Tag Archives: Investments

Success of friendly public tender offer initiated by Bridgepoint, in association with General Atlantic, management shareholders, for Esker shares

Bridgepoint
  • Boréal Bidco will hold 92.93% of the share capital and at least 92.68% of the voting rights of Esker at the end of the reopened Offer.
  • Settlement-delivery of the reopened Offer on 14 February 2025.
  • Implementation, as announced, of a squeeze-out procedure for the Esker shares.
  • The price per share paid in the context of this squeeze-out will be equal to the Offer price, i.e., €262 per share.

 

Success of the reopened Offer

947,693 shares of Esker were tendered to the public tender offer initiated by Boréal Bidco SAS (“Boréal Bidco” or the “Offeror”) with respect to the Esker shares (the “Offer”), representing 15.57% of the share capital and at least 15.46% of the voting rights of the company, as part of its reopening from 17 January to 30 January 2025.

In total, taking into account the shares tendered to the Offer and the Esker shares assimilated to shares held by the Offeror in accordance with applicable regulations, the holding (effective and assimilated) of Boréal Bidco is of 92.93% of the share capital and at least 92.68% of the voting rights of Esker at the end of the reopened Offer, reflecting the success of the Offer with a post-Offer holding level exceeding the thresholds of 90% of the share capital and voting rights of Esker.

The notice of results (avis de résultat) published by the AMF on 4 February 2025 is available on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org).

The settlement-delivery of the Offer will take place on 14 February 2025.

 

Implementation of a squeeze-out procedure

The conditions required to carry out a squeeze-out being met, the Offeror, in accordance with its intention expressed in the offer document related to the Offer, will soon request the AMF to implement the squeeze-out procedure for the Esker shares it does not hold, which will result in the delisting of the Esker shares from the Euronext Growth Paris market.

The amount of the indemnity paid in the context of the squeeze-out will be equal to the Offer price, i.e., €262 per share, net of all fees.

The trading of the Esker shares has been suspended pending implementation of the squeeze-out.

 

Jean-Michel Bérard, President and Founder of Esker, stated: “We are delighted with the success of this offer, which represents a major milestone in Esker’s history. Alongside Bridgepoint and General Atlantic, we are equipping ourselves to accelerate our development, further innovate, and strengthen our position as a leader in a rapidly expanding market. This partnership, and the delisting of the company, are fully in line with our ambition to better support our clients and to build, together, the future of Esker.”

Emmanuel Olivier, Chief Operating Officer of Esker, stated: “This is a key milestone in Esker’s history and the beginning of a particularly exciting new chapter ahead of us.”

David Nicault, Partner and Head of Technology at Bridgepoint, stated: “We are very pleased with this very high tender rate, which demonstrates the attractiveness of the offer and the relevance of our project. We are thrilled to be able to bring Bridgepoint’s resources and expertise to Esker to support its development plan in the coming years in a rapidly expanding market.”

Vincent-Gaël Baudet, Partner and Head of Bridgepoint Europe in France, stated: “The success of this offer reflects our ability to gain the trust of all stakeholders and to open new development opportunities for Esker and its teams.”

Gabriel Caillaux, Co-President and Head of General Atlantic’s business in EMEA, stated: “We believe Esker possesses a highly differentiated software solution and has the potential to continue expanding its product offering and international footprint. We look forward to partnering with the team as they open this new chapter of growth.”

Information and documentation relating to the Offer are available free of charge on the websites of Esker (www.esker.fr), Bridgepoint (www.bridgepoint.eu/shareholders/Sep-2024-microsite) and the AMF (www.amf-france.org).

Bridgepoint is one of the world’s leading quoted private asset growth investors, specialising in private equity, infrastructure and private credit.

With over €67bn of assets under management and a strong local presence in Europe, North America and Asia, we combine global scale with local market insight and sector expertise, consistently delivering strong returns through cycles.

Bridgepoint Advisers Limited, a subsidiary of Bridgepoint Group plc, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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Coller Capital launches Australia’s first private credit secondaries fund

Coller Capital

ebruary 3, 2025 – Coller Capital, the largest dedicated secondaries manager, has launched Coller Private Credit Secondaries (the Fund) in Australia.

The Fund, the first of its kind in Australia, offers high net worth investors[1] access to Coller’s proven expertise and innovative approach to private credit secondaries.

Partner and Head of Coller Credit Secondaries, Michael Schad said, “This new fund reflects our leadership in developing next-generation investment solutions and is an exciting step in providing individual investors with access to credit secondaries, previously only available to institutional investors. Our pioneering role in credit secondaries since 2007 positions us uniquely to deliver meaningful results for our investors.”

