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Lighthouse Announces $370 Million Series C Investment Led by KKR to Accelerate Platform Innovation and Growth

KKR

Investment supports continued expansion of AI and business intelligence capabilities for over 70,000 hospitality properties globally

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Lighthouse, the leading commercial intelligence platform for the travel & hospitality industry, today announced an approximately $370 million growth investment led by global investment firm, KKR. This investment accelerates Lighthouse’s mission to reimagine commercial strategy for the $15 billion travel & hospitality technology market. Proceeds from the investment will be used to drive continued product innovation across Lighthouse’s platform, strategic acquisitions, and global expansion efforts.

Lighthouse’s suite of products provides revenue managers, commercial leaders, and accommodation owners with easy-to-use tools that drive incremental bookings, streamline operations, and enable a better customer experience for guests. The platform is underpinned by proprietary technology that processes over 400 terabytes of travel and market data daily and leverages AI to deliver real-time insights that enable customers to make better and more efficient operational decisions. Lighthouse has established itself as hospitality’s leading commercial intelligence platform, with 700+ employees worldwide and an industry-leading NPS score of 70+.

“We’re extremely grateful to the 70,000+ hospitality providers, who have placed their trust in Lighthouse,” said Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO of Lighthouse. “I couldn’t be more energized by what we’re working towards. We’re just getting started in making hospitality data and tools more powerful, accessible, and affordable. This investment by KKR significantly accelerates our ability to enhance our commercial platform through expanded AI capabilities and additional data sets, enabling us to better serve our existing customers while continuing to expand across the hospitality market.”

KKR has established a proven track record of supporting technology-focused growth companies, having invested approximately $23 billion in related investments since 2010 through its private equity and growth equity funds and built a dedicated global team of nearly 70 investment professionals with deep technology growth equity expertise. Lighthouse will be able to leverage KKR’s extensive industry experience, local resources and global network to help further enhance its customer offerings and tap into new segments globally.

“Lighthouse has demonstrated an exceptional ability to support hoteliers of all sizes – ranging from global chains to independent properties – by addressing the unique needs of each segment,” said Stephen Shanley, Partner and Head of Tech Growth in Europe at KKR. “Their strong track record, customer loyalty, and proven ability to deliver value across varied markets position them as the leading platform in this space. We are proud to support Lighthouse in expanding its global footprint, driving continued innovation, and enhancing its market leading offerings.”

This latest funding builds on Lighthouse’s $80M Series B investment round, which was completed in November 2021. Existing investors Spectrum Equity, F-Prime Capital, Eight Roads Ventures, and Highgate Technology Ventures will continue their participation in the business.

KKR is making the investment in Lighthouse through its Next Generation Technology III Fund.

William Blair acted as financial advisor. Latham & Watkins served as legal advisor to Lighthouse and Gibson Dunn as legal advisor to KKR.

About Lighthouse

Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight) is the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry. We transform complexity into confidence by providing actionable market insights, business intelligence, and pricing tools that maximize revenue growth. We continually innovate to deliver the best platform for hospitality professionals to price more effectively, measure performance more efficiently, and understand the market in new ways. Trusted by over 70,000 hotels in 185 countries, Lighthouse is the only solution that provides real-time hotel and short-term rental data in a single platform. We strive to deliver the best possible experience with unmatched customer service. We consider our clients as true partners—their success is our success. For more information about Lighthouse, please visit: https://www.mylighthouse.com.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

Lighthouse
Adam Swart
pr@mylighthouse.com

KKR
FGS Global
Alastair Elwen / Jack Shelley
+44 20 7251 3801
KKR-LON@fgsglobal.com

Source: KKR

 

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819 Capital Partners announces acquisition of Travelhome

819 Capital Partners

Deventer, October 3, 2024 – 819 Capital Partners has acquired Travelhome, the Dutch market leader in global motorhome travel. Together with general director Perry van de Wiel, we have acquired Travelhome from ANWB through a management buy-out.

 

Travelhome has been part of ANWB since 2008. Travelhome will continue as the exclusive partner of ANWB for developing and providing motorhome vacations, ensuring the continuity and quality of its offerings and services.

Following our recent acquisition of ANWB Reizen/Fox Reizen, our add-on acquisition of Travelhome is a logical step. We can actively support accelerating and executing Travelhome’s European expansion strategy.

