Tag Archives: Consumer brands

Stoneweg and Bain Capital Sell Casa Lit Barcelona Hotel

BainCapital

Stoneweg and Bain Capital Sell Casa Lit Barcelona Hotel

LONDON and BARCELONA, SPAIN – July 22, 2024 – Stoneweg, the real estate investment company, and Bain Capital, the global private equity firm, through their hotel real estate joint venture, have sold the Casa Lit Barcelona hotel to Grupo Hoteles Gargallo.

Situated in the heart of Barcelona just 400 metres from Las Ramblas, the [4*] hotel was constructed in 2010 on the site of the former Colón theatres. It comprises 89 rooms, blending historic charm with contemporary design. Since taking over the management in 2022, Stoneweg Hospitality has delivered a successful renovation and introduced the Casa Lit brand (previously Acta Mimic hotel), infusing it with a fresh and innovative style. The property has been managed by the Ona Hotels chain.

Benefitting from its proximity to Barcelona’s main tourist and cultural attractions, the hotel has become increasingly popular with tourists, business travelers, and meeting attendees, which has underpinned its very strong its operational performance.

The acquisition of Casa Lit Barcelona by the Gargallo Hotels Group marks a significant expansion for the chain, reinforcing Gargallo’s position in the competitive Barcelona market with a commitment to excellence and innovation in the hospitality sector.

Miguel Casas, Managing Director of Stoneweg Hospitality, commented” We are very proud to have owned and managed Casa Lit Barcelona and to have contributed to its success. We have every confidence that the sale to Grupo Hoteles Gargallo, a dynamic and fast growing operator, will see a continuation of what is currently an exceptional guest experience in the economy segment, under a management committed to quality.”

Francisco Bello, Operating Partner, from Bain Capital added: “This transaction is a testament to our focus on creating value through strategic investments in high-quality real estate assets. We are confident that Grupo Hoteles Gargallo will take the hotel to new heights.”

Xenia Gargallo Gay, Managing Director of Grupo Hotelero Gargallo, said: “We are delighted to add Casa Lit Barcelona to our portfolio, bringing our total number of hotels in Barcelona to eleven and reinforcing our leadership in the iconic Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona. This hotel aligns perfectly with our vision of offering exceptional accommodations in key locations. We look forward to continuing its legacy of excellence and providing an unforgettable experience for our guests.”

The integration of Casa Lit Barcelona into the Grupo Hoteles Gargallo stable is scheduled for next month, with plans for its immediate incorporation into the chain’s offerings and quality standards.

About Bain Capital Credit 

Bain Capital Credit (www.baincapitalcredit.com) is a leading global credit specialist with approximately $52 billion in assets under management. Bain Capital Credit invests across a full spectrum of strategies, including leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, distressed debt and special situations, private lending, structured products, non-performing loans, special situations real estate and majority and minority equity stakes. Founded in 1998 as a private, employee-owned firm, Bain Capital Credit’s experienced team of over 150 investment professionals seeks to identify attractive equity and credit investment opportunities across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. In addition to credit, Bain Capital invests across asset classes including private equity, public equity, real estate and venture capital, and leverages the firm’s shared platform to capture opportunities in strategic areas of focus.

About Stoneweg

Stoneweg (www.stoneweg.com) is a real estate investment adviser and asset manager established in 2015 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The firm leverages in-house local operational teams to source, develop and manage real estate investments. To date, Stoneweg has executed and advised on almost €5 billion of real estate investments across different sectors including developments. Stoneweg expertise includes both equity and debt strategies, advising its client base of financial institutions and family offices across a range of structures including club deals, joint ventures, co-investments and funds. The firm’s investment philosophy is driven by a bottom-up approach to project selection, utilising Stoneweg’s own teams on the ground and deep networks to seize the best opportunities. Stoneweg has a dedicated presence in Switzerland, the United States, Spain, Italy, Andorra and Ireland, enabling many of the operational aspects of the firm’s investments to be carried out in house and locally. Stoneweg has completed more than 300 acquisitions alongside best-in-class partners since 2015.

About Grupo Hotelero Gargallo

Grupo Hotelero Gargallo is a Spanish hotel chain with more than 60 years of experience in the sector. With an outstanding presence in Barcelona and other key cities in Aragon such as Huesca or Teruel, the chain is characterized by its commitment to quality and customer service with a total of 20 hotel establishments. Currently the Hotel Group Gargallo, in its third generation, is immersed in a process of renewal of its strategic vision led by Xenia Gargallo Gay, in her capacity as administrator, characterized by a commitment to the family legacy appropriate to the new times, highlighting the attractive heritage of the Group with several of its hotel establishments located in emblematic and historic buildings and always with a clear philosophy of service and prioritization of the customer experience.

