Firm at a glance
Equistone is a platform private equity firm founded in 2002 with offices across Benelux, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK, per its own website [S1].
What they buy
Equistone’s portfolio demonstrates a concentration in industrials, with approximately seven of eleven disclosed holdings operating in manufacturing, specialty materials, and engineered products sectors [S1]. The firm also maintains exposure to consumer businesses, healthcare, and technology, media, and telecom [S1]. All disclosed investments represent platform acquisitions rather than add-ons, suggesting a strategy centered on establishing new portfolio companies [S1].
Portfolio
Industrials
Equistone’s industrial holdings include SF-Filter (acquired September 2022), Nylacast (July 2018), BOAL Group (April 2018), BFT Mastclimbing (November 2017), Roth Gruppe (September 2016), United Initiators (September 2016), and Sihl (July 2016), all as platform investments [S1].
Consumer
The consumer portfolio comprises Virgin Experience Days (acquired July 2022) and DefShop (September 2017), both platforms [S1].
Technology, Media, and Telecom
Eperi, a platform investment, was acquired in February 2022 [S1].
Healthcare
Omnicare joined the portfolio as a platform in October 2019 [S1].
Recent activity (last 24 months)
– **May 2026**: Exit of KWC Group [S1]
– **September 2025**: Exit of Sihl [S1]
– **August 2025**: Exit of TIMETOACT GROUP [S1]
– **June 2024**: Exit of RENA [S1]
How this firm fits a seller
Equistone’s transaction history over the past 24 months consists exclusively of exits rather than new acquisitions, with four portfolio companies divested between June 2024 and May 2026 [S1]. The firm’s multi-country European footprint may appeal to sellers with cross-border operations or expansion ambitions within the region [S1]. For owner-operators in industrials, the firm’s historical sector concentration suggests familiarity with manufacturing and specialty product businesses, though recent acquisition activity has not been publicly disclosed [S1].
Sources
[S1] https://www.equistonepe.com (as of 2025-05-15)
Frequently asked questions
Does Equistone buy industrials businesses?
Yes, industrials represents Equistone’s most active sector based on publicly disclosed portfolio companies. The firm has acquired at least seven industrial platforms since 2016, including manufacturers and specialty materials businesses such as SF-Filter, Nylacast, and United Initiators [S1].
What companies has Equistone acquired recently?
The most recent publicly disclosed acquisitions are SF-Filter in September 2022, Virgin Experience Days in July 2022, and eperi in February 2022 [S1]. More recent transaction activity visible in public sources consists of exits rather than new platform investments [S1].
Where is Equistone based and how big is the firm?
Equistone operates from offices in Benelux, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK, per its website as of May 2025 [S1]. Fund size and assets under management were not disclosed in publicly available materials reviewed.
Is Equistone still actively acquiring?
Public sources show no new acquisitions in the past 24 months, with the most recent disclosed platform purchase occurring in September 2022 [S1]. The firm completed four exits between June 2024 and May 2026, suggesting active portfolio management during this period [S1].
This profile is maintained by CT Acquisitions as an independent third-party reference. CT Acquisitions is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a representative of the firm profiled. All facts sourced from publicly available materials as of the dates cited.