YFM Equity Partners
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
YFM Equity Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- YFM Equity Partners
- Legal name
- YFM Private Equity Limited
- Website
- https://yfmep.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
YFM Equity Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)
Keywords
Where YFM Equity Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
YFM Equity Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Fund management fees: Recurring management fees earned on Assets Under Management across the British Smaller Companies VCTs (BSC, BSC2) and YFM Buyout Funds (Fund I, Fund II, Fund III). Total AUM across funds is £750m firm-wide, with BSC VCTs holding £480m of AUM.
- Carried interest / performance fees: Performance-related returns from successful portfolio exits, including 10.8x cash multiple realised on Protein Works (sold to Lactalis in 2026), Vuealta exit via sale to Keyrus, Elucidat exit via sale to Learning Pool, and other portfolio realisations.
- VCT offering fees: One-time fees on VCT share allotments under the joint BSC/BSC2 offer: 3.0% Advised, 3.5% Direct, 5.0% Execution Only channels. 2025/26 offer raised £85m (£60m target plus £25m over-allotment).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Growth Capital — £3m to £15m equity investment into UK SMEs with at least £1m of sales in the last 12 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Management Buyout — £3m to £15m equity for ownership transitions, MBO or acquisition funding |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | British Smaller Companies VCTs (BSC & BSC2) — £85m joint offer for 2025/26 tax year |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
YFM Equity Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
YFM Equity Partners provides equity investment of £3m–£15m into UK SMEs through two core investment products: Growth Capital (for businesses with at least £1m of sales seeking to scale, open overseas offices, or fund product development) and Management Buyout (for businesses with at least £1m of profits seeking ownership change transactions, MBOs, or acquisition funding). Capital is deployed through the British Smaller Companies VCTs (BSC, BSC2) and the Buyout Fund series (Fund I, II, III), supported by an in-house Value Creation function providing strategic and operational support to portfolio companies.
Product overview
YFM Equity Partners operates as a single integrated private equity platform rather than a multi-product software suite. Its core offering comprises two complementary investment product lines that work together: (1) the British Smaller Companies VCTs (BSC and BSC2, jointly managing £480 million AUM across 42 portfolio companies, accessed at https://yfmep.com/fund/british-smaller-companies-vct-plc), which provide tax-efficient growth-stage capital, and (2) the BuyOut Funds (Fund I, II, III, totalling 28 investments and 11 realisations, accessed at https://yfmep.com/fund/buy-out-fund-investment), which back management buyouts and equity release transactions of £3m–£15m. Underpinning these are two distinct investment service types — Growth Capital and Management Buyout — each with the same £3m–£15m ticket size but targeting different scenarios. The whole platform is supported by an active portfolio of 250+ UK SMEs, an in-house Value Creation function providing hands-on support to investee companies, an Entrepreneur Lab content hub (https://yfmep.com/lab), and the Entrepreneur Economy research publication. YFM is FCA-regulated (FRN: 122120) and operates regional offices in London, Leeds, Manchester, Reading, and Birmingham.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- British Smaller Companies VCT (BSC): Longstanding venture capital trust launched in 1996, managed by YFM Equity Partners, providing investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of UK growth businesses with tax-efficient advantages.
- British Smaller Companies VCT2 (BSC2)
- YFM Buyout Funds
Products and services
- Growth Capital Equity investment product offering £3m–£15m growth capital funding into commercially proven UK small businesses to help them scale faster. Typical use cases include recruiting more team members, investing in product development, or opening overseas offices. YFM ideally looks for at least £1m of sales in the last 12 months. Supports follow-on investment capacity. Targeted at ambitious UK SMEs and their founders/management teams.
- Management Buyout Equity investment product offering £3m–£15m into UK businesses to support ownership change transactions, including management buyouts, equity release to existing shareholders, or funding for acquisitions. YFM ideally looks for at least £1m of profits in the last 12 months. Targeted at established UK SMEs and management teams undertaking ownership transitions.
- British Smaller Companies VCT (BSC) Long-standing generalist Venture Capital Trust founded in 1996, managed by YFM Equity Partners. Provides investors with exposure to a diversified portfolio of UK growth businesses. Offers 20% income tax rebate on investment, tax-free dividends, and exemption from capital gains tax on sale. Latest NAV Per Share of 76.90p and total NAV of £285.5m as of 31 March 2026. Together with BSC2, manages £480 million in AUM across 42 portfolio companies. Targeted at HNW individuals, family offices, and advised retail investors.
- British Smaller Companies VCT2 (BSC2) Sister Venture Capital Trust to BSC, founded in 2000 and managed by YFM Equity Partners. Part of the British Smaller Companies VCTs joint offering, providing diversified exposure to UK growth businesses via a portfolio of 42 companies. Together with BSC, manages £480 million in Assets Under Management. Targeted at HNW individuals, family offices, and advised retail investors.
- YFM Buyout Funds YFM's Buyout Fund series investing £3m–£15m into established, high-growth regional UK businesses with strong management teams and scalable models. BuyOut Fund I (£46m, closed April 2017) is fully deployed across 10 investments with 9 realised. BuyOut Fund II (£80m, closed February 2024) is in deployment. BuyOut Fund III (£95.5m, closed November 2023) is the latest fund. Suits Institutional, High Net Worth, and Family Office investors. 28 investments and 11 realisations across the series.
