Category Archives: News

Rehlko Reaches Agreement to Sell Curtis Instruments to Parker Hannifin

Platinum

Transaction supports long-term growth for both organizations

MILWAUKEE, Wis – June 30, 2025: Rehlko, a global leader in energy resilience, announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement to transition ownership of its Curtis Instruments business to Parker Hannifin Corporation, the global leader in motion and control technologies, for approximately $1 billion in cash. The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of calendar year 2025, reflects Rehlko’s strategic focus on strengthening its core enterprise capabilities and commitment to delivering industry leading energy resilience solutions for our customers.

“Rehlko is proud of the legacy and performance of Curtis as a high-performing, innovation-driven business,” said Brian Melka, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rehlko. “Parker is an exceptional company and we are confident Curtis will thrive from Parker’s increased scale, focus, and investment.”

Rehlko’s decision to transition Curtis aligns with its disciplined portfolio management approach. The move positions both Rehlko and Curtis to pursue independent growth strategies, focused on accelerating innovation and expanding customer impact. Rehlko was acquired by Platinum Equity in 2024.

“We have great respect for Curtis, its leadership team and its innovative products, and we are confident that Parker Hannifin is the right home for the business going forward. Divesting Curtis allows Rehlko to more intensely focus on its core mission to deliver energy resiliency solutions for its customers.”

Jacob Kotzubei, Co-President and Matthew Louie, Managing Director, Platinum Equity

“This transaction is aligned with the long-term electrification secular trend and meets our disciplined financial criteria for acquisitions designed to create shareholder value,” said Jenny Parmentier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Parker. “Curtis adds complementary technologies to our existing industrial electrification platform, better positioning us to serve our customers as they continue the adoption of more electric and hybrid solutions. Rehlko and Platinum Equity have been good stewards of the business and great partners throughout this process. We anticipate a smooth closing and look forward to welcoming the Curtis team.”

Platinum Equity praised the deal and said it’s part of an ongoing strategic process to optimize Rehlko’s portfolio that also includes expected investments in buy-side M&A.

“We have great respect for Curtis, its leadership team and its innovative products, and we are confident that Parker Hannifin is the right home for the business going forward,” said Platinum Equity Co-President Jacob Kotzubei and Managing Director Matthew Louie in a joint statement. “Divesting Curtis allows Rehlko to more intensely focus on its core mission to deliver energy resiliency solutions for its customers. We are working with Rehlko’s CEO Brian Melka and the leadership team to pursue both organic and inorganic growth opportunities that will expand Rehlko’s reach, enhance its capabilities, and reinforce its position as a leader in mission-critical power solutions.”

Until the transaction closes, Curtis will continue to operate as part of Rehlko, with both companies focused on delivering the same high-quality products, services, and support that has defined its market-leading position for over six decades.

BofA Securities, Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are serving as financial advisors and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal counsel to Rehlko. Guggenheim Securities, LLC is serving as financial advisor, Jones Day is serving as principal deal counsel, and Eversheds Sutherland is serving as European legal counsel to Parker.

About Rehlko

A global leader in energy resilience, Rehlko delivers innovative energy solutions critical to sustain and improve life across home energy, industrial energy systems, and powertrain technologies, by delivering control, resilience and innovation. Leveraging the strength of its portfolio of businesses – Power Systems, Home Energy, Uninterruptible Power, Clarke Energy, Curtis Instruments, and Engines, and more than a century of industry leadership, Rehlko builds resilience where and when the grid cannot, and goes beyond functional, individual recovery to create better lives and communities, and a more durable and reliable energy future.

About Parker Hannifin

Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. For more than a century the company has been enabling engineering breakthroughs that lead to a better tomorrow. Parker has increased its annual dividend per share paid to shareholders for 69 consecutive fiscal years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index. Learn more at www.parker.com or @parkerhannifin.

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Apollo Funds Complete Acquisitions of International Game Technology’s Gaming & Digital Business and Everi; Combined Enterprise to Operate as IGT

Apollo logo

Establishes IGT as a Premier Platform for Innovation, Delivering Exceptional Content and Scalable Solutions Across the Global Gaming Ecosystem

NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced the completion of the previously announced acquisitions of International Game Technology PLC’s (doing business as “Brightstar Lottery”) Gaming & Digital Business and Everi Holdings Inc. (“Everi”) by a holding company owned by funds managed by Apollo affiliates (the “Apollo Funds”). The all-cash transaction, valued at approximately $6.3 billion, brings together complementary businesses to form a privately held global leader in gaming, digital and financial technology solutions.

