Tag Archives: Banking

United Trust Bank Announces Minority Investment by Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus logo

United Trust Bank (UTB), a leading UK specialist bank, has announced that an agreement has been reached between its majority shareholders and Warburg Pincus, the pioneer of private equity global growth investing, whereby Warburg Pincus will acquire a minority equity interest in UTB.

This agreement, which is subject to the relevant regulatory approvals, will support the continuation of UTB’s strong growth and expansion into new products. The investment, which values the banking group at approximately £520 million, is a significant endorsement of UTB’s current strategy and future prospects.

UTB has been successfully building its business and brand for over 20 years with its focus on recruiting the best people, developing its product range and a disciplined approach to growth. Today, UTB has around 60,000 deposit customers and total assets approaching £4 billion. The Bank has dedicated divisions providing development finance, bridging finance, structured finance, asset finance, BTL finance and mortgages. UTB’s reputation for in-depth knowledge combined with commercial awareness and its robust funding model has made it a popular choice for finance brokers, developers and individuals seeking a high quality, bespoke service and a reliable source of finance solutions.

Harley Kagan, Chief Executive Officer of United Trust Bank, commented:

“This is an exciting milestone for UTB and an excellent opportunity for our staff, shareholders and for Warburg Pincus.

“I am delighted that Warburg Pincus will be joining us as a new partner to help accelerate our growth and provide support and experience as the group heads for a £4 billion balance sheet and explores exciting new products and markets in the future.

“It just remains for me to say that the growth story over the last 20 years would not have been achievable without the exceptional UTB staff who work carefully every day to build the Bank and deliver outstanding products and services to our customers, and for that we wish to sincerely thank them. United, we really do go further.”

Mike Thompson, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus, commented:

“We are delighted to partner with United Trust Bank as an investor and a strategic partner. UTB has established itself as a market leader in the UK, with an impressive track record of growth and innovation. The Bank’s strong management team, customer-centric approach, and focus on specialty lending solutions are key drivers of its success. We look forward to working closely with Harley and his team to support the Bank’s continued growth and leveraging the expertise of our Financial Services and Capital Solutions teams to help the company seize new opportunities in the UK market.”

Warburg Pincus was one of the first global private equity firms to invest in Europe in 1983, investing more than $15 billion in over 125 companies across more than 20 European countries. Within the financial services industry globally, Warburg Pincus has invested more than $25 billion across 60 companies, with a particular focus on specialist banking and lending. The firm has a successful track record of investing in capital solutions related transactions historically and recently closed the Warburg Pincus Capital Solutions Founders Fund, backed by over $4.0 billion in commitments.

UTB was advised by Lazard and CMS.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For further information:

Jason Wyer-Smith – 42 PR: 07824 818242

To link to our website home page please use: http://www.utbank.co.uk/

United Trust Bank

UTB is an expanding specialist bank providing a wide range of secured funding facilities for individuals and businesses and deposit accounts for individuals, businesses and charities. UTB has been named ‘Specialist Bank of the Year’ four times at the Bridging and Commercial Awards and is the only lender to have done so.

UTB was incorporated in 1955. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. UTB is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and the Financial Ombudsman Service. The Bank is a member of UK Finance, a Patron of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB), a Member of the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA), a Member of the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) and a Member of the Open Property Data Association (OPDA).

Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is the pioneer of private equity global growth investing. A private partnership since 1966, the firm has the flexibility and experience to focus on helping investors and management teams achieve enduring success across market cycles. Today, the firm has more than $86 billion in assets under management, and more than 230 companies in their active portfolio, diversified across stages, sectors, and geographies. Warburg Pincus has invested in more than 1,000 companies across its private equity, real estate, and capital solutions strategies.

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

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Altor divests Carnegie to DNB Bank

On October 21, Altor Fund III (“Altor”) has entered into an agreement to divest Carnegie Investment Bank (“Carnegie”), a leading investment bank and asset manager in the Nordics, to DNB Bank ASA (“DNB”). Carnegie was acquired by Altor in 2009 with the strategic objective to build the leading investment bank and asset manager in the Nordic region.

Over the past 15 years, Carnegie has grown to become a leading Nordic investment bank and asset manager with strong positions in equities research, brokerage, corporate finance advisory and private wealth management. For several years in a row, clients have rated Carnegie as the highest performing advisor across all business areas, and operating income has more than tripled over the period; a testament to a culture of putting the client first and providing the highest quality of advise possible, all while working together across the firm as one team.

