Group 1 - eQ Plc appointed Jouko Pölönen as the new CEO, effective from September 1, 2025, succeeding interim CEO Janne Larma [2] - Janne Larma will remain as a member of the Board of Directors after the transition [2] - eQ Group specializes in asset management and corporate finance, managing approximately EUR 13.6 billion in assets [2]

Core Viewpoint - eQ Plc has appointed Jouko Pölönen as the new CEO, effective no later than November 5, 2025, succeeding interim CEO Janne Larma [1][3][4] Group 1: Leadership Appointment - Jouko Pölönen, with extensive experience in the financial sector, previously served as CEO of Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company for seven years [3] - Pölönen has held significant roles in various financial institutions, including OP Financial Group and Pohjola Insurance Ltd [3] - The Board of Directors expressed confidence in Pölönen's ability to lead eQ and implement growth strategies [5][6] Group 2: Strategic Vision - Pölönen aims to drive profitable growth and enhance value for clients and shareholders, emphasizing the importance of professional asset management [4][6] - He recognizes significant opportunities in the asset management market, particularly in catering to individual investors [6] Group 3: Shareholder Commitment - The three largest shareholders of eQ will sell 1,000,000 shares to Pölönen, representing approximately 2.4% of the total share capital, positioning him among the top ten shareholders [7] - Pölönen will also receive 100,000 stock options as part of the 2025 option program to incentivize his commitment to the company's growth [7] Group 4: Company Overview - eQ is a leading asset manager in Finland, specializing in private equity and real estate asset management, with total assets managed amounting to approximately EUR 13.6 billion [10]

Financial Performance - The Group's net revenue for Q1 2025 was EUR 14.0 million, a decrease of 15% from EUR 16.5 million in Q1 2024 [2][3] - Operating profit fell by 34% to EUR 5.8 million compared to EUR 8.8 million in the previous year [2][3] - Profit for the period decreased by 35% to EUR 4.6 million from EUR 7.0 million [2][3] - Earnings per share dropped by 36% to EUR 0.11 from EUR 0.17 [2][3] Segment Performance - Asset Management segment's net revenue decreased by 5% to EUR 14.4 million, with operating profit down 11% to EUR 7.9 million [2][3][8] - Corporate Finance segment reported net revenue of EUR 0.1 million, a significant drop from EUR 0.8 million, with an operating loss of EUR -0.8 million [2][3][13] - Investments segment experienced an operating loss of EUR -0.6 million, a decline from a profit of EUR 0.2 million in the previous year [2][3][15] Market Conditions - The early part of 2025 saw turmoil in global capital markets, with US stock markets remaining flat and European stock prices rising by approximately 15% [5] - The tariff war and geopolitical challenges have created significant uncertainty in capital markets, negatively impacting economic development [6] - Interest rates have fallen significantly, particularly in Europe, which may support real estate and equity investments [6] Asset Management Developments - eQ Asset Management's assets under management grew to EUR 13.6 billion, up from EUR 13.4 billion at the end of 2024 [3][4] - The company raised USD 143 million for its private equity fund, eQ PE XVII US, with total fund size increasing to USD 168 million after the review period [9] - The market for open-ended real estate funds remains low, with postponed redemptions expected to be paid by the end of April 2025 [10][16] Future Outlook - The real estate market is expected to improve in 2025 compared to 2024, contingent on falling interest rates and economic recovery [16] - Private equity fees are anticipated to increase in 2025, as Finnish asset management clients are expected to raise their allocations [18] - The company aims to enhance client service and growth through organizational restructuring and key appointments [11]

Fundraising and Investment Strategy - eQ Asset Management has successfully raised USD 168 million for the eQ PE XVII US fund at the beginning of 2025, with fundraising efforts set to continue throughout the year [1] - The eQ PE XVII US fund focuses on investing in private equity funds that target equity investments in small and medium-sized companies in the United States and Canada, aiming for a diversified portfolio of 12–15 funds across more than 150 companies [2] Partnership and Historical Performance - eQ has been collaborating with RCP Advisors since 2015, and the current fund marks the sixth US fund raised in this partnership, with RCP being a well-resourced private equity manager specializing in lower middle market North American funds [3] - To date, eQ has raised a total of USD 1.2 billion for its US funds from over 200 clients, indicating a strong track record in the private equity space [3] Capital and Programmes - In late 2024 and early 2025, eQ signed private equity programmes totaling over EUR 330 million, bringing the total capital across current private equity programmes to approximately EUR 1 billion [4] - These private equity programmes typically offer 4–5 year solutions, providing clients with a comprehensive portfolio managed by eQ along with transparent reporting [4] Market Insights and Asset Management - The Head of Private Equity at eQ, Staffan Jåfs, noted that despite a less active M&A market, the small and mid-cap segment has seen more new investments and exits, presenting attractive opportunities in the lower middle market [5] - As of the end of 2024, eQ Asset Management had EUR 13.4 billion in assets under management, with EUR 3.3 billion allocated to private equity funds, demonstrating significant scale in asset management [5]