Our focus
Raising distinctive European mid-market private equity funds
Focused approach, deep expertise and relevant relationships
Sophisticated, analytical and hands-on project management
About us
Our creativity, technical ability and pro-active energy underpin our success
At Acanthus we welcome the opportunity to work with ambitious private equity managers. We bring substantial value through high quality strategic advice, investment grade documentation work and deep access to relevant investor networks.
We are a team of dedicated corporate finance professionals, who approach every different mandate in a tailored and specific way. We put a substantial amount of thought into our work upfront, in order to save our clients time and effort, and to deliver short, concentrated and successful fundraising processes.
Investors like working with us because of our highly relevant knowledge and our integrity
Team
Armando D’Amico
Chairman
Armando has over 25 years’ experience in private equity on both the buy and sell side, having been a limited partner before founding Acanthus in 1998. During his career, Armando has advised general partners, limited partners and financial institutions from the UK, US and Continental Europe in fund structuring, placement, and fundraising strategy. His previous experience includes the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Telesis and Bain & Company.
Wilf Wilkinson
Managing Partner
Wilf has fifteen years’ experience in the private equity and investment banking industries. At Acanthus, Wilf advises general partners, limited partners and financial institutions from the UK, US, Continental Europe and Asia in fund inception, structuring, placement, strategy, investor relations and LP portfolio sales. He is fluent in English, French and Spanish. Prior to joining Acanthus, Wilf advised on numerous private equity investments across Europe and the US at Jefferies and LongAcre Partners.
Paul Chappell
Head of Secondaries
Paul has 11 years’ experience in Financial Markets, in particular Private Equity and Asset Management. At Acanthus, Paul leads the Acanthus Secondaries business, facilitating tailored liquidity solutions on behalf of Global Limited Partners and European mid-market General Partners. Prior to joining Acanthus, Paul was a Secondaries Broker and spearheaded the Private Equity arm at TP ICAP and before this worked as a Placement Agent at Quest Fund Placement.
Boris Etcheberry
Vice President
Boris supports Acanthus’ clients in their primary fundraising processes and GP-led secondary transactions with a focus on providing strategic advice, process management and execution, investment grade documentation delivery as well as origination, development and distribution efforts with limited partners and institutional investors across the UK, Continental Europe and North America. Boris joined Acanthus from the Investment Banking division of William Blair where he advised on mid-market private equity investments across the US and Europe. He previously trained at BNP Paribas in Credit Structuring and Credit Agricole in Investment Banking.
Jamie Roxborough
VICE PRESIDENT
Jamie focuses on managing fundraising processes and GP-led secondary transactions for Acanthus’ clients, delivering strategic advice, managing fundraising processes and developing relationships with financial institutions globally. Previous to joining Acanthus, Jamie spent four years at Campbell Lutyens in London where he worked in the fund placement team and more recently focused specifically on advising global infrastructure managers across the firms activities.
Sophie Bradshaw
ASSOCIATE
Sophie assists Acanthus’ clients with investment grade documentation, process management and execution whilst also focusing on cultivating relationships with financial institutions across the UK, Europe and North America. Prior to joining Acanthus, Sophie was an Analyst at J.P. Morgan providing investment and credit solutions to endowments, foundations, family offices and ultra-high net worth individuals. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Bath.
Satpal Dulay
Operations Director
Satpal has over 25 years’ experience working in retail, publishing, motor trade, healthcare and professional consultancy. Satpal is responsible for operations at Acanthus, including office management, IT systems, client relations, finance assistance and compliance. Her previous experience includes Addison & Associates.
Dermot Crean
Non Executive Partner
Dermot has over 20 years’ investment banking experience in private placement, capital markets, restructuring and mergers & acquisitions with a focus on raising mid-market private equity funds. His previous experience includes Hawkpoint, JO Hambro Magan & Company, Samuel Montagu & Company and Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Selected Funds Raised


















Case studies
Why Acanthus

Core European Mid-Market Specialism
A strong, continuous presence in the most challenging and dynamic segment of the European private equity market
Deep geographic focus to provide our clients with unmatched advisory guidance and expertise
Corporate Finance Driven Approach
Increasing sophistication of market participants necessitates an intensely analytical approach and comprehensive investment grade documentation
We build a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses and cultures to position every fund in a clear and differentiated manner
Combined Business Model
The team’s vast experience facilitates a combined focus on project management and distribution by all project members
A highly targeted approach to marketing and investor relations underpinned by strong relationships with the investor community
Partner-Owned and Driven
An independent, partner-owned business ensuring deep, long-term alignment with clients and investors alike
News
Egeria raises €800 million for Private Equity Fund V
Dutch manager Egeria has held a first and final closing of the Egeria Private Equity Fund V on 18 December 2017 at €800 million. The commitments were raised from institutional investors and fund-of-fund-managers in Western Europe and North America, together with a... read moreEuropean Mid-Market Fundraising Review 2017
We are pleased to announce our 2017 European Mid-Market Fundraising Review, now in its eleventh year. As always, this annual review is based on our ongoing proprietary research into the European private equity mid-market, covering funds between €100 million and €1... read morePanel chaired by Armando D’Amico at SuperReturn International
SuperReturn International conference – Berlin – 28 February 2017 Armando D’Amico, managing partner of Acanthus, chaired panel titled “Fund Restructuring & Succession: Why Is Fund Restructuring On The Increase And Is There A Correlation With Succession Issues At GP... read moreARMANDO D’AMICO CHAIRS PANEL AT C5 CEE PRIVATE EQUITY FORUM
C5’s Annual CEE Private Equity conference – London – 13 October 2016 Armando D’Amico, managing partner of Acanthus, chaired LP Panel titled “CEE-Focused Fundraising Outlook: What would make an LP Write a Cheque” aimed at assessing the current trends in private equity... read moreAcanthus speaking at Super Return Berlin 2016
Armando D’Amico, spoke at Super Return International 2016 conference in Berlin on 23rd February 2016, chairing a panel discussion titled “Shaping an Emerging Landscape” Defining LP appetite for first-time managers and how do you pick the next generation of... read moreAcanthus speaking at Super Return Middle East 2015
Armando D’Amico, founder and managing partner of Acanthus, spoke at Super Return Middle East 2015 conference in Dubai on 9th Nov 2015, participating in two sessions: a panel discussion titled “How to Fundraise With a Limited/Poor Track Record” and a... read moreAcanthus speaking at C5 CEE Private Equity Forum
C5’s Annual CEE Private Equity conference – London – 8 October 2015 Armando D’Amico, managing partner of Acanthus, chaired a LP Panel titled “CEE-Focused Fundraising” aimed at assessing the current situation on the global fundraising market and the... read moreCairngorm Capital raises £50m from three LPs
The first time fund founded by former HIG Capital partner Andrew Steel started talking with investors at the beginning of the year. By Victoria Robson, Published by Private Equity International For full article click here Cairngorm Capital has held a first and final... read moreCairngorm Capital debut private equity reaches £50m target
Cairngorm Capital, the private equity investor launched by former H.I.G. executive Andrew Steel, is pleased to announce that it has successfully closed its maiden fund – Cairngorm Capital I – at over £50 million. The fund held a first and final close at... read moreStrong Year Expected For Mid-Market Fundraising
European mid-market fundraising saw an impressive rise in 2014, reaching its highest level since 2007, with that buoyant fundraising market expected to continue during 2015. Funds expected to close in 2015 include exponent Private Equity and Silverfleet Capital, which... read moreGood causes
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OFFICE
Acanthus
10-12 Blandford Street
London
W1U 4AZ
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7317 5850
Email: info@acanthus.eu.com