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Green Mobility Holding Acquires Ubike, A Leading (E-)Bike Leasing Provider in Belgium

Rivean
  • Second acquisition in Belgium
  • Further step towards internationalization with support from Rivean Capital
  • With the French-speaking team of Ubike, Green Mobility Holding is meeting customer needs in multilingual Belgium

19 July 2024

Munich/Brussels. Green Mobility Holding (GMH), one of the leading technology-based (e-)bike leasing providers in Europe, continues its course of internationalization and acquires Ubike, one of the market leaders in Belgium.
Ubike was founded in 2016 with the goal of making cycling more accessible and attractive for company employees. With technological innovations and a strong commitment to sustainability, Ubike helps companies and individuals transition to more eco-friendly and healthier transportation. Ubike places a strong focus on user-friendliness and easy availability of bikes. The company’s goal is to continuously improve the leasing of bicycles and e-bikes.

“The acquisition of Ubike is another important step to strengthen our Belgian business,” said Maximilian Acht, CEO of Green Mobility Holding. “We will leverage synergies by structuring the sales orientation of both companies and utilize Ubike’s French-speaking team and the Brussels office to further expand GMH’s market position in the Walloon Region.”

“With GMH and o2o, we have found ideal partners to further expand our business in Belgium and to capture the strong market growth more intensively,” said Michel Lagasse, founder and CEO of Ubike. “We share the common goal of promoting employee mobility through affordable and easily accessible leasing offers while simultaneously reducing the ecological footprint of commuting to work. Importantly, as we expand, we remain committed to preserving our unique Belgian identity – our ‘Belgitude’ – ensuring that our growth never compromises the local values and cultural heritage that define us.”

“When we invested in GMH a year ago, we announced that we would support the company’s further growth in Germany and Europe with capital and strategic know-how. With the acquisition of o2o and Ubike in Belgium, the first key milestones on this path have been set,” said Matthias Wilcken, Senior Partner at Rivean Capital.

Michel Lagasse and the rest of the Ubike management team will remain on board after the acquisition. Michel Lagasse will reinvest a portion of his sale proceeds into GMH, thus becoming a shareholder of GMH.

—

Weblinks:
www.greenmobilityholding.com
www.ubike.be
www.o2o.be
company-bike.com
www.mein-dienstrad.de

About GMH
Green Mobility Holding GmbH is one of the leading technology-based (e-)bike leasing groups in Europe. It brings together independent brands with innovative product offerings under one roof, creating unique solutions for companies of all sizes through shared synergies. With over 350 employees, the group is represented at more than 15 locations.

About Rivean Capital
Rivean Capital is a leading European private equity investor for mid-market transactions, active in the DACH region, the Benelux countries, and Italy. Funds advised by Rivean Capital manage over €5 billion in assets. Since its founding in 1982, Rivean Capital has supported more than 250 companies in achieving their growth goals.

For more information, visit www.riveancapital.com

Media Contacts:

Rivean Capital
Maikel Wieland
Head of Investor Relations
Email: m.wieland@riveancapital.com

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Equistone sells Heras to Garda Group

Equistone

Equistone Partners Europe (“Equistone”), one of Europe’s most active mid-market private equity investors, today announces that it has reached a conditional agreement to sell the Funds’ investment in Heras, an established European end-to-end supplier of permanent and mobile perimeter protection solutions, to European perimeter and technical security company Garda Group.

Headquartered in Oirschot in the Netherlands, Heras has operations in eight countries, offering customers in more than 20 markets end-to-end perimeter security solutions that cover all aspects from design, manufacturing, installation to maintenance and repairs. Today, the company employs around 1,000 people. Through the agreed transaction, Heras will become part of Garda Group, which currently operates in the Nordics and Germany and includes brands such as Garda Sikring, Heda Security, KIBO Security, Great Security, Freihoff Gruppe, Gleich Gruppe, Schmid Alarm and vi2vi.

Since Equistone invested in the business in 2019, Heras has pursued a strategic focus on providing high-security solutions and recurring services to public- and private-sector clients operating critical infrastructure, supported by two bolt-on acquisitions in the Nordic and German markets. Equistone has also supported the implementation of a group-wide ESG strategy and significant investment into Heras’ production sites, for both permanent and mobile products, across the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Hubert van Wolfswinkel, Partner at Equistone, said: “It has been a pleasure for the Equistone Funds to have supported Heras with the strategic development of its business and its team over the past five years. In partnership with the Equistone Funds, the company has refined its strategic focus on high-security solutions and recurring services, while upgrading its production sites and delivering a comprehensive ESG strategy. Heras is a renowned and expert provider of security solutions, and I am confident that the company will continue to prosper as part of the Garda Group.”

