The publishing industry in Benelux is thriving, featuring a mix of traditional and digital companies that cater to a variety of audiences. This sector includes everything from book publishers and magazine houses to educational content developers and digital media platforms. These companies produce a wide range of materials, including educational resources, literature, and online content. As the industry shifts further into digital and subscription-based models, innovation remains key. With significant investments from various stakeholders, the publishing sphere here is evolving rapidly, adapting to changing consumer preferences and technological advancements.


In this article, we explore 14 significant investors in the Benelux publishing sector, including private equity firms, corporate entities, and venture capitalists. Spanning various sizes and founded in different years, these investors represent crucial funding sources for the industry. From Amsterdam to Brussels, their involvement enhances growth prospects for new and established publishing companies alike. In 2024, these investors made notable deals, demonstrating a robust commitment to this multifaceted market.


Top 14 Publishing Investors in Benelux


1. DPG Media Nederland

  • Website: dpgmediagroup.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • LinkedIn: dpg-media-nl

DPG Media Nederland is a corporate investor based in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, and is part of the larger DPG Media Group, which was founded in 2009. The company specializes in publishing news and entertainment content across various platforms, including print and digital media. DPG Media Group operates in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark, providing a range of media solutions and advertising services to enhance brand visibility for businesses. While there are no specific transactions noted for 2024, the company's focus on media and publishing positions it as a significant player in the publishing industry, making it a relevant investor in this sector.


2. Wolters Kluwer

  • Website: wolterskluwer.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Alphen Aan Den Rijn, South Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1836
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: wolters-kluwer

Wolters Kluwer N.V. is an information services company based in Alphen Aan Den Rijn, South Holland, Netherlands, founded in 1836. The company provides software solutions and services across various professional sectors, including healthcare, legal, tax, accounting, finance, and compliance. As an investor, Wolters Kluwer has made significant strides in the publishing industry, particularly through its acquisitions aimed at enhancing its publishing capabilities. Notable transactions include the acquisition of IJS Publishing Group, a UK-based provider of peer-reviewed medical journals, which aims to strengthen their Lippincott journal portfolio and Open Access position. Additionally, they acquired Medknow Publications and Medknow PVT Ltd., both of which are leading STM journal publishers in India, to bolster their presence in the open access publishing sector. Furthermore, their acquisition of the European Investment Law and Arbitration Review integrates it into Kluwer Arbitration, showcasing their commitment to legal publishing. These transactions highlight Wolters Kluwer's strategic focus on expanding its publishing footprint, particularly in the healthcare and legal domains.


3. Ergon Capital


Ergon Capital is a private equity firm based in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 2005. The firm specializes in investment management and sustainability consulting, partnering with families, entrepreneurs, and management teams to enhance the value of their businesses while promoting ESG initiatives. Notably, Ergon Capital has made significant investments in the publishing industry, acquiring companies such as De Boeck Supérieur, Larcier Group, and De Boeck Education on April 1, 2011, all of which are key players in educational publishing. Additionally, on July 19, 2017, Ergon Capital acquired Keesing Media Group, a publisher of puzzle magazines, for €150 million. These transactions highlight Ergon Capital's commitment to the publishing sector, alongside its broader investment strategy across various industries.


4. Cvc

  • Website: cvc.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: cvc-capital-partners

CVC Capital Partners is a prominent private equity investment firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2005. It specializes in private equity, credit, secondaries, and infrastructure, managing approximately €193 billion in assets for over 1000 clients, including pension funds and institutional investors. CVC focuses on delivering sustainable value and growth through strategic investments. Notably, CVC has been involved in several transactions relevant to the publishing industry, including the acquisition of Jagex in 2024, a well-known developer and publisher of video games, particularly recognized for its flagship title, RuneScape. Additionally, CVC's acquisition of Nine Entertainment in 2007 highlights its engagement in the media sector, which overlaps with publishing. These transactions illustrate CVC's capability and interest in the publishing landscape, making it a significant player in this field.


5. NPM Capital

  • Website: npm-capital.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1948
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: npm-capital

NPM Capital is a private equity investment firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1948. The firm specializes in supporting medium-sized and large family-owned enterprises in the Benelux region, providing both capital and strategic advisory services to foster growth and sustainability. NPM Capital operates across diverse sectors, including technology and education. Notably, they have made significant investments in the publishing context, such as the acquisition of Infinitas Learning on June 9, 2021, which focuses on educational content and solutions. Additionally, their acquisition of Iddink Group on October 23, 2014, further emphasizes their commitment to the education sector, which is closely related to publishing. Their investment in Bol.com, a major online retailer that includes a wide range of books and educational materials, also highlights their involvement in the publishing industry.


6. Peak

  • Website: peak.capital
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2008
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 8
  • LinkedIn: peak-capital

Peak Capital is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2008. They specialize in investing in early-stage companies within the SaaS, marketplace, and platform sectors, providing funding and support to help these businesses scale. Notably, Peak has been involved in several transactions that intersect with the publishing industry. For instance, they led a funding round for Peecho, a Netherlands-based service that transforms digital content into physical products, which is directly relevant to publishing. Additionally, they invested in Studocu, an edtech startup that focuses on educational materials, further emphasizing their engagement with the publishing sector. Their approach leverages their experience as former entrepreneurs to back innovative founders primarily in Europe.


7. Rockstart

  • Website: rockstart.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: rockstart

Rockstart is a startup accelerator and investment firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2011. They empower early-stage founders across various sectors, including AgriFood, Energy, and Emerging Technology, by providing investment, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help startups scale and succeed. Notably, Rockstart has made investments in the publishing sector, such as their Pre-Seed investment in Publishizer, which raised $75,000 in April 2018. This platform is designed for authors to crowdfund their books, showcasing Rockstart's engagement with the publishing industry. Additionally, they have been involved in other transactions, such as the seed financing round for PastBook, although this is less directly related to publishing. Overall, Rockstart's commitment to supporting purpose-driven entrepreneurs extends to the publishing domain, making them a relevant player in this space.


