What Rhône Group does

Rh\u00f4ne Group is a transatlantic middle-market private equity firm founded in 1996 by Robert F. Agostinelli and M. Steven Langman. The firm has raised six successive private equity funds (Fund I in 1997 through Fund VI in 2022) and manages approximately \u20ac10 billion of cumulative capital from a diversified institutional LP base spanning public and corporate pension funds, insurers, family offices, asset managers, sovereign wealth funds, and endowments. It employs 50+ professionals across offices in New York, London, and Madrid under a stated "one firm" philosophy, with the team deliberately balanced across the Atlantic.

Rh\u00f4ne's investment strategy is a disciplined specialization in corporate carve-out acquisitions and partnerships with founding families and entrepreneurs, principally across consumer, business services, and industrial sectors. The firm currently holds 17 active portfolio companies spanning healthcare (DHCare), food and ingredients (Freddy's, Sweet Oak, Orkla Food Ingredients, Baker & Baker), industrial manufacturing and materials (Copperweld, Paragon Films, RHI Magnesita, ASK Chemicals, Wellbore Integrity Solutions, Lummus Technology, Maxam), consumer brands (Illycaff\u00e8, Rexair), connected fitness (Wahoo), pool equipment (Fluidra), private aviation (Vista Global), and luxury retail (Saks Global). Several businesses have international geographic footprints well beyond their headquarters (Illy in 140+ countries, Maxam on six continents, Fluidra in 45+ countries).

The firm earns revenue through two principal streams typical of closed-end private equity: recurring management fees on committed or deployed capital across active funds, and transaction-based carried interest tied to successful realizations of individual portfolio investments. Rhône also offers co-investment opportunities and separate managed accounts to its existing Limited Partners. Distribution is direct: the firm deploys capital through bilateral investment agreements with target companies sourced almost exclusively from its 30-year institutional network. Marketing is intentionally relationship-led and discretion-driven, with a dedicated investor relations function led by the Managing Director of Investor Relations.

Name

Rhône Group

Legal name

Rhône Group L.L.C.

Website

http://www.rhonegroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rh\u00f4ne Group is a transatlantic middle-market private equity firm that invests through six consecutive buyout funds (\u20ac10bn cumulative capital) alongside institutional LPs, specializing in corporate carve-outs and founding-family partnerships across consumer, industrial, and business services sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity Investment Management

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Consumer & Retail Growth Equity (FSANACAC)

Keywords

• Private equity
• Middle-market investing
• Leveraged buyouts
• Carve-out acquisitions
• Portfolio management

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: Rhône generates management fees from its funds, currently investing from Fund VI established in 2022.
2. Carried Interest: Performance-based carried interest from successful portfolio company realizations.
3. Co-investment Program: Co-investment opportunities for existing Limited Partners alongside fund investments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Rhône Group is a transatlantic middle-market private equity firm that raises and manages private equity funds (Fund I through Fund VI, with Fund VI raised in 2022) and deploys capital into middle-market companies. The firm specializes in carve-out acquisitions and partnerships with founding families and entrepreneurs across business services, consumer, and industrial sectors, with offices in New York, London, and Madrid supporting cross-border deal sourcing and portfolio monitoring.

