We Build Great
Companies

WHAT WE DO

Investing in European businesses to build lasting success

Jacobs Capital builds on a legacy of legendary entrepreneurs. 
Today, we combine the flexibility of a family enterprise with the active
ownership and professionalism of a private equity firm.

Funded by evergreen capital, we invest between €100m and €300m of equity into each business we partner with. We look to manage a concentrated portfolio of majority stakes in companies, creating significant value through an active partnership approach.

The businesses we invest in are high-performing, cash-flow generative and led by excellent management. We seek potential for sustainable growth through international expansion, add-on acquisitions and operational improvements.

We believe in agility and entrepreneurship, in enthusiasm and empowerment, in humility and
integrity.

Who We Partner With

Our investment
focus

We have a pan-European focus, investing in businesses across four sectors:
Business Services, Consumer, Education, and Healthcare.

Testimonials

What our companies say

“When we founded Sanoptis, we believed that Telemos [predecessor company to Jacobs Capital] was the right partner. This was absolutely confirmed during our successful collaboration. Open-minded, unbureaucratic, entrepreneurial, supportive – and quick decision making processes, without which we would never have been able to get from zero to number one in less than four years”.

Volker Wendel,
CEO of Sanoptis

“As co-founders, we looked for not just investors but rather true partners. Jacobs Capital is that, bringing a hands-on and collaborative approach and asking the right questions. In an industry which evolves fast, their agile decision-making and their support for our growth initiatives are really appreciated. Moreover, we value their approach in delivering growth in a sustainable way.”

Virginia Agelet and Jordi Giné Llorens,
Co-founders of iLerna

“I have worked with the Jacobs family for decades and its entrepreneurial legacy continues unabated today. I’m fortunate as a CEO to have the freedom to operate whilst being supported strategically by a committed shareholder willing to take calculated risks.”

Patrick De Maeseneire,
CEO of Colosseum Dental Group and Chairman of Barry Callebaut

“The Jacobs family is a highly supportive and entrepreneurial shareholder of Cognita. Its profound interest in the highest possible standards of holistic education is fully aligned with our global purpose: ‘to enable students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world’. This resonates with the family ethos and gives us, as a globally leading organization, the critical support to do well by doing good.”

Frank Maassen,
CEO of Cognita

“Our collaboration with Jacobs Capital in several investments, including MedEuropa, has been faultless. Jacobs Capital supported the businesses in their growth phase both with funding, advice and contacts in both good and more challenging times. Terms for additional funding were always fair for both management and shareholders. There was never pressure for an exit, but such opportunities were always analysed jointly with management.”

Silviu Savin,
Founder and Board Chairman of MaxBau and MedEuropa

“For Stingray, Jacobs Capital has been more than an investor. From day one, Jacobs Capital played a pivotal role in the creation of Stingray and supported our growth with the mindset of true entrepreneurs. Jacobs Capital has been an exceptional sparring partner, challenging us, the management team, to strike the right balance between ambition and discipline.”

Ralph Hefti,
CEO of Stingray Healthcare

“Working with Jacobs Capital is both enjoyable and highly beneficial. The team demonstrates a hands-on, entrepreneurial-minded spirit that is invaluable for founders like me. The ability to collaboratively challenge and discuss the direction of the company while maintaining professionalism and a focus on results, is exactly what I need from investors.”

Johannes Graf von Plettenberg,
CEO of Lovehoney Group

“Working with Jacobs Capital has been transformative for Mammut Sports Group. Jacobs Capital’s approach of balancing constructive challenging with an open-mindedness & appetite to deeply understand our industry have consistently pushed us to innovate, build our brand, and particularly internationalise our business in growth regions outside our traditional core markets.”

Heiko Schäfer,
CEO of Mammut

“We chose Jacobs Capital as the majority investor for the next chapter of growth of Vittoria after a structured and competitive selection process. Jacobs Capital’s long-term, high-quality and entrepreneurial approach to developing passionate consumer businesses convinced us, and proved to be correct – it is great working with the team!”

Stijn Vriends,
Chairman & CEO of Vittoria

“Jacobs Capital’s sector expertise and broad network have provided valuable insights and opened new opportunities for Permian. They have shown a deep understanding of our business and what drives success, coupled with a high level of professionalism that has set the tone for our collaboration. With an ambitious yet supportive approach, Jacobs Capital has cultivated a transparent and trusting partnership that aligns very well with Permian Group’s vision for growth and long-term success.”

Marianne Normann,
CEO of Permian Group

“During our investment process, we were deeply impressed by the Jacobs Capital team’s entrepreneurial drive and genuine enthusiasm, underpinned by their thoughtful and professional approach. Since becoming our partners, they have consistently demonstrated their strategic agility and deep sector expertise, challenging our thinking constructively while providing strong support for our vision to grow and develop the business.”

Andrew Minnock,
CEO of Helios Global

Companies grown

Our companies

We are passionate about building great companies for the long term, guided by our strong family values, collective investment experience and partnership approach.

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We build great companies.
That’s what we’ve always done.
How  we do it keeps evolving.

Useful information

Frequently asked questions

How is Jacobs Capital different from other investment firms?

Jacobs Capital combines the flexible investment horizon and nimble decision-making structure of a family enterprise with the private equity approach of active ownership through acquiring control positions, led by professionals with extensive investment experience. This unique combination enables us to efficiently execute transactions of any complexity and actively build and support businesses with a focus on sustained growth for the long term.

What kind of businesses does Jacobs Capital invest in?

Jacobs Capital is focused on acquiring a small number of majority ownership stakes in high-performing, cash-flow generating and well-managed European businesses, within the sectors of Consumer, Business Services, Education, and Healthcare. Jacobs Capital looks to identify businesses with the potential for sustained revenue and earnings growth through international expansion, add-on acquisitions and/or operational improvements.

In which geographies does Jacobs Capital invest?

Jacobs Capital has a pan-European focus, investing in businesses headquartered in Western as well as Central and Eastern Europe. While our investments are based in Europe, many of our portfolio companies have global operations or expansion plans beyond the region.

When does Jacobs Capital generally seek to exit its investments?

While Jacobs Capital does not have a fixed investment horizon, we do seek to exit our investments in the medium term, similar to a typical private equity hold period. However, if appropriate, our funding and structure afford us the flexibility to hold investments for a longer period of time.

Will Jacobs Capital consider taking a minority stake in a business?

No. Jacobs Capital looks to add value to businesses through an engaged and active partnership approach, which we believe is best achieved by a majority, controlling (or co-controlling) stake in the business. We will selectively consider transactions in which there is a clear path to transition into a majority ownership position in the near term.

Is Jacobs Capital seeking external investment?

No. Jacobs Capital invests private, family capital and is not seeking external investment.