Perry van de Wiel, director of Travelhome, stated: “We are extremely proud of this next step in our company’s 38-year history. ANWB has contributed greatly to our success over the past 16 years; it has been a wonderful journey together. This management buy-out opens new opportunities for us, particularly through our collaboration with 819 Capital Partners, allowing us to be part of a larger travel group once again, Travel C Group. Travelhome will become part of the same group as Fox Reizen. The collaboration between these companies offers significant benefits for customers, including a broader range of travel options.”

Sven Kempers, director of 819 Capital Partners, added: “Travelhome has a long history of strong performance and is the market leader in the Netherlands for global motorhome trips. Our acquisition of Travelhome is a logical follow-up to our recent acquisition of Fox Reizen. With this, we strengthen the travel group within 819 Private Equity Fund.”

We have acquired Travelhome with 819 Private Equity Fund I.

Other publications: anwb.nl

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Bain Capital signs €700mn Joint Venture agreement with Neinor Homes

BainCapital

Bain Capital signs €700mn Joint Venture agreement with Neinor Homes

  • Neinor Homes has reached an agreement to acquire a 10% stake in Bain Capital’s Habitat Inmobiliaria
  • It forms a new €700mn JV with Bain Capital through which Neinor Homes will develop and manage Habitat’s real estate assets

London – September 23, 2024 – Neinor Homes (“Neinor”), the leading listed residential property developer in Spain, today reached an agreement with Merak IMS, S.L. (“Merak”), a holding company controlled by funds managed by Bain Capital, to acquire a 10% stake in Promociones Habitat, S.A. (“Habitat”) and enters into an agreement where Neinor will provide development and management services to Habitat’s ongoing developments and land bank.

At the end of June, Habitat had a land bank with the capacity to develop c.8,000 residential housing units. Of the total land bank, Habitat has nearly 50% launched with c.4,000housing units in different stages of development, of which c.2,200 units are currently under construction or completed and 1,939 units are already sold.

As part of the deal, Neinor will provide services to a high-quality land bank. Madrid represents c.3,500 housing units or 44% of the total land bank, located in key areas such as the new southern-west developments of Berrocales, Ahijones and Valdecarros, but also located in high growth areas located to the east of the city, such as Retamar de la Huerta and Brunete.

Borja García-Egotxeaga, Neinor Homes’ CEO comments that: “This deal is bound to transform the growth paradigm in the Spanish residential sector, where in recent years existing platforms haven’t been able to scale meaningfully. Today, thanks to our dealmaking and execution capacity we are strategically positioned to seize growth opportunities in ways that are highly accretive to both shareholders and co-investors. Additionally, the expected strength of the Spanish macro in the next three years is set to act as a tailwind clearly playing into our advantage.”

Ali Haroon, a Partner at Bain Capital said: “Our residential housing strategy is closely aligned with our firmwide thematic investment approach to create lasting value. With demand for housing growing across Spain, we believe there is a significant opportunity to develop high quality housing for the high concentration of households seeking the dream of homeownership. Bain Capital is a global player in the real estate business with significant investments and a clear investment strategy in the Spanish market. We have a solid track record in focusing on value-add real estate assets, enabling us to successfully deliver for investors.”

Jordi Argemi, Neinor Homes’ Deputy CEO and CFO says: “This transaction marks a breakthrough in the execution of Neinor’s Strategic Plan as it accelerates both the timing and scale of our JV business, whose value is yet to be priced by the market. Moreover, we are extremely pleased that with an innovative structure, we’ve been able to earn Bain Capital’s trust as its main partner in Spain, reinforcing our ability to manage their platform and maximise returns.”

Nikolay Golubev, a Partner at Bain Capital commented: “We look forward to building upon this partnership with Neinor and leveraging our deep industry expertise to deliver quality housing in Spain. In the seven years since we acquired Habitat, we have created 5,498 units in a market facing a real shortage of residential housing, a strategy making a big impact across the homebuilding sector.”

* For the full regulatory announcement please refer to Neinor’s webpage

About Bain Capital

Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private multi-asset alternative investment firms that creates lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. Since our founding in 1984, we’ve applied our insight and experience to organically expand into numerous asset classes including private equity, credit, public equity, venture capital, real estate and other strategic areas of focus. The firm has offices on four continents, more than 1,750 employees and approximately $185 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com.