Head of Australia and New Zealand Private Wealth Distribution, David Hallifax added, “Private wealth investors increasingly recognise the value of fixed-income alternatives, and private credit secondaries present a compelling opportunity.

“Australian high net worth investors will now have access to a global platform that combines decades of secondaries expertise with a deep understanding of private credit markets.”

The Fund seeks to deliver a combination of absolute and risk-adjusted returns, diversification, and the opportunity for more liquidity than traditional private credit funds. It will provide private investors with exposure to Coller Capital’s 34 years of secondaries investment expertise and global platform.

Coller Capital continues its strategic expansion into the private wealth market globally, including in Australia. Coller established an office in Melbourne in 2024 and launched the Private Equity Secondaries Fund in Australia for the private wealth channel in October 2024.

 

[1] The offer of units in the Fund is available to wholesale clients as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) residing from within Australia and/or New Zealand.

Important disclosure information

Equity Trustees Limited (ABN 46 004 031 298, AFSL 240975) (“Equity Trustees”) is the responsible entity for the Coller Private Credit Secondaries Fund (ARSN 682 162 447) (“Fund”). Equity Trustees is a subsidiary of EQT Holdings Limited (ABN 22 607 797 615), a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: EQT).

Coller Capital Limited (“Coller Capital”) is the investment manager of the Fund. References to “we”, “us” and “our” are references to Coller Capital.

The offer of units in the Fund is available to wholesale clients as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The offer must only be accessed from within Australia and/or New Zealand. The offer is not being extended to persons who do not meet these criteria, and no action has been taken to register or qualify the offer in any jurisdiction outside Australia and/or New Zealand.

The information on this website has been prepared by Coller Capital. The information is general information and not financial advice, and has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You should consider the Product Disclosure Statement for the Fund before making a decision about whether to invest. If you require financial advice that takes into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs, you should consult a licensed or authorised financial adviser.

Neither Coller Capital nor Equity Trustees, nor any of their respective related parties, employees or directors, represents or warrants that the information contained on this website is accurate or reliable. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no such person shall be liable for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information contained on this website. The value of an investment can rise and fall and past performance should not be taken as an indicator of future performance.

View the Fund’s Target Market Determination. The Target Market Determination is a document which is required to be made available from 5 October 2021. It describes the class of consumers that the Fund is likely to be appropriate for (i.e. the target market), and any conditions around how the Fund can be distributed to investors. It also describes the events or circumstances that mean the Target Market Determination for the Fund may need to be reviewed.

To view the privacy policy for Equity Trustees visit their website.

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Forbion BioEconomy Fund I surpasses €150 million target, raising €164.5 million with strong institutional LP support

Forbion

Forbion’s BioEconomy Fund I has raised €164.5 million to date, exceeding its €150 million target in just over a year, since launching in November 2023.
• Institutional investors, include KfW Capital, Novo Holdings, Rentenbank, Aurae Impact and most recently ABN AMRO Bank and EIFO
• The fund focuses on biotech-enabled, B2B solutions that deliver sustainability at price parity or better across Food, Agriculture, Materials, and Environmental Technologies.

Naarden, The Netherlands, 27 January 2025 – Forbion, a leading venture capital firm with deep biotech expertise in Europe and the US, announces that its BioEconomy Fund I has raised €164.5 million. This exceeds the fund’s €150 million target, underscoring growing investor interest in the commercial potential of biotech innovations that address global sustainability challenges.

BioEconomy Fund I is supported by top-tier institutional investors, including KfW Capital, Novo Holdings, Rentenbank, and Aurae Impact, alongside new backers ABN AMRO Bank and EIFO. The BioEconomy Fund I anticipates a final close at or close to the hard cap of €200 million, demonstrating the growing confidence in biotech innovations that address global sustainability challenges.

Launched in November 2023, the Forbion BioEconomy Fund I is a planetary health fund that targets business-to-business (B2B) solutions that replace unsustainable products with scalable, cost-effective alternatives. A key pillar of the fund’s strategy is ensuring these innovations achieve price parity with incumbent solutions, enabling wide-scale adoption across the fund’s four target sectors: Food, Agriculture, Materials, and Environmental Technologies industries.

Sander Slootweg, Managing Partner and co-founder of Forbion, stated, “Exceeding €150 million in just over a year reflects the strength of our team and strategy and the confidence our investors have in our ability to execute. Their support for BioEconomy Fund I demonstrates the growing demand for scalable, cost-competitive biotech solutions that deliver both sustainability and strong returns.”

