eQ raises EUR 155 million for new Private Equity funds – Janne Holmia joins the PE team as Advisor

Core Insights - eQ has successfully raised EUR 155 million across four new private equity and venture capital funds, continuing its growth strategy in the investment sector [1] Private Equity Funds - The eQ PE XVIII North fund targets unlisted lower middle market companies in Northern Europe, with investments diversified across approximately 200 portfolio companies [2] - The eQ PE SF VI fund focuses on acquiring fund interests in the secondary market and continuation funds, mirroring the geographical focus and target company size of the eQ PE XVIII North fund [3] - eQ has launched its first dedicated co-investment fund, eQ PE Direct I, which will make direct co-investments in about 20 Northern European lower middle market companies [3] Venture Capital Funds - eQ has introduced its third venture capital fund, eQ VC III US, which invests in leading North American venture capital funds focusing on seed, early-stage, and growth-stage companies [4] - The investment advisor for the eQ VC III US fund is TrueBridge Capital Partners, recognized as a leading investor in venture capital funds [4] Capital Raising and Financial Performance - Capital raising for all funds will continue throughout 2026, with eQ having raised over EUR 2.0 billion for its European private equity funds over the past twelve years, and a total of EUR 3.1 billion including North American funds [5] Team Expansion and Expertise - eQ is enhancing its private equity organization with the addition of Janne Holmia, who brings 17 years of experience from Verdane Capital Advisors [6] - The team at eQ is among the largest and most experienced in the Nordics for lower middle market investments, with a focus on operational value creation and selective investor partnerships [7][9] Market Insights - In the lower middle market, eQ emphasizes moderate entry valuations and lower leverage levels, with exits primarily through sales to industrial buyers or larger private equity funds [7] - The venture capital landscape shows significant performance dispersion, with strong returns concentrated among a small group of managers, highlighting the importance of market insight and access [8] Company Overview - eQ is a Finnish asset management and corporate finance group managing approximately EUR 13.7 billion in assets, offering a range of services including private equity and real estate asset management [10]