Category Archives: News

Fremman Capital Enters Into A Put Option Agreement To Acquire Innovative Beauty Group, A Pioneering Turn-Key Solution Provider Servicing Retailers And Brands In The Beauty And Personal Care Space

Fremman

Fremman Capital (“Fremman”) is pleased to announce the execution of a put option agreement to acquire Innovative Beauty Group (“IBG”), a Beauty and Personal Care service provider, part of the Albéa group.

The Company offers its clients a 360-degree product development service, with end-to-end product management capabilities addressing the more complex aspects of bringing a product to market, including the ideation of the product, formulation, filling, packaging solutions and marketing.

IBG leverages its extensive global network, with 10 offices across three different continents, to provide local expertise to its +200 customers. With creative and sourcing capabilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, IBG’s 300 employees offer unrivalled expertise across the entire Beauty and Personal Care value chain, acting as a true value-added partner to its customers.

Xavier Leclerc de Hauteclocque, CEO of IBG, said: “We look forward to this next stage of growth together with Fremman as a new shareholder. We operate in an exciting and fast- growing market with a great opportunity to scale up presence and capabilities across geographies, product categories and customer segments and further elevate our value-add and quality, following our vision to provide the best service to our clients.”

Olivier de Vregille, founding partner of Fremman, said: “We look forward to working with Xavier and his team to accelerate the growth of the company. We have been following this industry for a long time and we strongly believe in the innovative IBG model which disrupts the traditional Beauty and Personal Care supply chain while driving excellence and best results for all stakeholders.”

Subject to final closing of the contemplated transaction, Fremman will have 8 platform investments in its debut fund, which closed in 2023 having raised over €600 million. Since inception in 2020, the firm has completed six platform investments in highly growing markets: Bollo Natural Fruit (Spain), VPS (Netherlands), Medinet (UK), Palex Medical (Spain), Kids Planet (UK), and Connexta (Germany), and more than 50 add-on investments. The Fund has also recently signed the acquisition of HT Médica, one of the leading radiology operators in Spain.

The contemplated transaction is subject to the consultation of the relevant employee representative bodies of the Albea group.

About IBG

IBG is a Beauty and Personal Care service provider, helping businesses create quality beauty products. The Company covers the entire value chain, offering a wide spectrum of solutions from design to formulation, packaging and marketing. IBG has an international team of over 300 people across 10 locations worldwide. For more information about IBG please visit: https://innovativebeautygroup.com/

About Fremman

Fremman is a pan-European, mid-market investment firm with offices in London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Munich and Paris that looks to partner with successful management teams to help transform businesses from local champions to multinational sustainable leaders. Its senior Partners have a long history working together, with over 100 years of combined investment experience. Fremman’s goal is to build better, more sustainable businesses that have a positive impact on society.

For more information about Fremman please visit: https://fremman.com/

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Cibus Capital raises USD 600m to invest in the sustainable food and agriculture transition

Cibus Capital

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4 March 2024, LONDON UK – Cibus Capital LLP (‘Cibus’), the specialist investment advisory firm focused on sustainable food and agriculture, is pleased to announce the successful close of its second mid-market private equity fund, Cibus Fund II (‘CF II’) with over USD 510 million in commitments, and its second venture fund, Cibus Enterprise Fund II (‘CE II’) with over USD 135 million in commitments.

The fundraise attracted investment from a diversified investor base consisting of returning and new participants. Investors in the two funds include Los Angeles County Employee Retirement Association (‘LACERA’) and Retail Employees Superannuation Trust (‘Rest’), one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, amongst other major institutional investors.

“Rest expects our investment in Cibus Fund II to deliver long-term value for our members while growing our exposure to companies at the forefront of sustainable agriculture practices. It also brings us closer to our target of achieving a one per cent allocation to impact investments across our total portfolio by 2026,” said Rest’s Head of Responsible Investment & Sustainability, Leilani Weier.

CE II invests in late-stage venture through innovative companies driving technologies with the potential to disrupt food production or processing, increasing resource efficiency and sustainability. The Fund has already made ten investments across sectors, including robotics, precision chemistry for crop protection, and natural capital.

