Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (“LLCP”), a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announced the final closing of LLCP Fund VII (“Fund VII”) with total capital commitments of over $3.6 billion, materially exceeding its target. The fund was significantly oversubscribed despite one of the most challenging fundraising environments in recent history, receiving strong support from its existing investor base as well as a diverse set of new institutional investors. LLCP has raised well over $4 billion of capital across its platform in the last twenty-four months, including substantial co-investment capital.
LLCP attributes its fundraising success to several competitive advantages, including a differentiated, uncorrelated investment strategy that has continued to deliver robust investment returns through several investment cycles, exit activity that has outpaced the broader market, and consistent deployment in attractive opportunities well-aligned with LLCP’s core strengths. LLCP has executed over $4.6 billion of realizations over the past three years through numerous successful sale transactions, including Encore Fire Protection, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Law Business Research and Hand & Stone.
Matthew Frankel, Managing Partner at LLCP, said, “We are extremely pleased with the immense support for Fund VII, which reflects considerable trust and strong conviction in LLCP’s proven strategy and team. The global investment community recognizes LLCP’s ability to generate substantial deployment and realization volume for our limited partners in the current market environment.”
Michael Weinberg, Managing Partner at LLCP, added, “We are grateful for the continued support and confidence we received from our returning and new limited partners. LLCP’s continued success reflects our team’s ability to source attractive investment opportunities, partner with talented management teams and build great companies. We look forward to continuing our 41-year track record of success through varying economic environments.”
Fund VII will continue LLCP’s successful strategy of investing in market-leading, middle market businesses, with a focus on sectors including franchising, business services, education & training, and engineered products. The Fund has already completed several platform investments – All4, Schülerhilfe and USA Water – and expects to close its fourth platform this month, demonstrating LLCP’s ability to execute on attractive opportunities.
Fund VII is nearly one and half times the size of LLCP’s previous flagship fund, which closed in 2018 with total capital commitments of $2.5 billion.
