EIF makes first investment in Turkey

European Investment Fund, the risk capital arm of the European Investment Bank, has undertaken its first investment in the Turkish market by committing €44m to support the establishment of Actera Partners, a new fund which expects to raise €250m before end of 2007.

Francis Carpenter, EIF’s chief executive, said: “Whilst Turkey seems to have the necessary ingredients to become a major market for private equity in the region, there are currently very few players, and EIF wants to play a role in supporting strong management teams such as Actera.”

Isak Antika and Murat Cavusoglu, the Managing Partners of Actera, said in a statement “it brings us great satisfaction to have EIF on board as it is a leading institutional investor that provides the European dimension.” Two major North American institutional investors are cornerstones to the fund.

Actera Partners will focus primarily on buy-out and growth equity investments in the mid-market across a wide range of industries in Turkey.