Rob Appleby, Founder and CIO of Cibus Capital comments: “Farmers and landowners have taken centre stage in the debate about food security and environmental conservation. This coincides with a clearer view of the risks and opportunities faced by investors and stakeholders alike in food production. We thank our original supporters and those looking at Cibus for the first time, for the support they have provided us as we direct capital to those companies contributing to carbon reduction, increasing biodiversity and making compelling financial returns.

Alastair Cooper, Head of Venture of Cibus Capital comments: “Agri-Food Technology provides the potential for unprecedented positive change across resource efficiency, GHG emissions, biodiversity, food security, human health and animal welfare. We are excited about the possibilities to come, deploying capital to innovative companies supporting the technological revolution much needed in our food system.”

 

—END—

About Cibus Capital LLP

Cibus Capital LLP is the London-based investment advisor to the Cibus funds. The Cibus funds partner with food and agriculture companies that provide investors with a risk-adjusted return on capital and a sustainable competitive advantage. Cibus has raised over USD 1bn to invest in two strategies: mid-market growth/buyout investments in food production and processing businesses and late-stage agrifood technology companies. For more information visit cibusfund.com.

For more information, please contact:
Montfort Communications
+44(0)7752 329 851
cibus@montfort.london

 Legal References and Disclaimer: 

References herein to  “Cibus Fund II” are references to Cibus Fund II LP; “Cibus Enterprise Fund II” refers to Cibus Enterprise Fund II LP, which are both managed by Cibus Investments II Limited and advised by Cibus Capital LLP.  References to “Cibus” are to Cibus Capital LLP.  None of Cibus or Cibus Investments Limited make any representation as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of this Press Release. This release does not constitute an offer to subscribe for interests in the Cibus funds or any other actual or prospective fund advised by Cibus Capital LLP.

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Bene Bono closes a funding round of 10 million euros

AXA

Bene Bono closes a funding round of 10 million euros to accelerate the fight against food waste at its source and to become the undisputed leader in the European market.

As a service of sustainable groceries, Bene Bono saves farmers and manufacturers products from waste, to offer them to its clients at a cheaper price. The company marks a significant milestone in its green and social commitments. The foodtech player announces a 10 million euro fundraising led by AVP (AXA Venture Partners) with the participation of 2050 and historical investors (Stride VC and Project A).

1- Bene Bono: a strong appetite for combating waste at its source

As 1.6 billion tons of food are lost or wasted each year (BCG study), Bene Bono intends to fight this number for good. The company has already saved more than 2,600 tons of products. Their magical recipe? Selling all the good products that do not fit aesthetic or logistical standards. Since 2020, Bene Bono has thus been helping organic farmers and manufacturers in selling their qualitative products directly to consumers.

This way, the brand has provided access to organic, local, and seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as over 500 grocery items that also need to be saved, such as grocery food, drinks, wines, beers, sweets, hygiene, beauty, and cleaning products, all at a discount up to 40%.

The service now covers nearly 300 cities in France, following its recent expansion to Toulouse and Bordeaux, in addition to the four metropolitan areas where it was already active (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, and their surroundings). This growth has led to the preparation of several thousand orders per week for the benefit of 30,000 active clients in 2023, three times more than the year before.

While food price inflation, reaching 21% over the last two years(1), would prevent 9 million French people from eating healthily(2), Bene Bono has enabled its loyal customers to save an average of 200 euros per year.

On the supplier side, the brand now collaborates with over 400 local organic producers, twice as many as in 2021, and 150 committed manufacturers, thereby contributing to providing them with an additional revenue and a long term professional relationship made of trust.

2- Recognized and supported commitment with a 10 million euro investment

This 10 million euro funding round was led by AVP (AXA Venture Partners) with the participation of 2050 and historical investors – Stride VC and Project A. This new funding round will allow Bene Bono to strengthen its position as a major player in the fight against waste at its source.

