Willem Kamps | Berk Partners Growth Fund 'We can strengthen each other considerably'
Berk Partners Growth Fund is the fifth investment fund of Berk Partners, an investment company founded in 1992 by businessman Ben Pon, who died last year. We asked Willem Kamps, one of the fund managers, about the background of the fund and, of course, the how and why of the partnership with IFG.
'With Berk Partners Growth Fund, we want to further emphasize our ambition to support companies and management teams in their growth ambitions,' says Willem. 'With a size of €50 million, this is the largest fund in Berk Partners' history.'
What does your investment strategy look like? Where is the focus?
'Like all previous Berk Partners funds, we focus on long-established and successful Dutch SMEs. With the difference that, based on previous experience, we are now focusing on three preferred sectors: the innovative manufacturing industry, the food industry and healthcare suppliers.'
How did the contacts with IFG come about?
'My fellow fund manager Rimco Geels knew Jan Martin Timmer from the past. After we started Berk Partners Growth Fund, he asked him if IFG was interested in participating. We were keen to have a party like IFG, and thus NOM as executor of the fund, on board. Especially also because our preferred sectors are well represented in the province of Groningen. This ultimately resulted in IFG taking an interest in the fund.'
What can you do for each other?
'I am convinced that we can strengthen each other considerably. For example, we are active in sectors in which IFG has not yet developed any or hardly any activities. In addition, we focus emphatically on companies in the mature phase, while IFG's focus is on early-stage investments.'
What can we expect from the collaboration?
'Private equity firms such as Berk Partners fulfill an important social role. By providing growth capital to companies in, for example, the province of Groningen, a contribution is made to the economy and employment. After all, situations in which private equity firms play a role, such as business succession, acquisition by management from within or outside the company, or the funding of autonomous and acquisitive growth, cannot usually be realized exclusively with (bank) loans due to the risk profile. As a result, business activity and entrepreneurship in the province of Groningen is preserved, strengthened and facilitated in its further growth.
Willem Kamps | Berk Partners Growth Fund