Alex Hoffmann, General Partner, added, “Investors recognize the transformative potential of scalable biotech solutions to meet the needs of industries seeking to adopt sustainable practices. Their support empowers us to help companies scale and deliver meaningful change.”

***ENDS***

About Forbion BioEconomy Fund I
BioEconomy Fund I’s focus on using biotechnology and green chemistry to deliver sustainable B2B solutions in Food, Agriculture, Materials, and Environmental Technologies is best exemplified by its initial investments in Solasta Bio and Novameat. These portfolio companies illustrate Forbion’s commitment to scalable, biotech-enabled innovation. Solasta Bio develops sustainable insect control solutions as alternatives to chemical insecticides, while Novameat advances plant-based meat production with proprietary technology designed for scalability and high-quality texture. By building on Forbion’s expertise in biotechnology, the fund aligns its investments with UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (climate action). Forbion BioEconomy Fund I aims to deliver strong financial returns while driving impactful solutions to pressing planetary challenges. Forbion announced the first close of BioEconomy Fund I at €75 million on 20 June 2024.

About Forbion
Forbion is a leading global venture capital firm with deep expertise in Europe and the US with offices in Naarden, The Netherlands, Munich, Germany and Boston, USA. Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately €5 billion across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio-) pharmaceutical drug development. In addition,Forbion leverages its biotech expertise beyond human health to address ‘planetary health’ challenges through its BioEconomy fund strategy, which invests in companies developing sustainable solutions in food, agriculture, materials, and environmental technologies. Forbion’s team consists of over 30 investment professionals that have built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with 128 investments across 11 funds. Forbion’s record of sourcing, building and guiding life sciences companies has resulted in many approved breakthrough therapies and valuable exits. Forbion typically selects impactful investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of people and the planet, as well as meet its financial return objectives. The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany.

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Ardian secures record €3.2bn for sixth-generation Expansion fund

Ardian

Despite challenging fundraising environment, fundraise marked a 60% uptick in fund size compared to its predecessor and 10% above initial hardcap
• Diverse investor base with 120 new investors
• Fund will continue to invest in mission-critical, high-growth SMEs in Europe to create international champions

Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, today announced the successful raise of €3.2 billion for its sixth-generation Expansion Fund, Ardian Expansion Fund VI (AEF VI). The successful close highlights the strong support and confidence of Ardian’s global investor base. Of the 200 limited partners (LPs) participating in the fund, approximately 80 were returning investors from AEF V, contributing nearly half of the capital raised with an average 13% increase in their commitments. At the same time, AEF VI welcomed nearly 120 new investors, including more than 50 first-time Ardian clients, demonstrating the broad appeal and trust in Ardian’s Expansion investment strategy and track record.

Geographically, the fund has attracted a highly diversified group of investors, with LPs from 28 countries across the world, with notable growth in commitments from LPs in MENA, the Americas, Asia, the UK, the Nordics and the Netherlands. Ardian saw an uptick in commitments from pension funds and private wealth investors, with private wealth clients accounting for 25% of the fund’s LP base, compared to 16% for AEF V. This group includes 33 CEOs and members of senior management from previous Ardian Expansion portfolio companies.

Aligned with Expansion’s strategy, AEF VI aims to support high-growth industry leaders through equity investments ranging from €50 million to €300 million, targeting private mid-sized businesses led by committed and visionary entrepreneurs. Already 33% deployed, the fund has completed eight transactions in category-leading companies.

As a pioneer in the concept of sharing value, Ardian distributes a portion of its capital gains to employees of its portfolio companies at exit. To date, 81% of Expansion portfolio companies have benefited from this initiative, with 8,000 employees across 20 exits since AEF III receiving a share of the activity’s capital gains. Under AEF VI, an average of 250 employee shareholders per investment will benefit from this mechanism.

Ardian has also continued to strengthen its Expansion team, with 36 professionals across Paris, Frankfurt, and Milan, including 13 Managing Directors who have worked together for over 15 years, ensuring a strong culture. Their deep connections in local markets and multi-local presence allow them to support portfolio companies with cross-border opportunities, operational growth, and new customer acquisition. In 2024, the Expansion portfolio has demonstrated again an average double digit organic EBITDA growth. The team also has a proven track record of helping mid-sized companies scale through strategic acquisitions, with an average of five build-ups per portfolio company.

Additionally, the team is instrumental in sustainability transformations, with 95% of portfolio companies having conducted carbon footprint assessments by the end of 2024, 55% implementing GHG reduction plans, and all AEF VI sustainability-linked financings including carbon KPIs.