Moritz Treude, Director at Equistone, said: “Heras has performed very strongly during the ownership of the Equistone Funds, enabled by the strategic repositioning of the business. The Equistone Funds have supported the company’s investment in state-of-the-art production facilities, including automated machinery and equipment as well as robotisation – resulting in increased quality, greater capacity, and more efficient and sustainable production.”

Emmanuel Rigaux, CEO of Heras, said: “In partnership with Equistone, Heras has undergone a significant transformation since 2019 and is now in an exceptionally strong position in the European market. We share a strong alignment with the Garda Group in terms of corporate strategy, vision and values, and we are fully confident that they are the right partner to support us in the next phase of our development and continue the successful development of the past five years.”

Jon Ola Stokke, CEO of Garda Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Heras and its skilled team to the Garda Group. Heras is a well-run, innovative company and our customers will benefit greatly from its recent investments in the capacity, quality and efficiency of its facilities. Heras also shares our focus on sustainability, working with partners throughout the value chain to reduce CO2 emissions and implement a more circular economy. This acquisition provides us with new expertise, a broader product range and modern technical solutions, while complementing our Nordic presence, expanding our footprint into new territories such as the UK, Benelux and France and providing our customers in Germany with perimeter security solutions alongside our existing technical security solutions.”

The agreed transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including completion of the Dutch works council consultation process and obtaining relevant regulatory clearances. Once completed, the transaction would extend a period of significant exit activity for Equistone, with today’s announcement marking Equistone’s fifth full exit of 2024.

PR Contacts

GERMANY / SWITZERLAND / NETHERLANDS

Munich, Zurich, Amsterdam

  • IWK Communication Partner
  • Ira Wülfing / Florian Bergmann
  • Tel: +49 (0)89 2000 30 30
  • E-Mail IWK

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Ardian enters in exclusive discussions to acquire a majority stake in Robot-Coupe and Magimix

Ardian

Ardian will invest in the two iconic and leading brands alongside the Hameur Group, who is the Group’s historic shareholder

Ardian, a world-leading private equity house, announces that it has entered into exclusive discussions to acquire a majority stake in Robot-Coupe and Magimix, alongside Hameur Group.

Founded in 1961 in the French region of Burgundy, Robot-Coupe is the undisputed global market leader in premium benchtop equipment for professional use. Robot-Coupe has become a must-have in all professional kitchens, leveraging its superior brand image and value proposition. Its products are known for their reliability, durability, adaptability, reparability, easy-to-use features and Made-in-France quality.

The company is present in over 130 countries and serves more than 7,000 distributors and importers across the world, with leading market shares in its core geographies (namely the US, France, Australia and the UK). Robot-Coupe’s expansion is supported by a unique sales & marketing strategy, which benefits from a large and proactive on-the-ground sales team.

Over the past 60 years, Robot-Coupe has developed an attractive and innovative product portfolio covering most food preparation, from chopping and mixing to whisking and emulsifying. Its main product groups are food processors, vegetable preparators, juicers, and blenders, with each model designed in a wide range of sizes and functions for greater capacity and versatility.

Magimix was created in 1971 by leveraging Robot-Coupe’s expertise and focuses on premium small kitchen appliances for domestic use. This iconic brand is an industry leader in food preparation equipment such as food processors, blenders, juicers and coffee machines (via a strategic partnership with Nespresso initiated in 1997). The company primarily operates in France, the UK and the Netherlands, and serves a diversified customer base of specialized retailers, department stores and independent retailers, supported by a strong online presence.
Through this partnership, Ardian and the Hameur Group will support the Robot-Coupe and Magimix’s management teams plan to consolidate their market leadership position through accelerated organic growth and internationalization. This growth is expected to be delivered by the continued success of their existing products, a pipeline of new innovative solutions and potentially seizing external growth opportunities. Ardian is well placed to support the group’s ambitious strategic plan given its track record, expertise and international network in the Food Value Chain sector.

The completion of the transaction is subject to the legal usual conditions and the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities.