About Neinor Homes

Neinor Homes is the leading residential property developer in Spain, with a land bank to develop c12,000 homes, and a GAV to June 2024 of €1.5bn. This land bank is located in some of the fastest growing regions with the best economic fundamentals in Spain: Madrid, Western and Eastern Andalusia, Levante, Basque Country and Catalonia.  Neinor is a fully integrated and well-established residential platform of scale in Spain, covering the entire development value chain from land buying, planning and urban management, product design, delegated development and construction, sales and marketing and rentals. We are committed to creating and delivering attractive risk adjusted returns for shareholders through our disciplined capital allocation strategy and our excellence in operations and risk management. We are the only listed residential property developer with a multi-sector strategy to market in Spain, and our strategies include Build-to-rent (BTR); Build-to-sell (BTS); and the largely untapped senior living rental market in Spain, which we are progressing. Neinor’s operational excellence, investment strategy and results achieved since 2019 have enabled us to deliver on our 5-year business plan, launched in March 2023, in a sustainable and capital-efficient manner. This plan combines a €600 million shareholder remuneration plan and an investment of €1 billion in new opportunistic land acquisitions, half of which are expected to be undertaken in joint ventures with strategic partners through co-investment agreements, with a +20% IRR target. We offer shareholders attractive risk adjusted returns in a country where there are strong and sustainable supply and demand fundamentals and supported by a resilient macroeconomic environment and outlook. Spain remains one the most attractive and safest residential markets worldwide, with one of the lowest ratios of new supply per capita globally since 2007.

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Global Travel Technology Company OYO to Acquire G6 Hospitality from Blackstone Real Estate

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Blackstone

New Delhi & Dallas – September 20, 2024 – Oravel Stays, the parent company of the global travel technology company OYO, today announced that it has agreed to acquire G6 Hospitality, the leading economy lodging franchisor and parent company of the iconic Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, from Blackstone Real Estate for $525 million, in an all-cash transaction.

OYO has steadily expanded its footprint in the United States since its launch in the region in 2019 and currently operates over 320 hotels across 35 states. In 2023, OYO added nearly 100 hotels to its US portfolio and aims to add ~250 hotels in 2024. Motel 6’s franchise network produces gross room revenues of $1.7 billion, which generates a strong fee base and cash flow for G6. OYO will leverage its comprehensive technology suite as well as its global distribution network and marketing expertise to further strengthen the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands and drive continued financial growth.

“This acquisition is a significant milestone for a startup company like us to strengthen our international presence. Motel 6’s strong brand recognition, financial profile and network in the US, combined with OYO’s entrepreneurial spirit will be instrumental in charting a sustainable path forward for the company which will continue to operate as a separate entity,” said Gautam Swaroop, CEO OYO International.

Under its ownership, Blackstone invested significant capital to create value and enhance the Motel 6 brand, including executing a strategy to transform the business into a leading asset light lodging company with a franchise network of ~1500 hotels across the United States and Canada.

Julie Arrowsmith, President and Chief Executive Officer at G6 Hospitality, said,“We are grateful for our successful partnership with Blackstone and the transformation that has positioned us well for this new chapter. OYO’s innovative approach to hospitality will allow us to enhance our offerings and great value to our guests while maintaining the iconic Motel 6 brand that travelers have trusted for over six decades.”

Rob Harper, Head of Blackstone Real Estate Asset Management Americas, said, “This transaction is a terrific outcome for investors and is the culmination of an ambitious business plan that more than tripled our investors’ capital and generated over $1 billion in profit over our hold period. We believe G6 is extremely well-positioned for the future and we look forward to seeing its brands continue their success in the years to come.”

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as Blackstone’s lead advisor and Jones Lang LaSalle Securities, LLC and PJT Partners acted as financial advisors. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as Blackstone’s legal advisor.

