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BC partner leaves to set up Benelux buy-out firm

Hans Vanoorbeek has parted from London-based BC Partners to set up his own firm focusing on buy-out opportunities in Benelux. Vanoorbeek's departure was amicable and BC stands to gain from his deal generating activity.

‘Private equity has hardly tapped the opportunity in Benelux,' said Vanoorbeek. ‘It has one of Europe's largest economies, larger than Spain, but CVC is the only large firm that is really active there,' he continued.

Dutch firm, Gilde Investment Management, is the largest local firm, with E1.5bn under management, but has been relatively inactive this year. Belgium has few domestic private equity operations. 

The amount invested in private equity in the region, as a proportion of gross domestic product, is only 25 per cent of that invested in the UK. But the region is not entirely averse to the asset class. NIB Capital Private Equity, which invests capital for the Netherlands's two largest pension funds, is Europe's largest private equity investor.

Vanoorbeek previously worked as an international tax consultant and lawyer. He spent four years at Industri Kapital before joining BC as an associate in 2000.

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