Weinberg Capital Partners expands its defense footprint with a new…

Five years after launching the first private equity fund dedicated to BITD, Weinberg Capital Partners is doing it again with WCP Eiréné Développement, a 120 million euro small-cap oriented vehicle in order to multiply its footprint in defense.

With 1.8 billion euros under management, Weinberg Capital Partners is launching a second vehicle dedicated to financing defense and security companies, this time positioned on small-cap LBOs and development capital. WCP Eiréné Développement, whose target size is set at 120 million euros, plans to invest tickets of between 5 and 15 million euros, to constitute a portfolio of ten to fifteen participations in France and Europe.

WCP is not its first attempt. Already, in 2021, the management company launched a first private equity vehicle dedicated to SMEs and ETIs of the defense industrial and technological base (BITD). With a first closing in early 2023, this fund now has 275 million euros under management and includes in the Magellium portfolio Artal Group, a specialist in spatial data processing and embedded artificial intelligence, as well as the Adit group, a reference in economic intelligence and influence strategy.

“This vehicle will allow us to leverage origination synergies, capitalize on our sectoral expertise and leverage the experience acquired in managing a defense company portfolio. ” a déclaré Serge Weinberg, président de WCP.

WCP Eiréné Développement intends to meet the equity needs of BITD SMEs to finance business transfers, research and development, international growth and adaptation to the acceleration of industrial rates. The two funds now form an offering covering the entire spectrum of defense financing, from small-cap to mid-cap. This new vehicle will be classified Article 8 within the meaning of the SFDR regulation. Serge Weinberg, Chairman of Weinberg Capital Partners, said: “This vehicle will allow us to leverage origination synergies, capitalize on our sectoral expertise and leverage the experience acquired in managing a defense company portfolio.“Lionel Mestre and David Lebain will lead the management of the fund, drawing on the networks and experience acquired by WCP within the defense ecosystem.