London/Frankfurt, September, ­6, 2018 – Ardian, a world leading private investment house, today announces that it has provided additional financing to Alpega, a leading global logistic software company, to support the company’s add-on acquisition of wtransnet, a leading freight exchange company in Spain. The financing underlines the continued expansion of Ardian Private Debt’s Senior Debt direct lending capabilities across Europe.

Formed in 2017 via a carve-out transaction led by Castik Capital, Alpega Group is a leading global logistics software company that offers end-to-end solutions covering a wide range of transport needs, including TMS solutions and freight exchanges, offering its customers the largest network of carriers in Europe. The transaction with wtransnet will help increase Alpega’s liquidity in terms of shipments and trucks for all freight exchanges in the Group. This will improve the value proposition to customers who will be able to access a wider market in the future.

Founded in 1996, wtransnet is the leading freight exchange in Spain and Portugal with a growing footprint in other countries. The Company has experienced significant growth in the past by creating an appealing product that is currently used by more than 11,500 customers.

Lukas Stepanek, Director at Ardian Private Debt in Germany, said: “As an existing financing partner, we are delighted to see the remarkable progress of the Group from a carve-out transaction to an established logistics software platform. We are looking forward to support Castik Capital and the Group as a long-term financing partner in their strategy to build an end-to-end solution for its customer base.”

Ulrik Hjorth, CFO of Alpega Group, said: “We appreciate the continued support and close cooperation with Ardian Private Debt since the initial investment. The relationship with Ardian Private Debt has allowed us to continue our buy and build strategy, and we are pleased to have chosen a long-term financing partner with the capacity to provide follow-on financing in support of our expansion strategy.”

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$71bn managed or advised in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base.
Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardian’s activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world.
Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 530 employees working from fourteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo). It manages funds on behalf of around 700 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Funds of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt.