3i Group
- Company typePublic
- Founded1945
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 3i Group does
3i Group plc is a London-headquartered, publicly listed investment company (LSE: III) founded in 1945 that invests principally from its own balance sheet across two businesses: Private Equity and Infrastructure. Through ~223 professionals in five offices (London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, New York, Paris), it targets mid-market companies in Europe and North America with enterprise values typically of €100m–€500m, organised around four PE verticals — Consumer & Private Label, Healthcare, Industrial, and Services & Software — plus a separately-listed Infrastructure vehicle (3i Infrastructure plc).
The firm's portfolio is dominated by Action, the European non-food discount retailer, which at 31 March 2026 represented 75% of the £23.7bn total portfolio valuation, operated 3,335 stores across 15 countries, and generated £16bn of net sales in 2025. Other material holdings include Royal Sanders (European personal-care contract manufacturing, £1.2bn valuation, nine bolt-ons since 2018), AESSEAL (industrial sealing in 104 countries), BoConcept (interior design in 60 countries), Cirtec Medical, ten23 health, xSuite, Evernex and, in Infrastructure, Tampnet, Scandlines, ESVAGT, Smarte Carte and the newly agreed Lefdal Mine Datacenter (€300m majority stake). Infrastructure AUM is approximately £6.9bn, with typical equity tickets of £150m–£300m.
3i generates returns through a combination of capital appreciation on its proprietary equity portfolio, fee income from third-party infrastructure capital, and realised proceeds on exits (£1,517m of Group realised proceeds most recently). Marketing is conducted primarily through investor-relations channels, capital-markets seminars and the annual report, targeting institutional shareholders and co-investors rather than a retail customer base. Portfolio operations are highly active: 96% of portfolio companies by value grew earnings in the year to 31 December 2025, and exits in 2025 included MPM Products to Partners Group and MAIT Group to DBAG.
3i Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 3i Group
- Legal name
- 3i Group plc
- Website
- http://www.3i.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1945
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
3i Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity & Infrastructure Investment Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity (FSANACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrials & Manufacturing Growth Equity (FSANACAF), Media, Entertainment & Gaming Growth Equity (FSANACAI)
Keywords
Where 3i Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
3i Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Investment Returns: Capital returns generated through appreciation of private equity portfolio investments, including Action (75% of portfolio), Royal Sanders, and other mid-market companies across Europe and North America
- Infrastructure Fund Management Fees: Fee income from managing third-party funds and co-investment programs, with assets under management of approximately £6.9bn as of March 2026
- Realised Proceeds: Cash proceeds from exiting investments, including record exits and strategic realisations across the portfolio
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
3i Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
3i Group is an international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity, Infrastructure, and Debt Management, deploying principally proprietary capital and managing third-party funds. The Private Equity business invests in mid-market companies with enterprise values typically between €100m–€500m across Consumer & Private Label, Healthcare, Industrial, and Services & Software sectors in Europe and North America. The Infrastructure business manages core-plus infrastructure assets for third-party investors with approximately £6.9bn AUM, targeting equity investments of £150m–£300m and mid-teen returns.
Product overview
3i Group is an investment company specializing in Private Equity and Infrastructure. Its offering consists of two core investment services: Private Equity investment services (managing a £29.7bn portfolio as of March 2026) and Infrastructure investment services (managing approximately €8bn AUM). The Private Equity business invests in mid-market companies across four sectors: Consumer & Private Label, Healthcare, Industrial, and Services & Software, funded principally from proprietary capital. The Infrastructure business manages core-plus infrastructure assets on behalf of third-party investors and 3i's proprietary capital. Key portfolio companies include Action (European discount retailer forming 75% of portfolio value), Royal Sanders (personal care products), Evernex (data centre maintenance), xSuite (process automation software), and Lefdal Mine Datacenter (data centre). The company operates across five offices in London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, New York, and Paris, with approximately 223 employees from 25 nationalities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Private Equity Investment Services Mid-market Private Equity investment services investing principally proprietary capital in companies headquartered in northern Europe and North America with enterprise values typically €100m–€500m, focused on Consumer & Private Label, Healthcare, Industrial, and Services & Software sectors, with selected co-investor participation.