About OYO
OYO is a global platform that empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses with hotels and homes by providing full-stack technology products and services that aim to increase revenue and ease operations; bringing easy-to-book, affordable, and trusted accommodation to customers around the world. OYO offers 40+ integrated products and solutions to patrons who operate over 175K hotel and home storefronts in more than 35 countries including India, Europe and Southeast Asia. For more information, visit here

About G6 Hospitality LLC
G6 Hospitality LLC is a leading economy lodging franchisor, with nearly 1,500 economy lodging locations under the iconic Motel 6 brand and the Studio 6 Extended Stay brand in the United States and Canada. G6 Hospitality is committed to making hospitality accessible to all through responsible business practices and unparalleled opportunity for franchisees to build a legacy through ownership. Both Motel 6 and Studio 6 were recognized in the 2024 Entrepreneur Franchise 500® report, with Motel 6 ranking in the top 50 of all franchises. The Carrollton, Texas, based company was named a 2024 Leader in Diversity by Dallas Business Journal. For more information, please visit http://www.g6hospitality.com/.

About Blackstone Real Estate
Blackstone is a global leader in real estate investing. Blackstone’s real estate business was founded in 1991 and has US $336 billion of investor capital under management. Blackstone is the largest owner of commercial real estate globally, owning and operating assets across every major geography and sector, including logistics, data centers, residential, office and hospitality. Our opportunistic funds seek to acquire undermanaged, well-located assets across the world. Blackstone’s Core+ business invests in substantially stabilized real estate assets globally, through both institutional strategies and strategies tailored for income-focused individual investors including Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (BREIT). Blackstone Real Estate also operates one of the leading global real estate debt businesses, providing comprehensive financing solutions across the capital structure and risk spectrum, including management of Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE: BXMT).

CONTACTS:
OYO
Anupriya Malik
Anupriya.d@oyorooms.com

G6 Hospitality
Maggie Giddens
Giddens_Maggie@g6hospitality.com

Blackstone
Jeffrey Kauth
Jeffrey.Kauth@Blackstone.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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Away Resorts to further expand its footprint by acquiring Coppergreen Leisure Resorts

CVC Capital Partners

Leading UK holiday park operator Away Resorts today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Coppergreen Leisure Resorts (“Coppergreen”). This follows the acquisition of Aria Resorts announced in August 2021, and expands Away Resorts’ footprint to 27 locations across the UK.

Coppergreen has 370 lodges across four parks in Yorkshire, Scotland, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Growth capital investor BGF exits as part of the deal, having backed Coppergreen in 2016. The acquisition will greatly complement Away Resorts’ existing portfolio, increasing its presence in the North of England and in Scotland, and growing the number of visitors the group welcomes every year to over 750,000.

Coppergreen is renowned for its quality accommodation and bespoke customer service, offering countryside retreats in attractive settings. It has been a front runner of sustainable and eco-friendly facilities having made significant investments in its estate to develop its parks to the highest specification and quality.

This acquisition follows a milestone year for Away Resorts, with the company welcoming guests in record numbers and receiving investment from CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII. Away Resorts continues to have a healthy pipeline of opportunities to further grow the estate, while continuing to invest in developing its offering.

Carl Castledine, CEO of Away Resorts, commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming Coppergreen to the Away Resorts family to support our ambition of forming the leading UK holiday park provider. Coppergreen’s prime locations and leadership in sustainability will further enhance our offer as we look to provide perfect holiday destinations for UK holiday makers.”

David Copley, CEO at Coppergreen Leisure Resorts, commented: “Away Resorts has a reputation for driving innovation across the industry and is the ideal owner for the business. We look forward to seeing what the team goes on to achieve in its next successful chapter.”

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Restore Hyper Wellness Secures $140 Million Investment led by General Atlantic to Accelerate Growth and Innovation

General Atlantic

With rapid growth in customers and locations, Restore is focused on its mission to make Hyper Wellness® accessible and affordable so people can do more of what they love to do

December 14, 2021

Restore Hyper Wellness (Restore), a leading provider of proactive wellness solutions, today announced a $140 million investment led by General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm. Piper Sandler & Co. served as the exclusive advisor to Restore. Restore plans to leverage the investment to help accelerate its rapid growth and deliver innovative technology to further propel the promise of Hyper Wellness®, a category pioneered by Restore.