The two companies will be integrated into a combined enterprise in the coming months. Headquartered in Las Vegas, the combined enterprise will operate under the IGT name, while retaining the Everi brand in select markets and product lines. IGT will be organized into three business units: Gaming, Digital and FinTech, creating a customer-first enterprise supported by a people-first culture that values talent, collaboration and innovation.

“This is a defining moment for our industry,” said Nick Khin, Interim CEO of IGT. “By uniting two leading organizations, we are building an enterprise with the scale, talent and technology to lead the future of gaming. With Apollo’s support, we are very well-positioned to deliver exceptional content across land-based and digital experiences, along with integrated financial solutions and casino management that enhance the player journey and drive value for our customers. I’m honored to be part of this exciting chapter and to help shape the future of IGT.”

As previously announced, Hector Fernandez is expected to assume the role of CEO of IGT in the fourth quarter of 2025, following the expiration of a customary non-compete period. Until then, Mr. Khin will lead the organization and transition into the role of CEO of IGT’s Gaming business unit upon Mr. Fernandez’s arrival.

“Bringing together highly complementary businesses creates a more competitive, agile and well-capitalized platform built for long-term growth,” said Daniel Cohen, Partner at Apollo. “We are confident that IGT is well positioned to deliver differentiated content and capabilities that better serve customers across the globe. We look forward to working closely with Hector, Nick and the rest of the talented IGT team to lead the industry forward.”

Effective today, Everi common stock has been delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Everi stockholders are receiving $14.25 per share in cash, and International Game Technology PLC is receiving $4.05 billion of gross cash proceeds.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Apollo Funds.

About IGT

IGT is a leading global provider of gaming, digital and financial technology solutions, formed through the combination of International Game Technology PLC’s Gaming & Digital Business and Everi Holdings Inc. IGT’s offering spans gaming machines, game content and systems, iGaming, sports betting, cash access, loyalty and player engagement solutions, enabling it to deliver integrated, customer-centric experiences across land-based and digital environments. Organized into Gaming, Digital and FinTech business units, IGT drives innovation, efficiency and value for casino, digital and hospitality operators worldwide. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas.

About Apollo

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $785 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “will,” and “would” and the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. In addition, all statements regarding IGT’s business following its acquisition by the Apollo Funds are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions; the ability to retain and hire key personnel; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the acquisitions; risks related to competition in the gaming and lottery industries; dependence on significant licensing arrangements, customers, or other third parties; economic changes in global markets, such as currency exchange, inflation and interest rates, and recession; government policies (including policy changes affecting the gaming industry, taxation, trade, tariffs, immigration, customs, and border actions) and other external factors that IGT cannot control; regulation and litigation matters relating to the acquisitions; unanticipated adverse effects or liabilities from business divestitures; risks related to intellectual property, privacy matters, and cyber security (including losses and other consequences from failures, breaches, attacks, or disclosures involving information technology infrastructure and data); other business effects (including the effects of industry, market, economic, political, or regulatory conditions); and other risks and uncertainties. Neither IGT nor the Apollo Funds intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as required by law.

Contacts

For IGT
Phil O’Shaughnessy
VP Global Communications, Government Relations & Sustainability
Toll free in U.S./Canada +1 (844) IGT-7452; outside U.S./Canada +1 (401) 392-7452
Phil.oshaughnessy@igt.com

For Apollo
Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
(212) 822-0540
IR@apollo.com

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
(212) 822-0491
Communications@apollo.com

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Accent Equity-owned Plockmatic Group acquires Renz to strengthen product portfolio

Accent Equity

  • Plockmatic Group has signed an agreement to acquire Chr. Renz Gmbh (“Renz”) in Germany, including subsidiaries in Australia, Argentina, UK and Turkey
  • This acquisition is an opportunity to enter into the ring wire binding segment, which is a natural complement to Plockmatic Group’s existing offering
  • Plockmatic Group sees significant synergies with Renz within key areas such as sales, production, sourcing and R&D, with the ambition to broaden Plockmatic Group’s geographic footprint and develop the next generation of automised professional ring wire binding equipment for calendar and book production

Plockmatic Group has signed an agreement to acquire Chr. Renz Gmbh, the world leading producer of ring wire binding machines and supplies, headquartered in Heubach, Germany. The offering includes development and production of ring wire binding machines for the professional and office segments, as well as in-house production of premium quality wire binding consumables.

Following significant hardships during the covid-19 pandemic, Renz was forced into insolvency proceedings in 2024. The insolvency process is expected to be finalised during Q3 2025 and closing of the transaction is expected to take place in connection with this.

