Rubicon Partners
Rubicon Partners is a London-based private equity firm founded in 1993 that acquires control positions in UK and European lower-to-middle market industrial businesses with enterprise values of £20m–£200m, deploying both capital and operational involvement across a 33-year track record of 85 investments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rubicon Partners does
Rubicon Partners is a London-based private equity firm founded in 1993 that invests in lower-to-middle market industrial businesses across the UK and Europe. The firm targets control acquisitions of companies with enterprise values between £20m and £200m and EBIT between £4m and £25m, addressing situations including owner/family succession, corporate carve-outs, and operational underperformance. Since founding, Rubicon has completed 85 industrial investments across six fund vintages and currently employs 16 team members, of whom 11 are investment professionals representing eight nationalities.
The firm takes a hands-on, active-investment approach: deal sourcing is conducted through advisory networks, management team introductions, and founder/family relationships; portfolio companies receive both capital and operational involvement, with the Rubicon team typically taking board seats. The current portfolio spans aerospace and defence (Erodex), air pollution control (Airnord), water utilities (Jacopa, Aquamain, Avove), commercial kitchen equipment (Airedale), building products (O&S Doors), recycled plastics (Centriforce), timber imports (CTH), sheet metal manufacturing (PSM), and power distribution (CMD). Recent exits have included CMD (September 2024), Fibron BX (August 2023), and John Lawrie Metals to ArcelorMittal (April 2022). Rubicon reports Fund IV portfolio outcomes of 36% sales growth, 40% EBIT CAGR, 126% EBIT increase, and 44% headcount growth.
Revenue is generated through standard private equity mechanics: management fees on committed or invested fund capital across active funds (currently Fund V and the recently closed Fund VI SCSp, a Luxembourg-domiciled vehicle), supplemented by performance-based carried interest upon successful portfolio exits. Fund VI's final close in June 2025 exceeded its target with capital from institutional investors across the UK, Europe, North America, and South America, and the Rubicon team is reported as a principal investor in the vehicle. The firm is FCA-regulated via Langham Hall Fund Management LLP, is a UNPRI signatory, and is headquartered at 8–12 York Gate, Marylebone, London.
Rubicon Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rubicon Partners
- Legal name
- Rubicon Partners LLP
- Website
- https://rubiconpartners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rubicon Partners is a London-based private equity firm founded in 1993 that acquires control positions in UK and European lower-to-middle market industrial businesses with enterprise values of £20m–£200m, deploying both capital and operational involvement across a 33-year track record of 85 investments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rubicon Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity Investment Management
- NAICS
- Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities (523999), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Independent Sponsor / Fundless Sponsor ETA (FSANALAB)
Keywords
Where Rubicon Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rubicon Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Fund Management Fees: Rubicon generates revenue through management fees charged on the funds under management, typically calculated as a percentage of committed capital or invested assets.
- Carried Interest: Performance-based carried interest from successful portfolio company exits, typically a percentage of profits above a preferred return hurdle rate.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Rubicon Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rubicon Partners is a private equity firm that acquires and actively manages lower-to-middle market industrial businesses with enterprise values of £20m to £200m across the UK and Europe. The firm invests through dedicated funds (currently Fund V and Fund VI), taking controlling stakes and providing both capital and hands-on operational, strategic and financial support to transform portfolio companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rubicon Partners Fund VI (Rubicon Partners VI SCSp)
- Rubicon Partners Fund V (Rubicon Partners V SCSp)
- Active Industrial Investment Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 36% sales growth in Fund IV portfolio companies
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Rubicon Partners
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rubicon Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Rubicon Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UNPRI (United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment)coreRubicon Partners is a signatory of the UNPRI, demonstrating commitment to integrating environmental, social, and governance factors into their investment process. This membership aligns them with global societal requirements and responsible investment standards.
- Level 20minorRubicon Partners is a proud sponsor of Level 20, a professional organization dedicated to supporting and advancing women in private equity. This sponsorship demonstrates commitment to diversity and inclusion within the industry.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rubicon Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Limerston Capital: UK lower-mid-market private equity firm investing in UK SMEs with EV £15m-£100m. Overlapping target size band and a comparable hands-on, operationally focused approach to industrial and consumer businesses.
- NorthEdge Capital: UK mid-market private equity firm investing in businesses with EV £10m-£250m, often in industrial and business services. Comparable investment criteria, regional focus on the North of England, and similar deal-by-deal approach to Rubicon Partners.
- Lyceum Capital: UK mid-market private equity firm investing in UK-headquartered businesses with enterprise values typically £20m-£200m. Overlapping sector focus (industrials, business services) and a similar hands-on operating approach targeting owner-managers and corporate carve-outs.
- Key Capital Partners: Irish-headquartered mid-market private equity firm investing across Ireland and the UK with EV €15m-€100m. Comparable industrial/services focus, founder-led businesses, and regional UK-and-Ireland orientation relevant to Rubicon's Jacopa and water-utility portfolio exposure.
- Inflexion Private Equity: UK mid-market private equity firm with growing exposure to lower-mid-market industrial and business services deals. Overlapping deal size band (£20m-£200m EV) and institutional fundraising model comparable to Rubicon Partners' Fund VI.
- Synova Capital: UK private equity firm investing in lower-mid-market businesses, often with industrial/services exposure. Comparable fund size, target valuation range, and operating model to Rubicon Partners, with similar focus on transformational buyouts of UK-headquartered companies.
- Cairngorm Capital Partners: UK-based private equity firm focused on lower-mid-market industrial and consumer businesses. Direct competitor with similar focus on UK manufacturing, owner-managed/family-owned targets, and £20m-£200m enterprise value range, making it the closest industrial-specialist peer to Rubicon Partners.
- August Equity: UK lower-mid-market private equity firm with a long track record investing alongside management teams in UK SMEs. Comparable investment size, sector mix (industrials, services), and founder/family-owned target orientation to Rubicon.
- Endless LLP: UK private equity firm focused on carve-outs and turnaround situations in mid-market industrial and consumer businesses. Direct competitor for UK industrial carve-out deals of similar scale to Rubicon's transactions.
Broad incumbents
- LDC (Lloyds Development Capital): One of the UK's most active mid-market private equity investors, backed by Lloyds Banking Group. Operates across all major sectors including industrials at scale, with much larger AUM but overlapping target deal size with Rubicon Partners.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rubicon Partners social profiles
Digital presenceRubicon Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rubicon Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Rubicon Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rubicon Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A52 records
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rubicon Partners
What does Rubicon Partners do?
Rubicon Partners is a private equity firm that acquires and actively manages lower-to-middle market industrial businesses with enterprise values of £20m to £200m across the UK and Europe. The firm invests through dedicated funds (currently Fund V and Fund VI), taking controlling stakes and providing both capital and hands-on operational, strategic and financial support to transform portfolio companies.
Is Rubicon Partners a public or private company?
Rubicon Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rubicon Partners founded?
Rubicon Partners was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rubicon Partners based?
Rubicon Partners is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rubicon Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fund Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest.
Who are Rubicon Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Limerston Capital, NorthEdge Capital, Lyceum Capital, Key Capital Partners, Inflexion Private Equity, Synova Capital, Cairngorm Capital Partners, August Equity and Endless LLP. LDC (Lloyds Development Capital) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Rubicon Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rubicon Partners.
What industry is Rubicon Partners in?
Rubicon Partners's product category is Private Equity Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANALAB, Independent Sponsor / Fundless Sponsor ETA. Its NAICS code is 523999 and its SIC code is 6799.