London-based private equity investor Oakley Capital has successfully closed Oakley Capital Origin Fund II, raising €750 million in just four months, surpassing the size of its predecessor, Origin Fund I.
Oakley Capital Origin II secured backing from institutional investors, which includes 18 new Limited Partners (LPs) from Europe, the United States, and Asia, in addition to support from entrepreneurs within Oakley’s network.
This achievement comes on the heels of Oakley raising €2.85 billion for Fund V earlier this year, enabling the firm to continue effectively deploying capital.
Furthermore, it follows the successful close of Oakley’s €1+ billion continuation fund for IU Group following Fund III’s exit from the business earlier in the year.
Over the past year, Oakley has impressively raised over €4.8 billion, invested more than €2 billion, and realized over €1.3 billion in returns.
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Oakley’s Origin Investment Approach
Incorporating two decades of expertise in the lower mid-market, Oakley introduced the Origin initiative. While Oakley has seen growth in the average deal size, Origin is tailored to capture smaller yet promising opportunities, preserving its connection and relevance to emerging founders.
Origin I has consistently directed investments within Oakley’s core sectors: Technology, Business Services, Consumer, and Education. Some notable investments from Origin I encompass ECOMMERCE ONE, VICE Golf, and vLex.
Origin II adheres to the successful approach of its predecessor fund, targeting tech-enabled enterprises with enterprise values of up to €200M. Oakley remains committed to bolstering its talent pool to support the expanding and diversified asset and investor base.
Recent senior hires include:
- Viral Mehta, who joins the Origin team as Managing Director.
- Jonathan Irwin, appointed as Oakley’s Head of Origination.
Peter Dubens, Founder and Managing Partner at Oakley Capital, expressed his gratitude for the robust support for Oakley Capital Origin II from both new and existing investors. He emphasized the lower mid-market’s appeal, highlighting its potential for outstanding founder-led businesses seeking capital and growth expertise. With a wealth of investment opportunities in the pipeline and a burgeoning, seasoned team, Oakley anticipates an exciting new chapter with Origin II.
Oakley Capital: A Leading Pan-European Private Equity Firm
Established in 2002, Oakley Capital is a prominent pan-European private equity firm dedicated to supporting high-growth companies in four primary sectors: Technology, Business Services, Digital Consumer, and Education.
The firm operates through two investment strategies: Flagship Funds, targeting buyouts with controlling interests and enterprise values ranging from €100 million to €500 million, and Origin, Oakley’s platform designed for lower mid-market enterprises.
At present, Oakley manages approximately €10 billion in assets, with a team of 160 professionals operating from its European offices located in London, Munich, Milan, and Luxembourg.