“The acquisition of Renz will be a great opportunity for Plockmatic Group, where we see several opportunities and synergies between our organizations, and to further expand our value proposition as solution provider to our customers. With Renz becoming a part of Plockmatic Group, we will also get a strong and local sales organisation in Germany, which we have identified as an important growth market for Plockmatic Group going forward” says Jan Marstorp, CEO of Plockmatic Group.

 

“Becoming part of Plockmatic Group and finding a long-term solution for Renz, following some very challenging years, make us look at the future with confidence again. With the insolvency proceedings behind us and access to Plockmatic Group´s resources we will now be able to invest in new products and continue long-term partnerships with our customers and suppliers” says Michael Schubert, CEO of Renz.

For additional information, please contact:

Oscar Claeson, Partner at Accent Equity, +46 70 108 99 99
oscar.claeson@accentequity.se
Jan Marstorp, CEO Plockmatic Group, +46 70 542 00 14
jan.marstorp@plockmatic.com
Michael Schubert, CEO Chr. Renz GmbH, +49 7173 186 70
schubert@renz.com

About Plockmatic Group:
Plockmatic Group, founded in 1974, provides high-end automation and document finishing solutions for the global printing and packaging industries. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with sales companies in UK, USA, Italy and Norway, as well as modern inhouse production located in Latvia. The company has 300 employees and revenues of EUR 70 million (2024).
www.plockmaticgroup.com

About Renz:
Chr. Renz Gmbh, founded in 1908, is the world leading producer of ring wire binding machines and supplies, headquartered in Heubach, Germany with subsidiaries in UK, Australia, Argentina and Turkey and clients in more than 80 countries. The company has 100 employees and revenues of EUR 14.6 million (2024).
www.renz.com

About Accent Equity:
Accent Equity has since 1994 invested in private Nordic companies where a new partner or owner can serve as a catalyst. Our ambition is to invest in and develop the companies to be Nordic, European or Global leaders through a professional, hands-on and long-term oriented approach that results in superior and sustainable returns.
accentequity.se
Follow Accent Equity on LinkedIn

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Stonepeak Completes Acquisition of Forgital

Stonepeak

John Slattery, former GE Aerospace executive, appointed Chairman of the Forgital Board of Directors

NEW YORK & VELO D’ASTICO – June 30, 2025 – Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of Forgital Group (“Forgital” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of advanced forged and machine-finished components for aerospace and industrial end markets.

Conor Sutherland, Managing Director at Stonepeak, said, “We are thrilled to reach this milestone. Forgital has established itself as a trusted partner to leading aerospace manufacturers and industrial customers through its commitment to quality, innovation and reliability. We see tremendous opportunity ahead for the Company, magnified by durable demand in the aerospace end market. We are excited to partner with the Forgital team to support this next phase of growth.”

“With Stonepeak’s support, we are well positioned to accelerate our strategic agenda,” said Meddah Hadjar, CEO of Forgital Group. “They share our vision and bring deep expertise in mission-critical infrastructure and industrial growth platforms, which aligns well with the demands of our aerospace sector. I am confident in our path forward as we continue to innovate and grow with our customers by delivering precision-engineered components for the most demanding applications.”

In conjunction with today’s announcement, John Slattery has been appointed as Chairman of the Forgital Board of Directors. Mr. Slattery brings deep aerospace industry expertise, most recently serving as Chief Commercial Officer of GE Aerospace and previously as President & CEO of GE Aviation, where he played a critical role in the company’s transformation to an independent, public company in 2024. Prior to his time at GE, he served as President & CEO of Commercial Aviation at Embraer.

“I am delighted to be joining Forgital’s Board at the start of this next chapter, and I look forward to working with the Company’s management team and Stonepeak. I see significant opportunity for the Company, and believe that Forgital’s proud heritage dating to its inception in 1873 provides a strong foundation for continued success,” said John Slattery, Chairman of the Forgital Board of Directors.

Mr. Sutherland added, “We welcome John to the Board. His insight and leadership will be a tremendous asset to Forgital.”

About Stonepeak
Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $73 billion of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, with a focus on downside protection and strong risk-adjusted returns. Stonepeak, as sponsor of private equity and credit investment vehicles, provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to grow investments in its target sectors, which include transport and logistics, digital infrastructure, energy and energy transition, and real estate. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Houston, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com.

About Forgital

Forgital is a leading, vertically integrated Group focused on the manufacturing of seamless rolled rings in rectangular or profiled sections, as well as assembled fan modules, covering the largest range of sizes. Forgital specializes in forging rolled rings, with technologically advanced capabilities across a broad range of materials, including titanium, nickel and cobalt alloys, carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel and aluminium. Forgital’s Compact Supply Chain simplifies the production process of its customers through an integrated system of technologies and services which encompasses all the steps of the project: from the pre-processing to the post-processing phase (including finishing, welding and macroetching).

