Stratum Partners announces the launch of a new private equity fund, Stratum II, which will invest in well-established small and mid-sized companies with strong customer base and significant growth potential in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other Central European markets.
The investment team, now operating under the new Stratum Partners brand, builds on the successful investment strategy and track record of Genesis Growth Equity Fund I (GGEF I), which the same team will continue to manage under the same strategy and terms. Stratum II targets a fund size of EUR 65 million with the hard cap of EUR 90 million.
“Launching Stratum II is the natural continuation of the strong track record we’ve built together as a team. We carry forward the experience and results achieved through managing GGEF I, while opening a new chapter as an independent private equity firm, Stratum Partners. Our goal is to be the preferred long-term partner for founders and business owners — whether they’re seeking support for their company’s next phase of growth or navigating succession,” says Jiří Beneš, Managing Partner of Stratum Partners.
The new fund follows in the footsteps of GGEF I, which completed its investment period with its fourteenth acquisition in April this year and holds stakes in companies from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The portfolio covers technology and digitalisation (R2B2, Cross Masters, Carussel, LLP Group, ELIS DESIGN), specialised manufacturing companies (SEA Enterprises, HC electronics, JP-PROLAK, TechPlasty), and services (Knihobot, Poptavej.cz, Predvyber.cz, UPS Technology). Among the notable recent exits is a home healthcare company Homecare Holding, sold to Penta Hospitals.
The fund will invest primarily in small and mid-sized companies, a segment where Stratum Partners has long seen the greatest potential. Stratum II will focus primarily on buy-out investments, complemented by selective growth capital, with equity tickets ranging from EUR 2–10 million. A significant portion of investment opportunities are companies addressing generational ownership transitions and seeking a partner for further development.
“Stratum II is built on the same investment strategy that has proven successful in previous years. We focus on quality companies with a proven business model, strong management teams, and long-term growth potential. In the small and mid-cap segment, we see exceptionally attractive investment opportunities today, particularly in connection with the generational transfer of ownership of Czech and Slovak businesses,” adds Partner of Stratum Partners Radim Jasek.
Alongside the launch of the new fund, the partnership team of Stratum Partners is also expanding. Ondřej Pernica, who previously served as Investment Director and contributed to building the investment portfolio of GGEF I, including the successful investments in Homecare Holding and SEA Enterprises, is becoming a new partner.
“Ondřej’s appointment as partner is the logical outcome of his work to date and his significant contribution to building the investment strategy and developing the portfolio. It also affirms our ambition to build Stratum Partners as a long-term, generationally enduring firm,” concludes Jiří Beneš.