“We have always shared the entrepreneurial spirit and client-focused approach with Harald and the team at Altor. Together we have built Carnegie into a strong, well-diversified and future-proof company, and we are thrilled to enter into this new chapter with DNB, a partner that we think is a perfect fit both culturally and from a business perspective” said Tony Elofsson, CEO at Carnegie.

“Carnegie is a company close to heart for us at Altor; we have been part of this journey for so many years and celebrated countless milestones together. It is with great pride that I reflect on the talent and motivation that drives the team at Carnegie, and I want to thank all the people that have contributed to the success over the years. Back in 2009, we invested in a challenger, and over the years they have grown into a true market leader.” said Harald Mix, Partner at Altor and Board member at Carnegie.

“It has been a great joy to work with Tony Elofsson and the team over the years. We are impressed by their continuous innovation, not least in the digital arena with new business initiatives like Montrose by Carnegie. We look forward to following the next chapter of the journey as Tony and the team builds an even stronger Nordic franchise together with DNB” added Gustav Alenmyr, Director at Altor and Board member of Carnegie.

The Transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals in applicable jurisdictions.

About Altor

Since inception, the family of Altor funds has raised more than EUR 11 billion in total commitments. The funds have invested in just south of 100 companies. The investments have been made in medium-sized predominantly Nordic and DACH companies with the aim to create value through growth initiatives and operational improvements. Among current and past investments are Sbanken, Trioworld, Mandatum, Marshall and Kommunalkredit.

About Carnegie

Carnegie is the foremost financial adviser and asset manager in the Nordics. We bring investors together with entrepreneurs and companies to enable clients, owners, and society to grow sustainably. Carnegie has a strong presence across all business areas, including asset management, private banking, investment banking, and securities. Founded in 1803, Carnegie is one of the oldest brands in the region. The bank employs approximately 850 professionals across six countries and generated revenues of SEK 3.4 billion in 2023. Our vision is to be the most competent and respected financial adviser and asset manager in the Nordics. Carnegie is renowned for its strong corporate culture, built on integrity, independence, and a long-term perspective. This culture has made Carnegie one of the most successful and respected financial advisors and asset managers in the Nordic region.

About DNB

DNB is Norway’s largest financial services group and one of the largest in the Nordic region in terms of market capitalisation. The Group offers a full range of financial services, to 237 000 corporate customers and 2 million personal customers. DNB is a major operator in a number of industries, for which DNB also has a Nordic or international strategy.

Press contact

Karin Åström

Head of Communications

karin.astrom@altor.com

+46 707 64 86 59

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Apollo to Acquire Dutch Equipment Leasing Specialist Beequip from NIBC

Apollo logo

NEW YORK, Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that balance sheet and other investor capital managed under its Aligned Alternatives platform have agreed to acquire Netherlands-based equipment leasing specialist Beequip from NIBC.

Founded in 2015, Beequip has grown to become a leading independent equipment financing company in the Netherlands, serving small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Europe and internationally, with a current portfolio of €1.4 billion and €700 million of annual run-rate originations. Beequip offers financing and leasing solutions for new and used heavy equipment spanning transport, cranes, containers, maritime and more.

Beequip will further the build-out of Apollo’s European equipment finance platform, established in 2018 with UK-based Haydock Finance. The acquisition is consistent with Apollo’s origination platform strategy focused on high-quality, secured credit generation, diversified across corporate and consumer categories, including asset-backed finance.

“Beequip has established itself as a leader in the equipment finance space in its home market, with a strong team and robust underwriting to serve a growing base of SMEs in the Netherlands and beyond,” said Kevin Crowe,” Partner in Apollo’s Financial Institutions Group.

“We are pleased to welcome the Beequip team to Apollo’s origination ecosystem and to support the business as it continues to scale, meeting vital demand from SMEs to facilitate their business plans and fuel economic growth,” added Apollo’s Mikhail Rychev.

Beequip co-founders Giel Claes and Peter Loef said, “We are extremely proud of our team and the success we have achieved. Leveraging our expertise in equipment, our focus on used machinery, and our ‘iron above numbers’ philosophy, we have consistently increased market share. With the help of our self-developed fintech systems, we have provided entrepreneurs with user-friendly and tailored financing solutions for heavy equipment. We look forward to working in partnership with Apollo in this exciting next chapter, with a solid foundation for growth domestically and internationally alongside a steadfast commitment to risk management.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to be completed before the end of 2024.

