IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK Small Cap III (“IK SC III”) Fund has signed an agreement to invest in Kestrel Capital (“Kestrel” or “the Company”), a fast-growing, independent Irish wealth manager. IK is investing alongside the current owners of Kestrel, who will all continue to develop and manage the business going forward. IK is investing from its dedicated pool of Development Capital, with this transaction representing IK’s first platform investment in Ireland. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed and completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Kestrel is an investment management and financial planning firm, offering bespoke services to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, corporations, charities, foundations and retirement plans. The Company was founded in 2015 and its highly skilled team is led by John Crowe, Danny McGinley and Kenny Hope. Together, they have a combined experience of more than 70 years in wealth management and they will continue to apply all this knowledge and experience to the benefit of Kestrel’s clients.

Kestrel has built a strong reputation for delivering long-term wealth preservation and accumulation strategies to a loyal and rapidly growing client base. Its business model is built around three main pillars: bespoke advice; disciplined portfolio construction; and rigorous oversight. As one of only a few independent MiFID regulated wealth managers in Ireland, the Company is able to provide discretionary portfolio management services, tailored to the specific needs of each client.

Since inception, Kestrel has increased its assets under management to over €1bn and is well positioned to continue its impressive growth, due to the Company’s differentiated offering, its well-established track record and the backdrop of increasing wealth generation in Ireland.

In partnership with IK, Kestrel plans to: continue providing high-quality advice to its growing client base; broaden its service offering; and invest in its operations to uphold high service standards. The Company will also accelerate growth by developing its existing team, attracting new senior wealth managers and making selective complementary acquisitions in a highly fragmented market.

John Crowe, Founder and CEO of Kestrel, said: “This investment from IK marks an important milestone in the development of Kestrel as we seek to further strengthen our position in the Irish Wealth Management sector. With the expertise and experience brought by the IK team, we will be able to capitalise on the market opportunity and pursue a growth strategy in an industry that is poised for consolidation.”

Simon May, Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK SC III Fund, added: “We have been very impressed with Kestrel’s achievements since inception. Its rapid growth is a real testament to the hard work and tireless efforts of John and his team to build a high-quality, client-centric business. We look forward to supporting John, Danny, Kenny and their team in the next chapter of Kestrel’s development, utilising the expertise of the wider IK platform and our experience with similar wealth management businesses.”

For further questions, please contact:

IK Partners
Vidya Verlkumar
Phone: +44 (0)7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com

H/Advisors Maitland
Vikki Kosmalska
Phone: +44 (0) 7754 943 601
vikki.kosmalska@h-advisors.global

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that it has invested in Sterimed Group (“Sterimed” or “the Group”), a leading provider of sterile medical packaging solutions, as part of a management-led consortium. The consortium includes long-term investor Sagard, which has reinforced its position by increasing its investment, as well as a club of new investors Société Générale CP, Geneo CE, Capza and Investir pour l’Enfance, under the name of “Friends of Sterimed”. The families and entrepreneurs who have historically invested in Sterimed have also all chosen to remain shareholders in the Group by joining the “Friends of Sterimed”. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Founded in 2016 by CEO Thibaut Hyvernat, who led a carve-out from Arjowiggins, Sterimed has established itself as a leading integrated sterile flexible medical packaging player globally. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, Ile-de-France, the Group produces medical grade paper, film substrates and assembled packaging, such as pouches, bags and wraps, for medical device manufacturers (“MDMs”), hospitals and intermediaries known as convertors. Sterimed counts leading MDMs, as well as key hospital organisations, among its large and diversified client base.

In recent years and with the backing of Sagard, Sterimed has embarked on a strategy of internationalisation in markets beyond Europe, most notably China, Mexico and the US, via eight strategic acquisitions. At present, the Group has more than 1,500 employees across 14 production sites and 24 warehousing and sales offices.

With the support of the entire consortium over the next few years, Sterimed aims to drive continued organic growth by expanding globally into less penetrated markets, cross-selling new products to existing clients and leveraging synergies from recent acquisitions. The Company also plans to support innovation in core and new markets, pursue further acquisitions and enter strategic adjacent sectors such as Pharma and Life Sciences.

Thibaut Hyvernat, Chairman and CEO of Sterimed, said: “I am proud of the journey Sterimed has taken over the past eight years as well as the unique, entrepreneurial spirit we’ve managed to cultivate alongside rapid growth. We’d like to thank Sagard and our existing partners for their guidance while accompanying us on the journey and are pleased that they have chosen to renew their investment in the Group on this next phase of growth. We are very excited to welcome IK as a new partner to the Sterimed business as we aim to continue our growth in international markets. The IK team has a great deal of experience in the Healthcare sector, as well as a proven track record of supporting European businesses seeking global expansion.”