- Infrastructure Investment Services Infrastructure investment management services managing approximately £6.9bn of core-plus infrastructure assets on behalf of third-party investors and 3i's proprietary capital, with typical equity investments of £150m–£300m targeting mid-teen returns.
- 3i Infrastructure plc Separate listed investment company managed by 3i Group plc, focused on core-plus infrastructure investments, listed on the London Stock Exchange.
- Eurofund V A €5bn mid-market buyout fund launched in 2006 as part of 3i's Private Equity fund platform, with a liquidity event for investors realised in 2019.
- 3i Investment Portfolio 3i's diversified investment portfolio spanning Private Equity and Infrastructure assets, with £23.7bn total portfolio valuation at 31 March 2026, including 34 current Private Equity investments, 71 realised investments, and 17 Infrastructure portfolio companies.
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% of portfolio companies by value grew earnings in the year to 31 December 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use 3i Group
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
3i Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
3i Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators11 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
3i Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Apax Partners: Global private equity firm with strong European mid-market focus and listed-fund vehicles (e.g., Apax Global Alpha). Comparable in mid-market sector focus, fund structure, and European/UK geographic concentration.
- Intermediate Capital Group (ICG): London-listed alternative asset manager with private equity, credit, and real assets strategies targeting European mid-market opportunities. Highly comparable to 3i as a publicly listed European mid-market PE/credit platform with similar investor base and geographic footprint.
- Hg Capital Trust: UK-listed investment trust focused on software and services investments across the European mid-market. Closely comparable to 3i given its listed trust structure, mid-market focus, and thematic origination approach.
- Partners Group: Swiss-listed global private markets firm investing across PE, infrastructure, real estate, and private credit. Directly comparable as a large listed alternative asset manager that recently acquired MPM Products from 3i, demonstrating active overlap in mid-market European deals.
- EQT AB: Swedish-listed private equity and infrastructure investor with strong European mid-market heritage and global expansion. Highly comparable given listed structure, sector breadth, infrastructure platform, and PE mid-market focus.
- Bridgepoint Group: London-listed European mid-market private equity firm with a similar focus on €100m–€500m enterprise value companies across services and industrial sectors. Directly comparable in target market, deal size, and listed trust structure.
- HarbourVest Global Private Equity: London-listed private equity fund-of-funds and secondaries investor. Comparable to 3i via its listed investment trust structure and exposure to mid-market private equity returns, though via fund-of-funds rather than direct investment.
- Cinven: European mid-market private equity firm focused on €100m–€500m+ enterprise value companies across consumer, healthcare, industrials, and services. Highly comparable in target deal size, sector focus, and European geographic concentration.
- CVC Capital Partners: Global private equity firm with strong European mid-market heritage, now publicly listed. Comparable in deal-size focus, European concentration, and listed alternative asset manager positioning.
- Pantheon International: London-listed private equity investment trust providing diversified exposure to mid-market buyout funds globally. Comparable to 3i via its listed investment trust structure and PE-focused mandate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
3i Group social profiles
Digital presence3i Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
3i Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles25 records
3i Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
3i Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
3i Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A101 records
Investments480 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 3i Group
What does 3i Group do?
3i Group is an international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity, Infrastructure, and Debt Management, deploying principally proprietary capital and managing third-party funds. The Private Equity business invests in mid-market companies with enterprise values typically between €100m–€500m across Consumer & Private Label, Healthcare, Industrial, and Services & Software sectors in Europe and North America. The Infrastructure business manages core-plus infrastructure assets for third-party investors with approximately £6.9bn AUM, targeting equity investments of £150m–£300m and mid-teen returns.
Is 3i Group a public or private company?
3i Group is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was 3i Group founded?
3i Group was founded in 1945. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is 3i Group based?
3i Group is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does 3i Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Private Equity Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are infrastructure Fund Management Fees and realised Proceeds.
Who are 3i Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Apax Partners, Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), Hg Capital Trust, Partners Group, EQT AB, Bridgepoint Group, HarbourVest Global Private Equity, Cinven, CVC Capital Partners and Pantheon International.
Does 3i Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for 3i Group.
What industry is 3i Group in?
3i Group's product category is Private Equity & Infrastructure Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAD, Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity, with a secondary code of FSANACAF, Industrials & Manufacturing Growth Equity. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.