With this capital raise, the Foodtech player aims to:

  • Recruit new talents for strategic positions, such as a Director of Purchasing, a Head of Product, and a Lead Data Manager.
  • Expand its range of saved products to new categories, aiming for 1,000 references by the end of the year and further develop its private label (already 7 products).
  • Expand its business activities in the French market and continue the expansion of its service in Spain (particularly in Seville and Malaga).
  • Reduce its environmental footprint by implementing reusable bags and delivery by electric vehicles and bicycles, amongst other things.
  • Develop new features to continue satisfying a maximum number of customers and optimize its logistics processes.

These new features have been initiated at the end of 2023, transforming Bene Bono’s operational mode to fully customizable weekly orders, leveraging a unique technology. Indeed, customers can now fully customize their groceries, choosing from over 500 available saved products.

Sven Ripoche, co-founder of Bene Bono – “This funding round follows the very successful year of 2023 marked by our successful launch in Spain and over 2,100 tons of products saved by our users. It will allow us to fight against waste on a larger scale, offering even more good products at reduced prices to the French and Spanish people!”

François Robinet, Managing Partner at AVP – “We are delighted and extremely proud to have been selected by the founders of Bene Bono, a major player in Foodtech, to accompany them in the next chapters of their story and this new phase of growth. We have been impressed by the intrinsic merits of the company and its remarkable development so far. This investment also demonstrates AVP’s commitment to investing in key sectors for the sustainable development of our societies, such as the fight against waste. The sector in which Bene Bono operates is at the heart of the challenges of transforming everyone’s food habits. We are pleased, along with current investors and 2050, to provide Bene Bono with the means to continue developing the platform in France and Spain and to support Grégoire, Sven, Claire, and all their teams in this new stage. »

About AVP (AXA Venture Partners)

AVP (AXA Venture Partners) is a global venture capital firm specializing in high-growth, technology- enabled companies, managing $1.3 billion in assets across four investment strategies: Venture, Growth, Late Stage, and Fund of Funds. Since its establishment in 2016, AVP has invested in more than 60 technology companies in Venture and Growth stages in the US and Europe.

With offices in New York, London, and Paris, AVP supports companies in expanding internationally and provides portfolio companies with tailored business development opportunities to further accelerate their growth. AVP operates under AXA IM- Alts, the alternative investment business unit of AXA IM.

For more information, visit axavp.com
Contact: Sébastien Loubry, Partner Business development (sebastien@axavp.com)

About Project A

Project A is one of the leading early-stage tech investors in Europe with offices in Berlin and London. In addition to $1bn assets under management, Project A supports its portfolio companies with a team of over 120 functional experts in key areas such as software and product development, data, brand, design, marketing, sales and recruitment. The venture capital firm was founded in 2012 and has backed more than 100 startups. The portfolio includes companies such as Trade Republic, WorldRemit, sennder, KRY, Spryker, Quantum Systems and Voi.

About 2050

2050 (Paris, France) is a new breed of investment fund that combines performance and company alignment. It empowers those who are building a fertile future, a world aligning economic, social and ecological challenges. Through its unique structure of a stewardship-owned evergreen model, and its ecosystem investments, the fund aims to invest over one billion euros by 2030, catalyzing positive change for a better future. The young portfolio includes companies such as Sweep, Peabbl, Fifteen and Kickstarter.

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IK Partners to invest in Checkmate Fire

IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK Small Cap III (“IK SC III”) Fund has signed
an agreement to acquire Checkmate Fire (“Checkmate” or “the Company”), the UK’s largest
passive fire protection specialist, from YFM Equity Partners (“YFM”). IK is making its first UK investment from the Fund’s dedicated pool of Development Capital. The existing management
team will be reinvesting alongside IK. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Established in 1989 and headquartered in West Yorkshire, Checkmate provides a comprehensive range of passive fire protection services to organisations across the Healthcare, Education, Government, Social Housing and Commercial sectors. The Company inspects, installs, remediates and maintains passive fire systems and also provides installation and maintenance of active fire systems.

Checkmate engineer remediating a fire door

Checkmate operates across the UK and has over 200 employees. The Company is responsible for maintaining passive fire systems in around 2,000 buildings nationally to ensure compliance with increasingly stringent regulations, carrying out over 30,000 fire door remediations or replacements per year. The focus is on maintaining fire doors rather than replacing them; an approach that aligns with the Company’s commitment to strong environmental, social and governance practices across the business.