8. Lrm

  • Website: lrm.be
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: lrmnv

LRM (lrm.be) is a venture capital investment company based in Hasselt, Flanders, Belgium, founded in 1994. The firm is dedicated to fostering sustainable economic growth in the Limburg region by providing financing and expertise to startups, scale-ups, and mature companies. LRM plays a significant role in facilitating development and innovation across various sectors, including real estate development and the reconversion of old mining sites. Notably, LRM acquired Clavis Publishing on May 1, 2005, which highlights its involvement in the publishing industry. This acquisition reflects LRM's commitment to diversifying its investment portfolio and supporting the growth of publishing ventures, making it a relevant player in this sector.


9. Exor N.V.

  • Website: exor.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 26
  • LinkedIn: exor_2

Exor N.V. is a holding company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2009. It operates across various sectors, including automotive, healthcare, and media, managing a diverse portfolio of companies such as Ferrari, Stellantis, and Philips. Exor focuses on enhancing value through strategic investments and operational support. Notably, Exor has made significant strides in the publishing sector, exemplified by its acquisition of a 43.78% stake in GEDI Gruppo Editoriale S.p.A. for €102.4 million in April 2020. This investment highlights Exor's strategic interest in the media landscape, particularly in publishing, alongside its other ventures. Additionally, Exor has been involved in various transactions, including a seed round investment in Futura, further showcasing its diverse investment strategy.


10. United Media


United Media is a media company based in Luxembourg, founded in 2013, that operates primarily in Southeast Europe. The company provides a wide range of services, including television broadcasting, digital content distribution, and original content production. In 2022, United Media acquired a 71% stake in Adria Media, a Slovenian publishing house, which highlights their active role in the publishing industry. This acquisition, along with their previous purchase of TV Vijesti in 2021, showcases their strategy to expand their media portfolio and enhance their content offerings, catering to both consumers seeking entertainment and businesses looking for advertising solutions.


11. Mediahuis Technology & Product Studio


Mediahuis Technology & Product Studio is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2020. It is part of Mediahuis, a prominent media group operating across Europe, dedicated to independent journalism and diverse media services. The firm has been actively investing in innovative platforms and media brands, with a focus on enhancing digital marketplaces and recruitment technology solutions. Notably, Mediahuis has invested in Perlego, a startup that offers a subscription model for academic textbooks and collaborates with 5,000 education publishers, showcasing their engagement in the publishing sector. Additionally, their acquisition of EurActiv, a significant news brand focused on EU policy, marks a strategic expansion into the publishing landscape, further emphasizing their commitment to the industry.


12. Mediahuis nv

  • Website: mediahuis.be
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium
  • Founded year: 2013
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • LinkedIn: mediahuis-belgie

Mediahuis nv is a corporate investor based in Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, founded in 2013. The company operates in the publishing and broadcasting sectors, providing a wide range of services including newspaper and magazine publishing, online media, and broadcasting. Mediahuis serves a diverse audience across several European countries, delivering reliable news and information. Notably, Mediahuis has made significant acquisitions to strengthen its position in the publishing industry, including the acquisition of Aachener Verlagsgesellschaft (AVG), a German media group that publishes local newspapers, and the acquisition of RadioCorp, which owns multiple radio stations. These transactions align with Mediahuis's growth strategy in the European media landscape, emphasizing their commitment to the publishing sector.


13. Axivate Capital

  • Website: axivate.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2012
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • LinkedIn: axivate-capital

Axivate Capital is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2012. The firm specializes in providing investment and consulting services across various sectors, including digital media, e-commerce, leisure, telecom, travel, and horeca. Axivate Capital focuses on both innovative startups and established companies with growth potential, emphasizing collaboration with entrepreneurs to optimize operations and achieve market leadership. Notably, Axivate Capital has been involved in significant transactions within the publishing context, such as their investment in Readmore, which raised funds in a Series A round in September 2015, and Nieuws.nl, which secured funding in a private equity round in March 2012. These investments highlight Axivate's engagement with the digital media and publishing landscape, reinforcing their relevance in this sector.


14. Arches Capital

  • Website: arches.capital
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2018
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: arches-capital

Arches Capital is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2018. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, offering both capital and strategic support to help companies scale. They leverage a network of business angels with expertise across various sectors, including technology and finance. Notably, Arches Capital invested in Publishizer, which raised $425,000 in a seed round in December 2018. This investment highlights their involvement in the publishing industry, as Publishizer is a platform that facilitates crowdfunding for authors, thereby supporting the publishing ecosystem. Arches Capital's approach combines investment with active participation in the growth of their portfolio companies, ensuring they have the necessary resources and guidance to succeed.



Publishing Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
DPG Media NederlandAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands5001-1000020090
Wolters KluwerAlphen Aan Den Rijn, South Holland, Netherlands10001+18364
Ergon CapitalBrussels, Brussels, Belgium11-5020050
CvcLuxembourg1001-5000200516
NPM CapitalAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5019481
PeakAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020088
RockstartAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-50201116
LrmHasselt, Flanders, Belgium51-20019941
Exor N.V.Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-50200926
United MediaLuxembourg1001-500020130
Mediahuis Technology & Product StudioAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands201-50020205
Mediahuis nvAntwerp, Flanders, Belgium1001-500020130
Axivate CapitalAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands1-1020120
Arches CapitalAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020183


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