Founded in 2015, Restore is designing an integrated wellness experience and creating proprietary protocols to improve consumers’ near and long-term health. Restore delivers expert guidance and the most extensive array of cutting-edge wellness modalities integrated under one roof. Restore’s most popular modalities include:

  • IV Drip Therapy. A modality that infuses a liter of saline with essential vitamins, nutrients, minerals and amino acids. Restore’s medical team provides guidance to customize an IV drip and help achieve health goals, whether they be boosting energy and focus or recharging the body’s defenses.
  • Whole Body Cryotherapy. A cold therapy that immerses the body in temperatures as low as -166oF for up to 3 minutes. This modality may help to optimize sleep, relieve pain and swelling, decrease stress, boost mood and energy and help heal injuries.

Restore is the largest retail provider of IV drips in the U.S. and has designed one of the best whole body cryotherapy experiences in the world through its proprietary cryotherapy chambers, available only at Restore locations.

“We believe everyone should have access to proactive health modalities that help them feel their best, so they can do more of what they love,” said Jim Donnelly, Co-Founder and CEO of Restore. “We’re defining a new healthcare experience that we describe as effective, social and transparent. Our prevention-first model (vs. the traditional sick care model) is still new to many consumers and communities. For this reason, it was important to find an investment partner that has experience helping build new categories. We are excited to partner with General Atlantic because of their strong track record of investing in category-creating brands.”

“Jim and Steve are visionary founders who have created a new comprehensive model that seamlessly integrates proactive wellness and preventative medicine,” said Shaw Joseph, Managing Director at General Atlantic. “We look forward to leveraging our experience supporting innovative, high-growth businesses as we partner with the Restore team to scale their services to populations of all kinds, from chronic pain sufferers to elite athletes.”

“The average American lifespan is 79 years, while the average American healthspan—the years we live in general good health and disease free—is only 63 years,” said Steve Welch, Restore’s Co-Founder. “That means that the last 16 years of the average American’s life is increasingly debilitated, unable to do the things they love. Through Restore’s Hyper Wellness model, customers can feel better every time they visit. Long-term, we hope to prove we can help extend our clients’ healthspans, allowing them to continue to live life to the fullest while simultaneously reducing the healthcare costs of the system.”

Restore’s footprint includes 115 predominantly franchised locations in 34 states. In 2021 alone, Restore is poised to deliver over 1.5 million services. The Restore system now employs over 2,400 people nationwide. In 2022, Restore aims to open a new store every four days, on average. Restore serves a wide range of demographics across gender, age and socioeconomic backgrounds.

In 2021, the company’s system-wide sales have grown by 158%, which follows similar year-over-year growth from 2020.

“We believe that Restore is very well positioned to capture a meaningful share of the high-growth, fragmented and underserved wellness market,” said Lexie Bartlett, Principal on General Atlantic’s Consumer team. “As consumers take a more proactive approach to managing their health and wellness, the Restore team has developed an integrated, multi-modality offering to provide new treatment solutions that can meet their diverse needs.”

Jim Donnelly continued, “The democratization of wellness is long overdue. Better outcomes and options should not be reserved solely for the affluent. We take great pride in making Restore accessible to every walk of life. In return, our avid customers have become great brand ambassadors and are providing the gift of better wellness when they bring their friends and family to Restore.”

​About General Atlantic

General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 445 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and deliver lasting impact, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to scale innovative businesses around the world. General Atlantic currently has over $86 billion in assets under management inclusive of all products as of September 30, 2021, and more than 215 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore and Stamford. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit the website: www.generalatlantic.com.

About Restore Hyper Wellness

Launched in Austin, Texas in 2015, Restore Hyper Wellness (Restore) is the award-winning creator of an innovative new category of care—Hyper Wellness®. Restore delivers expert guidance and an extensive array of cutting-edge wellness modalities integrated under one roof. These modalities include biomarker assessments, IV drip therapy, intramuscular (IM) shots, mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy, whole body and localized cryotherapy, infrared sauna, red light therapy, compression, assisted stretching, HydraFacial and Cryoskin. Restore’s mission is to make Hyper Wellness accessible and affordable so people can do more of what they love to do.

