Our investment approach

We invest across Europe, Asia and North America and in the last five years have invested €1.6bn in the general industrial sector.

For 3i, the general industrial sector encompasses a diverse range of businesses, from chemicals and aerospace through to transport and logistics. Our experience is as broad as the sector itself, with recent investments including AES Engineering, a world leading UK manufacturer of mechanical seals and DEUTZ Power Systems, a leading global manufacturer of gas engines.

We invest globally within eight broadly-defined sub-sectors:

• Aerospace and defence;
• Automotive;
• Chemicals;
• Construction and building materials;
• Electronic and electrical equipment;
• Industrial engineering;
• Paper, packaging and print; and
• Transport and logistics.

As a FTSE 100 company with over 60 years’ experience of working in close partnership with ambitious managers and entrepreneurs, we bring a wealth of sector experience enabling us to proactively contribute to business strategy. Our relationships with the world’s leading companies, industrialists and thought leaders mean that when you partner with us, you can:

• Access investment professionals in 14 countries, each with in-depth knowledge of local business and markets;
• Access our specialised sector team with unrivalled experience in assisting with Asian outsourcing and penetration; and
• Work with leading industrialists – we will introduce you to highly-capable and experienced entrepreneurs who advise (and often join) the businesses we partner.

Our partnership approach is individual and personal. It starts before we invest and continues through our equity participation up to eventual exit. At every stage we work to build a healthy, successful business with sound financials and an exciting future.