Advanced Manufacturing

BPEA Private Equity Fund IX is the latest flagship fund from EQT Private Capital Asia, aiming to raise $12.5 billion, with a hard cap set at $14.5 billion. Launched in August 2024, the fund continues the strategy of its predecessor, BPEA VIII, focusing on control-oriented, large-cap buyouts across the Asia-Pacific region. The fund leverages EQT's pan-Asian coverage and bottom-up investment approach to identify value and sector trends across diverse markets. The fund targets investments in sectors benefiting from structural and secular tailwinds, including technology, services, healthcare, industrial services, and technology services. With a focus on scalable market leaders, BPEA IX aims to construct a diversified portfolio of 18 to 22 companies, each with strong growth potential and defensible market positions. BPEA IX plans to make 4 to 6 investments per year, with average equity investments of $300 million and targeting companies with enterprise values ranging from $500 million to $2 billion. The fund's strategy is designed to capitalize on favorable demographics, professionalization of under-managed assets, and corporate governance reforms across the region.

FORWARD.one Fund III is a €200 million industrial technology venture fund aiming to back Europe’s next generation of breakthrough hardware and deeptech companies. With a hard cap set at €250 million, the fund will deploy initial tickets in the range of €1–3 million, reserving additional capital for follow‑on financing. The fund intends to build a concentrated portfolio of 25–30 early‑stage companies, focusing on domains such as semiconductors, robotics, sensors, advanced automation, climate tech, and industrial innovation. Its geographic focus includes the Benelux, Germany/Austria/Switzerland (DACH), the Nordics, and other European innovation hubs. FORWARD.one brings a hands‑on, commercialization‑oriented investment style. Its value proposition is rooted in bridging the “deeptech gap” by combining technical domain expertise, rapid execution, and industry networks to help founders transform advanced research into scalable products for real markets. The fund also builds on FORWARD.one’s performance track record: Fund I (launched ~2018) delivered a net IRR of ~41 % and 2× DPI, with exits such as Sensorfact (acquired by ABB) and Mayht (acquired by Sonos). Fund II (launched ~2021, ~€145 million) is mid‑deployment, targeting similar sectors. With Fund III, the firm aims to scale its backing of Europe’s industrial tech champions and deliver strong returns for LPs.

Founders Fund Growth III is the third growth-stage venture fund from Founders Fund, a San Francisco-based firm co-founded by Peter Thiel. The fund closed at $4.6 billion in April 2025, surpassing its initial $3 billion target, with participation from 270 limited partners. This fund focuses on late-stage investments in sectors such as artificial intelligence, defense technology, and advanced manufacturing. Founders Fund aims to support companies that are developing transformative technologies with significant long-term impact. With a history of backing companies like SpaceX, Stripe, and Anduril, Founders Fund Growth III continues the firm's strategy of investing in high-growth startups poised to become industry leaders.

Stellex Capital Partners III is the third flagship private equity fund from Stellex Capital Management, aiming to raise $2.5 billion with a hard cap of $3 billion. The fund focuses on control-oriented investments in underperforming or undermanaged middle-market companies in North America and Europe. Stellex seeks to revitalize these businesses through operational improvements and strategic repositioning. The fund targets companies with enterprise values between $100 million and $500 million, investing equity checks ranging from $75 million to $150 million. Stellex plans to build a diversified portfolio of 17 to 23 companies, aiming for net returns exceeding a 2.0x multiple on invested capital and a 20% internal rate of return. The investment strategy includes corporate carve-outs, debt-for-control transactions, and buy-and-build approaches. Stellex Capital Management, founded in 2014 by former Carlyle Group executives Ray Whiteman and Michael Stewart, brings extensive experience in distressed and special situations investing. With offices in New York, London, Detroit, and Pittsburgh, the firm leverages its deep industry expertise and operational focus to drive value creation in its portfolio companies.