3i Group

3i Group

3i Group was founded in 1945 as a state-backed initiative to provide long-term capital to British industry, and was privatized in 1994. Simon Borrows became CEO in 2012 after leading the firm's buyout and infrastructure teams; he previously worked at Schroders and ABN AMRO. The firm's ownership structure — a publicly listed investment trust — gives it the unusual ability to manage capital without the fixed-life constraints of conventional private equity. The firm allocates across private equity, infrastructure, and debt, targeting mid-market buyouts and growth equity in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its portfolio includes Action, a European discount retailer acquired in 2011 and held as its largest position, and Royal Sanders, a Dutch personal care company. Infrastructure holdings span renewable energy, transport, and digital infrastructure across the UK and continental Europe. Geographic exposure: roughly 60% Europe, 20% North America, and the balance in Asia and Latin America. 3i employs about 250 professionals across offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Beijing, and São Paulo. In recent years, the firm has increased its focus on infrastructure, including a dedicated infrastructure fund raised in 2021. Its debt arm, 3i Debt Management, provides mezzanine and junior debt financing. The firm also operates a philanthropic foundation, 3i Foundation, with a focus on education and social enterprise. Its permanent capital model — unique among listed private equity firms — allows 3i to hold assets for extended periods, avoiding the forced-sales dynamic that pressures conventional funds. The firm does not have a controlling family or single beneficiary, instead answering to public shareholders who trade the shares on the London Stock Exchange.