The fundraise announcement follows the recent close of Ardian’s first private equity Continuation Fund for Syclef, a leading European firm specializing in the installation and maintenance of refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Ardian’s Expansion team first invested in Syclef in 2020 and helped it consolidate its market position, including through M&A to expand internationally, and will now support it in its next stage of growth.

“If you build it they will come. Not just an inspirational quote from a great film, but the story of our record fundraise for Expansion. Against a challenging macro context, our swiftly secured fund size is down to the close and trusting relationships we have built with our investors; the strength of our track record and investment strategy; and the operational support we bring, across digital, AI, pricing and talent management, that helps our entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
The other story of this fundraise is the positive proof that Europe does still represent a Field of Dreams when it comes to direct private equity investment opportunities. We’re privileged to support just some of the many midcap companies that have the vision, energy and capability to grow into European and international champions. And the demand shown for our latest fund shows there is global appetite to play a part in that dream.” François Jerphagnon, Member of the Executive Committee, Managing Director of Ardian France and Head of Expansion, Ardian

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house, managing or advising $176bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,720 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

Media contacts

ARDIAN

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com

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Stonepeak Completes Acquisition of Boundary Street Capital

Stonepeak

 

NEW YORK & WASHINGTON – January 16, 2025 – Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Boundary Street Capital, LP (“Boundary Street”), a leading specialist private credit investment manager focused on the digital infrastructure, enterprise infrastructure software, and technology services sectors in the lower middle market.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome the Boundary Street team to Stonepeak,” said Jack Howell, Co-President of Stonepeak. “The team represents a strong cultural fit for our firm, and their addition will enable us to bring an even broader set of offerings to our limited partners and borrowers across the infrastructure landscape.”

“With deep expertise in digital infrastructure and technology services and extensive experience in the lower middle market, Boundary Street complements our existing credit investing capabilities well,” added Michael Leitner, Senior Managing Director at Stonepeak. “I look forward to working alongside Rashad and the rest of the team as we continue to grow the Stonepeak Credit platform.”

“Since our inception, Boundary Street has focused on helping to grow the greatest technology and digital infrastructure businesses of tomorrow. As part of Stonepeak, we’ll be even better positioned to continue pursuing this goal,” said Rashad Kawmy, Partner and Co-Founder of Boundary Street. “We are excited to start capitalizing on the many investment opportunities we’re seeing driven by digitalization and AI in ways we could not have done before.”

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal counsel to Stonepeak. Hogan Lovells served as legal counsel to Boundary Street.

About Stonepeak

Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $72 billion of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, with a focus on downside protection and strong risk-adjusted returns. Stonepeak, as sponsor of private equity and credit investment vehicles, provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to grow investments in its target sectors, which include digital infrastructure, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics, and real estate. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Houston, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Abu Dhabi. For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com.

About Boundary Street Capital

Boundary Street is a private credit investment manager focused on providing flexible capital solutions specifically to lower middle market technology and telecommunications businesses and backed by a team of investment professionals with decades of experience investing in these sectors. Boundary Street seeks to invest credit in durable, recurring revenue businesses providing the mission critical services that will drive economic growth, bridge the digital divide, and keep families and businesses connected. To learn more, visit www.boundarystreetcapital.com.

Contacts
Kate Beers / Maya Brounstein
corporatecomms@stonepeak.com
+1 (646) 540-5225

 

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Apollo Makes Key Leadership Appointments Aligned to Firm’s Five-Year Plan Announced at 2024 Investor Day

Apollo logo

CEO Marc Rowan to Enter Into 5-Year Employment Agreement Extension

Jim Zelter Named President of Apollo Global Management

John Zito Named Co-President of Apollo Asset Management Alongside Scott Kleinman

NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that Jim Zelter has been named President of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (AGM), the holding company for its asset management and retirement services businesses. The newly created role reflects Apollo’s continued operational expansion and its significant growth plans across both the Apollo Asset Management, Inc. (AAM) and Athene Holding Ltd. subsidiaries. As President, Zelter will work closely with AGM CEO Marc Rowan to drive Apollo’s recently announced five-year plan and lead a number of key strategic initiatives across its asset management and retirement services businesses.

In addition, John Zito has been named Co-President of AAM where he will serve alongside Scott Kleinman, Co-President of AAM. Kleinman and Zito will oversee all investing activity and day-to-day management of the asset management business. Zito will continue as Head of Credit for Apollo.

