Amethis announces the final closing of Amethis Europe Expansion on target close to €150M
Paris, November 2025
Amethis Investment Fund Manager S.A., the alternative investment fund manager dedicated to responsible long-term growth across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, is pleased to announce the final close of Amethis Europe Expansion FPCI (“AEE” or “the Fund”) on target at nearly EUR 150mn, including a dedicated co-investment envelope.
Despite a challenging fundraising environment for first-time funds, Amethis Europe Expansion successfully reached its target after an initial close at EUR 75mn. The Fund has already deployed close to 50% of its commitments across five investments, reflecting its differentiated strategy of supporting European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their international development in the EMEA through exports, enhanced supply chains, local expansion and M&A.
A European small cap fund with an international angle
Led by Nicolas Manardo and Romain Gauvrit, Amethis Europe Expansion combines Amethis’ historical expertise in international growth with Edmond de Rothschild’s strong European platform. The Fund targets majority and minority investments between EUR 8mn and EUR 20mn.
Amethis Europe Expansion benefits from the backing of leading institutional investors (over half of total commitments) including the European Investment Bank (EIB), Bpifrance, Groupe BRED, Arkéa Federal Finance or Cofides, alongside a number of family offices and private investors brought together with the support of Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity’s private banking network.
A diversified and fast-deploying portfolio
To date, Amethis Europe Expansion has completed five investments across Europe:
- Groupe Office Automation (France) – wholesale and VAD of printing equipment, maintenance and software for the SME market;
- HB Aesthetics (Spain) – Dermo-cosmetics development, production and distribution;
- Capital Banking Solutions (France) –core banking software publisher for private and retail banks globally;
- Fidence (Luxembourg) – Fiduciary and corporate services for institutional, corporate and family offices clients;
- EIF Expertise (France) – Property and R&D tax advisory.
Building bridges in the EMEA
“Our investment thesis, supporting SMEs in their international development, resonates strongly with investors seeking geographical diversification within a small cap universe,” said Nicolas Manardo and Romain Gauvrit, Senior Partners at Amethis. “With teams and offices across Europe and Africa and the Middle East and with the support of Edmond de Rothschild’s network, we have a unique platform to execute this strategy effectively.”
Luc Rigouzzo and Laurent Demey, Co-Founders and Managing Partners at Amethis stated: “The final closing of Amethis Europe Expansion marks a significant milestone in Amethis’ journey. This strategy perfectly illustrates our ambition to build a strong bridge between our European DNA and our long-standing commitment to Africa and emerging markets. We are proud of the continued trust our investors have placed in us, and we have full confidence in Nicolas and Romain to ensure the success of this fund, drawing on their deep expertise and extensive experience in private equity markets.”
Strengthening Amethis’ European presence
This final close marks a major milestone for Amethis, reinforcing its position as a leading European and African Private Equity player with EUR 1.4bn of assets under management across multiple funds dedicated to the SME segment in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
About Amethis
Founded by Luc Rigouzzo and Laurent Demey, and member of Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity Partnership, Amethis is an impact-oriented private equity firm focusing on financial, environmental and social sustainability on the African and European continents. With assets under management of over €1,4 billion, Amethis has made more than 40 investments to date.
Amethis provides growth capital to promising mid-sized champions in a variety of sectors, offering growth support through its international network covering Europe and Africa as well as systematic improvement of their environmental and social impacts. With seven offices in Paris, Abidjan, Casablanca, Nairobi, Cairo, Cape Town and Luxembourg, the Amethis team includes 55 experienced professionals with strong regional and sector expertise.
For more information: https://amethis.com/
About Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity
Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity (EDRPE) is an independent player, part of Edmond de Rothschild, with over €4 billion in assets under management. With an entrepreneurial approach to finance backed by strong convictions, Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity builds and develops differentiating investment strategies that provide a sustainable response to environmental and social challenges.
Founded in 1953, the Group had nearly CHF 160 billion in assets under management at the end of December 2022, 2,500 employees and 30 offices worldwide.
For more information: www.edmond-de-rothschild.com