5.3 billion including venture funds focusing on company creation and private companies and long-only public funds focused on small and mid-cap public companies. Since 2010, FLS portfolio companies have achieved over 65 FDA-approved therapeutics and completed more than 60 IPOs or strategic acquisitions.

FLS is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, with offices in San Diego, Seattle, and Boston.

For more information about Frazier Life Sciences, please visit frazierls.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Ailsa Dalgliesh, Ph.D.
Head of Investor Relations
ailsa@frazierls.com

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ABN AMRO announces EUR 10m commitment to Keen Venture Partners’ European Defence and Security Tech Fund

Keen
  • This investment is ABN AMRO’s first investment in a dedicated European defence fund
  • The Fund targets early-stage companies across the EU, focusing on information superiority, cyber defence, space, autonomy and robotics among others
  • This investment aligns with the ABN AMRO’s strategy to strengthen European security and defence amid geopolitical challenges

In light of increased international tension and conflicts, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and recent pressure on the Atlantic alliance, Europe has been forced to reassess its military defence strategy and expenditure. ABN AMRO has stepped up its support to the security and defence industry in 2025, widening the scope of defence and security projects eligible for banking products, while closely keeping track of emerging defence technologies.
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Keen’s European Defence and Security Tech Fund, with a focus on early-stage companies within the defence and security technology sector, aims to support companies that are provide ‘dual use’ solutions in areas such as information superiority, cyber defence, robotics, AI, autonomous systems and space technologies such as securing satellite communications, satellite image analysis, and defence of space assets. The fund’s investments will be pan-European, with exposure to the United Kingdom, Turkey and Norway.

Dan Dorner, ABN AMRO’s Chief Commercial Officer Corporate Banking said: “ABN AMRO today announces a pioneering effort to enhance the availability of capital for defence-focused ventures in Europe, with a €10 million commitment to Keen’s European Defence and Security Tech Fund. Our commitment aligns with ABN AMRO’s Corporate Banking support to the European defence industry.”

Alexander Ribbink and Giuseppe Lacerenza, Partners at Keen Venture Partners: ‘The team at Keen has a long commitment to and investments in defence and defence technology. The opportunity to add the power of tech entrepreneurs with the full support of venture capital to the European defence ecosystem is huge. A stronger and safer Europe needs the resourcefulness and grit that only entrepreneurs can bring. We are proud to be at the forefront of this trend, and to be supported by ABN AMRO’.

More information:

Keen Venture Partners is a radically human venture capital firm based in Amsterdam and London. Keen backs exceptional teams and fast-growing European tech companies from seed to Series B. Keen has built strong expertise in defence and deep tech, supported by an advisory board of European military leaders, industry veterans, and policymakers. The firm invests through a thesis-driven approach, formulating investment ideas based on fundamental trends in specific areas of technology. When getting to know founders, Keen shares its network of operators, experience, and capabilities even before investing. The portfolio consists of 30+ startups and scaleups across Europe. You can find more information at: www.keenventurepartners.com.

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ABN AMRO Corporate Investments offers ABN AMRO clients an opportunity to help accelerate the transition to a resilient and sustainable society through a comprehensive array of capital products. These include amongst others fund investments & co-investments, direct investments through the Sustainable Impact Fund (one of the largest private impact funds in the Netherlands), hybrid debt and sub-ordinated debt.

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EIF announces €40 million investment in Keen Venture Partners’ European defence and security Tech fund under InvestEU

Keen
  • EIF commitment is backed by the InvestEU programme, which aims to trigger more than €372 billion overall in investment supporting EU policy priorities, until 2027
  • This investment is the EIF’s first investment in a dedicated European defence fund
  • The Fund targets early-stage companies across the EU, focusing on information superiority, cyber defence, space, autonomy and robotics among others
  • This investment aligns with the EIB Group’s strategy to strengthen European security and defence amid geopolitical challenges

As Europe faces an unprecedented level of security threat, innovation in defence, security, and space technologies has become a strategic imperative. The EIB Group has stepped up its support to the security and defence industry in 2024, widening the scope of defence and security projects eligible for financing earlier this March.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) today announced a pioneering effort to enhance the availability of capital for defence-focused ventures in Europe, with a €40 million investment in Keen’s European Defence and Security Tech Fund. The fund, with a focus on early-stage companies within the defence and security technology sector, aims to support companies that are pioneering solutions in areas such as information superiority, cyber defence, robotics, AI, autonomous systems and space technologies such as securing satellite communications, satellite image analysis, and defence of space assets. The Fund’s investments will be pan-European, with exposure to the United Kingdom, Turkey and Norway.

Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stephane Séjourné said: “Strengthening Europe’s defence technological and industrial base is about securing our strategic autonomy and protecting our citizens—on land, at sea, in the air, in cyberspace, and in space. It’s about ensuring that European companies can deliver the technologies we need. We are moving from declarations to delivery, with investments to match our ambition.”‍

Marjut Falkstedt, Chief Executive of the EIF, stated, “Our investment in the Keen European Defence and Security Tech Fund underscores our commitment to strengthening the European security landscape. By supporting innovative companies in this critical sector, we are not only fostering technological advancements but also enhancing Europe’s overall security and resilience.”

