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KKR Acquires Three Build-to-Rent Properties in Manchester from L&G

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KKR

London, 15 April 2025 – KKR and Inhabeo, KKR Real Estate’s living sector platform in Europe, today announced the acquisition of The Slate Yard in Manchester, a high-quality portfolio of three Build-to-Rent (BtR) multi-family buildings (the “Portfolio”). KKR and Inhabeo have acquired the Portfolio for over £100m from L&G, a leading UK-based financial services group.

The Portfolio has strong sustainability credentials and consists of 424 high-quality residential units across three properties, totalling 270,000 square feet. It houses attractive amenities including a gym, residents’ lounges and co-working spaces. Situated in a prime waterfront location, The Slate Yard is close to the central business district and well positioned to serve Manchester’s fast-growing population of professionals in an undersupplied residential market.

Mark Ekinde, Principal in KKR’s European Real Estate team, said: “Through the acquisition of The Slate Yard, we are pleased to further our presence in Manchester and continue to grow our UK residential portfolio. Catering to one of the UK’s largest and fastest-growing cities, these properties are well placed to meet the growing demand for high-quality, yet affordable, residential real estate. Acquiring strategically located, high-quality residential assets in major urban centres continues to be one of our main investment themes in Europe, driven by positive market trends and compelling structural dynamics.”

The acquisition of The Slate Yard is KKR’s latest real estate investment in Manchester, joining a growing portfolio which includes the No. 1 St Michael’s development, which in December 2024 achieved fully-let status, and recent investments in logistics and hospitality properties serving the city’s real estate market. The investment also expands KKR’s portfolio of residential real estate in both the UK and Europe, including assets in London, Birmingham, Brighton & Hove as well as Germany, Finland and Denmark.

Dan Batterton, Head of Residential, L&G: “We know there’s a critical shortage of housing supply, coupled with increasing demand for high-quality rental homes in the UK. With our recently announced partnerships aimed at creating thousands of new homes across the country, this sale will allow us to continue to reinvest in the Build-to-Rent sector, delivering much-needed new homes.”

Ross Netherway, CEO of Inhabeo, added: “This acquisition marks an important milestone in the continued growth of our European living sector investments with KKR, which now exceed £500m. We look forward to building on this momentum to expand further into high-quality Build-to-Rent and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation assets across select European geographies.”

KKR and Inhabeo were advised by CBRE and DLA Piper; L&G were advised by Knight Frank and Macfarlanes.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKRs website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

About inhabeo

Inhabeo is a specialist living sector platform founded in 2023. Inhabeo works in partnership with KKR across Europe with a focus on Build-to-Rent and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation for both core-plus and value-add strategies. For additional information about inhabeo, please visit www.inhabeo.com.

About L&G

Established in 1836, L&G is one of the UK’s leading financial services groups and a major global investor, with £1.1 trillion in total assets under management (as at FY24) of which c. 44% (c. £0.5 trillion) is international.

We have a highly synergistic business model, which continues to drive strong returns. We are a leading player in Institutional Retirement, in Retail Savings and Protection, and in Asset Management through both public and private markets. Across the Group, we are committed to responsible investing and dedicated to serving the long-term savings and investment needs of customers and society.

Media Contacts
KKR
Alastair Elwen / Jack Shelley
FGS Global
+44 20 7251 3801
KKR-LON@fgsglobal.com

 

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Wellington, Vanguard, and Blackstone to Collaborate on Investment Solutions Combining Public and Private Assets

Blackstone

BOSTON, VALLEY FORGE, AND NEW YORK, 15 April 2025 – Wellington Management (“Wellington”), Vanguard, and Blackstone (NYSE: BX) today announced a strategic alliance to transform how investors access institutional-caliber investment opportunities. The three firms will collaborate on developing simplified multi-asset investment solutions that seamlessly integrate public and private markets as well as active and index strategies.

The collaboration seeks to broaden access to sophisticated multi-asset portfolios ordinarily available to the largest global institutions. The new initiative, which is the first of its kind for the firms, brings together three world-class organizations drawing on their respective strengths:

  • Wellington’s nearly 100-year track record of active management and sophisticated asset allocation expertise;
  • Vanguard’s 50-year track record of delivering high-performing actively managed strategies and index funds at low cost to investors; and
  • Blackstone’s 40-year track record of cycle-tested performance and leadership position as the world’s largest alternative asset manager and number one provider of private markets solutions for individuals.

With this collaboration, the firms seek to address one of the most important long-term challenges facing investors and the asset and wealth management industry – building fully diversified portfolios that incorporate private assets and pursue higher returns. The firms aim to develop solutions that can support financial advisors’ efforts to meet their clients’ income and growth goals.

Solution details are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Jean M. Hynes, CEO of Wellington Management, said:
“Vanguard and Wellington have worked closely together for 50 years and have long admired Blackstone’s capabilities. We believe the unique combination of our investment expertise and well-respected brands will enable us to provide investors with comprehensive asset class exposure in easy-to-access investment solutions. We look forward to expanding these collaborative efforts over time to address evolving investor needs.”

Greg Davis, President and CIO of Vanguard, said:
“Vanguard’s expertise in both active and index strategies has helped our clients achieve investment success for five decades. Vanguard’s world-class active fixed income team combines top-down market and economic insights with bottom-up, research-driven security selection to consistently generate alpha. And Vanguard is an industry pioneer with extensive expertise in offering low-cost index funds. Through this unique collaboration with Wellington and Blackstone, we’re once again helping clients achieve investment success and changing the way investors access public and private markets.”

