Our Q4 2025, sixty-second edition tracks recent news concerning European FICs, featuring 40 from Portugal, Italy, Finland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, France, Norway, Singapore, Germany, UK, Switzerland, Bermuda and Luxembourg.
A busy transactional and ‘human capital’ quarter.
FICs, their investment arms and portfolio companies made acquisitions in OEM, solar, digital, investment management, manufacturing and, of course, AI. One also bought a big block of land in the Baltic States. Investments were made in construction, mining, online retail, satellite communications, flood protection, water supply, medtech and AI with three FICs investing in applications for transport, medical, water management and real estate.
Exits were made in fashion, mobility, advisory, minerals and ‘deployable infrastructure.’ One FIC sold its share in a JV to its long-standing partner.
Three FICs raised loan finance. One from the bond market, two from financial NGOs.
The closing three months of the year saw a flurry of people moves. Seven FICs promoted from within to fill chairman, CEO, CIO and Senior Partner roles. Four looked outside to fill senior positions, recruiting from the worlds of consulting, industry, PE and medtech. One family member stepped up to become Chairman after 24 years as CEO. Vacancies occurred at three FICs as senior executives left.
Many Q3 financial reports from 13 FICs, eight showing flat results, three down and only one up. However, in the one annual report, a FIC announced record revenue.
FICs continue to show their responsibility to society, with two making substantial donations to local charities and another backing the launch of an impact investing incubator.
In business news, an office was opened in a new European market. A FIC merged a portfolio company with another to form the largest group in its specialist hospitality sector in Europe. Another reorganised its investment portfolio.
And finally, in one of the most unusual stories we have covered, a FIC portfolio company, a specialist in engineered heavy lifting and transport, moved an historic 713-tonne church to a safe space five kilometers away over the space of two days.
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