- YFM Equity Partners Portfolio
Quantifiable outcome
- 10.8x cash multiple on Protein Works exit (Lactalis, 2026); revenue grew from £13m to ~£55m, customer base to over 2.5 million
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use YFM Equity Partners
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
YFM Equity Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
YFM Equity Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- PKF Francis ClarkcoreCorporate finance adviser to YFM Equity Partners, providing deal structuring, financial modelling and end-to-end transaction support through to completion on portfolio deals such as the £7.6m investment into Swanky.
- Sanctuary GraduatescoreDE&I-focused graduate recruitment agency partnering with YFM to source diverse talent for the firm's annual internship programme across Leeds, Manchester and London offices; partners with The Sutton Trust to drive social mobility.
- Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr)coreEconomic research partner collaborating with YFM on the 'Entrepreneur Economy' report, analysing the Government Longitudinal Small Business survey of 7,500+ SME employers to size and explain the UK entrepreneur economy.
- United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)coreYFM follows the Principles for Responsible Investment as a signatory, integrating ESG factors throughout YFM and its portfolio under its 'Building Better Businesses' framework.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
YFM Equity Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- LDC (Lloyds Development Capital): LDC is the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, investing in UK SMEs with a regional office model across the UK. It targets similar ticket sizes to YFM but with materially larger fund vintages, broader sector coverage and balance-sheet backing.
- Octopus Investments: Octopus Investments is one of the largest UK VCT and smaller-company investment managers, with multiple VCT vintages and broader product lines including EIS and multi-asset funds. It overlaps with YFM in VCT distribution but operates at materially larger scale and broader mandate.
Direct peers
- Albion Capital: Albion Capital is a UK investment manager running VCTs and growth capital funds for smaller UK companies. Its VCT-focused structure and lower-mid-market ticket sizes make it a direct comparable to YFM's BSC VCT and growth capital offering.
- Maven Capital Partners: Maven Capital Partners is a UK regional private equity and VCT manager with a closely overlapping product set — including VCTs, regional buyout funds and growth capital — and frequent co-investor with YFM (e.g., Summize). It targets UK SMEs with similar ticket sizes and shares the regional office model, making it the most direct comparable.
- Downing LLP: Downing is a UK investment manager operating VCTs, EIS funds and direct investment programmes targeting growth-stage UK companies. Comparable to YFM in product mix (tax-efficient retail + institutional funds) and target company size.
- Par Equity: Par Equity is a Scottish-based growth and venture capital investor that is a frequent co-investor with YFM (e.g., Fuuse) and operates a comparable regional origination model for UK SMEs, including via the Maven-managed VCTs ecosystem.
- Mercia Asset Management: Mercia Asset Management is a UK regional PE and VCT manager focused on the Midlands and North of England, with regional funds, EIS/VCT vehicles and direct investments. Frequently co-invests with YFM (e.g., StudentCrowd via Midlands Engine) and competes head-to-head for UK SME growth capital mandates.
- Foresight Group: Foresight Group is a UK-listed asset manager operating VCTs, regional buyout funds and growth capital vehicles targeting UK SMEs. Like YFM it combines VCT and buyout fund vintages with a regional deal-sourcing footprint and a focus on SMEs seeking £3m-£15m tickets.
Regional players
- British Business Bank: The British Business Bank is a UK government-backed economic development bank operating regional funds (including the Midlands Engine and Northern Powerhouse funds) that compete and partner with YFM for regional SME mandates. Indirectly comparable as a regional UK growth capital allocator.
Emerging players
- Praetura Ventures: Praetura Ventures is a Manchester-based growth capital investor focused on UK SMEs in the North, with regional fund partnerships and a similar lower-mid-market ticket size. Comparable as a regional competitor/co-investor in YFM's core North West geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
YFM Equity Partners social profiles
Digital presenceYFM Equity Partners compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
YFM Equity Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
YFM Equity Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles26 records
YFM Equity Partners subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
YFM Equity Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
YFM Equity Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A39 records
Investments126 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about YFM Equity Partners
What does YFM Equity Partners do?
YFM Equity Partners provides equity investment of £3m–£15m into UK SMEs through two core investment products: Growth Capital (for businesses with at least £1m of sales seeking to scale, open overseas offices, or fund product development) and Management Buyout (for businesses with at least £1m of profits seeking ownership change transactions, MBOs, or acquisition funding). Capital is deployed through the British Smaller Companies VCTs (BSC, BSC2) and the Buyout Fund series (Fund I, II, III), supported by an in-house Value Creation function providing strategic and operational support to portfolio companies.
Is YFM Equity Partners a public or private company?
YFM Equity Partners is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was YFM Equity Partners founded?
YFM Equity Partners was founded in 1982. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is YFM Equity Partners based?
YFM Equity Partners is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does YFM Equity Partners make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fund management fees are the primary driver. The others are carried interest / performance fees and VCT offering fees.
Who are YFM Equity Partners's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are LDC (Lloyds Development Capital) and Octopus Investments. Direct peers are Albion Capital, Maven Capital Partners, Downing LLP, Par Equity, Mercia Asset Management and Foresight Group. British Business Bank is listed as a regional player. Praetura Ventures is listed as an emerging player.
Does YFM Equity Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for YFM Equity Partners.
What industry is YFM Equity Partners in?
YFM Equity Partners's product category is Private Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAO, Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.