Jon Gray, President and COO of Blackstone, said:
“Blackstone has been a pioneer in revolutionizing how individual investors access private markets and today we’re proud to join forces with Wellington and Vanguard, two of the world’s leading asset managers, to further expand the benefits of private markets. This initiative builds on our proven track record of making institutional-quality investing available to individuals, with the power of Blackstone’s scale and expertise across asset classes.”

About Wellington Management
Wellington Management is one of the world’s largest independent investment management firms, serving as a trusted adviser to over 2,500 clients in more than 60 countries. The firm manages more than US$1.3 trillion, as of 31 December 2024, for pensions, endowments and foundations, insurers, family offices, fund sponsors, global wealth managers, and other clients. Wellington aspires to provide excellent service to clients through a unique combination of independence enabled by its distinctive private partnership model, diverse perspectives through its unified, multi-asset investment platform, and relentless curiosity and intellectual rigor fostered by its enduring collaborative culture. For more information, visit wellington.com

About Vanguard
Founded in 1975, Vanguard is one of the world’s leading investment management companies. The firm offers investments, advice, and retirement services to tens of millions of individual investors around the globe – directly, through workplace plans, and through financial intermediaries. Vanguard operates under a unique, investor-owned structure where Vanguard fund shareholders own the funds, which in turn own Vanguard. As such, Vanguard adheres to a simple purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success. For more information, visit vanguard.com.

About Blackstone
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests. Blackstone’s more than $1.1 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, real assets, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect Blackstone Inc.’s current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and the potential for the development of, and the ability to develop, any investment solutions, as part of the strategic alliance referred to herein. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “indicator,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “opportunity,” “leads,” “forecast,” “possible” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Blackstone Inc. believe these factors include but are not limited to those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in Blackstone Inc.’s periodic filings. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report, and Blackstone Inc. undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Past results do not predict future returns. This content is published by Wellington Management Company LLP. ©2025 Wellington Management Company LLP. All rights reserved.

Media Contacts:
Robyn Tice
rtice@wellington.com

Michael Nolan
michael_nolan@vanguard.com

Felix Lettau
felix.lettau@blackstone.com

Categories: News

Smith Hill Capital and Bain Capital Announce $235 Million Refinancing for Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa

BainCapital

NEW YORK – April 15, 2025 — Smith Hill Capital, the fully integrated commercial real estate debt investment management business of Procaccianti Companies, and Bain Capital today announced the firms’ joint venture completed a $235 million refinancing for the iconic Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa in Montauk, New York for BLDG Management Co., Inc., and Metrovest Equities.

The 158-key property is a celebrated oceanfront resort located on a 2,000-foot private beach in Montauk, divided between 109 guestrooms, 35 suites, eight beachfront cottages, and six residences, and features five dining venues, a 30,000 square foot onsite spa with four spa pools, full-size indoor saltwater pool, 20 treatment rooms, a salon and state of the art fitness center, and 25,000 square feet of meeting space.

“Gurney’s Montauk represents the type of irreplaceable, generational asset that aligns perfectly with our investment strategy—anchored by strong market fundamentals, exceptional sponsorship, and long-term value creation,” said Brendan McCormick, Managing Principal, Smith Hill Capital. “Even in today’s uncertain capital markets, we continue actively deploying capital for high-conviction opportunities like this. We’re proud to partner with Bain Capital and support BLDG and Metrovest in the continued evolution of this iconic resort, which is uniquely positioned as a luxury destination in one of the most sought-after leisure markets in the country.”

“The Gurney’s Montauk loan exemplifies our strategic approach to commercial real estate lending,” said David DesPrez, a Partner at Bain Capital. “This transaction underscores our commitment to providing flexible financing solutions to high-quality borrowers and assets through an uncertain macroeconomic environment.”

“Gurney’s Montauk is an exceptional and iconic property in a one-of-a-kind location with world-class amenities,” said Justin Kleinman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at BLDG Management. “This property is a premier resort destination in the Northeast and is an elite asset in our portfolio.”

“Smith Hill Capital and Bain Capital proved to be outstanding lending partners on the Gurney’s project,” said Christopher Peck, Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of the New York Office, JLL. “The team’s expertise and collaborative approach were invaluable in financing this unique asset. They immediately recognized the exceptional value of this 20-acre resort in Montauk, and their flexible lending solutions perfectly aligned with the sponsors’ requirements.”

Smith Hill and Bain Capital’s joint venture focuses on serving the financing needs of hospitality companies and assets in demand-driven markets across the U.S. The partnership combines decades of industry and capital markets experience with a highly attractive market opportunity.

JLL represented the sponsors in the transaction.

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About Smith Hill Capital
Smith Hill Capital (“Smith Hill” or “SHC”) is the fully integrated commercial real estate debt investment management business of the Procaccianti Companies (est. 1958). Smith Hill Capital was formed to invest in compelling commercial real estate debt opportunities that exist due to liquidity challenges and dislocation in commercial real estate financial markets. Smith Hill Capital is led by seasoned investment professionals who have multi-cycle investment experience and the tenured skill set to identify opportunities throughout the entire commercial real estate capital structure, spanning from securities to equity ownership. For more information, please visit www.smithhillcapital.com.

About Bain Capital
Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms. We are committed to creating lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a culture of collaboration, advantages that enable us to innovate investment approaches, unlock opportunities, and create exceptional outcomes. Our global platform invests across five focus areas: Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. In these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and wide-ranging capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $185 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.Baincapital.com. Follow @Bain Capital on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

About BLDG Management
BLDG Management Co., Inc., is a privately held New York City-based real estate investment and development company with a national portfolio of more than 300 assets across all sectors, including residential, retail, industrial, hospitality and office.