This investment is the first of its kind under the Defence Equity Facility and the InvestEU Space mandate and builds upon EIF’s previous investments in generalist venture capital funds with a partial focus on defence.

Alexander Ribbink, and Giuseppe Lacerenza Partners at Keen Venture Partners: ‘The team at Keen has a long commitment to and investments in defence and defence technology. The opportunity to add the power of tech entrepreneurs with the full support of venture capital to the European defence ecosystem is huge. A stronger and safer Europe needs the resourcefulness and grit that only entrepreneurs can bring. We are proud to be at the forefront of this trend, and to be strongly supported by the EIF’.

More information on the EIB Group investments in security and defence are available here.

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Background information

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of sustainability, innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment.

Keen Venture Partners is a radically human venture capital firm based in Amsterdam and London. Keen backs exceptional teams and fast-growing European tech companies from seed to Series B. Keen has built strong expertise in defence and deep tech, supported by an advisory board of European military leaders, industry veterans, and policymakers. The firm invests through a thesis-driven approach, formulating investment ideas based on fundamental trends in specific areas of technology. When getting to know founders, Keen shares its network of operators, experience, and capabilities even before investing. The portfolio consists of 30+ startups and scaleups across Europe. You can find more information at: www.keenventurepartners.com

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable economy. It helps generate additional investments in line with EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal, the digital transition and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. InvestEU brings all EU financial instruments together under one roof, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient, and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub, and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners who invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. This guarantee increases their risk-bearing capacity, thus mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

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Press contacts

Keen Venture Partners:

Alexander Ribbink | alexander@keenventurepartners.com | +31612340000
Giuseppe Lacerenza | giuseppe@keenventurepartners.com | +31612048616

EIB Group:

Serena Sertore | s.sertore@eib.org | tel.: +352 437 970 859
Website: wwww.eif.org/ | Press Office: +352 4379 21000 — press@eib.org

European Commission:

Quentin Cortes | +32 2 291 32 83 | quentin.cortes@ec.europa.eu

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European Investment Fund invests €40M in Keen Venture Partners’ defence tech fund

Keen

Amsterdam, May 22nd, 2025 – The European Investment Fund (EIF) will invest €40M in Keen Venture Partners’ European Defence and Security Tech Fund. The European Investment Fund announced this today. Keen’s fund is Europe’s first EIF – backed defence fund that focuses exclusively on defence, security and space tech. Keen expects to have a first close of its fund in the third quarter of 2025.

Europe faces an urgent need to strengthen its defence capabilities. The continent is under direct threat from the East, with Russia’s war in Ukraine continuing unabated. Europe’s key NATO ally, the United States, is demanding that it carries a fairer share of the burden of its own defence. Europe has underinvested in defence across all key areas and now needs to remedy this. Increased investment across the entire defence ecosystem is essential. Startups and scale-ups, led by entrepreneurs and backed by venture capital, can play an important role in accelerating innovation and delivering new technologies to the front lines more quickly.

Increased defence spending could significantly boost Europe’s economic growth. According to a report by the Kiel Institute which shows that gross domestic product (GDP) could increase by 0.9 percent to 1.5 percent per year if governments raised annual defence spending from the NATO target of 2 percent to 3.5 percent of GDP and shifted from buying weapons designed and made in the USA to more European purchases and innovations.

Need for defence tech entrepreneurs greater than ever

The need for a stronger and more self-sufficient European defence industry has never been greater, making the addition of defence tech entrepreneurship and venture capital – and therefore not only public funds – essential. Entrepreneurs bring innovation and cost-efficiency, particularly in dual-use solutions, and thus contribute to a deeper defence tech ecosystem. To build a strong defence tech ecosystem, venture capital is crucial for rapidly scaling these solutions and driving long-term impact.

Keen’s dedicated defence tech fund is currently in the fundraising phase with a target to raise €125 million. The investment of the European Investment Fund represents a significant contribution to becoming one of the major funds in Europe, from which around 20 to 25 startups from seed phase to Series B will be supported.

“The mission to make Europe stronger and safer by empowering defence tech entrepreneurs receives a major boost with this EIF investment in our fund”, said Alexander Ribbink, Keen Venture Partners.

Giuseppe Lacerenza, partner at Keen adds: “Strengthening Europe’s defence and security through private capital, combined with the ingenuity and perseverance of entrepreneurs, is only just beginning. We’re proud to see the EIF take a catalytic role in mobilising private investments for this vital cause.”

Expertise and network for scaling startups

Keen is characterized by its deep expertise and network in the defence tech industry. The fund tracks more than 800 European defence tech companies, which is more than any other European fund. Keen has put together a top-level European advisory board with proven experience in defence tech investments, consisting of renowned advisors with a background in the military, defence tech business and policy. Within the fund, there is room for larger investors with experience in the defence tech industry.

Keen Venture Partners aims to play a structural role in building the European defence tech ecosystem. The Keen fund focuses on ‘dual use’ defence technology in European NATO countries. Dual use technology can be used for other purposes in addition to defence tech, such as disaster control or environmental monitoring. Keen’s portfolio includes Eclectic IQ, Rescale, Perciv AI and Avalor AI.

This operation benefits from support from the European Union under the InvestEU Fund

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