Since YFM’s investment and under the existing management team, Checkmate has scaled rapidly, expanding its service offering and supporting more customers in managing their passive fire systems through multi-year contracts. In partnership with IK, Checkmate will look to further develop its passive fire offering, particularly its inspections division, in a market with compelling long-term growth dynamics. The Company will also continue to invest in its people and technology to enhance operational efficiency, while also executing a targeted M&A strategy.

Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.

John Lewthwaite, CEO at Checkmate, said: “We are very much looking forward to working with IK after a successful partnership with YFM. IK’s track record of supporting businesses in the fire protection market, combined with our position as UK’s leading passive fire specialist, means that we are best placed to drive future growth in a market with attractive dynamics. We would like to take this opportunity to thank YFM for all their support and guidance over the last five years.”

Simon May, Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK SC III Fund, added: “This is an exciting first investment for the IK Development Capital strategy in the UK. Under the stewardship of John and his team, Checkmate has established itself as a high-quality provider in a rapidly growing and increasingly regulated market. We have been impressed with the Company’s journey to date and see plenty of opportunities for continued growth. We look forward to working with the team at Checkmate and leveraging the resources and expertise of the wider IK platform to deliver an ambitious strategy.”

Steve Harrison, Partner at YFM Equity Partners, commented: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with John and the entire team at Checkmate since we first invested in 2018. The business has seen rapid growth and development during this period, establishing itself as the leading player in the UK passive fire protection market. We wish Checkmate the best of luck for the future with the support of IK.”

For further questions, please contact:

Checkmate Fire
Ian Turpin
Phone: +44 7841 443948
info@checkmatefire.com

IK Partners
Vidya Verlkumar
Phone: +44 (0) 7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com

YFM Equity Partners
Viktoria Harrison
Phone: +44 7716 097 774
viktoria.harrison@yfmep.com

About Checkmate Fire

Checkmate Fire is the UK’s leading specialist passive fire protection company and a founder member of the BRE/LPCB passive fire protection certification scheme. Checkmate delivers a full turnkey service, from initial assessments and surveys, through to full pre-planned maintenance packages. For over three decades, the firm has served a growing list of industries with the same reliable, ethical, quality service that makes it the most trusted contractor in specialist passive fire protection. For more information, visit www.checkmatefire.com.

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About IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is a European private equity firm focused on investments in the Benelux, DACH, France, Nordics and the UK. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €14 billion of capital and invested in over 180 European companies. IK supports companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit ikpartners.com.

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About YFM Equity Partners

YFM invests £3m to £15m into businesses with strong growth potential located across the UK through a regional network of offices in London, Leeds, Manchester, Reading and Birmingham.

YFM Equity Partners are specialist, independently owned, private equity investors. Having recently celebrated 40 years of investing experience, our portfolio may have changed over the years, but our ethos has remained the same – to support small businesses across the UK in their next phase of growth. We seek to unlock value and growth potential by providing up to £10 million of equity to fuel the development of established business throughout the UK regions. We do this by helping our portfolio companies launch new initiatives, make transformative acquisitions, and upgrade technologies and systems. We are dedicated to working alongside management teams to create long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and make a positive economic impact for the communities in which we work. We manage funds in excess of £630 million which include venture capital trusts and private equity funds.

YFM Equity Partners conducts its investment business through its subsidiary YFM Private Equity Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 122120).

For more information, please visit www.yfmep.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

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BB Capital takes majority stake in health app VYTAL

BB Capital

THE HAGUE – BB Capital Investments has taken a majority stake in VYTAL, an IT platform specialized in digital total solutions for the sports and health industry. Both parties announced this today. The company from Alphen aan den Rijn will use the investment to expand its unique market position in the Netherlands and Europe.

VYTAL supplies a complete software package to support coaches in their business processes and coaching activities. The company has been active in the growing digital health solutions market since 2019. The nutrition app managed to develop into an innovative platform with a complete offering where users and providers come together. The entire team of ten employees remains active from the head office in Alphen aan den Rijn.

