Graphite solid on £475m

Following in the steps of its six predecessors, Graphite Capital Partners VII will continue to invest in companies with an enterprise value of £20m to £200m in the UK mid-market.

The new fund has 39 limited partners, with 39% of commitments coming from the UK – including the firms listed vehicle, the Graphite Enterprise Trust – 36% from Continental Europe and 25% from the US and Japan. Investors include

Stephen Cavell, senior partner, added: “Despite being significantly over-subscribed, we have imposed our own hard cap on the size of the fund, so we can focus on the most attractive companies in the current highly competitive environment for making new investments.”

The firm has made one acquisition so far in 2007, backing the acquisition by portfolio companies Park Holidays UK of two holiday parks on the English Riviera: Landscove and Riviera Bay Holiday Parks at Berry Head, Brixham. Graphite backed a £130m management buy-in/buy-out in January 2006.

Graphite Capital Partners VI closed in April 2003, raising £375m and is almost fully invested.

Since 1991 the firm has made over 100 investments, two-thirds of which have been realised generating a return of 3.5x and an IRR of more than 40%. Including Graphite Enterprise, the firm now has £1.2bn of funds under management.