“Given our common DNA, based on French roots combined with international reach, we are convinced that Ardian is the right partner to begin a new chapter for the Group. We would like to welcome the Ardian team, who share our values, our vision and our ambition to accelerate the development of the company. Together, we will focus on enhancing Robot-Coupe and Magimix’s leadership position by combining our resources, know-how and strategic vision. We are delighted with this partnership, which marks a new momentum for our group.” Gilbert Verdun, CEO of Robot-Coupe and Magimix

“We are very pleased by this ambitious partnership with the Hameur Group, based on shared values and mutual trust. This partnership allows us to invest in a unique Group combining two iconic brands in a sector we know well and in which we have a strong network. This transaction is another example of how Ardian is the partner of choice in accompanying a family-owned group in its next development phase.” Thibault Basquin, Co-Head of Buyout and Member of the Executive Committee, Ardian

“With their renowned expertise and their long-term vision, the Hameur Group representatives, Gilbert Verdun and his teams have created global market leaders, offering innovative and unrivalled products targeting the attractive Food-Service industry. We are glad to partner with them in this new chapter and to accompany them in their accelerated growth and diversification strategy.” Emmanuel Miquel, Co-Head of Buyout France & Managing Director, Ardian

Over the course of our interactions, we have been very impressed by the quality of Robot-Coupe and Magimix’s management and their passion to create the best and most efficient food preparation products. We look forward to supporting them in the next development phase.” Alexis Manet, Managing Director Buyout, Ardian

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

  • ARDIAN

    • ARDIAN: THIBAULT BASQUIN, EMMANUEL MIQUEL, ALEXIS MANET, NICOLAS KASSAB, ANOUK DAOUDAL, MARTIN BLANC
    • ARDIAN FINANCING TEAM: GREGORY BUSCAYRET, ARIS TORANIAN
    • BUYER M&A ADVISORS: AMALA PARTNERS (JEAN-BAPTISTE MARCHAND, VINCENT VILLE, CHLOÉ SPIGOLON), J.P. MORGAN (KYRIL COURBOIN, ROGIER POP, MOUNIR CHAHINE), SYCOMORE CORPORATE FINANCE (FRANÇOIS VIGNE), PC ASSOCIÉS (ANDRÉ FRANÇOIS-PONCET)
    • BUYER LEGAL ADVISOR: LATHAM & WATKINS (GAETAN GIANASSO, MICHAEL COLLE, AYMERIC DERRIEN-AKAGAWA (CORPORATE), XAVIER FARDE, CARLA-SOPHIE IMPERADEIRO (FINANCING), XAVIER RENARD, CAMILLE PONS (STRUCTURING))
    • BUYER STRATEGIC DD: BAIN & COMPANY (DAPHNÉ VATTIER, ANDREA GONDEKOVA, PAUL QUIPOURT)
    • BUYER FINANCIAL DD: ALVAREZ & MARSAL (FRÉDÉRIC STEINER, BAPTISTE RIDEAU)
    • BUYER OPS DD: ALVAREZ & MARSAL (RENALD BEJAOUI, MEHDI TAHRI)
    • BUYER LEGAL & SOCIAL DD: LATHAM & WATKINS (GAETAN GIANASSO, MICHAEL COLLE, AYMERIC DERIEN-AKAGAWA)
    • BUYER TAX DD: DELOITTE (OLIVIER VENZAL, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE TEORE-BORASCHI)
    • BUYER ENVIRONMENT & ESG DD: DELOITTE (LAURIANE MAROUZE, CHARLOTTE BANCILHON)
    • BUYER DIGITAL DD: SINGULIER X INDEFI (RÉMI PESSEGUIER, DAVID TOLEDANO)
    • BUYER INSURANCE DD: MARSH (JEAN-MARIE DARGAIGNARATZ, CLARA NOT)

  • ROBOT-COUPE & MAGIMIX

    • MANAGEMENT: GILBERT VERDUN, MARC DE SAINTE-CROIX, MAXIME DE JENLIS, PATRICK MARIANI, JEAN-MARIE LOZANO
    • VENDOR M&A ADVISORS: BNP PARIBAS (MARC WALBAUM, SÉBASTIEN REBEIX), SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE (CYRIL PAOLANTONI, MARCO BESSONE)
    • VENDOR LEGAL ADVISORS: WHITE & CASE (THIERRY BOSLY, THOMAS GLAUDEN, LAURE BAUDURET)
    • VENDOR STRATEGIC DD: ROLAND BERGER (STÉPHANE TUBIANA, LOUIS CHUPIN)
    • VENDOR FINANCIAL DD: EY (GILLES MARCHADIER, ELSA ABOU MRAD, FRANÇOIS ESTIN)
    • VENDOR LEGAL & SOCIAL DD: EY (FRÉDÉRIC RELIQUET, ANNE-ELISABETH COMBES), DE GAULLE FLEURANCE & ASSOCIÉS (HENRI-NICOLAS FLEURANCE, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE AMY), STEVENS & BOLTON
    • VENDOR TAX DD: EY (CÉDRIC DEVOUGES), RSM (LEONID KHRISTOFOROV)
    • VENDOR ENVIRONMENT DD: AECOM (BENOIT SOUFFRE)

