​John Penning (Luxempart): A Long-Term Approach to Private Equity
Luxempart is a Luxembourg-based investment company listed on the stock exchange since 1992. John Penning, Managing Director, shares insights on Luxempart’s unique positioning, its flexible investment model, and why Luxembourg serves as a strong European base for investing into private equity.​
​Can you describe your company in a few words?
Luxempart is a family-controlled investment company with a focus on private equity and mid-sized companies. We manage our own capital—currently over EUR 2.3 billion—across two complementary strategies. First, we take long-term direct stakes in mid-sized companies across continental Europe. These are typically partnerships with entrepreneurs, families and like-minded investors who are looking for a reliable and professional investor.Second, we select top tier private equity teams that manage late stage growth and lower mid-cap buyout funds. The teams we back are located in Europe and increasingly in the US.
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“At LuxemPart, we believe that value creation in private equity depends on time, trust, and true alignment. With our permanent capital and dedicated teams, we’re ideally positioned to be a reliable partner for both entrepreneurs and fund managers.​​
How is Luxempart’s private equity approach unique?
Our model is built around flexibility, professionalism, and partnership. Unlike traditional private equity funds with finite lifespans, we operate with permanent capital. That means we’re not bound by fund cycles or predefined exits. We can stay invested as long as necessary, allowing us to support strategic transitions, scale-ups, and even generational handovers. More importantly, we build solid partnerships with entrepreneurs, families and fund managers.
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Is Luxembourg a good location for a European private equity firm?
Absolutely. Luxembourg has a well-established reputation as a hub for international finance. It offers legal certainty, regulatory stability, and an increasingly dynamic private equity ecosystem. Its location is also strategic—central to key European markets like France and Germany. For Luxempart, being headquartered here means we’re close to decision-makers and business owners while benefiting from a strong infrastructure for cross-border investing. We are proud to have pioneered private equity in Luxembourg and continue to thrive here.