“We are rich for talent at Apollo. These senior leadership appointments reflect that and will support our ongoing evolution as a next generation financial services firm,” said CEO Marc Rowan. “Jim has been a key partner to me for nearly two decades and prior to joining the firm spent more than 20 years in financial services. John is a talented investor who has built an impressive credit organization with strong leadership; he will be a natural complement to Scott and his equities expertise.”

Rowan continued, “Two of the biggest trends we see in the next five years are the convergence of public and private markets, and the changing role of financial institutions. These promotions strengthen our position for the future as we execute on our five-year plan and capitalize on these opportunity sets.”

Jay Clayton, Chair of Apollo Global Management, said, “These appointments reflect Apollo’s commitment to strong, shareholder-aligned stewardship of the business, and our board enthusiastically supports this elevation of our next generation. We are finalizing a five-year extension of Marc’s leadership of the firm. With Marc at the helm, the senior leadership team in place, and our dozens of remarkable senior professionals across the firm, the board is confident we have the talent and alignment to deliver on our five-year plan for all our stakeholders.”

Jim Zelter said, “I joined Apollo nearly two decades ago and our evolution has been nothing short of transformational. We have crafted an ambitious, achievable strategy and purpose-built a platform that responds to the modern needs of how institutions and individuals will allocate and invest, how companies are financed, and the future of retirement and wealth generation. I am excited and energized to take on this new role and work with Marc and the management team to help Apollo achieve our full potential as innovators in both alternative asset management and retirement services.”

Jim Zelter joined Apollo in 2006 and led the build out and expansion of Apollo’s credit platform. He was named Co-President of AAM in 2018. John Zito joined Apollo in 2012 and serves as a Partner and head of Apollo’s credit business at AAM. Zito continues in these roles in addition to his new position as Co-President of AAM. Prior to Apollo, Zito was a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Brencourt Advisors and a Portfolio Manager at Veritas Fund Group.

About Apollo
Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of September 30, 2024, Apollo had approximately $733 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
In this press release, references to “Apollo,” “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer collectively to Apollo Global Management, Inc. and its subsidiaries, or as the context may otherwise require. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, discussions related to Apollo’s expectations regarding the performance of its business and other non-historical statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. When used in this press release, the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “continue,” “will,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 27, 2024, and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 6, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this press release and in our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. This press release does not constitute an offer of any Apollo fund.

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

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Keen is raising €125m to strengthen Europe’s defence tech ecosystem

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Keen

January 2025, Amsterdam — Keen Venture Partners, a leading VC firm based in Amsterdam, has announced plans to raise a €125 million fund dedicated to defence and security technology startups in Europe from seed to Series B.

This fund will be the first of its kind in the Benelux region and aims to become one of the largest defence tech investment funds in Europe. The goal is to support 20 to 25 startups from the seed stage to Series B, enabling the development of innovative solutions to address pressing geopolitical and security challenges.

“The shifting geopolitical landscape has created a critical need for Europe to become more self-reliant in defence and security. There is a real opportunity to build a stronger European defence industry,” says Alexander Ribbink, partner at Keen Venture Partners. “We are convinced that entrepreneurs and venture capital can strongly contribute to the safety of Europe. They are well-positioned to build and scale the innovative and cost-efficient solutions we need. Venture capital is essential to support and fuel entrepreneurship in the European defence industry, which will have lasting benefits far beyond the defence sector itself.”

Keen Venture Partners was founded in 2016, with a portfolio made up of investments in companies like EclecticIQ, Perciv.AI, and Avalor AI. The venture capital firm also benefits from an advisory board composed of military, political, and policy experts, reinforcing its strategic vision.

The new fund will focus on fostering innovative, dual-purpose technologies in European NATO countries, aligning closely with the European Defence Fund and NATO strategies.

Europe faces mounting strategic challenges, including the war in Ukraine, border threats, and growing tensions with China. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has recently highlighted the need for Europe to mentally and physically prepare for potential conflicts.

Coupled with scrutiny over defence underspending, Keen argues that these factors underscore the urgency of building a robust, self-reliant, and sustainable European defence tech ecosystem.

The defence industry is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from complex, low-volume systems to solutions that prioritise software, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. This evolution creates an opportunity for startups to lead innovation in “dual-use” technologies, serving both military and civilian purposes.

These include drones and radar systems, which can also support disaster response or environmental monitoring.

Entrepreneurship and venture capital can be crucial in building a scalable defence ecosystem, offering cost-effective and innovative solutions often overlooked by larger, more established defence companies. The European defence sector has experienced rapid growth, with over 100 startups exiting the market since 2017, according to Keen.