Vincent Elriz, Partner at IK Partners and Advisor to the IK X Fund, added: “We are delighted to partner with Thibaut, his team, Sagard and all shareholders as Sterimed embarks on its next phase of development. The Group has delivered strong growth in recent years through the expansion of its product portfolio for both MDMs and hospitals, as well as a targeted M&A strategy. With the IK Platform, we are confident in our ability to further support the Group’s growth trajectory, both organically and through strategic add-on acquisitions.”

Saïk Paugam, Partner at Sagard, commented: “We are extremely proud of Sterimed’s journey since our investment in 2019. Thanks to the combination of eight carefully integrated acquisitions and ambitious organic growth initiatives through sustained investments, Sterimed has consolidated its position as a world-leading medical sterilisation packaging player. This outstanding performance has been driven by both the expertise of an outstanding management team and the continued internationalisation of the business. We look forward to continuing to work with Thibaut and his team on this next stage of the Group’s story, with the added experience of IK.”

For further questions, please contact:

IK Partners
Vidya Verlkumar
Phone: +44 (0)7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com

Cinnamon International S.à r.l. (whose majority shareholder is the IK VII Fund) (“IK Partners”) has successfully completed the sale of 22,641,829 ordinary shares in Netel Holding AB (publ), equal to approximately 46.7 percent of the share capital and votes of Netel, at a price of SEK 8.50 per share.

The shares were sold to a broad group of investors, including among others Etemad Group AB, Netel’s CEO and President Jeanette Reuterskiöld and CFO Fredrik Helenius. Other investors participating in the sale include, among others, TAMT AB, Stefan Lindblad, S- bolagen AB, Santhe Dahl Invest AB, Bernt Ivarsson and Cicero Fonder.

“We would like to thank IK Partners for their support during Netel’s growth journey,” says Alireza Etemad, Chairperson of Netel. “I am pleased to see strong commitment and trust from Board members, management, as well as new and existing shareholders for the future of Netel. We look forward to supporting Netel as it continues to deliver on its strategy as a leading specialist in critical infrastructure in Northern Europe.”

Following the sale, IK Partners no longer holds any shares in Netel.

Polar Advisory acted as Sole Manager and Bookrunner in the sale.

Contacts

Jeanette Reuterskiöld, President and CEO, +46 (0) 702 28 03 89, jeanette.reuterskiold@netel.se
Fredrik Helenius, CFO, +46 (0) 730 85 52 86, fredrik.helenius@netel.se
Åse Lindskog, IR, +46 (0) 730 24 48 72, ase.lindskog@netelgroup.com

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK Small Cap IV (“IK SC IV”) Fund has signed an agreement to acquire DATAPART Factoring GmbH (“DATAPART” or “the Company”), a leading German provider of business process outsourcing (“BPO”) for driving schools, alongside the existing management team. IK is acquiring its stake from German Equity Partners V, a fund managed by independent investment company ECM Equity Capital Management GmbH (“ECM”). Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Ludwigsburg, Germany, DATAPART provides a tech-enabled BPO solution for driving schools, which covers billing, payment processing, administrative processes as well as liquidity management. The Company’s full-service outsourcing offering is seamlessly integrated with its clients’ operations through its own proprietary software system, which provides for comprehensive process automation. Its small and medium-sized enterprise customers benefit from significantly reduced administrative burdens, greater financial security and enhanced flexibility — enabling them to focus on their core business and development. DATAPART is the clear leader in its market, with a long-term track record of consistent growth.

In partnership with IK, DATAPART will further develop its platform by investing in its solutions and capabilities. It will leverage IK’s extensive BPO expertise and strong presence in the DACH region to strengthen its differentiated position in the German driving school market and expand its footprint.

David Wimpff and Max Thielemann, Co-CEOs of DATAPART, said: “We are thrilled to partner with IK as we strengthen our position in the driving school BPO market. This investment represents a significant milestone in DATAPART’s journey towards becoming a leading tech-enabled BPO specialist. With IK’s expertise and strong track record as a leading investor in the DACH region, we are confident in our ability to achieve accelerated growth while expanding our market share in Germany and beyond. We are particularly excited about exploring new verticals together, leveraging IK’s operational capabilities and extensive network.”

Nils Pohlmann, Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK SC IV Fund, added: “Mobility in our society starts at the level of driving schools. DATAPART is the clear market leader when it comes to BPO solutions, offering crucial support to driving schools and enhancing their operations.We have been impressed by DATAPART’s ability to provide tech-enabled outsourcing solutions and its consistent, long-term track record of high-quality service delivery. David and Max are a strong, entrepreneurial management team with deep industry knowledge and we are excited to be supporting the Company in its next chapter of growth.”

Axel Eichmeyer, Managing Partner at ECM, added: “It has been a great pleasure collaborating with David, Max and the entire DATAPART team, supporting DATAPART’s continued growth and development. We would like to thank the team for their trust and dedication and wish them continued success alongside their new partner, IK.”