Through the first half of 2024, Apollo reported record debt origination volumes of $92 billion in aggregate across the firm and its affiliate platforms, and for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2024, Apollo reported $146 billion of debt origination. Origination is integral to Apollo’s strategy seeking excess spreads in private investment grade credit to serve its retirement services businesses and other ratings-sensitive liabilities.

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 to private equity with a focus on three investing strategies: yield, hybrid, and 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 June 30, 2024, Apollo had approximately $696 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

Contacts

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 / EuropeanMedia@apollo.com

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Bain Capital and Group 1001 Provide Financing to Support BharCap’s Strategic Majority Investment in Electronic Merchant Systems

Bain Capital and Group 1001 Provide Financing to Support BharCap’s Strategic Majority Investment in Electronic Merchant Systems

BOSTON – August 19, 2024 – Bain Capital today announced that the firm’s Private Credit Group, alongside Group 1001, acted as co-Administrative Agent and Joint Lead Arrangers on a senior debt facility and as equity co-investors to support BharCap Partners, LLC’s (“BharCap”) strategic investment in Electronic Merchant Systems (“EMS”), an industry-leading merchant solutions and payments provider. Terms of the credit facility were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, EMS processes credit and debit card transactions on behalf of over 25,000 small- and medium-sized merchants worldwide, managing the back-end logistics for payments and serving as a gateway into the transaction approval process. In addition to processing approximately $6 billion in transaction volume for its customers, EMS provides value-added products and services, such as point-of-sale equipment for accepting payments, chargeback management to address customer returns, and a dedicated 24/7 customer service.

“We value our close and longstanding relationships with Bain Capital and Group 1001.  EMS is one of several BharCap investments in which both firms have partnered with us to support the growth of our portfolio companies,” said Bharath Srikrishnan, Founder and Managing Partner of BharCap. Ethan Wang, Co-Founder and Partner of BharCap, added, “Both firms’ in-depth knowledge of financial technology and the payments processing ecosystem, coupled with their ability to deliver flexible and tailored financing solutions, make them value-added partners to BharCap. We are grateful for their continued partnership, and we are excited to deploy our proven toolkit to help advance and accelerate EMS’ growth strategy.”

“EMS is a high-quality business that is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the highly fragmented payments processing value chain,” said June Huang, Director at Bain Capital.  “We’re pleased to be a strategic partner to BharCap and look forward to supporting EMS and leveraging our expertise in the payment processing sector.”

“It was a pleasure working with the Bain Capital team on this transaction and we’re excited to support BharCap’s continued growth,” said Jamie Millard, Managing Director at Group 1001.

 

About Bain Capital Credit, LP
Bain Capital Credit (www.baincapitalcredit.com) is a leading global credit specialist with approximately $48 billion in assets under management. Bain Capital Credit invests across the credit spectrum and in credit-related strategies, including leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, structured products, private middle market loans and bespoke capital solutions. Our team of more than 100 investment professionals creates value through rigorous, independent analysis of thousands of corporate issuers around the world. In addition to credit, Bain Capital invests across asset classes including private equity, public equity, venture capital, real estate, life sciences, and insurance, and leverages the firm’s shared platform to capture opportunities in strategic areas of focus.

About Group 1001
Group 1001 is a collective that empowers companies to create positive growth. Our insurance and annuities are easy to understand and accessible to all. Our online investing platform gives individuals control over their savings. Our technology and innovation help companies succeed. And our strategic partnerships bring people together through education and sports. As of March 31, 2024, Group 1001 had combined assets under management of $65.4 billion. It comprises the following brands: Delaware Life, Gainbridge®, Clear Spring Health, Clear Spring Property and Casualty Group, Clear Spring Life and Annuity Company, and RVI Group.

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Projective Group expands its payments strategy expertise with the acquisition of Thede Consulting

GIMV

Projective Group is excited to announce the acquisition of Thede Consulting, a prominent German management consultancy specialising in Payments and digitalisation strategy. This move aligns with Projective Group’s growth plan, enhancing its position in the financial services and adjacent sectors and increasing its presence in the DACH region. This next step in Projective Group’s growth journey is realised with the continued support of Gimv, demonstrating its trust in the company’s vision, capabilities, growth potential and impact in financial services.

