Merito Partners Newsletter October 2025

Update No.16
October 2025

Greetings from Merito Partners

As the investment landscape enters a traditionally active season, Merito Partners continues to pursue opportunities with strong fundamentals and clear value-creation potential. Our pipeline remains active — especially in real estate special situations — but this time we want to highlight another theme that is attracting growing interest from our investors: evergreen investments.

In this edition, we share how these structures are evolving in our region and introduce two new evergreen projects that Merito Partners is currently developing.

What Are Evergreen Investments — And Why Are Investors Increasingly Turning to Them?

In today’s changing markets, many investors are looking for stability and long-term value. Evergreen investments are designed without a fixed end date. Unlike traditional private equity funds that must sell their assets within 5–7 years, evergreen funds offer flexibility, longevity, and compounding growth — making them more attractive to long-term investors.

Our favorite holding period is forever
Warren Buffett

Globally, family offices, pension funds, and institutional investors are allocating more capital to evergreen platforms. Why? Because these structures allow for:

  • Long-term value creation without the pressure of short-term exits
  • Recurring dividend yields and reinvestment possibilities
  • Capital compounding, driven by steady earnings and strategic reinvestments
  • Strong alignment with management, often resulting in more patient and sustainable business growth

Returns in evergreen structures come from two sources: regular dividends from cash flow and value growth of the business itself, measured through independent valuations. This way, investors enjoy income today and compounding growth over time.

Evergreen funds are becoming a global trend. Below are some useful reports and articles that explain why investors are paying more attention to this model:

  • What’s in Your Evergreen Private Equity Strategy? — KKR (2025) – KKR
    A detailed guide on structuring evergreen PE strategies, discussing valuation, liquidity, fee structure, and operational challenges.
  • Evergreen Funds – 2025 Market Overview — Hamilton Lane – explore.hamiltonlane.com
    An uptodate market overview, forecasting that evergreen funds could grow to represent 20 % of private markets within a decade.
  • Global Private Markets Report 2025 — McKinsey & Company – McKinsey & Company
    A major industry report that highlights how fundraisers are exploring new vehicles (including evergreen structures) beyond traditional closed‑end formats.

Evergreen Investments by Merito Partners – How This Works?

Merito Partners began working with evergreen strategies in 2024. Since then, interest from our investors has grown quickly. Projects like Baltic Family Capital and Lignord Group show how evergreen structures can be used to build resilient, regionally rooted companies with stable cash flows and growth potential.

In the Baltics, this model is especially relevant. Traditional private equity funds sometimes buy excellent businesses but are forced to exit at the wrong time, often missing out on long-term value creation . With a smaller investor pool and fewer liquidity options in the region, this challenge is even stronger. Evergreen structures remove this pressure, letting value grow naturally. We focus on resilient businesses with clear competitive advantages such as:

  • Stable, predictable cash flows
  • Loyal clients and strong brand reputation
  • Diversified revenue streams across markets
  • Unique management or team expertise, with skin in the game
  • Regulated or contractual income sources
  • Tangible assets that provide security and options

By focusing on these businesses, Merito plans to build evergreen investments that withstand market cycles, pay reliable dividends, and grow in value over time.

We go further by combining evergreen structures with succession-driven opportunities:

  • Many first-generation entrepreneurs in the Baltics are retiring and want trusted successors, often at fair entry prices;
  • Some foreign investors are exiting due to geopolitical shifts, creating attractive local entry points.

Globally, evergreen funds typically target 8–12% net annual returns, depending on sector and strategy, with dividends often reinvested to boost compounding (Hamilton Lane, 2025). At Merito, we aim higher by combining evergreen structures with succession-driven opportunities, creating a model for premium long-term returns that offers investors steady income, growth, and the flexibility to stay invested in great businesses without the pressure of forced exits. At the same time, we are not — and will not be — opposed to opportunistic exits. While our focus is on long-term value creation, we manage each company in line with best private equity practices, ensuring they are always prepared for discussions with potential buyers should attractive opportunities arise.

New Evergreen Investment Opportunities: Wrapping up 2025

At Merito Partners, we are expanding our evergreen investment strategy into two new sectors with strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential. These opportunities are designed to combine stable cash flows with scalable expansion, creating resilient platforms for future value creation.

MeDi Group – Healthcare Services Consolidation

Healthcare remains one of the most critical industries in the Baltics, shaped by favorable trends such as an aging population, historically low spending, and consistent 7–9% annual market growth over the past decade. With an initial capital target of €5 million, MeDi Group will initiate consolidation of high cash-flow healthcare businesses across multiple verticals, through both M&A and greenfield investments.

The strategy aims to unlock significant upside through:

  • Valuation multiple arbitrage;
  • Centralized administrative functions;
  • Professionalized business development and finance resources.

The project is targeting dividend generation from 2029 and a target net IRR of 15%+. The project is led by an experienced healthcare sector CEO investing significant personal capital, supported by a strong professional network. The first investment — a greenfield clinic with consultations, surgery, and inpatient facilities — is already underway, with a second transaction expected within 3–6 months. We plan to team up with doctors in each of our practice areas, ensuring long-term alignment.

Project Truffle – Baltic Agribusiness Buy-Out

Agribusiness continues to be one of the most resilient sectors, and Project Truffle focuses on acquiring the most efficient farming group in the Baltics. With an equity requirement of approximately €10 million, this leveraged buy-out is structured as an evergreen investment, facilitated by a leading Baltic investment bank.

