Michiel Deturck

Michiel Deturck is a Managing Partner at Vendis Capital, based in Brussels. Vendis describes him as part of its investment team, working across the Main Fund and the Vendis Transition fund. The firm was founded in 2009 and is an independent private equity firm focused on consumer companies in Europe.

Earlier in his career, Deturck spent several years teaching at a university in Rwanda, then moved to Asia, where he set up and ran an office for a Belgian SME for four years. He later completed an MBA at INSEAD and worked at McKinsey.

Before Vendis, Deturck launched Net Fund Europe, his first investment fund. According to Vendis, he was soon joined by Cedric Olbrechts; a few years later, Vendis was created and built with Vincent Braams and the broader team.

At Vendis, Deturck says he focuses on overall guidance and support for the firm, helping and challenging teams working on investment opportunities, and building Vendis Transition, the firm’s small-cap fund with a strong sustainability focus.

• Vendis’ stated focus is consumer brands: “We invest in what we understand, love and can add real value.”
• The firm targets consumer companies in Benelux, France, DACH and the Nordics with €10m-€300m revenue and €2m-€30m EBITDA.
• Vendis invests through majority and minority growth and buyout deals.
• The Main Fund targets established consumer brands with €20m-€75m tickets.
• Vendis Transition targets smaller, fast-growing companies with a sustainable angle, with €5m-€20m tickets.
• Club deals are used for larger strategic assets and market leaders, with tickets above €75m.
• Sector focus includes food, beverages and nutrition; beauty and hygiene; household products; home improvement; apparel and wearables; consumer electronics and living; mobility; convenience and lifestyle services; health and wellness; education and learning; sport and entertainment venues; leisure goods; travel and hospitality; child care; elder care; and pet care.
• Sustainability is a visible part of the firm’s ownership model: Vendis says it develops tailored sustainability roadmaps for portfolio companies through its Future Fit Program and tracks progress through quantitative and qualitative indicators.