WAD Capital, a Ghent-based investment firm, has completed the first closing of its debut fund at €67.5M, anchored by a €25M commitment from the European Investment Fund. The EIF, the EU’s development bank, is the fund’s largest backer.
The firm specializes in acquiring small and mid-sized European companies whose owners face succession challenges, stepping in when founders and family shareholders need an exit but want their businesses to keep operating. The strategy targets a crowded segment of the market where many manufacturers and service firms lack clear succession plans.
The first close gives WAD Capital a base to begin deploying capital while it continues fundraising toward its target. EIF backing signals institutional confidence in the firm’s buyout approach and could help it attract additional limited partners for later closings.