Andre Standke, Managing Partner of Thede Consulting said: “We are excited to become an active part of Projective Group, a move that marks a significant milestone for our firm and our clients. It empowers us to cover the entire value chain, delivering true end-to-end solutions with a European reach. We look forward to leveraging the synergies with Projective Group to provide our clients with even more comprehensive strategic guidance on their business models and successfully implement these strategies with the additional integrated services. Moreover, their culture with its people-first approach aligns perfectly with our values. As part of the group, we are convinced that we will create significant value for our clients and employees – truly an ideal match.”

The acquisition of Thede Consulting significantly bolsters Projective Group’s capabilities, expanding its local team to approx. 100 professionals across key locations such as Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Switzerland and its global team to 1 200 people. This expansion broadens the range and quality of services offered to clients and enhances the capacity to manage larger and more complex projects.

Stefan Dierckx, CEO of Projective Group: “Thede Consulting’s expertise in payments strategy will be crucial as we work together to deliver tailored solutions in the payments sector. With the rapidly evolving payments landscape, increasing regulatory demands, and the rise of digital and real-time payment solutions, Thede Consulting joining Projective Group couldn’t be timelier.“

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Carlyle and KKR Strategic Partnerships Agree to Acquire Approximately $10.1 Billion Prime Student Loan Portfolio from Discover Financial Services

Carlyle

NEW YORK – July 17, 2024 – Global investment firms Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) and KKR (NYSE: KKR) today announced that one or more strategic partnerships comprised of funds and accounts managed by Carlyle and KKR’s respective credit businesses have agreed to purchase an approximately $10.1 billion portfolio of prime student loans from Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS).

“This acquisition highlights Carlyle’s proven expertise in private student loans and asset-backed finance, demonstrating our Global Credit business’s ability to provide scaled, tailored solutions to meet our clients’ dynamic needs,” said Akhil Bansal, Head of Credit Strategic Solutions at Carlyle. “As the lending space evolves, we believe private markets are well-positioned to offer financial institutions increased flexibility amidst this transformation.”

“We are pleased to leverage our scale, deep experience in ABF investing and capital markets capabilities to be a capital solutions provider of choice to financial institutions that are focusing on optimizing their balance sheets,” said RJ Madden, a Managing Director at KKR. “This transaction demonstrates the value that scaled private lenders can bring to key areas of the economy as the priorities of traditional lenders continue to evolve.”

“We’re very pleased to consummate this transaction with two outstanding strategic partners in Carlyle and KKR,” said Dan Capozzi, Executive Vice President and President of Consumer Banking at Discover. “This agreement represents an important milestone in our journey to simplify our operations and business mix.”

Carlyle’s investment in the portfolio was led by its Credit Strategic Solutions (“CSS”) team, a group within its Global Credit business focused on asset-backed investments. The highly experienced team seeks to leverage the knowledge, sourcing, structuring, and breadth of the entire Carlyle investment platform to deliver tailored asset-focused financing solutions to businesses, specialty finance companies, banks, asset managers, and other originators and owners of diversified pools of assets.

KKR’s investment in the portfolio comes primarily from its asset-based finance strategy and other credit vehicles and accounts.  KKR has made more than 80 ABF investments globally since 2016 through a combination of portfolio acquisitions, platform investments and structured investments. The firm has approximately $54 billion in ABF assets under management and a team of more than 50 professionals directly involved in the ABF effort globally.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2024 subject to customary closing conditions.

KKR Capital Markets and TCG Capital Markets structured and arranged the debt for the transaction. Monogram LLC, a portfolio company of Carlyle, will serve as portfolio manager for the student loan portfolio. Firstmark Services, a subsidiary of Nelnet, Inc. will service the loans in the portfolio. Sidley Austin LLP served as legal advisor to KKR and Carlyle. Paul Hastings LLP also served as a legal advisor to Carlyle and Clifford Chance LLP also served as a legal advisor to KKR. Wells Fargo served as exclusive financial advisor, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as legal counsel, to Discover Financial Services in connection with the transaction.

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 $425 billion of assets under management as of March 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 2,200 people in 28 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. For more, follow Carlyle on X and LinkedIn.

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.