Contacts

For Stonepeak
Kate Beers / Maya Brounstein
corporatecomms@stonepeak.com
+1 (646) 540-5225

For Forgital
Mara Rezzadore
Mara.Rezzadore@forgital.com
+39 0445 731322

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Viridian Financial Group Welcomes Strategic Growth Investment from TA Associates to Expand Leading Diversified Financial Services Business in Australia

TA associates

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Viridian Financial Group (“Viridian” or “the Firm”), one of Australia’s leading diversified financial services businesses, today announced that TA Associates (“TA”), a leading global private equity firm, has signed an agreement to make a strategic investment in the Firm. The investment has been approved by Viridian’s founders, Board of Directors, and senior management team, who, upon completion of the transaction, will partner closely with TA to accelerate the Firm’s next phase of growth.

“By combining the strengths of both companies, the Viridian Board anticipates significant synergies, strengthening our position in the market as well as expanding our capabilities. We believe this transaction will create significant value for our shareholders in driving future profitability. Along with my fellow Directors, I have no hesitation in supporting this strategic partnership,” said James Joughin, Chair at Viridian.

“Since Viridian’s founding nearly a decade ago, we have remained steadfast in our client-centric philosophy, focused on empowering Australians through holistic financial advice, innovative solutions and exceptional service,” said Raamy Shahien, Joint CEO and Executive Director at Viridian. “Having built a strong relationship with TA, and after collaborating closely with them to structure our partnership, we are confident that TA is the ideal partner to support Viridian’s growth and vision moving forward. Our partnership with TA marks a significant milestone in our journey, serving as both a recognition of our strong track record thus far and a catalyst for future growth as we continue to expand in an ever-evolving market.”

Since its founding in 2015, Viridian has become one of Australia’s largest practices. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, the Firm manages ~$16bn of funds across three specialised business divisions, Viridian Advisory, Infinity Capital Solutions and Smartmove Lending, providing wealth advice, investment solutions and mortgage broking services to over 15,000 clients. By partnering with TA, Viridian will leverage TA’s global resources and extensive experience in the financial services industry to expand its capabilities, enhance its integrated service offerings and fuel client success.

“TA has made over 30 investments in wealth management and asset management companies globally, establishing itself as a leading global investor in financial services. Their understanding and proven experience in scaling businesses and deep industry expertise will be invaluable in driving forward our vision of transforming wealth management in Australia,” said Glenn Calder, Joint CEO and Executive Director at Viridian. “TA’s support and partnership strengthens our ability to remain agile and forward-thinking, ensuring we incorporate international best practices into our business and deliver ongoing value to our clients and stakeholders.”

“Throughout our multi-year, deep dive into Australia’s wealth management sector, Viridian consistently emerged as a leading innovator in its market segment, driven by its compelling asset platform, diversified product offering and strong culture of client and advisor alignment,” said Edward Sippel, head of TA Associates Asia Pacific Ltd. and a Managing Director at TA, who will join the Viridian Board of Directors. “Across our global wealth management investments, our focus is first and foremost on client outcomes and alignment with advisors. We are pleased that the Viridian team shares this commitment. We have high conviction in the long-term potential of Australia’s large and growing wealth management market, and believe there is a significant opportunity to scale Viridian’s platform both organically and through strategic acquisitions.”

“Viridian’s strong position is underpinned by Australia’s mandated savings environment and growing demand for advice,” said Lily Xu, Senior Vice President at TA, who will also join the Viridian Board of Directors. “With multiple levers for organic growth and a proven ability to execute growth through M&A, we’re excited to support Viridian’s continued growth trajectory.”

The agreement remains subject to customary conditions. Settlement is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2025.

About Viridian Financial Group
Viridian Financial Group is a leading Australian diversified financial services business. The business was established in 2015 by a team who understood the power of financial advice to make a profound difference in the lives of Australians. Viridian Financial Group consists of Viridian Advisory, Infinity Capital Solutions and Smartmove. It has a culture built on alignment between clients and advisors over the long term and employs over 400 people. More information about Viridian can be found at www.viridianfinancialgroup.com.au.

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Tabreed and CVC DIF to acquire Abu Dhabi’s PAL Cooling from Multiply Group

CVC Capital Partners
  • Existing portfolio includes eight long-term concessions currently serviced by five, state-of-the-art district cooling plants
  • Significant growth potential, with expected operational connected load of approx. 600,000 refrigeration tons

CVC DIF, the infrastructure strategy of leading global private markets manager, CVC, and Tabreed, the world’s leading district cooling company, have entered a partnership to acquire PAL Cooling Holding from Abu Dhabi’s Multiply Group.