Stephan Laurs, founder and CEO: “With BB Capital on board, we can roll out our strategy to become the all-in-one platform for coaches even more effectively. Our mission is to create a real vitality movement where, on the one hand, we help our users to become and remain vital, while we give our coaches all the tools to support users in this. From business administration to community and marketing support.”

Susan van Koeveringe, Managing Partner BB Capital Investments: “VYTAL has a clear focus on building a digital platform within which all activities for coaches come together. With the knowledge and drive of the VYTAL team, we are working with ambition to offer a total solution in this growing but fragmented market. We are excited to build a strong and innovative company together, both through organic growth and through multiple follow-up acquisitions in the Netherlands and abroad.”

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Coller Capital becomes largest investor in Permira continuation fund

Coller Capital
  • Coller represents 50% of secondary commitments into new Permira continuation fund
  • Permira continuation fund to include assets from Permira IV and V

London, 04 March 2024 – Coller Capital, one of the world’s leading investors in the secondary market for private assets, has committed to Permira’s new continuation fund. The commitment makes Coller Capital the largest investor, accounting for 50% of the fund.

The continuation fund will include five assets from Permira’s existing funds and provide capital over a five-year period to support further value creation in the underlying companies.

This transaction is Coller Capital’s second GP-led secondary investment with Permira, having also been the lead investor on a Permira GP-led secondary transaction which closed in 2020. Coller and Permira have transacted numerous times beforehand, specifically as it relates to Permira funds IV and V, attesting to the strong partnership between the two organisations.

Martin Fleischer, Coller Capital, commented: “We are pleased to partner with Permira once again on another GP-led transaction. This is exactly the type of investment we specialise in, focusing on high quality underlying companies managed by an outstanding GP”.

This transaction demonstrates Coller’s ability to structure unique investments that provide exposure to strong growth across the private equity lifecycle. This solution allows existing investors to maintain access to these promising assets ‘status quo’ or to take liquidity if desired.

Mentions

Martin Fleischer

Principal, Investment
Press contact
Edelman Smithfield
coller@edelmansmithfield.com+44 (0)7980 684 247

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General Atlantic Announces Investment in Plusgrade, Joining Existing Investor CDPQ

General Atlantic

Partnership to support Plusgrade’s continued expansion as a leader in ancillary revenue solutions for the travel industry

New York, NY and Montreal, Canada – General Atlantic, a leading global growth investor, today announced a strategic growth investment in Plusgrade, a global leader powering ancillary revenue solutions for the travel industry. With this transaction, Novacap will fully exit its stake in Plusgrade, and existing investor CDPQ will remain a significant shareholder. General Atlantic intends to partner with Plusgrade to support the company’s continued growth, including through the acceleration of new business segments and go-to-market efforts, strategic M&A opportunities, and key operational initiatives.

Over 200 partners worldwide across the airline, hospitality, cruise, passenger rail, and financial services industries trust Plusgrade’s portfolio of leading ancillary revenue offerings and loyalty expertise to create incredible travel experiences and new revenue opportunities.

In 2022, Plusgrade acquired Points.com, bringing together two of the largest sources of ancillary revenue to create even greater impact for travel businesses worldwide. Plusgrade further expanded its portfolio in 2023 with the acquisition of UpStay, a provider of hotel upgrade and ancillary revenue solutions for the hospitality industry.

Ken Harris, Founder and CEO of Plusgrade, commented, “Ancillary revenue has become a critical driver of financial robustness for travel companies in every sector, and as the global ancillary revenue powerhouse, Plusgrade plays a central role in helping our travel partners create, grow, and enable major new revenue opportunities. We believe we have significant opportunity ahead of us to continue innovating and building out our leading portfolio even further. Our team is deeply grateful to Novacap for their transformative partnership and all the new heights that we achieved together. We are thrilled to welcome General Atlantic as a strategic partner to help us accelerate our mission and vision by leveraging the firm’s deep expertise across travel, software, and technology.”

Tanzeen Syed, Managing Director and Head of Consumer Internet and Technology at General Atlantic, said, “Ken and the Plusgrade team have worked diligently to scale the business and offer partners a differentiated portfolio of solutions. With ancillary revenues and loyalty programs standing as some of the most important drivers of growth in the travel industry today, we believe Plusgrade is strongly positioned to continue capturing the market. We have strong conviction in Plusgrade’s vision and are excited to support the company in future value creation initiatives.”

