Private Equity investment
We offer institutional investors, family offices and high net worth investors the opportunity to invest in established UK companies with growth potential, on a deal by deal basis.
Access to attractive private equity investments
By becoming a Maven Investor Partner you will gain access to a regular flow of direct investment opportunities into UK private companies, usually only available to larger institutional clients.
We invest in ambitious and established companies which offer the potential to generate positive shareholder returns at exit, and where we are able to help create growth and equity value, typically targeting a Multiple of Money of not less than 2.5x cost of investment over a holding period of up to 5 years through a combination of income and capital proceeds. We generally back businesses operating in industries we understand well and have a track record of delivering positive investor returns across many transactions and sectors.
Maven Investor Partners is helping to democratise private equity investment, providing access to an asset class that is uncorrelated to the main markets and often only available to institutional investors.
How it works

Access
Investors will have the opportunity to construct a portfolio of private company investments that are only available through a private equity and property manager such as Maven.

Growth potential
Invest in growing UK private companies with the prospect of delivering positive shareholder returns. These are ambitious and nimble businesses led by talented and hard working people, who can demonstrate a vision and clear growth strategy, alongside a differentiated and competitive business proposition.

Flexibility
Access carefully curated opportunities that suit your personal investment objectives and risk profile on a discretionary basis. The decision to participate or not always rests with you.

Diversification
Diversify your investment portfolio into an asset class where returns are non correlated to mainstream equity markets. Private equity is now widely recognised as an established asset class with a long history of generating positive returns and is attracting increasing interest from experienced investors who seek diversification beyond the traditional asset classes.

Expert analysis
Each opportunity is subject to rigorous internal analysis from our highly experienced investment professionals and extensive third-party due diligence. When a new opportunity is introduced to Maven Investor Partners you are provided with a detailed investment proposal and analysis that allows you to make your own investment decision.

We do the heavy lifting
After we invest we look to forge a strong working relationship with each investee company in order to support its growth plan, drive business improvements and realise healthy investor profits at time of sale.
Realised Private Equity investments


The sale of Cursor is an excellent return for both our VCT shareholders and our Investor Partner network which co-invested to fund the original MBO. Since then, Neale and his senior management team have continued to build upon the company’s global reputation in the market for technical expertise and innovation and Cursor is widely regarded as a leader in its field.
Mike Collis, Head of Portfolio at Maven


Maven has been entirely supportive of Dantec and the management team during our time together. We found them to be supportive of our goals, aims, and aspirations, and as we always felt that our next step would be a trade exit. Maven was sympathetic towards our desire to find such a buyer who could match our long term ambitions whilst safeguarding the existing company structure.
John Laidlaw, Managing Director at Dantec


Maven has consistently seen the potential of Westway’s business model, having backed the management team on two occasions, and today’s sale, which delivers a healthy 6.8x total return on the original investment. The growth in turnover, profit and employees is an excellent example of how Maven’s ability to offer flexible funding solutions can help businesses like Westway to achieve scale.
Andrew Ferguson, Partner at Maven


Nessco Group has been an excellent investment for Maven since we first invested with the company doubling in size, workforce, and profitability. The acquisition by RigNet provides a very successful exit for Maven clients. Nessco has a great management team which Maven has enjoyed working with over the past four years, and we look forward to the business prospering as part of the RigNet family.
Ewan MacKinnon, Partner at Maven


I am very proud of the success of the business and the journey we have taken in expanding the customer base and product offering and I thank the staff for their passion and contribution in achieving this success. Maven has been an excellent partner for the business, providing valuable support during this growth phase.
Oliver Kay, Managing Director at Oliver Kay