The transaction, with an equity value of approximately AED 3.8 billion, includes three long-term concessions in the Abu Dhabi main island area and five long-term concessions on Al Reem Island, and remains subject to customary regulatory approvals. The concessions are serviced by five existing, sustainable district cooling plants and associated networks in Abu Dhabi, with connected capacity of 182,000 refrigeration tons (RT) as of December 2024. An additional plant is currently under construction and three more are in the planning phase. Together the nine plants and eight concessions are expected to represent approximately 600,000 RT.

PAL was founded in 2006 and is a prominent player in the UAE district cooling market, catering to landmark residential, commercial and mixed-use developments. The company has eight, long-term concession agreements and partnerships with leading master developers, including Aldar Properties, Modon and Imkan. PAL is strongly positioned on Al Reem Island, which is a strategic destination now fully part of the ADGM free zone, the vibrant financial centre of Abu Dhabi, and is poised to benefit from the expected development ramp-up, with future network expansion already licenced by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy.

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Warburg Pincus Announces Partnership with Marissa Thomas and Steve Varley to Launch Unity Advisory, a Next-Generation CFO Advisory Firm

Warburg Pincus logo

London, June 30, 2025 – Warburg Pincus, the pioneer in private equity global growth investing, has announced a partnership with Marissa Thomas and Steve Varley, two of the UK’s most accomplished professional services leaders, to establish Unity Advisory, a next-generation CFO advisory firm. Unity Advisory will initially provide Office of the CFO services spanning business finance, finance operations, tax and compliance, deal readiness, digital and transformation to private equity-backed and other upper mid-market businesses.

Unity Advisory is financed through an initial equity line of up to $300 million from funds affiliated with Warburg Pincus, along with a substantial additional commitment from the founders. Further capital may be deployed to support future expansion and enhance the value proposition.

The firm sets itself apart by offering Partner-led, high-touch, technology-driven services without the constraints of audit conflicts. From day one, AI will play a central role in how the firm works and serves clients. A key focus of investment will be in AI and cutting-edge automation, which—combined with an experienced and expert team—will help deliver exceptional service, be outcome driven, with client service leaders who are client-focused. Headquartered in London, the firm plans to expand into other key markets and geographies over time.

Marissa Thomas, formerly Managing Partner of PwC UK, founded Unity Advisory and serves as CEO. Steve Varley, formerly EY UK&I Regional Managing Partner and Chair of EY UK, assumes the role of Chairman. David Tapnack joins the team as Managing Partner. Unity Advisory launches with an initial group of experienced partners and team members recruited from the Big Four and other market leading firms. Rapid expansion is anticipated through accelerated hiring of partners and other talent, as well as selective acquisitions.

“We believe there is a more effective way to serve CFOs, and our extensive market research supports this belief,” said Marissa Thomas, CEO of Unity Advisory. “Clients desire senior-level attention, strong technical and industry expertise and a firm that matches their pace. We have assembled a highly experienced team and are committed to building a leading business with strong support from a premier global private equity investor.”

“Unity Advisory offers clients greater choice in CFO services, reflecting a deep understanding of what clients want,” stated Steve Varley, Chairman of Unity Advisory. “Our goal is to create a next generation firm that is entrepreneurial in spirit and rigorous in execution. The business has launched with great momentum; we already have significant client interest which will fuel growth, and a strong recruitment pipeline of talented individuals seeking more variety, reward, and pace in their careers, with a path to Partnership based on an inclusive meritocracy.”

The partnership with Warburg Pincus builds on the firm’s successful and entrepreneurial track record in professional services, including its historical investment in Evelyn Partners’ professional services business and backing the launch of new platforms such as insurance brokerage McGill and Partners.

David Reis, Managing Director, and Rianne Schipper-Kogel, Principal at Warburg Pincus, commented: “We are thrilled to support Marissa, Steve, David and the broader team in the creation of Unity Advisory. Based on our sector experience, we believe the Company will offer a highly distinctive proposition to CFOs and be uniquely positioned to capitalize on what we believe is a substantial market opportunity.”

About Unity Advisory

Unity Advisory is a London-based firm providing Office of the CFO services to private equity-backed and other upper mid-market businesses. With offerings across business finance,  finance operations, tax and compliance, deal readiness, digital and transformation, the firm delivers Partner-led, high-touch, technology-driven solutions — free from the constraints of audit conflicts.

From inception, Unity Advisory has embedded AI at the core of its operations and client delivery. Combining deep experience with a forward-looking technology vision, the firm is redefining how CFO functions are supported in today’s fast-moving business environment. With plans to expand into other key markets and geographies, Unity Advisory is poised for growth while remaining committed to excellence, innovation, and client success.