About Metrovest Equities
Metrovest Equities is a New York City-based real estate firm specializing in the acquisition, development, rehabilitation and management of real estate assets. Established in 1996, the firm focuses on residential, office, retail, and hospitality opportunities in prime locations across the northeastern region of the U.S. The firm manages resorts and hotels across the United States. With a focus on long-term growth and value creation, Metrovest Equities strives to provide quality real estate opportunities for investors seeking stable returns.

Media Contacts

 Scott Lessne

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KKR to Acquire OSTTRA from CME Group and S&P Global for $3.1 Billion

KKR

New York, NY, April 14, 2025— KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which investment funds managed by KKR will acquire OSTTRA, a leading provider of post-trade solutions for the global OTC market, from CME Group and S&P Global. The terms of the deal for OSTTRA equaled total enterprise value at $3.1 billion, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, which will be divided evenly between S&P Global and CME Group pursuant to their 50/50 joint venture.

Established in 2021 as a joint venture between CME Group and S&P Global, OSTTRA serves the global financial ecosystem with a comprehensive suite of critical post-trade offerings across interest rates, FX, credit and equity asset classes. OSTTRA provides end-to-end connectivity and workflow solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, and other market participants across trade processing, trade lifecycle, and optimization.

The OSTTRA management team, led by co-CEOs Guy Rowcliffe and John Stewart, will continue to lead the company in their current roles. KKR will support OSTTRA’s customer-centric growth and role as a critical market infrastructure provider by increasing OSTTRA’s investments in technology and innovation across its leading post-trade solutions platform.

“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with CME Group and S&P Global over the past several years and delighted to have KKR’s backing as we embark on this exciting new chapter for OSTTRA,” said Guy Rowcliffe and John Stewart, co-CEOs of OSTTRA. “With KKR’s support, we will further accelerate our strategic initiatives to enhance our market-leading post-trade solutions, drive innovation, and expand our global footprint. Together, we look forward to delivering even greater value to our customers and helping them navigate the ever-evolving OTC landscape.”

“We have long admired OSTTRA for its mission-critical solutions, deep customer relationships, and strong market position, which we believe provide a great foundation for future growth,” said Webster Chua, Partner at KKR. “We look forward to working with the OSTTRA team and leveraging our experience in the tech-enabled and financial services sectors to help the company further innovate and drive value for its customers.”

“OSTTRA has generated significant growth over the past several years, and we are pleased with the role our joint venture played in driving the company forward,” said CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy. “Looking ahead, as the post-trade marketplace continues to evolve, we are confident that KKR will further scale this business and extend the important efficiencies that OSTTRA delivers to clients.”

“We’re thrilled about this next chapter for OSTTRA, which, together with KKR, is ideally positioned to tackle today’s complex post-trade challenges and proactively meet future operational demands,” said John Barneson, Chairman of the Board of OSTTRA and Head of Enterprise Solutions at S&P Global Market Intelligence. “This transaction reflects S&P Global’s continued commitment to active portfolio optimization in support of our strategy and to fuel future growth.”

KKR is making its investment in OSTTRA primarily through its North American private equity strategy. Following the close of the transaction, KKR will support OSTTRA in creating a broad-based equity ownership program to provide all of the company’s nearly 1,500 employees the opportunity to participate in the benefits of ownership. This strategy is based on the belief that team member engagement through ownership is a key driver in building stronger companies. Since 2011, more than 60 KKR portfolio companies have awarded billions of dollars of total equity value to over 150,000 non-senior management employees.

Further financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and receipt of required regulatory approvals.

Barclays and Davis Polk served as financial and legal advisors, respectively, to S&P Global. Citi and Skadden served as financial and legal advisors, respectively, to CME Group. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett served as financial and legal advisors, respectively, to KKR.

 

About OSTTRA

Formed in September 2021 as a 50/50 joint venture between CME Group’s optimization businesses (Traiana, TriOptima, and Reset) and S&P Global’s middleware business (MarkitSERV), OSTTRA has established itself as a critical infrastructure provider in the post-trade space, processing over 80 million trades monthly.

About CME Group

As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data – empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural products and metals.  The company offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform.  In addition, it operates one of the world’s leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing.

CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.  CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc.  NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc.  COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. BrokerTec is a trademark of BrokerTec Americas LLC and EBS is a trademark of EBS Group LTD. The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“S&P DJI”). “S&P®”, “S&P 500®”, “SPY®”, “SPX®”, US 500 and The 500 are trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC; Dow Jones®, DJIA® and Dow Jones Industrial Average are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. These trademarks have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. Futures contracts based on the S&P 500 Index are not sponsored, endorsed, marketed, or promoted by S&P DJI, and S&P DJI makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

About S&P Global

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through sustainability and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world.

We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today.

S&P Global provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology to make informed decisions. S&P Global is a leader in credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets.

 

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

 

 

 

Media Contacts

CME Group
Laurie Bischel
laurie.bischel@cmegroup.com

S&P Global
Farhan Husain
farhan.husain@spglobal.com

KKR
Julia Kosygina or Lauren McCranie
media@kkr.com

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Bain Capital reaches agreement with Ageas to sell esure and establish a top-3 UK personal lines platform

BainCapital

Ageas and Bain Capital agree to a c. €1.510 billion cash transaction for esure
Ageas/esure combination creates multi-channel motor and home insurer with broad customer appeal across the UK

LONDON – April, 14, 2025 – Bain Capital today announced that it has reached an agreement with Ageas to sell esure, a leading digital personal lines insurer with strong positioning on price comparison websites (PCW) in the UK. The proposed transaction is fully aligned with Ageas’s strategic priorities for M&A in Europe under Elevate27. It increases Ageas’s European markets presence through the acquisition of a controlled entity, reinforces its positioning in the UK, generates shareholder value from the realization of synergies and enhances the cash generation of the Group.

