What is the main objective in managing your wealth?
When you can live off your returns, you are financially independent. I believe that is a worthwhile goal for anyone. It also creates a sense of freedom that cannot be expressed in money. If you have wealth, you naturally want to achieve the best possible return. That is not possible with savings. I consider Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to be a very risky segment, and I would not be quick to invest in them because there is no underlying value. Real estate is a no for me. I do not want the hassle of tenants, or a government imposing all kinds of restrictive measures. Investing in listed equities does interest me. I was always taught that you should diversify as much as possible. The same applies to investing in private equity. I also find that very interesting, but at first I had absolutely no idea how I could make that happen.
Why do you want to invest in private equity?
When you look at private equity, you know that higher returns can be achieved than with equity funds. When an entrepreneur has built up wealth, often after selling their company, the question arises: what are you going to do with that wealth? Especially for the longer term. Many entrepreneurs would prefer to reinvest immediately in start-ups and growing companies. However, that requires an enormous amount of time and research, and it also comes with significant risk. Nine out of ten companies you invest in directly as an entrepreneur do not succeed.
What do you expect from investing in private equity?
Private equity investing also involves a high level of engagement. And as an entrepreneur, you naturally look at your investments through an entrepreneurial lens. A good entrepreneur seeks to minimise risk. Private equity is very strong at selecting the so-called hidden gems: companies that are often still at the beginning of their growth curve, but are already profitable. When these companies come under private equity ownership, you often see them continue to grow at a strong pace, whether or not through acquisitions. This is how higher returns can be achieved than with listed equities. That is essentially the one lesson you need to understand.
What appeals to you most about BB Capital’s private equity fund?
For me, investing in private equity seemed impossible, as I thought it was only reserved for large institutional investors. That changed during an introductory meeting with BB Capital, where I learned that it is also possible to participate in private equity as an individual investor.
Why did you specifically choose BB Capital for investing in private equity?
We were negotiating the sale of my own company. They made me a strong offer, which I accepted. When we entered the due diligence process, I noticed how professionally they operate. The way they conducted the due diligence with such sophistication and thoroughness also spoke in favour of their fund. I thought: if they apply the same level of scrutiny to their own fund and manage it in that same way, then my level of trust is very high.
Learn more about investing in private markets through BB Capital?
After reading the interview with investor Willem, are you interested in learning more about the opportunities to invest through BB Capital?
Could BB Capital Fund Investments be right for you?
In the series ‘Investor stories’, investors share their experiences with BB Capital Fund Investments. Private equity can offer strong returns, averaging around 13% according to various international studies. For individual investors, these returns have traditionally been difficult to access. With BB Capital Fund Investments, you can now benefit from the opportunity to invest directly in a diversified portfolio of private equity investments. We invest your individual private equity capital independently and over the long term in the private equity sector, with a sustainable high return objective of 10–15% per year.
