Approach

Where we invest How we work What you can expect How to get our attention	Where we invest Sector: We maintain a domain-specific focus, concentrating on companies that are relevant for supply networks. We focus on investing in the following areas: Enabling technologies (wireless, software, voice, identification, etc.) Software managing the extended supply chain Business services where technology plays a key role in the delivery of the service Mail and delivery services Enterprise & IT infrastructures Transportation Industrial processes & manufacturing technologies Green technologies Geographies: We are a global private equity firm currently most active in USA and Europe. We will be paying increasing attention to opportunities in Asia (Japan, Korea, India). We have offices in Geneva and New York. Stage: We focus on building a balanced portfolio that covers the spectrum from seed investments to mature businesses including carveouts and small buyouts. Size: We typically expect to invest on average between Euro 5M and Euro 15M over the lifecycle of an investment.
	How we work How do we make decisions?: Our process is simple. We first assess a venture's fit in our focus and its attractiveness based on materials provided and introductory calls or meetings. Those that meet our criteria are invited to meet with all our partners and we initiate our due diligence process. During our due diligence, we focus on assessing entrepreneurs' claims,the opportunities and the risks.; If we are convinced and able to build consensus among the partnership, we invest. How quickly de we decide?: Our team is reactive, cohesive, and complementary in its expertise. We have made a few investment decisions within a couple of weeks, others have taken close to a year.; It usually takes between four weeks and four months to complete our investment decision cycle, depending primarily on the business's maturity. What do we request during due dilligence?: The entrepreneur must submit a business plan, provide personal and customer references, undergo a market/business/product/technology evaluation, and be available for on-site visits to meet the team. How many deals do we do?: We typically review 400 opportunities per year and could invest in up to 5 new companies per year.; We also make follow-on investments in companies already within our portfolio. We review every business plan we receive and offer initial feedback within two weeks.
	What you can expect We build strong relationships We are an active investor: so far 100% board participation in our portfolio companies We offer access to our networks (TNT, Mitsui, BAH, other industry leaders and corporations) and the opportunity to tap into that collective industry knowledge We facilitate inter-portfolio relationships, a differentiator that is largely the result of our domain focus We thoroughly understand supply chains and the challenges of building businesses We follow the industry on a global basis, and can help companies expand their business from/into Europe, the US and Asia We focus on backing talented individuals and building successful businesses. We are independent, open and transparent We have the financial clout and the staying power to back our portfolio companies longer term, through subsequent rounds of financing
	How to get our attention An introduction: The most effective introduction is from executives of companies in our portfolio, our investors, investors we work with, someone who knows you and knows us. A powerful business plan: We like comprehensive but concise business plans. However, we are as interested in your insights about your business as we are in the plan itself. We prefer receiving business plans, financial forecasts and white papers in electronic format. Why we do not sign NDAs: We are a full EVCA member, and comply with their code of conduct. We only use the information that we get to assess attractiveness of an investment opportunity. Hence, we do not sign NDAs. At over 400 qualified requests for funding per annum, keeping track of all the various NDAs would be a herculean task.