The combination of Ageas UK and esure will create the third largest UK personal lines platform with a balanced and diversified distribution spanning Direct, PCW, brokers and partnerships. The acquisition of esure will enable Ageas UK to accelerate the diversification of its distribution strategy into the important PCW channel in the UK market. Its underwriting footprint will widen Ageas UK’s target customer demographics and enable growth to a top-line of £3.25 billion (€3.8 billion) by 2028.

Ageas UK has established itself as an accomplished insurer over the past four years by focusing on profitable growth solely in the personal lines business with a specialism in broker distribution, outstanding technical insurance skills and technology, and successfully delivering insurance solutions for its distribution partners and over four million customers.

esure is a leading UK personal lines insurer with a fully digital distribution model through the PCW channel and three popular brands – esure, Sheilas’ Wheels and First Alternative. In 2024, esure had more than 2.1 million policies and GWP of over £1 billion (€ 1.2 billion).

The acquisition of esure creates significant potential for operational synergies and capital benefits to be realized in the medium term. We expect economies of scale in our UK personal lines portfolio and the accelerated implementation of the EIS IT platform, including esure’s complementary claims module, to drive operational efficiencies and cost avoidance for Ageas UK. Continued focus on technology, data and AI is expected to create further competitive advantages. In addition, capital benefits from enhanced diversification and the inclusion of esure in Ageas’s partial internal model are expected to emerge over time.

Under the terms of the transaction, Ageas will pay Bain Capital a cash consideration of £1.295 billion (€ 1.510 billion) for esure, respecting a Solvency II target ratio of 150 percent as at year-end 2024.  The Group’s capital position will remain robust with Solvency II ratio expected to decrease by approximately only 10pp thanks to the inclusion of around €1 billion of Own Funds instruments in the financing mix.

The transaction will be financed through a combination of surplus cash and newly issued senior and hybrid debt and/or equity within the existing authorizations and subject to market conditions. A fully underwritten 2-year bridge facility is provided by BofA Securities and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A..

The integration of Ageas UK and esure is anticipated to be completed, in all material respects, during the Elevate27 strategic cycle. Entering the next strategic period, we project that the transaction will generate a full cost saving potential in excess of  100 million (c. €115 million) per annum, before tax. On a run-rate basis, this transaction is expected to generate an unlevered return on investment of over 12 percent for Ageas and an uplift in the Return on Equity of more than 1pp. It will become Holding Free Cash Flow accretive per share of c. 10 percent as from 2028.

The completion of the transaction is expected to occur in 2H 2025 and remains subject to regulatory approvals.

Luca Bassi, Partner at Bain Capital, said: “We are pleased to have supported esure through its transformation and growth journey. During our ownership, esure has built the leading tech platform in UK insurance and their highly efficient operations have set a new standard for the industry. This transaction is a testament to esure’s strong market position and the state-of-the-art technology platform built under Bain Capital’s tenure, with the business now at record levels of profitability. We are confident that Ageas is the right partner to continue this legacy of success and innovation.”

Commenting on the agreement, Hans De Cuyper, Ageas Group CEO, said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement to acquire esure. In recent years, Ageas has experienced significant growth in the UK, making it an increasingly important part of the Group. This transaction will allow us to offer competitive value propositions to a wider customer profile via a multi-channel distribution model, positioning Ageas UK as one of the top three personal lines insurers. Acquiring esure also supports our strategic ambitions of re-balancing our Group profile towards businesses with high cash conversion. We remain, of course, committed to our Elevate27 financial objectives, including our commitment to a progressive dividend policy, and will observe the full synergies of this transaction in the forthcoming strategic period.”

Ant Middle, Ageas UK CEO, said: “esure is a significant addition to the Ageas UK business and aligns perfectly with our growth strategy. As demand for motor and home insurance grows, Ageas will be perfectly positioned to gain market share and become the insurer of choice for our existing and new customers. The combined Ageas and esure franchise will benefit from an outstanding customer offering, through market leading technology and prominent brands, that will drive our expansion into new customer demographics. Under Elevate27, we want to continue to grow our broker and partnerships personal lines business in the UK, and esure will help us to rapidly expand our direct distribution, our customer reach, and our scale overall. esure’s technical capabilities will match Ageas UK’s and will enable us to develop our well-balanced business at greater pace and serve a wider range of customers. We’re really excited for the potential this brings our UK business and wider Group.”

David McMillan, esure Group CEO, said: “This transaction brings together two highly complementary businesses and creates an even stronger platform for continued innovation, growth and excellent delivery for our customers. Combining Ageas’s scale, financial strength and excellent broker relationships with esure’s strong retail brands, market-leading data capabilities and strength on PCWs, alongside a shared technology platform, will enhance our combined ability to invest in our customer proposition and open up new opportunities for growth. I am deeply proud of what the esure team has achieved to date. We look forward to working alongside the Ageas team to build the UK’s leading personal lines insurer.”

BofA Securities is acting as financial adviser and Allen Overy Sherman Sterling LLP is acting as legal counsel to Ageas in relation to the transaction

Fenchurch Advisory Partners LLP and Goldman Sachs International served as financial advisers to Bain Capital and esure. Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP served as legal adviser and Norton Rose Fulbright LLP served as regulatory adviser to Bain Capital and esure.