“CDPQ is proud to reiterate its support for Montréal-based Plusgrade, which has grown significantly since we became a shareholder in 2018. Alongside this new and experienced partner, we look forward to pursuing value creation in this leader in the travel industry’s ancillary revenue market, which will benefit our depositors,” said Kim Thomassin, Executive Vice-President and Head of Québec at CDPQ.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Barclays served as financial advisor and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal advisor and Goodmans LLP served as co-counsel to General Atlantic. J.P. Morgan served as lead financial advisor, Scotiabank served as financial advisor, and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP served as legal advisor to Plusgrade.

About Plusgrade

Plusgrade powers the global travel industry with its portfolio of leading ancillary revenue solutions. Over 200 airline, hospitality, cruise, passenger rail, and financial services companies trust Plusgrade to create new, meaningful revenue streams through incredible customer experiences. As the ancillary revenue powerhouse, Plusgrade has generated billions of dollars in new revenue opportunities across its platform for its partners, while creating enhanced travel experiences for millions of their passengers and guests. Plusgrade was founded in 2009 with headquarters in Montreal and has offices around the world. For more information, please visit: www.plusgrade.com

About General Atlantic

General Atlantic is a leading global growth investor with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 500 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and deliver lasting impact, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to scale innovative businesses around the world. General Atlantic has approximately $83 billion in assets under management inclusive of all products as of December 31, 2023, and more than 280 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Miami, Mumbai, Munich, San Francisco, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Stamford and Tel Aviv. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit: www.generalatlantic.com.

About CDPQ

CDPQ invests constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global

investment group managing funds for public pension and insurance plans, CDPQ works alongside its partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. CDPQ is active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at December 31, 2023, CDPQ’s net assets totalled CAD 434 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, consult our LinkedIn or Instagram pages, or follow us on X.

CDPQ is a registered trademark owned by Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and licensed for use by its subsidiaries.

Media Contacts

Plusgrade
Carrie Mumford
Director, Brand & Communications
pr@plusgrade.com

General Atlantic
Emily Japlon & Sara Widmann
media@generalatlantic.com

CDPQ
Kate Monfette
Director, Media Relations
+ 1 438 525-2520
kmonfette@cdpq.com

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CapMan Growth establishes its third fund: first closing at €110 million, surpassing target size

Capman

CapMan Growth establishes its third fund: first closing at €110 million, surpassing target size

The CapMan Growth Equity III fund initiates operations and makes its first closing at €110 million, surpassing its target size. The strong interest towards the fund is a testament to the successful growth stories and well-executed exits facilitated by the team. The fund is expected to reach its hard cap at €130 million by the end of April 2024.

At first closing CapMan Growth’s third fund already exceeds the size of the team’s previous fund which closed at €97 million. Since its establishment in 2017 CapMan Growth has raised over €300 million in total for growth investments.

Raising a fund larger than its predecessor in the current market environment clearly shows there is significant interest towards CapMan Growth’s investment strategy. Driving this interest is the team’s strong track-record in supporting multiple growth companies and achieving successful exits of which Picosun and Coronaria are good examples.

CapMan Growth’s strategy is to make active minority investments into entrepreneur-led growth companies, with the aim of further developing them together with the entrepreneurs and the operative management.

CapMan Growth’s investor base consists mainly of reputable Finnish institutional investors and successful Finnish entrepreneurs including several founders of CapMan Growth’s portfolio companies.

”Our investment strategy has gained a lot of interest amongst both owners of growth companies and investors. Many growth entrepreneurs seek an alternative to selling their business and we can support growth while letting entrepreneurs retain control in their company. Investors have also viewed our strategy as an interesting alternative to more traditional private equity funds. A warm thank you for the trust to all our current and new investors”, says Antti Kummu, Managing Partner at CapMan Growth.

