Established in 1999, CapVest is a leading mid-market private equity firm. The Firm’s investment strategy is focussed on identifying and managing investments in companies supplying essential goods and services. A patient investor, CapVest has established a strong record of success in delivering attractive returns by transforming the size and scale of its portfolio companies through a combination of organic and acquisition led growth.
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About CapVest
Since inception in 1999, CapVest has raised in excess of €4 billion in commitments and has completed over 150 transactions. CapVest has invested in businesses in continental Europe, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Ireland and North America. Amongst others, CapVest has or is invested in the following businesses:
Investment Strategy
CapVest brings unrivalled financial management experience and business knowledge to its portfolio businesses and works closely with management teams to identify and maximise opportunities for growth and development. As an active owner, CapVest delivers innovative ways to transform the size and shape of its companies over the life of the investment.
The Firm’s investment strategy is focussed on identifying and managing investments in companies and sectors where revenues are underpinned by non-discretionary demand. A patient investor, CapVest has established a strong record of success in delivering attractive returns by transforming the size and scale of its portfolio companies through a combination of organic and acquisition led growth.
A committed long term investor, CapVest has successfully held portfolio companies for up to nine years.
Corporate Responsibility
CapVest is dedicated to conducting it’s business in accordance with the highest legal, ethical and professional standards. CapVest strives to achieve best practice among fund managers and advisors, in particular in the areas of governance, investor disclosure, valuation procedures and risk management. We have therefore conformed to the best practice standards as outlined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the EVCA Code of Conduct.
CapVest is committed to compliance with applicable national, state, and local labour laws in the countries in which we invest and supporting the payment of competitive wages and benefits to employees. CapVest is also committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace in conformance with national and local law.
CapVest maintains strict policies that prohibit bribery and other improper payments to public officials consistent with UK and international laws, including the UK Bribery Act 2010, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.
CapVest is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investing (UNPRI) and is committed to operate in compliance with the six principles. CapVest recognises the importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and considers them when evaluating new investments on behalf of the Fund’s we advise.
CapVest respects the human rights of those who may be affected by our investment activities and seeks, prior to making an investment, to confirm that investments made on behalf of our investors do not flow to companies that utilise child or forced labour or maintain discriminatory policies or practices.
Investments
Valeo
Valeo Foods was created by CapVest as a vehicle to acquire two Irish ambient food businesses: Batchelors and Origin Foods. The businesses were acquired simultaneously with Batchelors purchased from private shareholders and Origin Foods being a divisional carve out from, the ESM and AIM listed, Origin Enterprises Plc. In August 2011, Valeo announced the add on acquisition of the Jacob Fruitfield Food Group. The combined business owns a collection of market leading ambient brands in Ireland. In February 2014, Valeo entered the UK market through the acquisition of Rowse, the number 1 honey brand.
Mater
Mater Private Healthcare is Ireland’s leading specialist private hospital group. The primary facility is located in Dublin and capacity for 202 beds, the hospital has 7 operating theatres, 3 cath labs, 190+ specialist consultants and over 800 staff. It was established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1986 on a site adjacent to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, one of Ireland’s leading academic teaching hospitals, providing Mater with access to high-quality consultants and medical staff. Mater is considered a centre of excellence for cardiac and cancer related procedures. In December 2012 Cork Medical centre was acquired to form the Mater Private Cork. The Cork facility is a new hi-tech facility, with all single rooms and the most modern facilities available in Ireland.
Punch Taverns
Headquartered in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, Punch Taverns is the largest pub and bar operator in the UK. Founded in 1997 when the original portfolio of approx. 1,400 leased pubs was acquired from Bass, the business has grown through acquisitions to over 4,200 venues today, spanning from community pubs to high street pubs and destination pubs. The team focused on growing revenues, supporting capex and implementing supply chain efficiencies, and in 2002, Punch Tavern plc was listed in London.
FoodVest
FoodVest was a holding company created through the merger of Young’s, Findus AB and several smaller acquisitions. Findus AB was the market leading Pan European frozen food supplier focused on the three core categories of ready meals, fish/seafood and vegetables.
Reno Norden
RenoNorden is the Nordic region’s leading household waste collection business with operations in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. RenoNorden competes for contracts put out to tender under legislation which results in highly visible and stable revenue streams.
Scandi Standard
Scandinavian Standard AB was formed in June 2013 through the amalgamation of Kronfågel Holding AB a carve out and Cardinal Foods A/S. Kronfågel is the largest chicken producer in Sweden and Denmark, producing and marketing refrigerated, frozen and processed chicken through the strong brands Kronfågel, Danpo, Ivars, Chicky World and Kronfågel Stina. Cardinal is the number 2 player in Norway for poultry under the brand name “Den Stolte Hane”. The combined group has undisputed market leadership in Scandinavia. In June 2014 CapVest successfully listed Scandi Standard in Sweden.
Scandza
Scandza is a leading Scandinavian consumer food and beverage business focused on developing strong positions and brands within select FMCG categories, including chilled foods, snacking and baked goods. The portfolio includes brands such as Sorlandschips, Norway’s second largest potato chip, Synnove Finden, one of Norway’s leading dairy brands and Karen Volf and Bisca, leading Danish branded biscuit and cake brands. The Company is actively engaged in the consolidation of high quality food processing for the retail trade across Scandinavia.
United Coffee
With a history dating back to 1818, United Coffee (formally Drie Mollen International) is one of Europe’s leading specialty coffee businesses. The Company produces and distributes a wide range of coffee, tea, coffee equipment and related services to the retail and out of home channels. United Coffee has operations in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, Germany and France. CapVest sold United Coffee to Japan’s UCC Ueshima Coffee, a privately held company engaged in the production and sale of coffee related products.
Vaasan & Vaasan
Vaasan & Vaasan is the leading producer and distributor of branded bakery products in Finland, Sweden and the Baltic region. The Company manufactures fresh bread, bake-off, crispbread and other bakery products in Finland and the Baltic States. It is also the number two maker of bake-off products in the Nordic region and the second largest producer of crispbread in the world.
Young’s Bluecrest
Young’s Bluecrest Limited was a UK seafood company which CapVest built through acquisition to become Europe’s leading supplier of branded and private label seafood to retailers. The Company produced a broad range of frozen and chilled seafood products in the UK. In March 2006, the business was transformed through the acquisition of Findus and renamed FoodVest.
Contact Us
For general enquiries contact:
CapVest Associates LLP
100 Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5NQ
T: +44(0)20 7389 7900
F:+44(0)20 7389 7901
E: info@capvest.co.uk
For media enquiries contact:
Mr. John Keilthy
Reputation Inc.
T: +353 (01) 4120510
M: +353 (0)87 2415173
E: jkeilthy@reputation-inc.com
Mr. Ben Valdimarsson
E: bvaldimarsson@reputation-inc.com