With this new fund, Keen Venture Partners aims to provide the financial backing and strategic support necessary to create a stronger, more resilient European defence ecosystem.

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Apollo and Standard Chartered Form US$3B Financing Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Energy Transition Credit

Apollo logo

Standard Chartered Acquires Minority Stake in Apterra, an Apollo Platform Specializing in Infrastructure Debt Origination

Agreement to Accelerate Capital Formation for Next-Gen Infrastructure and Transition Assets

NEW YORK and LONDON, Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) and Standard Chartered PLC today announced a long-term strategic partnership to support and accelerate financing for infrastructure, clean transition and renewable energy globally, leveraging the leading origination and distribution capabilities of both firms.

As part of the agreement, Standard Chartered and Apollo Clean Transition Capital (“ACT Capital”), a sustainable investing platform, plan to contribute up to US$3 billion of clean energy and transition financing across a range of asset classes and sectors.

Origination for the partnership’s financing activities will be primarily undertaken by Apterra, an Apollo-owned platform that focuses on originating, structuring and deploying debt capital to execute infrastructure transactions globally. Standard Chartered has acquired a minority stake in the platform and will support its investment origination.

Jim Zelter, Apollo Asset Management Co-President, said, “The global industrial renaissance is creating unprecedented capital demands across next-gen infrastructure, sustainable power and other transition assets. This new agreement should accelerate our mutual financing and investment activity in these areas, and we are thrilled to do it in partnership with Standard Chartered, an important and long-time banking partner to Apollo’s franchise.”

Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered PLC said, “This partnership with Apollo, a market leader in alternative asset management, is a great opportunity to leverage our collective sector expertise and innovative mindset to help finance sustainable growth. Standard Chartered and Apollo have complementary origination and distribution capabilities, which increase the scale of the financing we can jointly deploy, and the size of the projects in which we can participate. We are very pleased to build on our long-term partnership with Apollo to both expand our existing geographical coverage and mobilise capital to these critical parts of the global economy.”

More Partnership Details

Apollo’s Clean Transition Capital strategy seeks to meet a wide range of clean energy and climate capital needs across credit and equities. Over the past 5 years, Apollo has deployed more than US$40 billion1 into energy transition and climate-related investments and believes the demand for capital in these areas will scale materially in the coming years.

Samuel Feinstein, Apollo Partner and President of ACT Capital, said, “We believe this partnership with Standard Chartered will serve as a significant accelerant to the growth of Apollo’s Clean Transition business and support its broader Infrastructure Credit platform, which are critical components of our firm’s strategic growth plans. We are equally pleased to welcome Standard Chartered as an aligned equity partner in the growing Apterra platform and believe we can expand our work together over time to serve the evolving needs of our global client bases. Collectively, ACT Capital and Apterra represent significant opportunities for Apollo and Standard Chartered to access climate and infrastructure credit.”

Apterra, an Apollo affiliate founded in 2023, has executed more than US$4.8 billion of transactions and is positioned to increase its already robust growth trajectory with the strategic equity support of Standard Chartered. Apterra is led by industry veterans Ralph Cho, co-CEO, and Michael Pantelogianis, co-CEO, alongside a highly experienced management team.

Standard Chartered, one of the world’s leading cross-border and wealth management banks, is among the top infrastructure lenders in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with a strong and growing presence in the renewables sector.

Henrik Raber, Global Head, Global Banking at Standard Chartered, said: “With the global growth in infrastructure financing, and our strong presence in the sector, we are delighted to partner with ACT Capital, participate in Apterra and collaborate with the Apollo team. This is an exciting opportunity alongside our existing advisory and financing capabilities.”

As part of the partnership, Standard Chartered will provide a senior secured credit facility to ACT Capital to fund project finance and infrastructure loans. Financial terms for Standard Chartered’s purchase of a minority equity interest in Apterra are not disclosed. PJT Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Standard Chartered.

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1. As of June 30, 2024. Deployment commensurate with Apollo’s proprietary Climate and Transition Investment Framework, which provides guidelines and metrics with respect to the definition of a climate or transition investment. Reflects (a) for equity investments: (i) total enterprise value at time of signed commitment for initial equity commitments; (ii) additional capital contributions from Apollo funds and co-invest vehicles for follow-on equity investments; and (iii) contractual commitments of Apollo funds and co-invest vehicles at the time of initial commitment for preferred equity investments; (b) for debt investments: (i) total facility size for Apollo originated debt, warehouse facilities, or fund financings; (ii) purchase price on the settlement date for private non-traded debt; (iii) increases in maximum exposure on a period-over-period basis for publicly-traded debt; (iv) total capital organized on the settlement date for syndicated debt; and (v) contractual commitments of Apollo funds and co-invest vehicles as of the closing date for real estate debt; (c) for SPACs, the total sponsor equity and capital organized as of the respective announcement dates; (d) for platform acquisitions, the purchase price on the signed commitment date; and (e) for platform originations, the gross origination value on the origination date.