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About Bain Capital:

Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms. The firm has a significant history in Europe, starting with the establishment of a London office in 2000 and expanding to include other European locations, with a focus on private equity, credit and special situations investments. We are committed to creating lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a culture of collaboration, advantages that enable us to innovate investment approaches, unlock opportunities, and create exceptional outcomes. Our global platform invests across five focus areas: Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. In these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and wide-ranging capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $185 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com. Follow @BainCapital on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

About esure Group:

esure Group is one of the UK’s leading providers of Motor and Home insurance products through the esure, Sheilas’ Wheels and First Alternative brands. Founded in 2000, esure Group has the scale, heritage and expertise capable of inspiring the trust and confidence of their 2.1m customers, combined with the entrepreneurial mindset and agility of an insurtech. esure Group is focused on using their market-leading technology platform, insights and data, alongside fantastic customer service, to deliver more personalized experiences that meet the evolving needs and expectations of customers.

About Ageas:

Ageas is a listed international insurance Group with a heritage spanning of 200 years. It offers Retail and Business customers Life and Non-Life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs, today and tomorrow, and is also engaged in reinsurance activities. As one of Europe’s larger insurance companies, Ageas concentrates its activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the major part of the global insurance market. It operates successful insurance businesses in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Turkey, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and long-term partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors. Ageas ranks among the market leaders in the countries in which it operates. It represents a staff force of about 50,000 people and reported annual inflows of EUR 18.5 billion in 2024.

For analysts:

An analyst meeting regarding this transaction will be held on Monday, April 14, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 am CET (9:00 to 10:00 am UKT). The Teams call can be accessed using the following link: https://ageas.com/en/esure-2025

Note to editors:

To support its expansion, in 2024 Ageas UK announced a partnership with Saga, growing its offering to the over-50s segment, which is strategically in line with Ageas’s focus on an ageing population.

 

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Apollo Funds Commit up to $400 Million for New Commercial Solar Partnership with Summit Ridge Energy

Apollo logo

NEW YORK and ARLINGTON, Va., April 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) and Summit Ridge Energy, LLC (“Summit Ridge Energy” or “Summit Ridge”), one of the nation’s leading commercial solar companies, today announced that Apollo-managed funds (the “Apollo Funds”) have committed up to $400 million for a new joint venture partnership with Summit Ridge to jointly own and operate a portfolio of commercial solar assets across Illinois.

Summit Ridge Energy is one of the largest owner-operators of commercial solar assets in the United States, with over 2GW of solar projects operating and in development across Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maine, providing energy savings to more than 40,000 homes and businesses while contributing to American energy independence. In 2022, Apollo Funds previously made a $175 million strategic investment in Summit Ridge.

Apollo Partner Corinne Still said, “We are pleased to expand our relationship with Summit Ridge Energy and enter this new partnership, which we believe represents a compelling opportunity to invest in solar projects poised to contribute domestic power generation capacity to meet growing electricity demands for households and businesses alike. Apollo is committed to serving as a leading capital provider enabling the new industrial renaissance and is excited to continue our support of Summit Ridge’s mission to deliver a more secure, self-reliant energy future for communities across the country.”

“As we expand our footprint of solar assets, Summit Ridge Energy is advancing a more reliable and locally driven energy system—bolstering the U.S. electric grid while delivering savings to businesses and households and helping to create thousands of American jobs,” said Adam Kuehne, Chief Investment Officer of Summit Ridge Energy. “We’re proud to partner with the Apollo team as we continue driving the nation toward greater energy independence.”

Over the past five years, Apollo-managed funds and affiliates have committed, deployed or arranged approximately $58 billioni of climate and energy transition-related investments, supporting companies and projects across clean energy and infrastructure.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP served as legal counsel to the Apollo Funds.

____________________
i As of December 31, 2024. The firmwide targets (the “Targets”) to deploy, commit, or arrange capital commensurate with Apollo’s proprietary Climate and Transition Investment Framework (the “CTIF”), are (1) $50 billion by 2027 and (2) more than $100 billion by 2030 The CTIF, which is subject to change at any time without notice, sets forth certain activities classified by Apollo as sustainable economic activities (“SEAs”), and the methodologies used to calculate contribution towards the Targets. Only investments determined to be currently contributing to an SEA in accordance with the CTIF are counted toward the Targets. Under the CTIF, Apollo uses different calculation methodologies for different types of investments in equity, debt and real estate. For additional details on the CTIF, please refer to our website here: https://www.apollo.com/strategies/asset-management/real-assets/sustainable-investing-platform.

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 December 31, 2024, Apollo had approximately $751 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

About Summit Ridge Energy   

As the nation’s leading commercial solar company, Summit Ridge Energy merges financial innovation and industry-leading execution to deliver locally generated energy via a more resilient and secure electric grid. This has made Summit Ridge one of the fastest-growing energy companies in America, with over 2 GW of solar power operating and in development.

Since launching in 2017, Summit Ridge has raised over $5B in project capital to finance 200+ solar farms, providing energy savings to more than 40,000 homes and businesses while contributing to American energy independence. Learn more at srenergy.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

Contacts

For Apollo:

Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
212-822-0540
ir@apollo.com

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
212-822-0491
communications@apollo.com

For Summit Ridge Energy:

Media

347-723-7231

press@srenergy.com

Business Development

business@srenergy.com

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Carlyle closes acquisition of SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner SE

Carlyle

Munich and Heidelberg, 10 April 2025 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) today announced the completion of its voluntary public cash takeover offer (the “Offer”) for all outstanding shares of SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner SE (“SNP” or the “Company”), creating a strategic partnership in support of SNP’s long-term growth.

