Finnish private equity investor Evolver announces the first closing of maiden small-cap buyout fund at €50m

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Investors in the Fund represent a broad range of renowned Nordic public and private pension funds, insurance companies, funds-of-funds, wealth funds, endowments, family offices and high net worth individuals. The Fund received strong backing from Evolver’s existing investor base.

“The fund is a natural continuation of our historical course,” said Lasse Kittelsen, Evolver’s Managing Partner. ”Evolver has successfully been investing in the small-cap space for almost a decade. We are delighted with the strong backing we have received for our first fund and would like to thank both our long-standing investors for their continuing support and all new investors that are now joining us.”

Evolver Fund I will target Swedish and Finnish small-cap businesses with a turnover of €1030m and needing a growth partner, hence continuing Evolver’s investment strategy centred on control equity investments in owner-led companies with significant growth and operational improvement potential. The Fund looks to make eight to ten investments in companies valued at €5-20m, writing average tickets in the €4-7m range. The Fund will pursue investments in sectors characterized by steady long-term demand, limited cyclicality, consolidation opportunities and direct or indirect macro trend support.

Tesi, which has invested in the fund, emphasises in its criteria the importance of promoting responsible business. Evolver follows the UN’s principles of responsible investment, and includes environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in screening potential investments.

“Sustainable development investment strategies dominate the sector, fortunately. Tesi encourages its portfolio companies and funds to embed responsibility into their strategies and also to inject expertise in this field into board work. That will bring about change and affect the future while we still can – while also building verifiably profitable business,” points out Tesi’s Investment Director Riitta Jääskeläinen.

The ”heavy lifting” strategy is enabled through a senior team of business builders with a close professional and cultural fit with small-cap businesses and entrepreneurs.

“Investors have appreciated the composition of our team, our hands-on approach and ability to source deals at attractive valuations in multiple markets. We see their commitments as a strong endorsement of our investment strategy and approach to value creation,” said Evolver Partner Erik Flodin.

In line with the strategy, Evolver recently completed an investment in Maxcon AB, a fastgrowing Swedish sprinkler group, with the intention of transferring the investment into the Fund immediately following first closing.

Evolver was advised in the fundraising process by Scala Fund Advisory.

For further information, please contact:
Erik Flodin, Partner, telephone +358 457 575 9151

About Evolver
Evolver is a privately owned Finnish private equity investor specialized in buyouts of owner-led small-cap businesses in Sweden and Finland. Evolver is a control equity investor and growth partner who helps companies strengthen their competitiveness and realize their inherent potential, by contributing with know-how, tools and capital that accelerate growth and value creation. The Evolver team has more than 120 years of combined senior operating and private equity experience.