About Apollo

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of September 30, 2024, Apollo had approximately USD $733 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

About Standard Chartered

We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 52 of the world’s most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

About Apterra

Apterra, an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, is a premier platform specializing in innovative financing solutions for infrastructure projects. Our tailored capital services empower clients, including financial sponsors and developers, to optimize assets and achieve sustainable growth. Fuelled by strong relationships, our distribution network ensures seamless access to capital through partnerships with banks, investors, and asset managers. We are focused on driving growth and operational integrity in the infrastructure sector, while creating enduring value for our clients. Visit www.Apterra.com to learn more.

Apollo 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

Standard Chartered Contacts

Piers Townsend
Global Head of Communications, Corporate & Investment Banking
Standard Chartered
Piers.townsend@sc.com
+6590059067

Shaun Gamble
Director, Group Media Relations
Standard Chartered
Shaun.gamble@sc.com
+442078855934

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Chrysalix Carbon Neutrality Fund Announces its First Investment in Deadwood Innovations

Chrysalix

Chrysalix Venture Capital’s Carbon Neutrality Fund has made its inaugural investment in Deadwood Innovations, which upgrades low-grade lumber and waste into high-strength, sustainable products for premium engineered wood markets.

Alfred Lam

Jan 14, 2025

VANCOUVER, British Columbia and DELFT, Netherlands, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chrysalix Venture Capital, a leading early-stage fund that specializes in transformational industrial innovation, is excited to announce an investment in Deadwood Innovations, developers of a solution to upgrade low-grade lumber, waste & underutilized species into high strength, durable & sustainable products in premium engineered wood markets.

“At Chrysalix, we recognize the significant challenges facing the forestry industry today, including rising costs, price volatility, shrinking margins, and the growing demand for sustainable products,” said Alfred Lam, Partner at Chrysalix. “We are excited to support Deadwood Innovations and their groundbreaking upgrading solution, which directly addresses these challenges by converting low-value feedstocks and waste into high-value products. This innovation improves sustainability and creates new market opportunities, driving growth, profitability and resilience for the sector.”

“We chose to partner with Chrysalix because they are one of the rare VC firms that truly understand industrial innovation and the unique challenges and opportunities within the forestry sector,” said Owen Miller, CEO of Deadwood Innovations. “As we enter the next phase of our journey, their expertise, extensive network, and commitment to our vision will be crucial in driving Deadwood’s growth across Canada and expansion into global markets.”

The investment will support the development of the first commercial-scale facility in Fort St. James, British Columbia, in partnership with the Nak’azdli Development Corporation. CEO John-Paul Wenger stated, “Partnering with Deadwood Innovations and Chrysalix enables us to demonstrate how investment, innovation, and collaboration can deliver meaningful economic reconciliation, diversify the forestry sector, and promote responsible forest management practices.”

Chrysalix has made this investment through its latest Industrial Innovation Fund, reaffirming its commitment to driving transformative change in resource-intensive industries such as mining, metals, forestry, energy, chemicals, manufacturing, transportation and more.

About Chrysalix Venture Capital

Chrysalix is a technology-focused VC firm that builds, mentors and connects high-growth companies. With more than 20 years of experience, Chrysalix has built its reputation on bringing disruptive innovation to the world’s largest industries by focusing on where technology meets science. Chrysalix has one of the strongest investment teams in the industry, with deep VC, technology, and corporate and entrepreneurial expertise. It is backed by more than 20 international blue-chip industrial and financial investors. For more information, visit: www.chrysalix.com.

About Deadwood Innovations

Deadwood Innovations is introducing the next step in the evolution of the forest industry. Our innovative technology transforms traditionally low-value timber into premium high-quality lumber products at a competitive price. Our mission is to unlock new profit margins and value for lumber producers while decreasing the carbon footprint of the forest industry. We are committed to enhancing the value of every tree, contributing to a more sustainable and profitable industry, and fostering mutually beneficial relationships between industry and First Nations. For more information, visit: https://deadwoodinnovations.ca/

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Smartfin closes third growth fund at €250 million with backing from EIF

Smartfin

investments in Europe’s leading B2B technology scale-ups

  • Smartfin closes its fifth fund (and third growth fund) at its €250m target.
  • Backers of the new fund include returning private and institutional investors as well as new ones, including for the first time the European Investment Fund through its ESCALAR program.
  • The new fund enables the firm to double down on investing in Europe’s most promising B2B technology companies, with now more than €600m in total investment commitments.
  • Two recent investments with the new fund, dubbed Smartfin Capital III, have already been announced: CrazyGames and Emma.