Media Contacts

Mary Armstrong & Emily Japlon
General Atlantic media@generalatlantic.com

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Booking Holdings enters into agreement with CVC Capital Partners to acquire Etraveli Group

CVC Capital Partners

Acquisition will complement Booking Holdings’ ongoing work to build a frictionless global flights offering

Booking Holdings Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with funds managed by CVC Capital Partners (“CVC”) to acquire global flight booking provider, Etraveli Group, for approximately €1.63 billion. Completion of the acquisition is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

Already a partner of Booking.com – helping power its existing flight product – the acquisition of Etraveli Group will complement Booking Holdings’ ongoing work to build a frictionless global flights offering to deliver on the company’s overall mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

“As international air travel rebounds from the impact of the pandemic, we look forward to building upon our existing relationship with Etraveli Group to make the travel booking experience easier and more seamless to support our partners and customers,” said Booking Holdings’ Chief Executive Officer, Glenn Fogel.

“Booking Holdings pioneered the travel space more than two decades ago and they continue to pave the path forward by developing solutions to create seamless travel experiences,” said Mathias Hedlund, Etraveli Group’s Chief Executive Officer. “We have had a fantastic time together with our current owner CVC, establishing Etraveli Group as a global provider of attractive flight options at affordable prices. Today is a day of recognition, as well as marking a new phase in our relentless urge to improve further. We are thrilled to become a part of Booking Holdings, and we look forward to the next chapter of our own development as we continue to enhance the flight booking experience for our customers and partners worldwide.”

“Mathias and his team have built a world-leading platform for selling flights. Joining the Booking Holdings family is a logical step in Etraveli’s journey. We wish them all the very best and bon voyage!” said Lorne Somerville, Chairman of Etraveli Group and a Managing Partner of CVC.

Etraveli Group will remain headquartered in Sweden and operate as an independent business under Booking Holdings, led by their current management team.

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Fletcher Hotels embarks on next growth phase with new owner Egeria

Egeria

Nieuwegein, April 22, 2021 – The shareholders of Fletcher Hotels have agreed to sell a majority stake to the Amsterdam-based investment company Egeria. NIBC and Xead are selling their shares and the Fletcher management will remain as shareholders. Egeria’s hands-on involvement and experience of international expansion will enable Fletcher Hotels to enter a new growth phase, building on a healthy and stable foundation.

Rob Hermans, CEO of Fletcher Hotels, said: “We’re grateful to NIBC and Xead for their financial support over the past years, which helped Fletcher to grow into the largest hotel chain in the Netherlands. Fletcher is a healthy business with enormous growth ambitions. Last year was a particularly difficult year for Fletcher Hotels, but with the end of the coronavirus restrictions in sight we’re seeing occupancy rise again and we’re confident that we have a very good summer ahead of us. With Egeria we’ll have an entrepeneurial shareholder on our side who will help us to continue fulfilling our growth ambitions. Even last year Fletcher achieved growth, adding a further four hotels. Together with Egeria I’m looking forward to making our business even larger, healthier and more successful.”

Mark Wetzels, Partner of Egeria, said: “We’re particularly impressed by the business built by the Fletcher team and we have the utmost confidence in the future. We’re therefore delighted to be able to contribute to the next phase of Fletcher Hotels as a new shareholder. The hotel chain is a well-managed business that has achieved controlled growth in recent years, with an estate now comprising more than a hundred hotels. We’re impressed by the entrepreneurial sprit in the hotels and among the staff, who have always been on hand to assist guests despite these immensely tough times. With our knowledge, expertise and network we aim to contribute to the hotel chain’s further professionalisation and growth ambitions jointly with the Fletcher team.”

Brigitte van der Maarel, NIBC Investment Partners, said: “We’re proud to have supported Fletcher’s growth as a minority shareholder. We’re delighted that the company will remain in Dutch hands and can continue to fulfil its growth ambitions.”

Fletcher Hotels aims to grow to more than 150 hotels in the Netherlands in the years ahead and also has international expansion ambitions. Since its inception the chain has operated a large number of hotels on the Dutch coast and in countryside areas, welcoming tourists from the Netherlands and abroad. With their restaurants the Fletcher hotels also fulfil a regional function in many cases. The transaction is subject to approval by ACM. The works council has already issued a positive advice.

About Fletcher Hotels
A long-standing Dutch company, Fletcher Hotels is the largest hotel chain in the Netherlands, with 103 hotels. The properties are all unique and situated in the most attractive locations in the Netherlands. Fletcher’s hotels are located particularly in forests, on the coast and near nature reserves or amusement parks. As well as accommodation, the hotels provide various facilities such as fully-equipped wellness resorts, football pitches, bowling alleys and tennis courts and a range of modern restaurant concepts including De Kromme Dissel, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2021 for the 50th year in succession.