Founded in 1994 and based in Heidelberg, Germany, SNP is a leading global provider of software and consulting services for digital transformation, automated data migration and data management with a focus on the SAP ecosystem. It works with more than 3,000 global customers of all sizes and in all industries, including 20 of the DAX 40 and over 100 of the Fortune 500. SNP partners with 17 out of the Top 20 SAP System Integrators to enable SAP transformations and business agility. The company has more than 1,500 employees worldwide at over 35 locations in 20 countries.

Carlyle will aim to support SNP’s continued growth journey together with management to drive further international expansion, optimize its product strategy, and explore inorganic growth opportunities. Carlyle will leverage its longstanding track record of scaling software companies as well as its global network, deep sector expertise, and institutional scale.

Equity for the investment was provided by Carlyle Europe Partners V (CEP V), a €6.4bn fund investing in European opportunities across a range of sectors and industries.

Michael Wand, Head of Europe Private Equity at Carlyle, said: “We are pleased to have closed this transaction and we are excited to partner with SNP’s management team and its employees as part of the next phase of their growth journey. Leveraging Carlyle’s global platform and financial resources, we will actively support SNP’s further internationalization and investment into SNP’s next generation Kyano platform.”

The CEO of SNP, Jens Amail, said: “We are confident that Carlyle’s expertise, network and commitment will strengthen SNP and our value proposition for customers and partners. The SNP team looks forward to entering this next chapter with Carlyle as the right partner to support its future development and create sustainable value for all stakeholders.”

The deal marks the second public-to-private transaction executed by Carlyle in Germany in recent years, and highlights Carlyle’s strong local execution capabilities as one of the most active players in complex public-to-private transactions.

—

 

About Carlyle 

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Global Investment Solutions. With $441 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2024, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,300 people in 29 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on X @OneCarlyle and LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group.

About SNP

SNP (ticker: SHF.DE) is the global technology platform leader and trusted partner for companies seeking unparalleled data-enabled transformation capabilities and business agility. SNP’s Kyano platform integrates all necessary capabilities and partner offerings to provide a comprehensive software-based experience in data migration and management. Combined with the BLUEFIELD approach, Kyano sets a comprehensive industry standard for restructuring and modernizing SAP-centric IT landscapes faster and more securely while harnessing data-driven innovations.

SNP works with more than 3,000 customers of all sizes and in all industries, including 20 of the DAX 40 and over 100 of the Fortune 500. The SNP Group has more than 1,500 employees worldwide at over 35 locations in 20 countries. The company is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, and generated revenues of EUR 255 million in the 2024 fiscal year.

Further information is available at www.snpgroup.com

Media Contacts

Carlyle

Nicholas Brown

nicholas.brown@carlyle.com

+44 7471 037 002

Or

FTI Consulting

Robert Labas

+49 175 601 2124

robert.labas@fticonsulting.com

Lutz Golsch

+49 173 6517 710

lutz.golsch@fticonsulting.com

SNP

Marcel Wiskow

Director lnvestor Relations

Tel.: +49 6221 6425-637

Email: marcel.wiskow@snpgroup.com

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Blackstone Real Estate to Acquire 6M SF Industrial Portfolio Developed by Crow Holdings for $718M

Blackstone

New York & Dallas – April 10, 2025 – Blackstone (NYSE: BX) and Crow Holdings, a leading real estate investment and development firm, today announced that Core+ funds affiliated with Blackstone Real Estate have agreed to acquire a 95 percent stake in an industrial portfolio developed by Crow Holdings for $718 million. Crow Holdings and its partners will retain 5 percent ownership. The portfolio consists of 25 Class A buildings totaling 6 million square feet and is predominantly located in high-barrier submarkets in Dallas and Houston, two of the top-performing U.S. logistics markets.

David Levine, Co-Head of Americas Acquisitions for Blackstone Real Estate, said: “This transaction is another example of Blackstone Real Estate deploying capital during this period of market volatility. We are thrilled to acquire this high-quality portfolio located in some of the best performing U.S. industrial markets. With limited vacancy and new construction starts down over 80% from the 2022 peak, logistics remains a high conviction theme for us; we are proud owners of more than $90 billion of warehouses in North America and nearly $170 billion in total around the world.”

Michael Levy, Chief Executive Officer at Crow Holdings, said: “We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Blackstone in this investment portfolio. Our company was founded by Trammell Crow when he built his first warehouse in Dallas in 1948 – a building that we still own today. We are extremely proud of our team for developing such a high-quality portfolio that attracted Blackstone, a global leader in the logistics industry, and we look forward to the partnership’s possibilities.”

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.

About Blackstone Real Estate
Blackstone is a global leader in real estate investing. Blackstone’s real estate business was founded in 1991 and has US $315 billion of investor capital under management. Blackstone is the largest owner of commercial real estate globally, owning and operating assets across every major geography and sector, including logistics, data centers, residential, office and hospitality. Our opportunistic funds seek to acquire undermanaged, well-located assets across the world. Blackstone’s Core+ business invests in substantially stabilized real estate assets globally, through both institutional strategies and strategies tailored for income-focused individual investors including Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (BREIT). Blackstone Real Estate also operates one of the leading global real estate debt businesses, providing comprehensive financing solutions across the capital structure and risk spectrum, including management of Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE: BXMT).

About Crow Holdings
Crow Holdings is a privately held real estate firm founded in 1948 based in Dallas, Texas. The company’s business activities include a leading real estate development and investment platform, an expanding traditional and renewable energy business, and broader private equity investment capabilities. With 18 offices across the U.S., Crow Holdings’ local, on-the-ground presence amplifies its hands-on capabilities across a broad range of investment strategies and ventures in partnership with leading institutional and individual investors. The firm manages $33 billion in assets and investments across a diversified business and investment portfolio rooted in its founding principles of partnership, collaboration, and alignment of interests. For more information, please visit: www.crowholdings.com.