Unity Advisory was founded by Marissa Thomas, formerly Managing Partner of PwC UK, who now serves as CEO. Steve Varley, former EY UK&I Regional Managing Partner and Chair of EY UK, joins as Chairman. David Tapnack takes on the role of Managing Partner. Together, the leadership team brings deep expertise and a bold vision for transforming finance functions through innovation and experience.

For more information, please visit: https://unity-advisory.com/

About Marissa Thomas, Steve Varley and David Tapnack

Marissa Thomas was a partner at PwC for over twenty years, holding a number of leadership roles in the UK partnership. Most recently until June 2024, she was Managing Partner and COO. Marissa is an experienced and well known adviser to the private equity industry. Today, Marissa is a non executive director for ECIT, a professional and technology services business which has a minority investment by funds advised by TowerBrook Capital Partners (U.K.) LLP. Marissa is CEO of Unity Advisory, a next-generation CFO advisory firm, backed by Warburg Pincus.

Steve Varley was a Partner at Andersen Consulting, and then Accenture, before joining EY in 2005. In 2011 he was elected as the UK&I Regional Managing Partner and UK Chair of EY, a role he held for 9 years.  Steve’s last role at EY was as Global Vice-Chair Sustainability. He left EY at the end of 2023 and now chairs DWF Group, a global law firm and portfolio company of Inflexion, and is Chairman of Unity Advisory, a next-generation CFO advisory firm, backed by Warburg Pincus.

David Tapnack was a partner at PwC for sixteen years, where he founded the firm’s tech-enabled CFO Office and Insight & Analytics business. He subsequently held several senior roles in the UK firm including Head of Commercial, Chief People Officer for Transaction Services, and Chief Operating Officer for Forensics. David has advised private equity investors and their portfolio companies for twenty years. He left PwC in 2024, and is the Managing Partner of Unity Advisory, a next-generation CFO advisory firm, backed by Warburg Pincus.

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is the pioneer of private equity global growth investing. A private partnership since 1966, the firm has the flexibility and experience to focus on helping investors and management teams achieve enduring success across market cycles. Today, the firm has more than $87 billion in assets under management, and more than 220 companies in their active portfolio, diversified across stages, sectors, and geographies. Warburg Pincus has invested in more than 1,000 companies across its private equity, real estate, and capital solutions strategies.

The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, São Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.warburgpincus.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Alice Gibb
+44 20 730 603 90
alice.gibb@warburgpincus.com

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Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund (ACEEF) expands its footprint in Italy with the acquisition of a portfolio of 117 solar plants

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Ardian

ACEEF acquired a 100% stake in a 116MW portfolio comprising 117 solar plants in operation located across multiple Italian Regions
• The portfolio enhances technology diversification of the existing ACEEF Italian platform with state-of-the-art revamped solar asset still benefiting from attractive feed in tariffs
• The seller is E2E, an Italian company active in the renewable energy sector led by entrepreneur Gianluca Lancellotti

Ardian, a world-leading private investment firm, announces that it has acquired a portfolio of 117 solar PV plants in operation, with a total capacity of 116 MW, located in several Italian regions and benefitting from feed in tariffs (Conto Energia tariffs).

The solar assets have more than 10 years of strong operating track record and many of them have been recently repowered and revamped with Tier 1 technology, delivering improved operational performance, reliability and uplift the installed capacity of the portfolio.

This transaction is fully aligned with ACEEF’s strategy focused on highly contracted (through incentive tariffs or long-term PPAs)brownfield renewable assets, with a balanced and diversified portfolio of generation capacity and offer highly visible opportunities to enhance capacity thanks to the strategic location of the assets across Italy.

This acquisition further strengthens ACEEF’s Italian fleet, which now holds ca.  400MW of wind, solar, hydro and biogas asset in operation and more than 400MW of asset under development, consistently with Ardian value creation strategy.
InEnergy, ACEEF Italian platform managing all renewable energy assets of the Fund in Italy will provide asset management and development services to the portfolio with its 50+ Team of experienced professionals.

