Finland’s Sentica Partners Raises Third Fund

Sentica Partners, a Finnish buyout firm focused on the lower middle-markets, has closed its third fund with 50 million in capital commitments. Limited partners include Finnish Industry Investment Ltd., Ilmarinen Pension Insurance Co. and Etera Mutual Pension Insurance Co.

PRESS RELEASE

Private equity investor Sentica Partners has completed a EUR 50 million first closing on its new Finnish lower-mid-market focused buyout fund. All of the commitments to the Sentica Buyout III fund came from existing investors with the largest commitments being from the leading Finnish institutional investors Finnish Industry Investment Ltd, Ilmarinen Pension Insurance Company and Etera Mutual Pension Insurance Company. At this stage the new fund raises the amount of assets under Sentica’s management to EUR 210 million.

The Sentica Buyout III fund will have the same investment focus as its predecessor funds. Sentica Buyout III typically invests into companies with an enterprise value in the range of EUR 15-50 million and targets equity investments of EUR 4-12 million per transaction. According to the fund’s investment strategy, the investments are focused on companies with substantial growth potential through internationalisation or new strategic focus, with sector restructuring opportunities in fragmented industries or with possibilities to operate successfully as spin-offs of larger corporations. The Sentica Buyout III fund will continue to raise funds, the final target size being EUR 100 million.

”Despite the current market turmoil we have received support from our existing investors with which we can be very satisfied. It indicates that the strategy we have selected  works  and it encourages us to continue our active ownership approach, seeking strong companies with good development potential in sectors that we know and understand – i.e. industrial manufacturing and services”, states Mika Uotila, managing partner of Sentica Partners.

”Industry Investment wants to contribute to ensuring  financing possibilities for growth companies in today’s challenging market environment”, says Riitta Jääskeläinen, investment director of Finnish Industry Investment Ltd.

Sentica Partners

Sentica Partners is a Finnish private equity investor that focuses on acquiring and developing medium-sized and small companies. Sentica manages assets to generate attractive financial returns for its investors by combining solid industrial know-how with sound financial expertise. Sentica actively promotes the growth and development of portfolio companies by offering them its specialist network of expertise and other resources. The funds under Sentica’s management amount to some EUR 210 million. The company’s operations are structured into three teams: Buyout, Small cap and Healthcare. Sentica has offices in Finland in the cities of Helsinki, Tampere and Kuopio. The company employs 20 private equity investment experts. www.sentica.fi

Finnish Industry Investment Ltd

Finnish Industry Investment Ltd is a government-owned investment company. It invests the proceeds accrued from the privatisation of state-owned companies in stimulating the growth and internationalisation of Finnish businesses. Finnish Industry Investment invests in venture capital funds and directly in growth companies, together with private co-investors. The targets are in all sectors. Capital investments are needed for financing the growth of investee companies, and for spin-offs, major industrial investments, and sector and corporate restructurings. The investments of Finnish Industry Investment amount to some EUR 470 million. www.teollisuussijoitus.fi