For further questions, please contact:

IK Partners
Vidya Verlkumar
Phone: +44 7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com

ECM Equity Capital Management
Phone: +49-69-97 102-0
info@ecm-pe.de

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK Small Cap III (“IK SC III”) Fund has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Lohoff Pension Services GmbH (“Lohoff” or “the Company”), a German specialist provider of occupational pension administration solutions, from the founding family. IK is investing from its dedicated pool of Development Capital, alongside the Company’s existing management team. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Founded in 1992 by Petra and Heinz-Günter Lohoff and headquartered in Isernhagen, Germany, Lohoff is a full-service provider of occupational pension administration solutions, offering its clients and their employees a comprehensive, fully digitalised and software-enabled pension administration platform. The Company primarily focuses on managing complex occupational pension schemes for large corporations. Its offering includes highly automated and customisable processes, systems and reporting structures. As a result, Lohoff has built longstanding partnerships with a broad and diversified base of customers, including many notable blue-chip clients.

Lohoff has a highly experienced team, focused on designing and delivering tailored solutions for the occupational pension market. The Company operates from two locations: its main office in Isernhagen, near Hanover and a secondary base in Warnemünde, near Rostock.

With IK’s support, Lohoff plans to strengthen its market position by expanding its product and software offerings across existing verticals and complementary service areas, while continuing to invest in operational scalability, systems enhancements and digital infrastructure.

Petra Lohoff, Founder and Shareholder of Lohoff, said: “I am very pleased to see the vision my husband and I built being carried forward by IK, in partnership with the management team at Lohoff. IK brings the right combination of experience and perspective to support the Company’s continued growth. I wish all parties every success in this new chapter.”

Martin de Vries, Managing Director at Lohoff, said: “I am extremely proud of what we have achieved at Lohoff. With over two decades of experience in designing, implementing and administering pension plans, we are well positioned to benefit from long-term structural growth in the market. This new partnership comes at the right time as we look to enhance our offering and continue delivering a best-in-class service. We are excited to work with IK, who bring the strategic insight and expertise required to support Lohoff in its next phase of growth.”

Sebastian Hinz, Managing Director at Lohoff, commented: “We are proud of the strong and differentiated position we have built over the last two decades. Lohoff’s unique capabilities in digital integration and service customisation have allowed us to build lasting relationships with clients that manage complex pension structures. We look forward to working with IK as we scale the business and broaden our service offering.”

Ingmar Bär, Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK SC III Fund, added: “Lohoff has positioned itself as a leading provider of specialist pension administration services in an attractive, resilient market supported by strong regulatory tailwinds. Its strong IT capabilities, high quality standards and flexible offering provide a solid foundation for continued growth. We are pleased to be partnering with Martin, Sebastian and their team to accelerate the Company’s development and leverage our expertise in the Business Services sector to support its ambitions.”

For further questions, please contact:
IK Partners
Vidya Verlkumar
Phone: +44 (0)7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com

IK Partners (“IK” or “the Firm”), a leading European private equity firm, is pleased to announce that it has closed its 10^th Mid Cap fund, the IK X Fund (“IK X” or “the Fund”), having reached its hard cap of €3.3 billion and representing the largest fund the Firm has raised to date. IK’s previous Mid Cap fund, IK IX, raised €2.85 billion in 2020.

IK X attracted significant interest from a high-quality institutional investor base across EMEA (64%), Asia (20%) and the Americas (16%), with a record amount of capital raised from limited partners investing in IK funds for the first time.

This announcement follows a period of record activity for the Firm which saw IK invest in 20 new companies and exit 11 since the start of 2024.

IK X has already made seven investments to date and will continue investing in established European mid-market businesses valued above €200 million across four core sectors of Business Services, Healthcare, Consumer and Industrials.

Christopher Masek, CEO of IK Partners, said: “We are grateful to have once again secured the support of our investors to continue delivering on the strategy of our flagship fund, supporting exceptional businesses in the European mid-market to achieve their full potential. After a record year of activity in 2024 and strong start to 2025, we look forward to maintaining this momentum and driving value across the entire IK platform.”

Dan Soudry, Managing Partner and Head of Mid Cap Strategy, commented: “We are very pleased to announce the final close of IK X in our flagship Mid Cap strategy, which has generated significant interest from a diverse mix of investors. We have already made good progress with the deployment of capital from the Fund and look forward to continuing to invest in leading companies across Europe in all our target sectors.”

Mads Ryum Larsen, Managing Partner and Head of Investor Relations, added: “We thank each of our investors – both existing and new – for placing their trust in IK by contributing to the successful close of our largest ever fund. Against a challenging market environment, we are delighted that IK’s proposition continues to resonate and are grateful for their continued confidence and support.”

For further questions, please contact:

IK Partners
Vidya Verlkumar
Phone: +44 (0) 7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com

H/Advisors Maitland
Finlay Donaldson
Phone: +44 (0) 7341 788 066
finlay.donaldson@h-advisors.global