Brussels, Belgium – 9 January 2025: Smartfin, a leading growth equity investor in European B2B technology companies, has successfully closed its third growth fund at its €250 million target.

This fund marks a significant milestone for the firm, with an introductory participation of the European Investment Fund (EIF) through its ESCALAR program to address the financing gap experienced by European high-growth companies.

The closure of its third growth fund brings Smartfin’s total investment commitments to over €600 million, only a decade after its founding in 2014.

The successful fundraise, notably in challenging market conditions, underscores the trust and confidence of both new and returning investors in Smartfin’s investment strategy and track record.

The new fund, dubbed Smartfin Capital III, will focus on growth-stage B2B technology companies across Europe, furthering Smartfin’s commitment to supporting transformative tech scale-ups that drive innovation and deliver long-term value.

Smartfin has already made its first two investments with the new fund: CrazyGames (a global browser-based casual gaming platform) and Emma (a leading multi-cloud management platform designed to streamline and optimize cloud infrastructure).

A Proven Track Record of Success

Smartfin Capital III is the firm’s fifth fund, building on the success of its two early-stage funds (Smartfin Ventures I & II) and two prior growth funds (Smartfin Capital I & II). In the past decade, Smartfin has established itself as a key player in the European tech ecosystem, with a portfolio of innovative companies that span multiple sectors.

Notable active and past investments across its funds include Deliverect, a leading provider of food delivery integration software; Bright Analytics, a consolidated management reporting platform;  Recharge, a global one-stop-shop branded payments platform; Hex-Rays, a specialist in reverse engineering software; Zivver, a secure communications platform for email, video and file sharing; Silverfin, a cloud-based platform transforming accounting workflows acquired by Visma; Theo Technologies, a global leader in video streaming technology acquired by Dolby; Newtec, a pioneer in satellite communications acquired by ST Engineering; and UnifiedPost, a publicly listed fintech company revolutionizing invoicing and payments for SMEs.

For more information on our portfolio, please visit https://smartfinvc.com/portfolio/.

These investments demonstrate Smartfin’s ability to identify and support exceptional growth companies, helping them scale and succeed in competitive markets. Smartfin’s approach combines strategic guidance, operational expertise, a long-term view and access to an extensive network, ensuring that portfolio companies are well-positioned to achieve their growth ambitions.

“This successful fundraise reflects the strength of our team and the confidence our investors place in us.” said Jürgen Ingels, Founding Partner of Smartfin. “The partnership with EIF, through the ESCALAR program, is an international quality stamp that reaffirms our commitment to backing exceptional entrepreneurs and fostering innovation in Europe’s B2B technology ecosystem. We are excited to continue building on our strong track record and scaling the next generation of tech leaders.”

EIF Partnership: A Stamp of Quality

The inaugural participation of the EIF in Smartfin Capital III through its ESCALAR program represents a significant endorsement of Smartfin’s investment philosophy and performance.

ESCALAR, established by EIF to provide growth financing to high-potential funds and companies, will enable Smartfin to expand its impact and support more promising ventures across Europe, while at the same time providing a stepstone in further institutionalizing its operations.

“Investing in scale-ups and technology is not just about fostering innovation; it’s about empowering the next generation of leaders who will drive Europe’s economic growth and global competitiveness. With Smartfin we want to support an innovation ecosystem where European technology companies and entrepreneurship can thrive,” commented Marjut Falkstedt, EIF Chief Executive.

About Smartfin

Smartfin is a European venture and growth capital investor, managing over €600 million in investment commitments and investing in early and growth-stage B2B technology companies. Smartfin has an open-ended investment philosophy and invests throughout Europe. Smartfin’s team combines a successful venture capital and private equity investment track record with extensive operational experience in setting up, building, and managing leading international technology companies. This differentiates Smartfin as an experienced and entrepreneurial, truly hands-on and value-added partner to its portfolio companies. For more info, please visit https://www.smartfinvc.com.

About EIF

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of sustainability, innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment. For more info, please visit https://www.eif.org/index.htm.

 

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