The Buyouts team looks at mid-market investment opportunities, primarily across Europe and also in Asia, with an enterprise value of up to around €1bn.

3i Buyouts invests in all sectors, with a particular focus on Business Services; Consumer; General Industrial; Healthcare; Oil, Gas and Power; and Technology, Media and Telecommunications.

Operating an international team through 12 local offices provides us with a comprehensive international deal sourcing network and allows us to benchmark opportunities.  This means we can concentrate on only those which are 'best in class'.

We invest in businesses where we can create exceptional value by making operational improvements.  Our differentiators often allow us to generate proprietary angles and to compete outside wide auction processes - and on a basis other than price.

Pre-investment planning is vital.  The Buyouts team will:

• work with management to develop a customised value creation plan that provides absolute clarity on how value will be created, using our team’s own operational expertise and that of its extensive network.  The value plan addresses the target business at all levels – from organisational structure through to projects relating to individual disciplines and business units
• work closely with management teams to formulate and ensure delivery of this value plan and agree key post-investment deliverables
• develop a detailed analysis early on identifying potential routes to exit.

During the post-investment phase, through 3i Buyouts’ board representation, and focus on active partnership approach as well as regular reporting, we:

• support and challenge management;
• continually review both the business and exit plans; and
• act quickly and decisively where and when required given the frequency and quality of the information exchange.