”E2E has been active for a decade in the acquisition, optimization, and management of primarily incentivized photovoltaic assets. Over the past nine years, we have consolidated portfolios totaling more than 300 MW. This transaction marks the successful completion of a journey that began three years ago with the acquisition of the initial assets in this portfolio and continued through the implementation of our value creation strategy, including the revamping and repowering of the plants. In the last 12 months, we worked closely with Ardian to further enhance the operational efficiency of the portfolio, achieving an average annual revenue exceeding €630,000 per MW for the incentivized plants. This sale will enable us to consolidate new portfolios and continue advancing our mission. Collaborating with Ardian on this deal has been an excellent experience, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the future—working together toward an energy transition grounded in tangible, immediate impact.” Gianluca Lancellotti, Founder and General Manager, E2E

“This acquisition is consistent with ACEEF strategy to consolidate renewable asset in the Italian market. The E2E asset will complement our existing wind and hydro portfolio adding further geographic and technological diversification. Thanks to ACEEF evergreen structure we can deploy long-term value creation plan, through repowering, hybridization and greenfield development. Under ACEEF control we intend to further improve the performance of the portfolio, thanks to our digital tool OPTA and our unique position in the market, and expand the portfolio with additional growth, leveraging on the industrial capabilities of our Italian platform InEnergy. We are pleased to begin our long lasting partnership with E2E.” Federico Gotti Tedeschi, Managing Director Infrastructure, Ardian

ACEEF is Infrastructure’s first open-ended clean energy fund, which was launched in early 2022 and whose fundraising reached €1.0bn at the closing in July 2023. The fund offers professional investors the opportunity to enhance their exposure to renewable assets and the energy transition. The fund commits to make investments with an environmental objective as described in Article 9 fund of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and invests globally, with a focus on Europe.

ACEEF will continue to focus on core renewable assets including solar, wind and hydro, as well as emerging technologies across biogas, biomass, storage and energy efficiency.

Ardian has been a pioneer in the energy transition, having started investing in renewable assets in 2007. Across all Infrastructure Funds at Ardian, the team manages more than 8GW of thermal and renewable energy capacity in Europe and the Americas.

List of participants

  • Ardian

    • M&A: Vitale and InEnergy
    • Legal: Legance
    • Technical: EOS
    • Accounting and Tax: PWC

  • E2E

    • M&A: L&B Partners SpA
    • Legal: L&B Partners Avvocati Associati
    • Tax: Torresi

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment firm, managing or advising $180bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,850 clients globally. Our broad expertise, spanning Private Equity, Real Assets and Credit, enables us to offer a wide range of investment opportunities and respond flexibly to our clients’ differing needs. Through Ardian Customized Solutions we create bespoke portfolios that allow institutional clients to specify the precise mix of assets they require and to gain access to funds managed by leading third-party sponsors. Private Wealth Solutions offers dedicated services and access solutions for private banks, family offices and private institutional investors worldwide. Ardian’s main shareholding group is its employees and we place great emphasis on developing its people and fostering a collaborative culture based on collective intelligence. Our 1,050+ employees, spread across 19 offices in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Middle East are strongly committed to the principles of Responsible Investment and are determined to make finance a force for good in society. Our goal is to deliver excellent investment performance combined with high ethical standards and social responsibility.
At Ardian we invest all of ourselves in building companies that last.

ardian.com

ABOUT E2E

E2E S.p.A. is a leading Italian operator in the photovoltaic sector, specializing in the acquisition of medium-sized photovoltaic plants and their subsequent technical management and optimization. Founded in 2016 by Gianluca Lancellotti, who brings over 25 years of experience in the energy sector, E2E has achieved outstanding results. As of today, the company has acquired more than 350 photovoltaic plants with a total installed capacity exceeding 300 MW, completing over 230 acquisitions and investing approximately €1bn.

E2E-Power.com

Media Contacts

ARDIAN

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com 

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Bencis announces sale of Elbfrost to NPM Capital

Bencis

BBOF VI Holding C.V. (“Bencis”) is pleased to announce that it signed an agreement with NPM Capital, an independent investment firm, to sell its stake in Elbfrost Group (“Elbfrost”), a leading German food distributor and logistics provider specializing in frozen and dry products. Completion of the transaction is expected within the third quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals

Founded in 1990, Elbfrost has developed from a local business into a leading regional player for frozen and dry products with over 210 employees. The company operates four strategically located distribution centers across western and eastern Germany. Elbfrost’s product offering is built on a simplified, “reduced-to-the-max” approach, focusing on bulk purchasing to meet the diverse needs of its customers. The portfolio spans a wide range of primarily frozen products, including meat, fish, poultry, game, fruit, vegetables, vegetarian options, as well as potato and dough-based items. This assortment is complemented by a comprehensive range of convenience foods.

Elbfrost established itself as a trusted partner for institutional foodservice customers. Its dedication to price-quality balance and reliability aligns perfectly with the expectations of its customers. The company handles logistics in-house with an own truck-fleet and serves community catering clients, including universities, schools, catering companies, staff canteens, government agencies, and food service providers such as hospitals and nursing homes.

Under the ownership of Bencis along with a growth-oriented management team with extensive industry expertise, Elbfrost has successfully scaled its operations and has built a robust platform for future growth.