CapMan Growth is the leading Finnish growth investor making significant minority investments in entrepreneur-led growth companies with revenues ranging between €10–200 million euros. We offer entrepreneurs an alternative to selling the majority of their business by facilitating a partial exit while also supporting growth and internationalisation. We have been part of building companies such as Coronaria, Cloud2, Digital Workforce, Fennoa, Fluido, Neural DSP, Picosun, Sofigate, Silmäasema and Unikie.

For more information:

Antti Kummu, Managing Partner, CapMan Growth, +358 50 432 4486

About CapMan

CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value creation and over €5 billion in assets under management. Our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors by enabling change across our portfolio companies. An example of this is greenhouse gas reduction targets that we have set under the Science Based Targets initiative in line with the 1.5°C scenario and our commitment to net-zero GHG emissions by 2040. We have a broad presence in the unlisted market through our local and specialised teams. Our investment strategies cover real estate and infrastructure assets, natural capital and minority and majority investments in portfolio companies. We also provide wealth management solutions. Our service business includes procurement services. Altogether, CapMan employs around 200 professionals in Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, London and Luxembourg. We are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki since 2001. www.capman.com

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Halma plc to acquire Rovers Medical Devices from Smile Invest

Smile Invest

Today, Smile Invest announces the sale of Rovers Medical Devices B.V. (“Rovers”), the leading designer and manufacturer of sample collection devices used in the prevention and diagnostics of cervical cancer, to Halma plc (“Halma”), a global group of life-saving technology companies.

Halma will support Rovers in realizing its ambition to become the global leader in sample collection devices targeted at the prevention and diagnostics of cervical cancer and other diseases, thereby reinforcing its vital role in cervical cancer screening globally.

Rovers sees Halma as the perfect partner to realize its growth ambitions and a partner that is well aligned with its culture and mission. Halma’s extensive experience creates a solid basis for Rovers and its employees to realize the company’s strategic agenda.

In the 5-year period of working together with Smile Invest, Rovers managed to reinforce the position of its key products globally, create compelling new products and further improve the highly automated production set-up, creating a solid foundation for the Rovers’ next growth phase.

Rovers and its shareholders were advised by Lincoln International (financial advisor).

This transaction is the fourth deal of Smile Invest this year, following the exit and reinvestment in SmartSD, the sale of Microflor and the recent investment in MedEnvision.

Roel Leenders – Chief Executive Officer, Rovers
“We want to contribute to the prevention of cancer on a global scale. This mission strongly aligns to Halma’s when it comes to improving quality of care for patients. Many physicians work with us to develop the highest quality screening products that are most effective for their patients. I am grateful for Smile Invest’s support during the holding period, in which Rovers was able to grow significantly and continued to invest in its state-of-the-art, fully automated production set-up.”

Ivo Vincente and Thomas Dewever – Managing Partners, Smile Invest
“We are proud to have supported Rovers in its development as the reference in the market for cervical cancer cell sampling. As a key player in women’s health we are convinced that Rovers will remain the solution of choice for medical professionals and women worldwide. It has been a privilege to work with Roel Leenders and Rover’s management team and we wish them all the best under the Halma umbrella.”

Marc Ronchetti – Chief Executive Officer, Halma
“Rovers will broaden the range of markets we serve in women’s health and further strengthen our Healthcare sector’s position in cancer diagnosis products. We are excited by the opportunities we see to increase Rovers’ positive impact on public health. We expect its future growth to be driven by increasing global cervical screening rates, supporting the World Health Organization’s strategy to accelerate the early detection of cervical cancer.”

For further information, please contact:

Smile Invest NV

Thomas Dewever, Managing Partner: +32(0)476.423.582
Ivo Vincente, Managing Partner: +31(0)622.919.232

 

Rovers (www.roversmedicaldevices.com)
Rovers is a designer and manufacturer of sample collection devices used in the prevention and diagnostics of cervical cancer. Rovers’ products are principally for professional use and include its Cervex-Brush®, widely recognized as the gold standard for cervical cancer and HPV screening. Rovers’ products are used in more than 90 countries, and are sold primarily to medical diagnostic companies, as well as medical distributors, laboratories, research institutes and governments.