 

About Discover Financial 

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover® card, America’s cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network® comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchants and cash access locations; PULSE®, one of the nation’s leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International®, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

 

 

Media Contacts:

For Carlyle:

Kristen Ashton

212-813-4763

Kristen.ashton@carlyle.com

 

For KKR:

Julia Kosygina

212-230-9722

media@kkr.com

 

For Discover Financial: 

Matthew Towson

224-405-5649

matthewtowson@discover.com

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Genstar Capital & TA Partner with AffiniPay Management to Drive Next Chapter of Growth

TA associates

Additional Investment and Resources to Accelerate AffiniPay’s Expansion and Growth in Practice Management Software and Embedded Financial Services

SAN FRANCISCO and BOSTON – Genstar Capital (“Genstar”) and TA Associates (“TA”) announced today that the parties have entered into an agreement for Genstar to make a significant investment in AffiniPay, a leading provider of practice management software, integrated payments and embedded fintech for professionals across the legal, accounting, and professional services end markets. TA has been an investor in AffiniPay since 2020 and will continue to retain a meaningful stake in the company. Upon completion of the transaction, funds advised by Apax, which currently hold a minority position in AffiniPay, will fully exit their investment.

Headquartered in Austin, TX, AffiniPay has more than 500 employees and serves over 245,000 customers through industry-specific solutions, including: MyCase, CASEpeer, and Docketwise, leading practice management software applications for the legal industry; LawPay, a marquee payments platform for the legal industry; and CPACharge, a leading payments platform for the accounting industry. With this incremental investment, AffiniPay plans to continue its commitment to innovation and excellence by extending its already comprehensive suite of practice management software and embedded fintech solutions.

“We are thrilled for this next chapter with TA and Genstar,” said Dru Armstrong, CEO of AffiniPay. “Since I joined AffiniPay in 2021, we’ve had incredible momentum and it’s been so rewarding to influence how core system of record software combined with financial technology can benefit our customers and push the operations of the legal and accounting industries forward. The support of Genstar and TA will allow us to continue investing in our practice management software and embedded financial services platform for professionals.”

Eli Weiss, Managing Partner of Genstar, commented, “Genstar has a long history of investing in industry-leading vertical software and payments companies. We are excited about AffiniPay’s growth trajectory given its leading market position, commitment to innovation, and, we believe, strong management team. Alongside TA, Genstar looks forward to helping the Company extend its leadership in software and fintech while enabling new avenues of growth, through investments in new products and verticals.”

“Since our investment in 2020, AffiniPay has realized meaningful organic growth and strategically enhanced its offerings, empowering professionals with solutions that increase productivity and reinforcing its position as an industry leader. Genstar’s new investment demonstrates the strength of AffiniPay’s strategy and the continued opportunity that lies ahead. We look forward to deepening our partnership with the AffiniPay management team and collaborating closely with Genstar to further accelerate the Company’s growth journey,” said Roy Burns, Managing Director of TA and Clara Jackson, Director of TA.

Lazard and Raymond James served as financial advisors to AffiniPay and TA. Goodwin Procter LLP, provided legal counsel to TA. Ropes & Gray LLP, provided legal counsel to Genstar.

About AffiniPay
AffiniPay is a market leader in practice management software and online payments for professionals serving legal, accounting, architectural, engineering, and construction firms. AffiniPay has been recognized as one of Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing companies for 12 years in a row. Each of its brands leads the market it serves with solutions purpose-built by industry including LawPay, MyCase, CASEpeer, Docketwise, CPACharge, and AffiniPay for Associations. AffiniPay’s solutions are trusted by more than 245,000 legal & accounting professionals with more than 150 strategic partnerships and endorsements, including the American Bar Association and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Visit affinipay.com to learn more.

About Genstar Capital
Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com) is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high quality companies for over 30 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Genstar currently has approximately $49 billion of assets under management and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, industrials, software, and healthcare industries.

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 business 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 over 150 investment professionals across offices in Boston, Menlo Park, Austin, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong.

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Permira to Acquire Majority Position in BioCatch at $1.3bn Valuation

BainCapital

Permira to Acquire Majority Position in BioCatch at $1.3bn Valuation

Permira Growth Opportunities Transaction builds on initial minority investment made in early 2023 to acquire a majority position and support BioCatch’s accelerated growth within online fraud detection and financial crime prevention

New York and Tel Aviv – May 2, 2024 – BioCatch (the “Company”), the global leader in digital fraud detection and financial crime prevention powered by behavioral biometric intelligence, today announced that Permira Growth Opportunities II (the “Fund”), a fund advised by global private equity firm Permira, has agreed to acquire a majority position in the Company. Alongside the Fund’s investment, existing shareholders Sapphire Ventures and Macquarie Capital will also increase their investments in BioCatch. The transaction is expected to accelerate the Company’s global expansion, advance its innovative product roadmap and support its continued overall growth.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Fund will acquire a majority stake in BioCatch, buying out shares primarily from Bain Capital Tech Opportunities and Maverick Ventures, in a secondary transaction valuing the Company at a total enterprise valuation of $1.3bn.

