- Eighteen48 Partners has announced the first close of its Private Equity Fund I at €175 million, with a target size of €350 million.
- Based in London, the firm focuses on European mid-market buyouts through independent sponsors
- The fund will be used to invest in off-market private equity deals, building on more than €200 million the firm has already deployed in this strategy since 2020.
Eighteen48 Partners, the London-based investment firm co-founded byJulien Sevaux, Tarek AbuZayyad, and Edward Clive,has announced the first close of its Private Equity Fund I at €175 million, targeting a total size of €350 million and is focused on mid-market buyout opportunities across Europe.
The first close has been backed by a mix of existing clients and new investors, including institutions, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Since 2020, the firm has deployed more than €200 million into deals sourced through independent sponsors, giving it a track record in a segment that is still relatively under the radar.
At the core of its strategy is a focus on off-market transactions. Instead of competing in crowded auction processes, the firm works with independent sponsors to source deals directly, often leading to better pricing and stronger alignment between investors and operators.
Eighteen48 works by partnering with independent sponsors at the point of deal origination rather than investing through a fund-of-funds structure or competing in auction processes. The firm provides committed capital that sponsors can deploy into specific acquisitions, taking direct exposure to individual companies rather than to a manager’s overall portfolio.
“We see the highly aligned nature of our sponsors, as well as the structural advantages of off-market, relationship-driven deals, as key drivers of our investment outcomes,” says Oliver Mayer, Eighteen48’s head of private equity.
Eighteen48’s peers are specialist mid-market and independent sponsor-focused platforms such as Kartesia, Flexstone Partners, and Idinvest, all of which have built similar strategies in recent years. The distinction Eighteen48 is making is that it has six years of deployed track record in this specific niche before launching its first formal fund.
Julien Sevaux, Founding Partner and CEO, says, “This fund formalises a highly differentiated strategy we have been executing within Eighteen48 for a number of years. We are delighted to enter this next phase with the support of both longstanding clients and new investors who share our conviction.”
The fresh capital will be used to expand the firm’s investment activity across Europe, backing a diversified portfolio of mid-market companies. The goal is to continue building exposure to deals that are often overlooked but can deliver strong risk-adjusted returns.