Smile Invest (www.smile-invest.com)
Smile Invest (Smart Money for Innovation Leaders) is a European evergreen investment firm with over €500m of assets under management, financed by 40 entrepreneurial families and with a long-term focus on innovative growth companies. Smile Invest focuses on companies active in three investment themes: digitalization, healthcare and sustainability. Since its inception in 2017, Smile Invest has invested in 17 platform companies in Belgium and the Netherlands. From its offices in Leuven and The Hague, the team supports ambitious entrepreneurs and management teams in realizing their growth plans.

Halma plc (www.halma.com)
Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies, focused on growing a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. Its purpose defines the three broad markets it operates in: Health, Environment and Safety. It employs over 8,000 people in more than 20 countries, with major operations in the UK, Mainland Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific. Halma is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LON: HLMA) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index.

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Kinnevik leads funding round in Mews

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Kinnevik
Kinnevik AB (publ) (“Kinnevik”) today announced an investment of USD 41m in Mews, the leading vertical software and payments solution for hotels. In line with its priority to concentrate capital deployment and portfolio weight towards its highest conviction companies, Kinnevik led the USD 110m funding round valuing the company at USD 1.2bn post-money.

Kinnevik first invested in Mews in December 2022, and since then the company has continued to execute on its vision to create the leading platform for the new era of hospitality. The funding follows a year of significant growth, in which Mews achieved:

  • Over 60% increase in revenue year-on-year, crossing USD 100m in annualized net revenue
  • A significant increase in Gross Payment Volume to over USD 8bn
  • Over 16 million annual check-ins at hotels worldwide
  • Three new acquisitions (Frontdesk Anywhere, Hotello and Nomi), taking the total number of hospitality companies acquired by Mews to eight

The new funding sets Mews up for further growth and enables the company to prioritize global expansion, research and development and acquisitions. Mews aims to revolutionize hotel operations with its cloud-based system that integrates with thousands of other tech solutions. Today, over 350,000 hospitality spaces are managed via Mews across 5,000 customers worldwide, including Strawberry Hotels, The Social Hub and Airelles.

Kinnevik led the USD 110m funding round with an investment of USD 41m, alongside Revaia, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Notion and new investor LGVP. The new funding values the company at USD 1.2bn, some 10% above Kinnevik’s assessed valuation in its 2023 year-end net asset value statement on a like for like basis.

Akhil Chainwala, Investment Director at Kinnevik, commented: “Matt and Richard are building a product and a team that is redefining the hospitality industry. In the short period of time since our initial investment, Mews has outperformed our expectations as it moved into new geographies and segments. Now, we are excited to further back the team to help them realize their ambitions and accelerate even more quickly – especially to extend the platform’s combination of software and payments. We’re looking forward to continuing this journey with Mews and being a part of the transformation that is happening across the industry.”

Richard Valtr, Mews Founder, commented: “We’re seeing a fundamental shift in the way the world’s leading hospitality brands are accelerating their digital transformation and reshaping the way they deliver hospitality. With this raise we will continue to build industry-leading products with a world-class team behind us. In five years, the way that hospitality brands and guests interact with each other will be completely different, with Mews leading the way.”

Matt Welle, CEO of Mews, added: “This funding is a credit to the strength of our vision, the Mews team, our forward-thinking customers and committed investors who have helped us get to where we are today. As more hoteliers embrace modern technology, we have a huge opportunity to help them streamline their operations, build more profitable businesses and deliver personalized guest experiences. Mews is in a unique position to truly transform the industry.”

For further information, visit www.kinnevik.com or contact:

Torun Litzén, Director Investor Relations
Phone +46 (0)70 762 00 50
Email press@kinnevik.com

Kinnevik’s ambition is to be Europe’s leading listed growth investor. We back the best digital companies for a reimagined everyday and to deliver significant returns. We understand complex and fast-changing consumer behaviours, and have a strong and expanding portfolio in healthcare, software, marketplaces and climate tech. As a long-term investor, we strongly believe that investing in sustainable business models and diverse teams will bring the greatest returns for shareholders. We back our companies at every stage of their journey and invest in Europe and the US. Kinnevik was founded in 1936 by the Stenbeck, Klingspor and von Horn families. Kinnevik’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm’s list for large cap companies under the ticker codes KINV A and KINV B.

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