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house, managing or advising $166bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,650 clients globally. Our broad expertise, spanning Private Equity, Real Assets and Credit, enables us to offer a wide range of investment opportunities and respond flexibly to our clients’ differing needs. Through Ardian Customized Solutions we create bespoke portfolios that allow institutional clients to specify the precise mix of assets they require and to gain access to funds managed by leading third-party sponsors. Private Wealth Solutions offers dedicated services and access solutions for private banks, family offices and private institutional investors worldwide. Ardian’s main shareholding group is its employees and we place great emphasis on developing its people and fostering a collaborative culture based on collective intelligence. Our 1,050+ employees, spread across 19 offices in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Middle East are strongly committed to the principles of Responsible Investment and are determined to make finance a force for good in society. Our goal is to deliver excellent investment performance combined with high ethical standards and social responsibility.
At Ardian we invest all of ourselves in building companies that last.

ardian.com

ABOUT ROBOT-COUPE

Founded in 1961 in Burgundy, Robot-Coupe is the undisputed global market leader of premium benchtop equipment for professional kitchens. Its early success relied on innovation solutions, directly addressing the chefs’ needs for a robust, efficient, reliable, safe and easy-to-use product. Robot-Coupe has quickly expended globally leveraging its strong brand image associated with Made-in-France excellence in gastronomy, becoming the common name for professional food processors, while diversifying into other benchtop product categories (e.g. juicers, immersion blenders, etc.). The company is present in more than 130 countries where it serves more than 7,000 distributors and importers, with leading market shares in its core geographies (namely the US, France, Australia and the UK). Robot-Coupe is operating through a global footprint with three manufacturing and assembly sites located in France, the US, and Sweden.

www.robot-coupe.com

ABOUT MAGIMIX

Created in 1971 leveraging Robot-Coupe’s expertise, Magimix focuses on premium small kitchen appliances for domestic use, with a clear leadership in food preparation equipment and coffee machines. Magimix offers a wide range of products consisting of food processors (notably its flagship product, the Cook Expert), blenders, juicers, co-branded coffee machines through a strategic long-term partnership with Nespresso, and other products (e.g. ice-cream machines, toasters, steamers). Primarily operating in France, the UK and the Netherlands, the company serves a diversified customer base of specialized retailers while benefitting from strong online presence.

www.magimix.com

MEDIA CONTACTS

ARDIAN

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com

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EQT and Kühne Holding invest in Flix, the global travel company

eqt

EQT Future and Kühne Holding to acquire a 35% stake in Flix

Investment is part of a long-term strategic partnership built on a common vision for Flix’s next phase of profitable growth across new and existing markets and offerings

EQT is investing through EQT Future, its impact-driven, longer-hold fund, and will support Flix’s ambition to expand the offering of sustainable and affordable travel options

Flix SE (“Flix” or the “Company”), the global travel tech company, and EQT, the global investment organisation, together with Kühne Holding, representing one of the world’s leading logistics entrepreneurs and investors, today announce that a definitive agreement has been reached for EQT Future and Kühne Holding to acquire a 35% minority stake in Flix.

In addition to a primary investment in Flix, EQT Future and Kühne Holding will acquire shares from existing shareholders to build a long-term anchor shareholding in Flix. This investment will further strengthen Flix’s balance sheet and help accelerate the Company’s successful trajectory of profitable growth. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain customary conditions and regulatory approvals.

“We are delighted to welcome EQT Future and Kühne Holding as strong and purpose-driven investors with proven track records of building upon sustainable long-term investment strategies. Their capital and know-how will be a strong asset to our company’s overall strategic vision. We couldn’t ask for better partners to embark on the next chapter of Flix’s journey”, commented André Schwämmlein, CEO and Co-Founder of Flix.

“EQT Future backs high-quality, growing companies that have the potential to be sustainability leaders in their fields. Flix is the perfect example of this. We are deeply impressed by what Andréand his team have built, having developed Flix from a startup into the clear global market leader, operating in 43 countries,” said Andreas Aschenbrenner, Founding Partner and Deputy Head of the EQT Future advisory team. “For us at EQT, it is always about providing more than capital. We are proud to partner with Kühne Holding, one of the leading transportation and logistics investors, and together with André and his team, we are excited to support Flix’s strategic growth agenda over the long-term. We aim to ensure Flix’s low carbon solution to long-distance travel reaches even more people across the world and believe that Flix is on a path to being the category defining player in mass ground transportation, with huge potential to become a household name in the industry and beyond.”