The business is highly attractive:

  • Favorable entry valuation with a valuable arable land portfolio included;
  • A proven management team with decades of sector expertise and significant personal investment rolling over their stake in the business and co-investing alongside Merito;
  • Strong free cash flow from day one, delivering double-digit net dividend yield, Large tangible asset base providing clear downside protection, complemented by rich recurring cash flows.

If you would like to learn more about our evergreen initiatives and stay updated on upcoming opportunities such as MeDi Tech and Project Truffle, please register your interest below. We look forward to building the next generation of resilient, long-term businesses together.

Click here to apply. 👋

Merito Partners Newsletter July 2025

Update No.15
July 2025

Greetings from Merito Partners

Real estate has long been regarded as a cornerstone of resilient investment strategy and at Merito Partners, we are elevating this asset class through a distinctive approach built on special situations, club deals and high-return strategies with sound risk management.

In this edition we share key insights from our market analysis, review of short-term hospitality in Riga, updates on our latest portfolio developments, and highight upcoming opportunities. We are also proud to introduce our two dedicated teams driving the execution of these projects.

Riga: A Hidden Gem in Europe

Recent economic trends show something that many smart investors are starting to see — Riga is one of the best places in the Baltics to invest in housing. Here’s why:

  • Homes are more affordable in Riga than in other Baltic capitals. The average family in Riga can buy a home that is over 1.5 times bigger than what a family in Tallinn or Vilnius can afford.
  • Mortgage loans are much smaller in Riga — about 60% lower than in other Baltic cities, even though loan conditions are similar.
  • Wages are growing, interest rates are falling, and home prices are stable. This creates a good moment for buying property.
  • There’s less competition. Fewer large developers are active in Riga compared to Tallinn and Vilnius.
  • Riga is one of the few capital cities in Europe where a typical family can still buy a spacious home (over 90 m²), unlike in Western Europe, where homes have become less affordable.

These factors make Riga one of the most overlooked and potentially most rewarding — real estate markets in the European Union.

Sources: Swedbank Macro Research – Baltic Housing Affordability Report (2024); Colliers Latvia; Comparethemarket.com – European Housing Affordability Data. https://www.swedbank-research.com/english/baltic_housing_affordability/2024/q4/hai_2024_q4_final.pdf

Short-Term Hospitality: The Best Use for Apartments in Riga’s Historic Centre

Recent trends clearly show that short-term rentals are becoming the most attractive way to use apartments in the centre of Riga. Here’s what makes this market so promising:

  • Riga offers the best value in the region. Apartment prices are low, and rental returns are high compared to other nearby capitals.
  • Riga was named the most affordable city in Europe for short trips in 2025 by the Financial Times.
  • The number of short-term rental apartments has grown by 50% in the last 10 years. Around 2,500 units are active during peak season.
  • Occupancy is solid at around 60%, and prices are still among the lowest in Europe — even lower than in cities like Bucharest and Chisinau.
  • Global Airbnb trends show Riga could grow 5 times bigger, reaching up to EUR 50 million in yearly revenue.
  • More professional operators are entering the market. Right now, only 25% of rentals are managed professionally, but service quality is quickly improving.
  • New hotels are being built in Riga’s Old Town, which shows strong confidence from big players like Mogotel and AmberStone.
  • Demand for serviced apartments is growing — especially from business travelers, military and embassy staff, and international students.
  • Short-term rentals give owners more flexibility, allowing them to sell the property at any time, unlike long-term rental contracts.

All of this makes short-term rentals the smartest and most flexible way to use apartments in Riga’s city centre.

Strong Teams Driving Merito’s Real Estate Strategies

At Merito Partners, we believe that success comes from having the right people, clear goals, and strong responsibility. That’s why our real estate investments are not just about finding good opportunities — they are about putting the right experts in charge.

Our real estate platform, Merito Partners Real Estate Management AIFP, is built on two main strategies:

  • Working with top developers through smart partnerships to build strong, market-ready projects.
  • Finding hidden value in special situations, like old or underused buildings, and turning them into high-performing assets.

Each strategy is led by a dedicated team with the knowledge and motivation to get things done. This setup allows us to take on a wide range of projects — from improving city areas to creating more affordable housing — always aiming for strong returns for our investors and a positive impact on the cities we work in.

👉 Read here to meet the Team Behind Merito’s Real Estate Strategies

Case Studies: Merito in Action

We believe that results speak louder than words. In a dedicated article, we share the early outcomes of two of our real estate projects in Riga’s Old Town — Kaleju Street 18/20 and Pasta Street 6. These case studies reflect our approach to value creation through thoughtful upgrades, efficient operations, and careful planning.
If you’re interested in how we apply our strategy in practice, we invite you to take a closer look.

👉 Click here to read the full case studies.

New Investment Opportunities: Join the Next Chapter

Riga is becoming one of Europe’s top real estate markets — with strong fundamentals, good affordability, and low competition. At Merito Partners, we’re preparing new investment opportunities to match this momentum.

We offer focused club deals for 10–20 investors, combining equity and bank loans to fund high-return projects quickly. These deals move fast, so early interest is key.

  • Deal size: EUR 2–5 million equity + debt
  • Merito invests alongside you: at least 10% in every project
  • Target returns: 20–30% net IRR

If you would like to be considered for future co-investment opportunities, you are welcome to submit your interest via our investor application form.

Click here to apply. 👋

We look forward to exploring new possibilities together.