Final close for Palamon

Palamon Capital Partners has reached a final closing of its second fund, Palamon European Equity II with commitments totalling €670m (US$844m). Palamon II is over 50% larger than Palamon’s €440m maiden 1999 fund, Palamon European Equity (Palamon I). With Palamon II, the firm will be able to extend its activities in the European development capital market.

Palamon I has made 15 investments in seven countries and has returned over 90% of the capital invested through six exits while continuing to hold nine companies with substantial unrealised value.

Palamon II has already committed €84m to three portfolio companies comprising cadooz AG, a rapidly growing German marketing services company; Espresso House AB, a Swedish chain of branded coffee bars; and Loyalty Partner GmbH, a German loyalty programme operator.

A total of 30 investor groups, including both new and returning limited partners, have invested in Palamon II. Among the returning partners are Adams Street Partners, City and County of San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund, Pennsylvania SERS, Swiss Re and the Washington State Investment Board. Among the new investors are AlpInvest, Chubb Insurance, the Church Pension Fund, the Irish National Pension Reserve Fund, Macquarie Global Private Equity Fund, NORD Holding and Scottish Widows Investment Programme.

Palamon II, which will take control positions through multiple tranches of investment, will continue the firm’s policy of investing €10m to €80m throughout Europe in middle-market businesses in services sectors displaying significant growth potential.

Advisers on the fund raising were S J Berwin (overall), Ropes and Gray (US) and P&P Poellath & Partners (Germany). Credit Suisse acted as placement agent.