BC signs pros from Apax, Englefield

BC Partners, one of Europe’s leading investors in large leveraged buyouts, has brought in two private equity dealmakers to join its team in London.

Nikos Stathopolous, 35, has joined from London rivals Apax Partners where he spent the past seven years, latterly as a director.

At Apax, Stathopolous was involved in several deals in the telecommunications, media and consumer sectors and represented the firm on the board of portfolio companies Global Refund and Damovo, the IT services business Apax bought from Ericsson in 2001.

In addition to Stathopolous, a Greek national, BC has also hired Giampiero Mazza, a 35-year old Italian. Mazza previously worked for UK mid-market buyout house Englefield Capital. Prior to Englefield, he was a member of the deal team at MidOcean Partners. 

According to a press statement, BC Partners now has a 40-strong pan-European line-up of professionals. The firm recently closed its eighth LBO fund on €5.8 billion, Europe’s largest private equity structure to date, which it intends to invest over a five-year period.

Commenting on the departure of Stathopolous, a spokesperson for Apax described him as a high achiever and said the firm wished him well for his future.

We employ outstanding high achievers and we hope [Nikos] will become a valuable member of our alumni network. Apax spokesperson, commenting on the departure of Nikos Stathopolous

His exit comes as the firm is preparing to close the €4 billion private equity fund it is currently marketing. According to market sources, the closing of the new fund is imminent, with Apax likely to exceed its fundraising target. The firm currently has 160 professionals and the equivalent of $21 billion under management.