Product overview

Rhône Group is a transatlantic middle-market private equity firm offering investment management services through a series of funds (Fund I through Fund VI, with Fund VI established in 2022). The firm's core product is capital raising and deployment into middle-market companies with international footprint, specializing in carve-out acquisitions and partnerships with founding families across business services, consumer, and industrial sectors. Rhône's investment strategy involves partnering with management teams to implement strategic initiatives and operational improvements that create long-term value. The firm currently manages a portfolio of 17 active portfolio companies spanning healthcare (DHCare), food & ingredients (Freddy's, Sweet Oak, Orkla Food Ingredients, Baker & Baker), industrial manufacturing (Copperweld, Paragon Films, RHI Magnesita, ASK Chemicals, Wellbore Integrity Solutions, Lummus Technology, Maxam), consumer brands (Illycaffè, Rexair), fitness technology (Wahoo), pool equipment (Fluidra), aviation (Vista Global), and luxury retail (Saks Global). Rhône operates with approximately €10bn in capital raised over 30 years and maintains offices in New York, London, and Madrid.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rhône Fund VI Sixth private equity fund raised by Rhône in 2022; the firm's currently investing vehicle for transatlantic middle-market opportunities in business services, consumer, and industrial sectors. Available to institutional limited partners.
• Rhône Fund V Fifth private equity fund raised in 2015, continuing the firm's investment strategy in transatlantic middle-market businesses. Available to institutional limited partners.
• Rhône Fund IV Fourth private equity fund raised in 2011, continuing the firm's investment strategy in middle-market businesses. Available to institutional limited partners.
• Rhône Fund III Third private equity fund raised in 2006, supporting the firm's international investment activities. Available to institutional limited partners.
• Rhône Fund II Rhône's first institutional fund raised in 2003, marking the firm's transition to managing capital from institutional investors. Available to institutional limited partners.
• Co-investment Program Co-investment opportunities offered to existing Limited Partners alongside primary fund investments, enabling LPs to deploy additional capital into specific portfolio investments.
• Separate Management Accounts Customized separate management accounts managed by Rhône for certain investor types seeking bespoke investment mandates outside the flagship fund structure.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Investindustrial: Transatlantic mid-market private equity firm with offices in London, Lugano, Madrid, and New York, focused on mid-market consumer and industrial buyouts. Most directly comparable to Rhône on size, transatlantic footprint, and sector specialization — an Investindustrial Principal (Angelo Giovannone) recently joined Rhône's team.
• BC Partners: Established European-headquartered PE firm operating across mid- to upper-mid-market buyouts in consumer, industrial, and business services across Europe and North America. Comparable to Rhône in deal size, sector focus, and transatlantic reach, but with materially larger fund vintages.
• Charterhouse Capital Partners: London-based mid-market PE firm pursuing European buyouts in business services, consumer, and industrial sectors. Comparable to Rhône on size, European mid-market carve-out focus, and long-tenured team approach.
• PAI Partners: Paris-based mid-market PE firm with deep carve-out and corporate divestiture expertise across Europe, North America, and Latin America. Directly comparable to Rhône's transatlantic mid-market, sector-generalist approach with carve-out specialization.
• Cinven: European-led PE firm with transatlantic presence investing in mid-market businesses across consumer, industrial, healthcare, and business services. Similar transatlantic, sector-diversified mid-market buyout model to Rhône's.
• Apax Partners: London-headquartered global PE firm with transatlantic mid-market focus across consumer, industrial, healthcare, and business services. Long-tenured, transatlantic platform and sector breadth similar to Rhône.
• Triton Partners: European mid-market buyout firm focused on industrial, consumer, and business services across Northern Europe and selectively in North America. Closely comparable to Rhône on mid-market size, industrial/consumer focus, and founder-succession orientation.
• Lone Star Funds: Global private equity firm with transatlantic operations focused on opportunistic and value-driven mid-market investments. Directly comparable to Rhône on transatlantic reach and mid-market focus; a former Rhône professional (Vincent Wess) joined from Lone Star.

Broad incumbents

• CVC Capital Partners: One of the world's largest PE firms with a broad European-anchored platform covering mid- to large-cap buyouts, growth, and credit across consumer and industrial sectors. Larger and broader than Rhône but operating in overlapping transatlantic mid-market deal flow.
• EQT Partners: Global PE firm with deep presence in Europe and North America, pursuing mid- to large-cap buyouts and growth investments across consumer, industrial, technology, and business services. Transatlantic sector-diversified approach broadly comparable to Rhône but materially larger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhone-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A13 records

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rhône Group