BioCatch was founded in 2011 – at the dawn of a significant consumer shift from branch to online banking – with a mission to fight fraud and keep users safe in online transactions without disrupting user experience. Today, the Company is a leader in behavioral biometric intelligence and advanced fraud detection, leveraging patented artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning technology to analyze a user’s cognitive intent and deliver highly accurate insights as to the legitimacy of their identity, motivations, and behavior. In 2023, the Company expanded its mission to include a proactive approach to fighting financial crime with the launch of predictive, behavior-based mule account detection.

As fraud attacks have become increasingly scaled, sophisticated and complex, BioCatch has experienced significant and sustained momentum. Permira, via its growth equity strategy, completed an initial minority investment in the Company in early 2023, a year that BioCatch ultimately finished with 49% ARR growth, whilst also surpassing the $100 million ARR milestone and attaining EBITDA profitability. Today, BioCatch counts more than 190 financial institutions as customers globally, including over 30 of the world’s largest 100 global banks, who use its solutions to fight fraud, facilitate financial crime prevention and decision intelligence sharing, accelerate digital transformation, and grow the value of customer relationships.

Permira brings a growth mindset to BioCatch’s next chapter, with the ability and network to help the Company expand across Continental Europe, where Permira was first established nearly four decades ago. In addition, Permira is excited to back the Company’s exceptional management team and innovative product roadmap, and is committed to further strengthening BioCatch’s global leadership position both organically and inorganically.

“Permira has backed the theme of cybersecurity for several years, and within this, online fraud detection, customer identity and access management markets have become a clear focus. We have tracked BioCatch with enthusiasm for many years, and now having been a shareholder since early 2023, our conviction in the business, its growth potential, its technology leadership, and its management team continues to grow. We’re excited to become the company’s majority shareholder and look forward to a continued successful partnership with Gadi and the BioCatch team as we seek to further accelerate growth and expansion in the years to come,” said Stefan Dziarski, Partner and Co-Head of Permira Growth Opportunities.

Gadi Mazor, CEO of BioCatch, added: “After building a strong partnership with Permira over the last year, we are delighted to welcome them as majority shareholders. The firm’s impressive experience within technology and cybersecurity, combined with their scale, global network, and our close working relationship, has been invaluable since their initial investment. We’re excited to take BioCatch to the next level together. I’d also like to thank Matthew Kinsella from Maverick Ventures and Dewey Awad from Bain Capital for their support over the last four years, which has been key in helping us establish our leadership position in the market.”

“We have had the privilege of partnering with BioCatch over the past four years and worked closely with Gadi and the BioCatch team to develop a long-term strategy to realize the business’s growth potential,” said Dewey Awad, a Partner at Bain Capital. “Together, we drove several key initiatives aimed at augmenting BioCatch’s go-to-market strategy, team, and operations, all with the goal of protecting end-users and their most sensitive transactions. We believe the company is well-positioned to continue its growth journey under Gadi’s leadership and with Permira’s support.”

“At Permira, we are looking to back product-led businesses operating in structurally growing end markets and that have management teams with the ambition to scale and grow their business. We found all of that in BioCatch and were grateful to have the opportunity to make an initial investment in 2023. After a successful first year, we are delighted to take a majority stake in the business as it continues to grow at scale. With the full extent of Permira’s resources and experience at its disposal, we’re excited for what’s to come at BioCatch,” commented Ran Maidan, Senior Adviser and Head of Permira in Israel.

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About BioCatch

BioCatch stands at the forefront of digital fraud detection, pioneering behavioral biometric intelligence grounded in advanced cognitive science and machine learning. BioCatch analyzes thousands of user interactions to support a digital banking environment where identity, trust, and ease coexist. Today, more than 30 of the world’s largest 100 banks and more than 190 total financial institutions rely on BioCatch Connect™ to combat fraud, facilitate digital transformation, and grow customer relationships.

BioCatch’s Client Innovation Board, an industry-led initiative featuring American Express, Barclays, Citi Ventures, HSBC, and National Australia Bank, collaborates to pioneer creative and innovative ways to leverage customer relationships for fraud prevention. With more than a decade of data analysis, 90 registered patents, and unmatched expertise, BioCatch continues to lead innovation to address future challenges. For more information, visit www.biocatch.com.