Contacts

Adam McGill
amcgill@crowholdings.com

Ruby Wald
Ruby.Wald@blackstone.com

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EQT, Hg and TA-owned IFS valued at EUR 15 billion in minority stake sale, following investment from Hg, ADIA and CPP Investments

eqt

IFS

  • Hg increases its stake in enterprise software provider IFS and becomes co-control shareholder alongside EQT, while existing minority shareholder TA Associates remains invested
  • New investors in this transaction include a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (“ADIA”) and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPP Investments”)
  • IFS continues to perform strongly, having recently surpassed EUR 1 billion in ARR while growing by more than 30% year-on-year

IFS, a leading provider of cloud enterprise software and Industrial AI applications, announces it has achieved a valuation of over EUR 15 billion following a significant pivot to AI-driven growth. The valuation comes as Hg increases its stake to become a co-control shareholder alongside EQT, with TA Associates (“TA”) remaining as minority shareholder. New minority shareholders also include a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (“ADIA”) and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPP Investments”). Hg and the new investors are acquiring shares in IFS from EQT, which is selling through its EQT VIII and EQT IX funds, as well as from TA and other minority investors.

The transaction follows many successful years of growth for IFS, delivering more than EUR 1 billion in ARR (“annual recurring revenue”) last year. Total revenue for 2024 was over EUR 1.2 billion, with some of the world’s largest industrial companies choosing IFS over legacy vendors. Demand for IFS’s industrial AI capabilities has increased significantly over the past 12 months as organizations across IFS’s focus industries of Aerospace & Defence, Engineering & Construction, Energy & Utilities, Manufacturing, Telco and Service, continue to realise the rapid and transformative value that IFS.ai delivers. IFS will continue to expand its capabilities with the industrial application of generative and agentic AI, so that customers can automate workflows, improve efficiency and deliver amazing moments of service to their own customers.

Over the past year, IFS added 350 new customers including Exelon who adopted IFS to streamline asset maintenance across its energy grid, Rolls-Royce who is using IFS to transform service delivery of its Power Systems business, and Total Energies who is deploying IFS as the single platform for management and servicing of its global operated asset portfolio. Moreover, an increasing number of large businesses are moving to IFS which is reflected in the average deal size of IFS’s largest customers increasing by 64% year-on-year.

Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS, said: “IFS’s success and sustained growth is centred around a commitment and track record of rapidly delivering business value to our customers. We have a differentiated proposition that continues to drive momentum in the industrial setting, specifically with the agentic and generative capabilities of IFS.ai, which enables us to be the technology of choice for the businesses that service, power and protect our planet.” Moffat continued: “The investment and continued commitment from Hg, EQT and TA will help IFS further accelerate our journey to be the undisputed category leader of Industrial Software.”

Johannes Reichel, Partner and Co-Head of Technology in the EQT Private Equity advisory team, added: “EQT’s relationship with IFS started in 2015 and it has been remarkable to see the company’s growth since then. Starting as a software vendor focused on Northern Europe, IFS has become a global provider of enterprise solutions while embracing the power of AI for the benefit of its industrial clients. It’s a prime example of EQT’s ability to “run with the winners”, where we partner with management teams over the long-term to scale regional players into global champions. We are excited to work alongside Hg to continue supporting IFS through this next phase.”

Nic Humphries, Senior Partner and Head of the Saturn funds at Hg, commented: “With 20 years’ experience investing in software, we recognise exceptional businesses when we see them. Our increased investment in IFS reflects our conviction in their long-term vision and strong execution, which enables their customers’ digital transformation.” Jonathan Wulkan, Partner at Hg, added: “Since our initial partnership in 2022 alongside EQT, Mark and the team have not only delivered impressive and consistent growth but have emerged as a global leader in Industrial AI – translating the promise of AI into practical solutions that drive efficiency and sustainability for essential industries, with significant potential for continued growth.”

Naveen Wadhera, Managing Director at TA, commented: “IFS’s exceptional leadership, strong execution, and transformative AI capabilities are redefining what’s possible in enterprise software. We remain confident in the company’s vision and are excited to be part of its continued journey.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to complete end of Q2 2025. IFS and selling shareholders were advised by Arma Partners and White & Case, EQT was also advised by Evercore, and Hg was advised by Morgan Stanley & Co. plc and Skadden.

Contact
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

Hg
Tom Eckersley, tom.eckersley@hgcapital.com
Sam Ferris, sam.ferris@hgcapital.com

TA
Maggie Benoit, mbenoit@ta.com

IFS
EUROPE / MEA / APJ: Adam Gillbe, adam.gillbe@ifs.com
NORTH AMERICA / LATAM: Mairi Morgan, mairi.morgan@ifs.com

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About EQT
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 269 billion in total assets under management (EUR 136 billion in fee-generating assets under management), within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com
Follow EQT on LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram

About Hg
Hg supports the building of sector-leading enterprises that supply businesses with critical software applications or workflow services, delivering a more automated workplace for their customers. This industry is characterised by digitization trends that are in early stages of adoption and are set to transform the workplace for professionals over decades to come.

Hg’s support combines deep end-market knowledge with world class operational resources, together providing compelling support to entrepreneurial leaders looking to scale their business – businesses that are well invested, enduring and serve their customers well.

With a vast European network and strong presence across North America, Hg’s 400 employees and around $75 billion in funds under management support a portfolio of around 50 businesses, worth over $160 billion aggregate enterprise value, with around 115,000 employees, consistently growing revenues at more than 20% annually.

