API Group

API Group pursues a permanent-capital buy-and-build strategy focused on enterprise software and IT services companies in the UK. Rather than operating a traditional private equity fund, the firm acquires profitable businesses with recurring revenue streams and integrates them into a long-term portfolio. It targets founder-led companies where sellers prioritize operational continuity and cultural preservation over maximizing sale price at auction.

No. API Group operates on a permanent-capital basis, meaning it does not raise funds with defined investment periods or forced exit timelines. The firm holds its acquired businesses indefinitely, reinvesting free cash flow into organic growth and further acquisitions. This structure allows it to compete for deals where founders are wary of the traditional private equity cycle of buy, restructure, and sell within five to seven years.

Based on the firm's stated acquisition criteria, API Group targets UK-based enterprise software and IT services businesses generating between approximately £2 million and £20 million in annual revenue. These are typically established companies with sticky customer relationships, recurring or repeating revenue profiles, and founder-led management teams seeking succession solutions.

API Group is neither. It is a permanent-capital holding company — a corporate entity that acquires and holds operating businesses indefinitely using its own balance sheet. It does not manage third-party capital on behalf of a single family or as a commingled private equity fund, distinguishing it from both family office and traditional asset manager structures.

The source of API Group's permanent capital is not publicly disclosed. Because the firm does not appear to raise external funds or manage assets on behalf of a wealthy family, its capital base likely derives either from founder equity, internally generated cash flows from existing portfolio companies, or a combination of both.