Tobias Classen, Managing Director at Bencis, stated: “We are proud to have supported the Elbfrost team on its journey over the past years. A true partnership that led to a successful transformation of the company and an acceleration of growth. We are confident Elbfrost will continue to thrive with their new partner NPM.”

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About Bencis

Bencis is an independent investment company that supports business owners and management teams in achieving their growth ambitions. Working out of offices in Düsseldorf, Amsterdam and Brussels, Bencis has been investing in strong and successful businesses in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium since 1999. For more information, visit www.bencis.com

About NPM Capital

NPM Capital is an independent investment firm that helps medium-sized and large companies in the Benelux and DACH regions realize their ambitions and build the businesses of the future. With offices in Munich, Amsterdam, and Ghent, NPM Capital focuses on family-owned companies and businesses with strong management teams. The current portfolio includes 24 investments, both majority and minority stakes, in future-defining themes: Sustainable Future, Digital & Technology, Feeding the World, and Healthy Life & Learning. www.npm-capital.com

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Hightouch and Snowflake Boost AI-Powered Marketing Data Stack with Snowflake Ventures Investment

Snowflake

Marketing teams are increasingly leveraging AI to deliver differentiated and personalized experiences, and it’s clear this is where the competitive advantage now lies. In fact, nearly 75% of marketers already feel AI gives them an edge, and more than 85% plan to significantly increase their AI adoption in the next two to three years. To achieve and scale high-ROI campaigns, marketing and data teams need better ways to collaborate to unlock and activate strategic insights from their data.

This critical need makes our latest Snowflake Ventures investment in Hightouch, alongside Capital One Ventures, all the more essential. Hightouch is a data and AI platform for marketers that empower enterprises to activate their customer data directly from Snowflake to over 200 destinations, including critical marketing and advertising platforms.

We recently recognized Hightouch’s achievements within the Snowflake AI Data Cloud ecosystem by naming it our 2025 Marketers & Advertisers Data Cloud Product Partner of the Year. Hightouch earned this recognition for helping our joint customers personalize experiences, drive measurable ROI across marketing and advertising channels and activate data at scale.

 

Powering new AI marketing innovations

The combined power of Snowflake and Hightouch delivers a secure, governed data stack for AI-driven marketing. This investment sets the stage for joint development of solutions that will change how marketers operate, including new AI-driven capabilities like Hightouch AI Decisioning – an agentic AI product for lifecycle marketing that runs natively via Snowflake Cortex AI.

These new capabilities, along with support for Snowflake Horizon Catalog — a fully integrated solution for role-based access controls — will make it easier for Hightouch customers to fully adopt Snowflake as their AI Data Cloud. This provides frictionless access to native security, governance and advanced AI features not available on other data platforms. This will also simplify the adoption of Hightouch for Snowflake customers, enabling them to easily leverage its AI-powered marketing solutions to drive personalization at scale.

 

Real-world impact with AI

Hundreds of customers are already using Hightouch as their Composable CDP and AI marketing solution with Snowflake as the single source of truth for all customer, marketing and enterprise data, including:

  • WHOOP: The marketing team at WHOOP uses Hightouch and Snowflake Cortex AI to maximize customer lifetime value through AI-powered personalization. This enables them to break free from the constraints of rule-based marketing and take personalization efforts beyond human scale, using AI to autonomously experiment and optimize every customer interaction.
  • Warner Music Group (WMG): WMG’s music publishing company, Warner Chappell Music, has more than 1 million copyrights in its catalog. By building a consumer intelligence platform with Snowflake and Hightouch, WMG now leverages data to “super-serve” fans, artists and brands. This has helped them increase efficiency with streamlined audience creation and syndication, as well as accelerate data-driven collaboration and innovation.
  • Accor: The global hospitality group implemented a Composable Customer Data Platform (CDP) using Snowflake and Hightouch to improve customer segmentation and personalized marketing. This system reduced campaign preparation time from three weeks to two days, enhanced data-driven marketing for more effective targeting and optimized budgets, and laid the groundwork for future AI integration for deeper customer insights.

What’s next for Hightouch and Snowflake

The future of AI-driven marketing with Hightouch and Snowflake is incredibly exciting. We envision AI decisioning rapidly evolving to train on all data types — structured and unstructured — accessed directly within Snowflake, fundamentally transforming creative strategies. Expect to see dedicated, industry-specific solutions emerge across retail, financial services, healthcare/life sciences and media and entertainment, bringing bespoke AI power to every sector.

Learn how leading marketers across industries are using the Snowflake AI Data Cloud to unify their customer, marketing and enterprise data.

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