Led by a dynamic and talented management team, Nenplas has grown both organically and through acquisition to establish itself as a market leading business during the time of our investment. A focus on manufacturing excellence and the design and development of innovative solutions has enabled Nenplas to expand into new markets and has proven to be an excellent investment for Maven clients.
Mike Collis, Head of Portfolio at Maven
Investing in Private Equity with Maven
Experienced team
Our private equity team comes from a broad range of professional and commercial backgrounds. We have a long history of successfully investing in private companies, principally via management buy-outs, buy and build projects, or through the provision of growth capital.
Nationwide coverage
Our nationwide team is introduced to a large number of high quality investment opportunities across the UK, often brought to us off-market on the strength of our longstanding presence in the key regional markets.
Positive returns
Our team have a track record of generating profitable returns in private company investment over two decades. We only invest in a small number of highly curated opportunities each year, looking for a combination of growth potential, strong sector dynamics, and proven management teams.
Investor Reporting
We provide regular updates regarding your investments and host a number of investor seminars or webinars throughout the year. In addition, our investment team is available to discuss your portfolio and investment preferences on a one-to-one basis.
About Maven Investor Partners
Your key Investor Partner contacts
We take the time to build long-term relationships with our investors with a view to understanding your investment goals. Our client facing executives and dedicated team of private equity professionals are on hand to assist you along the way.
Meet our investment team
Find out more about our investment executives who source, execute and manage private equity investments on behalf of Maven Investor Partners.
Enquire about becoming a Maven Investor Partner
If you are a family office or high net worth investor who would like to gain access to our regular investment opportunities, you can register your interest with us today and we will be in touch.
Risks warning
Frequently asked questions
How much can I invest?
The minimum commitment is £25,000 per transaction, with the option to increase the amount above that level subject to availability. Many of our investors commit much larger sums, depending on personal circumstances.
Why should I invest in private equity?
Private equity is now widely recognised as an established asset class with a long history of generating positive returns for UK investors. It can be an attractive option for investors and advisers either for the potential returns or its merits as part of a portfolio diversification strategy.
Entrepreneurial private companies are the engine-room of the economy. The UK’s private equity industry is the largest and most dynamic in Europe, turning innovative ideas into successful businesses and helping mature companies become more productive which can help drive increased investor returns.
Whilst traditional Venture Capital will often focus on start-up or early stage businesses, Maven’s experience and nationwide introducer base allows it to target later-stage, more established private companies where investor returns have traditionally been more predictable. These are typically ambitious and nimble businesses led by talented and hard working people, who can demonstrate a blend of vision and business flair, alongside a differentiated and competitive business proposition.
In all cases, the management team of a private equity backed business will be highly incentivised through their personal equity stake, meaning there is direct alignment of interests with the underlying investors. This is a key reason why the UK private equity industry has delivered superior investor returns over many years.
What type of investments do you target?
Maven’s long term track record in private equity is based on a tried and tested approach of investing in only a select number of companies every year. In each case we look for a business led by good people, with an achievable growth plan, investing where we can see the potential to make an earnings-based ‘arbitrage gain’ at exit.
We choose to work only with companies which offer the potential to generate positive shareholder returns at exit, and where we are able to create significant additional equity value, typically targeting a Multiple of Money (MoM) return of not less than 2.5x initial investment over a holding period of between three and five years, from a combination of income and capital proceeds at exit. Investments will generally be in businesses operating in the sectors we understand and where we have a proven track record of delivering results for Maven investors.
How does Maven source its investments?
Maven uses its embedded presence in the key UK corporate finance regions to access a range of investment opportunities in private companies with significant potential for growth. These are often introduced on an off-market basis, on the strength of longstanding personal relationships, or by professional advisers who are aware of our expertise and ability to work constructively with an entrepreneurial management team to accelerate business growth.
What is the investment process?
A prospective new transaction is subject to rigorous analysis within Maven, including a detailed review by members of our partner group and senior investment executive. That process is intended to challenge and prove the investment thesis, and to structure the transaction in such a way to achieve the best possible returns.
If the decision is taken to conditionally proceed, the target business is subject to extensive third-party due diligence, covering all key aspects of the investment, including financial, legal and management referencing, as well as full market and commercial analysis. At this time Maven also seeks to identify prospective future acquirers for the business or asset, based on comparable M&A activity in the sector.
A detailed investment proposal is issued to Investor Partners only when the initial review process is complete, including an estimate of the likely projected returns. There is then a defined period to consider each proposal before deciding whether or not to participate.
Whilst Investor Partners will usually make an investment decision based on the proposal document, Maven investment executives are on hand to provide further information and discuss the merits of the investment case on a one to one basis if required.
How do we aim to achieve superior returns?
- Investing at the right price
We invest only where a competitive entry price is available and where we see the future potential to exit at an enhanced multiple of higher earnings. Maven also seeks to identify potential future buyers of each target business prior to completing the initial investment. - Adding value
During a typical holding period of three to five years for each investment, Maven’s executives work closely with the management team to add shareholder value. The focus is on working together to drive business improvements which will positively impact profitability and ultimately make the business more valuable and attractive to potential acquirers. - Developing an exit strategy
From the outset of each investment, we harness our extensive knowledge across multiple sectors and the advisory community to help management develop an agreed exit strategy. We have long standing relationships with larger private equity firms, which are often looking for the ‘rising stars’ in the lower mid-market and will often pay more than comparable trade acquirers if they can use the business as a platform for further growth or an acquisition led buy and build strategy. - Optimising value
When the decision is made to sell a business, Maven can assist each management team in selecting the right adviser, often a sector specialist, whose expertise and insight can help to optimise the exit value achieved by targeting the correct buyer pool.
How can investors track performance?
Maven provides investors with cash distributions on the loan stock element of each investment on a six monthly basis where contractually due. Performance update reports on portfolio holdings are also provided to Investor Partners at that time. When an investment is sold, Maven distributes cash proceeds to investors.
Maven also has a dedicated and secure portal enabling Investor Partners to keep track of their portfolio at any time.
Is there a cost to become a Maven Investor Partner?
There are no costs to becoming a Maven Investor Partner. Fees are only payable on the sum invested. Due to FCA regulations, we will need to verify that you are classed as a high net worth, experienced investor before we can share details of any private equity or property opportunities.
Interested in becoming an Investor Partner?
Register your interest today by clicking on the link below.