Dominik de Daniel, CEO Kühne Holding AG, commented: “Flix is driving the next generation of collective transport. The Kühne Holding is proud to actively support them as a strategic partner in their next phase of expansion. Over the past few months, we have established a great relationship with the colleagues of EQT Future. We have great confidence in André Schwämmlein and his team and very much look forward to supporting Flix’s future in a beneficial partnership.”

Karl Gernandt, Chairman Kühne Holding AG, added: “As one of the largest strategic investors in the transport and mobility sector, the Kühne Holding is now taking a further step into the market for collective transport by bus. With Flix’s proven asset-light operating model, we see great synergies with our other investments in the transport sector. Furthermore, we want to support the expansion strategy of their international network. We are building on the great successes that Flix has achieved in establishing the bus as the leading sustainable means of transport – for more than a decade in Europe and now also overseas.”

Driving profitable growth
The investment comes at a time of continued significant growth momentum and strategic expansion at Flix. The company reported 30 percent total revenue growth in 2023 and thus, for the first time, reached EUR 2 billion in annual total revenue. This comes at an increased profitability with adjusted EBITDA of EUR 104 million in 2023. The strong momentum enables Flix to deliver on strategic targets such as the expansion of its global footprint, transforming the North American bus market and further scaling FlixTrain to respond to the rising demand for alternative rail services in Germany.

Expanding the global footprint
To further strengthen its geographical presence, Flix has recently entered two of the most important bus markets worldwide: Chile and India. The company’s global footprint now stretches across 43 countries worldwide. With both FlixBus and FlixTrain, the European expansion is moving forward. FlixBus is significantly expanding its services in UK, Portugal and Ukraine and has launched in Norway and Finland. Flix’s clear ambition is to reach market leadership in these markets.

Advancing the North America business
Flix has been operating in the United States since 2018. In 2021, the company acquired Greyhound Lines, an iconic intercity bus service provider, further expanding its reach, including in Canada and Mexico. The transformation and integration of operations into the Flix platform is well underway and increasingly reflected in a growing asset-light share, driving growth and profitability in the market.

With growth comes responsibility
Flix is on a continuous mission to deliver a great travel experience while constantly reviewing the impact of its business. To underpin the Company’s commitment to a responsible business model, Flix recently published itssecond voluntary ESG report for 2023. With its vision to drive sustainable and affordable travel, Flix aligns strongly with EQT Future’s mission to support market leading businesses which improve our planet through the products and services they deliver, while having the potential to shape their industries.

About

About EQT
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 242 billion in total assets under management (EUR 132 billion in fee-generating assets under management), within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

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

About Flix
Flix intends to transform the public transport sector by offering sustainable and affordable long-distance bus and train travel solutions in more than 40 countries across four continents. With its asset-light business model and innovative technology platform, Flix, launched in 2013, swiftly established market-leading positions for long-distance bus travel in Europe, North America and Türkiye and is rapidly expanding further into South America and India through its brands FlixBus, FlixTrain, Kamil Koç, and Greyhound.

Driven by increased awareness for sustainable travel, Flix aims to become carbon neutral in Europe by 2040 and globally by 2050. To assess its progress within a scientifically recognized framework, Flix established near-term targets for emissions reduction with the Science Based Targets initiative.

While Flix manages the commercial side of the business such as network planning, pricing, operations control, marketing and sales, quality management and continuous product development with a data-driven approach, trusted Flix partners conduct the daily operations. The innovative combination of Flix’s technology and sales platform with traditional passenger travel has turned a European start-up into a leading and globally expanding travel tech company.

For more information, please visit corporate.flixbus.com

About Kühne Holding
Kühne Holding AG, based in Switzerland, comprises Klaus-Michael Kühne’s business interests. With an entrepreneurial focus on investments in the logistics and transport sector, it holds a majority stake in Kühne+Nagel International AG and is the largest single shareholder of Hapag-Lloyd AG, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Brenntag SE. In April 2024, the Kühne Holding announced the acquisition of Aenova Group, a globally leading pharma contract development and manufacturing organization.

Contacts
EQT: Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com
Flix: Lara Hesse, globalpress@flixbus.com
Kühne Holding: Dominique Nadelhofer, Dominique.nadelhofer@kuehne-holding.com

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IK Partners enters exclusive negotiations to sell Mademoiselle Desserts to the Emmi Group

IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK VIII Fund has entered into exclusivity to sell its stake in Mademoiselle Desserts (“the Company”), a leading European manufacturer of frozen pastries, to the Emmi Group (“Emmi”). Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Established in 1984 and headquartered in Montigny-le-Bretonneux in France, Mademoiselle Desserts has rapidly grown to become a leading European manufacturer of premium frozen pastries, including mini beignets, mini muffins, choux-based pastries, tarts, flans and pastry bases.