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Coupa and Bottomline Partner to Optimize and Streamline Payments

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Coupa Pay customers can now pay suppliers via Premium ACH on Bottomline’s Paymode-X Business Payments Network

LAS VEGAS, NV and Portsmouth, NH—Coupa, the margin multiplier company, and Bottomline, a global leader in business payments, announced a strategic partnership to simplify digital payment processes for businesses. Coupa can now connect to Paymode-X, Bottomline’s business payments network that offers Premium ACH, to automate payments from buyers to suppliers.

Coupa Pay offers a single platform for managing all business payments across different countries and currencies. By utilizing the Premium ACH offering, customers will further optimize their payment stack, enhance payment security, receive more payment rebates, and improve their overall source-to-pay experience. Premium ACH is a powerful extension of the Coupa platform and requires no data or technology integration, or additional storage.

Leveraging the Paymode-X network’s leading fraud prevention capabilities, Coupa Pay will be able to offer enhanced security for payments made to suppliers who prefer to accept Premium ACH as a payment method.

With Premium ACH, suppliers receive enhanced data and reconciliation information, as well as rich reporting, and can lower their cost of payment acceptance. Providing this important data and reconciliation, Premium ACH helps strengthen relationships between payers and their suppliers.

“We are delighted to partner with a leader in source-to-pay (S2P) to modernize and fully digitize payment processes between buyers and suppliers. By integrating Paymode-X with Coupa Pay, payments are simplified for buyers and suppliers,” said Jeff Feuerstein, SVP Commercial & Payment Product Management, Paymode-X at Bottomline. “Coupa customers can unlock more value by paying suppliers using Premium ACH, which continues to drive increased value for members of the Paymode-X network.”

“Businesses today are all striving to deliver greater results with more efficiency. This partnership with Coupa and Bottomline optimizes payment processes and drives business results at scale. By automating the entire payment lifecycle through Bottomline’s secure payments network, businesses also benefit from stronger supplier relationships by improving payment timeliness and providing better data visibility,” said Bill Wardwell, General Manager of Coupa Pay and Treasury.

The partnership is the first launched through Bottomline’s network-as-a-service solution, announced last October. The new offering opens the Paymode-X network’s 550,000+ authenticated suppliers and the network’s proprietary Premium ACH payment type to Coupa Pay customers. Coupa Pay with Paymode-X will be generally available in May.

About Bottomline
Bottomline helps businesses transform the way they pay and get paid. A global leader in business payments and cash management, Bottomline’s secure, comprehensive solutions modernize payments for businesses and financial institutions globally. With over 30 years of experience, moving more than $10 trillion in payments annually, Bottomline is committed to driving impactful results for customers by reimagining business payments and delivering solutions that add to the bottom line. Bottomline is a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo, one of the largest software private equity firms in the world, with more than $130 billion in assets under management. For more information, visit www.bottomline.com. Bottomline and the Bottomline logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Bottomline Technologies, Inc.

About Coupa
Coupa® makes margins multiply through its community-generated AI and industry leading total spend management platform for businesses large and small. Coupa AI is informed by trillions of dollars of direct and indirect spend data across a global network of 10M+ buyers and suppliers. We empower you with the ability to predict, prescribe, and automate smarter, more profitable business decisions to improve operating margins. Coupa is the margin multiplier company™. Learn more at coupa.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

Read the release on the Coupa website here and on the Bottomline website here.

 

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TA-backed Fincare Small Finance Bank Merges with AU Small Finance Bank

TA associates

The merger creates a pan-Indian retail banking franchise focused on financial inclusion

April 18, 2024 – TA Associates (“TA”), a leading global private equity firm, is pleased to announce that Fincare Small Finance Bank Limited (“Fincare SFB”) has merged with and into AU Small Finance Bank Limited (“AU SFB”), effective 1st April 2024. The merger marks a significant milestone for Fincare SFB and the Indian banking sector, creating a pan-Indian retail banking franchise committed to promoting financial inclusion. TA first partnered with Fincare in 2017 and will remain a shareholder in the combined AU SFB group.