About Egeria
Established in 1997, Egeria is an independent Dutch investment company focused on medium-sized enterprises. Egeria invests in healthy businesses with an enterprise value of between EUR 50 million and EUR 350 million. Egeria believes in building businesses jointly with enterprising management teams (Boldly Building Together). Egeria Private Equity Funds has interests in 11 companies in the Netherlands and Germany, while Egeria Evergreen has investments in 6 companies. Egeria’s portfolio companies generate combined revenues of more than EUR 2 billion and employ almost 10,000 people. Other activities include Egeria Real Estate Investments, Egeria Real Estate Development and Egeria Listed Investments. In 2018 Egeria launched Egeria Do, a corporate giving programme that supports projects in the world of art, culture and society, but also within its investee companies.

About Xead Group
Xead Group is a Luxembourg-based investor specialising in hotels and travel technology. Xead Group provides medium-term growth capital through shareholdings and co-investments.

About NIBC Investment Partners
NIBC Investment Partners is part of NIBC Bank and demonstrates the enterprising character of NIBC Bank by acquiring minority shareholdings in medium-sized companies, real-estate developments and infrastructure projects. NIBC Investment Partners works closely with the management and shareholders on the basis of a long-term partnership to help fulfil their growth ambitions. As a genuine partner the team can play an active role in creating value and tackling strategic and financial challenges. The 14-strong team of professionals operates from The Hague and has direct minority interests in 19 Dutch companies.

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CapMan Special Situations -fund acquires HopLop Group

Capman

CapMan press release 5 March 2021 at 3.30 p.m. EET

CapMan Special Situations -fund acquires HopLop Group

The first investment of the CapMan Special Situations fund is HopLop, Finland’s largest chain of adventure parks.

CapMan Special Situations fund has acquired 100% of the equity and debt capital of HopLop Group. The transaction enables a critical restructuring of the balance sheet, secures the continuation of the business through the Covid-19 pandemic, and accelerates future growth.

HopLop is the first investment of CapMan’s newly established Special Situations fund that pursues event-driven investment situations by providing flexible capital solutions and strong operational expertise.

HopLop operates a chain of adventure parks and playgrounds for children. The company is a market leader in Finland and has taken first steps to expand internationally. Prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the business developed well. The company has taken many actions during 2020 to increase efficiency and adapt to the changing situation. With the support of CapMan, the business is well-positioned to focus on its core business and foster new growth.

“HopLop is the first investment for our fund and an important milestone for the execution of the strategy that we launched last summer. The now completed transaction enables the restructuring of HopLop’s balance sheet, the continuation of the business and securing future growth. HopLop’s internationalisation expansion will continue,” says Jari Vikiö, Partner at CapMan Special Situations.

“On behalf of the company, I am pleased with this excellent solution to the company’s challenging situation. CapMan Special Situations enables us to beat the Covid-19 crisis, further develop the company and drive new growth. With the support of CapMan’s experienced team, HopLop’s management is very committed to develop the business further following this transaction,” says Kalle Peltola, who will remain as CEO of HopLop.

CapMan Special Situations invests in event-driven opportunities across economic cycles and industry sectors. At the core of the investment area are demanding corporate restructurings and operational transformations. CapMan Special Situations is a responsible investor, and its mission is to contribute to societal wellbeing by ensuring that viable companies can successfully steer through demanding situations and once again thrive. Antti Uusitalo, Tuomas Rinne and Jari Vikiö serve as Partners of the investment area.

For additional information, please contact:
Jari Vikiö, Partner, CapMan Special Situations, tel. +358 40 505 0733

About CapMan

CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value creation. We offer a wide selection of investment products and services. As one of the Nordic private equity pioneers, we have developed hundreds of companies and real estate assets and created substantial value in these businesses and assets over the past 30 years. With close to €4 billion in assets under management, our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors. We have a broad presence in the unlisted market through our local and specialised teams. Our investment strategies cover Private Equity, Real Estate and Infra. We also have a growing service business that includes procurement services, wealth management, and analysis, reporting and back office services. Altogether, CapMan employs around 150 people in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, London and Luxembourg. We are a public company listed on Nasdaq Helsinki since 2001 and a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) since 2012. Read more at www.capman.com.

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