From its 12 production facilities in France, Benelux and the UK, Mademoiselle Desserts serves over 900 customers in more than 45 countries globally. The Company employs approximately 2,000 people who collaborate closely with its customers to develop bespoke desserts meeting the highest food standards.

In partnership with IK since 2018, Mademoiselle Desserts has achieved several strategic objectives and successfully executed the acquisitions of: Pâtisserie Michel Kremer in 2018; Les Délices Des 7 Vallées in 2019; Planète Gourmet in 2021; and Galana in 2023. These acquisitions have enabled the Company to expand internationally, particularly in the US and Europe, while enhancing its product portfolio towards mini products.

IK also supported the Company with an operational excellence programme centred around purchasing, site specialisation and logistics. Investments in production lines were also made to further expand the business’s capacity. These initiatives, coupled with the expertise of the management team, have resulted in substantial growth and expansion for the group.

Didier Boudy, CEO of Mademoiselle Desserts, commented: “We would like to thank IK for all their support in the past six years. This period has seen us navigate several significant global crises, but we have managed to emerge as a stronger business through the dedication of our own employees and the expertise and financial backing of IK. We are very excited about the next chapter which will see us working closely with Emmi.”

Rémi Buttiaux, Managing Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK VIII Fund, said: “Since investing in Mademoiselle Desserts in 2018, we have been extremely impressed with the professionalism and expertise of the entire team. Together, we have implemented organic growth initiatives and executed several bolt-on acquisitions, solidifying the Company’s position as one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of frozen pastries and desserts. We wish Didier and his team continued success for the next stage of their already impressive growth story.”

For further questions, please contact:

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

Mademoiselle Desserts

Mademoiselle Desserts is a leading frozen bakery player in Europe. Founded in 1984, the Group has grown through an active build-up strategy in France, the UK and Netherlands. It operates 12 production sites and employs approximately 2,000 people. For more information, visit http://www.mademoiselle-desserts.com

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 €16.5 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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Gimv announces strategic investment in Curana, leading bicycle components manufacturer

GIMV

Topic: Investment

Gimv is pleased to announce its strategic investment in Curana, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-end bicycle components, specialising in fenders, chain guards and dress guards. Based in Ardooie, Belgium, Curana is renowned for its design and innovation capabilities, providing custom-built solutions for top-tier bicycle manufacturers.

Gimv’s investment in Curana underscores its commitment to the sector of sustainable mobility and lifestyle consumer products and its confidence in Curana’s potential for continued success.

In partnership with Gimv, Curana intends to professionalise its organisation and accelerate its international growth strategy, building upon its reputation as the go-to partner for top-tier bicycle manufacturers. This investment comes at a pivotal moment for Curana, following the untimely passing of its owner, Dirk Vens, during the investment process. Gimv is committed to honouring Dirk’s legacy by continuing to build on the robust foundation he established. Gimv is investing alongside Jean-Charles Malherbe, the newly appointed buy-in CEO, and management to drive this next phase of growth for Curana.

Jean-Charles Malherbe, CEO Curana, states: “Curana has always been at the forefront of design and innovation in the bicycle components industry. Our small but dedicated team is passionate about delivering tailor-made solutions that meet the unique needs of our customers. I am honoured to lead Curana into its next chapter, building on Dirk Vens’ remarkable legacy. Together with Gimv, we will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and maintain the high standards of quality and customer satisfaction for which Curana is known.”

David De Peuter, Partner Gimv Consumer, adds: “Curana is a perfect fit for Gimv’s consumer investment strategy, particularly given its strong presence in the bicycle and e-bike sectors. We are confident in the mid- and long-term prospects for the bicycle industry driven by robust and favourable fundamental trends. We see tremendous potential in Curana’s innovative approach and high-quality products. Our goal is to guide Curana in its next growth phase, ensuring that the company continues to deliver exceptional value to its customers and partners.”

Financial details of the transaction will not be disclosed.

 

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Apollo Leads $700M Capital Solution for Sony Music Group

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Apollo logo

NEW YORK, July 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that, on behalf of its affiliated and third-party insurance clients and other investors, it has provided a $700 million capital solution to Sony Music Group, an affiliate of Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”), for investments in the music industry.

“We are pleased to provide a bespoke capital solution to an affiliate of one of the world’s leading companies. This investment allows our clients to invest in high grade securities while helping Sony to execute its business plans,” said Apollo Partner Jamshid Ehsani.