About TA
TA is a leading global private equity firm focused on scaling growth in profitable companies. Since 1968, TA has invested in more than 560 companies across its five target industries – technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and businesses services. Leveraging its deep industry expertise and strategic resources, TA collaborates with management teams worldwide to help high-quality companies deliver lasting value. The firm has raised $65 billion in capital to date and has more than 150 investment professionals across offices in Boston, Menlo Park, Austin, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA can be found at www.ta.com.

About IFS
IFS is one of the world’s leading providers of Industrial AI and enterprise software for hardcore businesses that service, power, and protect our planet. Our technology enables businesses which manufacture goods, maintain complex assets, and manage service-focused operations to unlock the transformative power of Industrial AI™ to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.

IFS Cloud is a fully composable AI-powered platform, designed for ultimate flexibility and adaptability to our customers’ specific requirements and business evolution. It spans the needs of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), and Field Service Management (FSM). IFS technology leverages AI, machine learning, real-time data and analytics to empower our customers to make informed strategic decisions and excel at their Moment of Service™.

IFS was founded in 1983 by five university friends who pitched a tent outside our first customer’s site to ensure they would be available 24/7 and the needs of the customer would come first. Since then, IFS has grown into a global leader with over 7,000 employees in 80 countries. Driven by those foundational values of agility, customer-centricity, and trust, IFS is recognized worldwide for delivering value and supporting strategic transformations. We are the most recommended supplier in our sector. Visit ifs.com to learn why.

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EQT to sell Karo Healthcare, a Leading Pan-European Consumer health Platform, to KKR

eqt

Karo Healthcare

  • Under EQT’s ownership, Karo has transformed from a Nordic specialty pharma business into a pan-European consumer healthcare platform, driven by strong organic growth, eight strategic acquisitions, and investment in digitalisation and in-house commercial capabilities
  • KKR will support Karo’s continued growth by leveraging its deep sector expertise, global network, and a long-term investment approach to drive innovation, internationalization, and further brand growth and acquisitions
  • Karo now operates a diversified portfolio of trusted consumer health brands with leadership positions in European markets and a scalable, digitally enabled platform

EQT and KKR today announced that EQT VIII fund (“EQT”) has agreed to sell Karo Healthcare (“Karo” or the “Company”) to KKR. The acquisition marks the next chapter for Karo, as it continues to accelerate its growth strategy under KKR’s ownership, building on its transformation into one of Europe’s leading consumer health platforms since EQT’s initial investment.

Karo is a leading pan-European consumer healthcare company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. The Company operates an attractive product portfolio spanning core categories such as Skin Health, Foot Health, and Intimate Health, as well as Digestive Health and Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements. During the past five years, Karo has scaled substantially, quadrupling in sales, building leading digital capabilities and establishing market presence to reach consumers in more than 90 countries with top brand positions across European markets.

Under EQT’s ownership since 2019, Karo has undergone a significant strategic repositioning, shifting from a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the Nordics into becoming a pan-European pure-play consumer healthcare platform. During this time, with M&A having been a cornerstone of Karo’s growth strategy, Karo completed eight acquisitions from industry players which have enriched Karo’s portfolio, strengthened its presence in key markets, and accelerated its entry into new geographies.

Commenting on the transaction, Christoffer Lorenzen, CEO of Karo Healthcare, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in recent years and grateful to EQT for their partnership, which has been instrumental in helping us grow and evolve into the business we are today. With KKR as our new owner, we are entering an exciting next phase in our journey. Their global reach, deep sector understanding, and long-term approach make them the ideal strategic partner as we continue to invest in our brands, expand into new markets and meet the evolving health needs of consumers.”

“Karo is a textbook example of EQT’s approach – scaling a local company into a fast-growing sector champion with international reach,” said Erika Henriksson, Partner in the EQT Private Equity advisory team. “Thanks to its consumer centricity, strong M&A track record, and proven brand growth playbooks, Karo is now primed to further expand on its leadership position. We’re proud of what Christoffer and the team have achieved and excited to hand over to a new owner for the next phase.”

Inaki Cobo, Partner at KKR, said: “Karo is a unique platform with high-quality brands, strong digital and commercial capabilities, and a proven strong leadership team. We are thrilled to invest in this European champion’s next phase of growth, drawing on our deep experience in the consumer health space to support continued expansion, innovation, and organic and inorganic growth.” Hans Arstad, Managing Director at KKR, added: “Karo operates in a resilient, growing sector supported by long-term demographic trends and increasing consumer focus on wellness and self-care. We engaged the full capabilities of our firm to deliver this transaction during a period of market disruption and we look forward to supporting Karo’s growth as a value-enhancing strategic partner.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory conditions and approvals and is expected to close in the coming months. EQT was advised by Jefferies, Morgan Stanley, PwC and White & Case. Citigroup acted as financial advisor to KKR.

Media Contacts
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com
KKR, Alastair Elwen, alastair.elwen@fgsglobal.com

About Karo Healthcare
Karo Healthcare is a leading European consumer healthcare company with the purpose of delivering “Smart choices for everyday healthcare”, empowering people to live life to the fullest. Our products are available in more than 90 countries and include trusted original brands such as Lamisil®, E45®, Pevaryl®, Proct®, AlphaFoods, Nutravita, Flux®, Locobase®, Multi-Gyn® and Paracet®. Headquartered in Stockholm, Karo employs about 470 people who work out of Karo’s 13 international hubs. More info: karohealthcare.com.

About EQT
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 269 billion in total assets under management (EUR 136 billion in fee-generating assets under management), within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com
Follow EQT on LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram 

About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

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