Private equity firm Equistone is abandoning its pan-European strategy in favor of regionally focused funds in the UK, Netherlands, and France. The UK-Dutch and French teams will each raise mid-market funds under separate holding companies while continuing to operate under Equistone’s legal and regulatory framework.
This restructuring follows challenges in fundraising for its flagship Fund VII, which has now been suspended. Despite achieving a first close and initiating investments, such as in UK company QuestGates, the firm aims to bolster its focus on active markets.
The UK-Dutch fund will target tech-enabled business services and smart industrials, while the French fund will concentrate on B2B and industrial sectors in the lower mid-market. Shared mid- and back-office functions will persist for the near future, ensuring operational continuity.