Fincare SFB caters to the banking needs of micro enterprises enabling their financial inclusion, while also providing innovative banking services along with digital solutions to metro and urban customers across Southern and Western India. AU SFB is the largest Small Finance Bank in India and is a Fortune India 500 company. Following the transaction, the combined entity will serve more than 10 million customers, with over 43,500 employees and a network of over 2,350 physical touchpoints across 25 states and union territories.

In addition to expanding resources and geographic reach, the merger will significantly strengthen and diversify the combined entity’s product portfolio. Post-merger, all 5.9 million customers of Fincare SFB will be able to experience and enjoy the best-in-class digital services and flagship products of AU SFB including its offerings like credit cards, QR code and video banking. Additionally, Fincare SFB’s rural, inclusion-focused microfinance, mortgages and gold loan businesses will bolster AU SFB’s financial inclusion charter.

“Over the last seven years, we have supported the Fincare SFB team as they have successfully scaled and delivered on their mission of providing rural and semi-urban communities with essential financial services,” said Dhiraj Poddar, Managing Director and India Country Head at TA. “This transformative merger with AU SFB, which has a complementary geographic footprint, product portfolio and importantly, a shared ambition to redefine banking excellence in India, marks an exciting new chapter for the business. We look forward to supporting the combined group as it continues to create a more inclusive banking ecosystem.”

As part of this merger, Mr. Rajeev Yadav, former MD & CEO of Fincare SFB, has been designated as the Deputy CEO of AU SFB and shall continue to lead all key asset businesses of Fincare SFB, now housed within the Fincare Unit at AU SFB.

“This is a defining milestone in our journey towards facilitating financial inclusion in India,” added Mr. Rajeev Yadav. “By joining with AU SFB’s strong franchise, we are confident in building a world-class bank with a robust balance sheet and a truly national franchise.”

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 business 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 over 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 AU Small Finance Bank
AU Small Finance Bank Limited (AU SFB) is a scheduled commercial bank and has established itself as the largest SFB in India since starting its banking journey in April 2017. Established in 1996 by Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, a first-generation entrepreneur, AU SFB boasts of a 28 years-legacy with deep understanding of the rural and semi-urban markets and customer segments. The Bank operates a sustainable business model that facilitates credit to the unserved and underserved retail and MSME customer segments while providing complete banking solutions to its deposit and branch banking customers. As a tech-led Bank, AU has a strong digital presence with innovative products and services like 24×7 video banking, credit card, personal loan, UPI QRs, payments, merchant lending, WhatsApp Banking, Chatbot etc. and its digital bank application AU0101 remains among the highest rated banking apps in India.

The Bank operates from 1,049 banking touchpoints across 21 States & 3 Union Territories serving 46.8 Lac customers with an employee base of 28,904 employees. As on 31st Dec’23, the Bank has a net worth of ₹12,167 Crore, deposit base of ₹80,120 Crore, Gross Advance of ₹67,624 Crore and a Balance sheet size of ₹1,01,176 Crore. AU SFB enjoys the trust of marquee investors and is listed at both NSE and BSE. It has consistently maintained high external credit Rating and is presently rated ‘AA/Stable’ by CRISIL, CARE Ratings and India Ratings, while the Bank’s FD is rated ‘AA+/Stable’ from CRISIL Ratings. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.aubank.in.

About Fincare Small Finance Bank
Fincare Small Finance Bank is a ‘digital-first’ small finance bank offering banking services through banking outlets, ATM, WhatsApp, Video Banking, Mobile Banking, Internet Banking and website Chatbots. The bank aims to transform banking through automated processes, instant account opening, and seamless transactions. Powered by technology, on one hand, Fincare Small Finance Bank caters to the banking needs of micro enterprises enabling their financial inclusion, and on the other, provides innovative banking services along with digital solutions to metro and urban customers. The Bank offer a comprehensive suite of financial products and services, ranging from savings account, fixed deposit, loans as well as digital banking solutions, designed to simplify banking and enhance convenience for customers.

Fincare Small Finance Bank commenced banking operations on 21st July 2017 under Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. It was included in the Second Schedule to the RBI Act, 1934 published in the Gazette of India dated April 13, 2019. As of December 31, 2023, Fincare Small Finance Bank’s Gross Loan Portfolio amounted to ₹13,352 Crore, while Deposits reached ₹9,734 Crore. The Bank efficiently caters to a customer base exceeding 59 Lakhs+, supported by a robust team of over 14,800 dedicated employees. With a widespread presence, the Bank boasts 1,303 touch points strategically located across 20 states and 3 Union Territories.

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