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 March 31, 2024, Apollo had approximately $671 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

Amanda Collins
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Sony Music
Amanda.collins@sonymusic.com

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819 Capital Partners acquires Touroperating division from ANWB

819 Capital Partners

Deventer, June 13, 2024 – 819 Capital Partners has acquired the Touroperating division from ANWB through a buy-out, together with the management team Gert-Jan Bressers and Richard Broekhoven. The new organization will continue under the name Fox Reizen and will continue to develop and execute member trips for the ANWB.

ANWB is shifting its focus in the travel sector to offering a wide range of trips, but will no longer be developing these. The new Fox Reizen organization will continue to do this for ANWB.

Marga de Jager, CEO of ANWB: “We at ANWB are pleased with the privatization. The management knows the company well, which ensures the continuity of the organization. The privatization of the tour operating activities also fits well within ANWB’s strategy to focus more on the needs of our members and to meet those needs. We will continue to offer trips as ANWB, but we no longer want to develop and execute everything ourselves. We ensure a wide range products and services, including sales. In addition to our stores, we have a gateway for all products and services we offer at anwb.nl.”

Gert-Jan Bressers, director of Fox Reizen: “The privatization of the tour operating activities offers plenty of opportunities and makes us even more competitive, agile, and decisive. With the new management and our team, we will continue to focus on developing, selling, and executing beautiful trips in both Europe and beyond. We do this under the brands ANWB and Fox. We are convinced that with our expertise and passion, we will create great experiences for travelers. We look forward to working with our partner 819 Capital Partners to further expand the success of Fox Reizen in the coming years.”

Sven Kempers, director of 819 Capital Partners: “ANWB and Fox Reizen are renowned names in the travel industry. Given the strong management and the new form of cooperation with ANWB, we have great confidence in the future. We are pleased that we have been able to make this management buy-out possible from 819 Private Equity Fund I.”

All employees of the tour operating activities will move to Fox Reizen.

We have acquired Fox Reizen with 819 Private Equity Fund I.

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GoodLife Foods to acquire Audens Group

GoodLife Foods B.V. and its affiliates (‘GoodLife Foods’) is pleased to announce that an agreement was signed to acquire Audens Group Solutions S.L. (‘Audens’ or the ‘Company’), a leading manufacturer in the Iberian frozen food market. The combination will result in a highly complementary group producing and selling innovative frozen food snacks and meal components across Europe. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed and completion is subject to legal and regulatory approvals.

Headquartered in Granollers (Barcelona area), Spain, Audens offers a broad portfolio of branded and private label products focused mainly on frozen snacks/appetizers and ready-meals.

The Company specializes in the production and distribution of branded and private label products, serving a customer base active in the Retail and Foodservice channels, mainly in Iberia next to a growing international presence.

Audens employs over 800 employees and operates five state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Spain and Portugal. The Company’s CEO David Sala Coll will become non-executive director at GoodLife Foods and will remain active as strategic advisor to Audens. Carles Bosch will be appointed as General Manager of Audens and will manage the daily business operations in Iberia.

This strategic move represents a significant milestone for GoodLife Foods, as it allows to further diversify its product offerings and tap into new geographical growth opportunities. The combination will result in a leading frozen savoury food group with a pan-European sales and production network offering high levels of innovation and service levels to its customers.

Dirk Van de Walle, CEO at GoodLife Foods, said: ‘We believe that by combining the resources of Audens and GoodLife, talents, and innovative spirit, we can create a powerhouse in the food sector that is primed for success. Together, we will leverage our collective strengths to better serve our customers, drive operational excellence, and fuel growth in both existing and emerging markets’.

David Sala Coll, at Audens, said: ‘We are delighted to join forces with GoodLife Foods and become part of a dynamic and forward-thinking organization. This transaction presents exciting opportunities for our employees, customers, suppliers and partners alike. Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional appetizer solutions while maintaining our unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction’.

Frederik Jacobs, Partner at IK, said: ‘We are pleased to have helped bringing both companies together. Part of our investment strategy at GoodLife Foods is to accelerate internationalisation and expand our presence to faster growing frozen food categories. The combination of GoodLife Foods with Audens is a significant accelerator of our ambition to create a strong and structurally growing frozen food business across select savoury categories’.

About Audens Group Solutions S.L.

Audens is a leading manufacturer in the Iberian frozen market of both branded and private label snacks/appetizers. The Company has its headquarters in Granollers, Spain, with production sites in Spain and Portugal. For more information, visit https://enaudensfood.com

About GoodLife Foods B.V.

GoodLife Foods is one of Europe’s largest producers of both branded and private label frozen savoury food products. GoodLife Foods has its headquarters in Breda, the Netherlands with production sites in the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. For more information, visit https://glfoods.com/en/

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 170 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 www.ikpartners.com

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