Category Archives: News

Itaú Asset Management and KKR form Exclusive Strategic Partnership in Brazil to Broaden Private Market Investment Opportunities in Latin America’s Largest Market

KKR

São Paulo and New York, July 8, 2025 – Itaú Asset Management, one of the largest asset managers in Brazil, and KKR, a leading global investment firm, have formed an exclusive strategic partnership to expand private market investment opportunities for investors in Brazil. Under the agreement, KKR will serve as the preferred global alternative asset manager partner for Itaú, while Itaú will become the preferred Brazilian asset manager partner for KKR. The agreement will leverage both parties’ expertise and resources to expand their reach and competitiveness with respect to Brazil.

Itaú Asset Management is one of the leading asset management firms in Brazil with US $198 billion in Assets under Management (AUM)[1], and fully owned by Itaú Unibanco, Latin America’s largest bank, with more than a hundred-year history of serving clients. KKR is a pioneer in private markets investment with a global footprint and proven track record, managing US $664 billion in AUM[2] across alternative asset classes including private equity, credit and real assets.

Partnership Built to Scale

 

Itaú and KKR will collaborate in Latin America’s largest market to develop and provide alternative investment solutions for institutional and private wealth clients across private market asset classes. As part of this agreement, the firms will build co-branded investment products for the Brazilian market. This exclusive partnership includes the opportunity for Itaú to market KKR’s product offerings and collaborate in the development of private market investor educational materials. By leveraging their combined expertise, resources and distribution channels, the firms will enhance their reach and competitiveness in the growing market for alternative investments in what is the world’s ninth largest economy.

Globally, the alternatives industry is expected to grow to US $24 trillion in assets in 2028 from US $15 trillion in 2022 [3]. The two firms expect the private market investment sector will also continue to grow in Brazil, where Itaú has already built one of the largest alternatives platforms in both the country and Latin America. The firm has successfully created a multi-strategy platform that currently manages US $14.8 billion in AUM[4], primarily focused on private credit, liquid and illiquid alternatives strategies. As part of the agreement, Itaú Asset Management will be able to leverage KKR’s commercial and investment expertise as it continues to scale its private markets platform for investors in the region. In addition, KKR will introduce Itaú to its global network of institutional investors interested in Latin America, fostering new relationships and investment opportunities. The firms will engage in knowledge-sharing initiatives, allowing Itaú’s investment professionals to gain insights into KKR’s global investment strategies and best practices in the private markets sector. The firms also have the option to partner up in co-investments opportunities.

Client-Focused Commitment

“We are pleased to partner with Itaú, the largest and most valuable brand in Brazil, with whom we share complementary strengths and a dedicated commitment to delivering exceptional value to our clients,” said Eric Mogelof, Partner and Head of Global Client Solutions at KKR. “Itaú Asset Management is known for its outstanding investment capabilities and deep client relationships. We look forward to expanding private market investment opportunities for investors in Brazil with Itaú Asset Management in a market that is relatively new to KKR, as well as enhancing international investor access for alternative investment solutions.”

“We are thrilled to partner with KKR, a true innovator and pioneer in the asset management industry with a dedicated focus like Itaú on creating long term value for our institutional and private wealth clients. We have already built up one of the largest alternatives platforms in Brazil, and now with the support of a leading global firm such as KKR, we can further scale our business locally and internationally,” said Carlos Augusto Salamonde, Partner and Head of Global Asset Management at Itaú. “The strategic collaboration will enhance Itaú’s capacity to offer premier global alternatives solutions for our clients. There is significant growth potential for the internationalization of the portfolios of Brazilians as historically most capital has been invested domestically, with international alternatives being notably underpenetrated.”

Monica Mandelli, Managing Director, Global Client Solutions for KKR, stated: “The Brazilian asset management industry has doubled over the last five years, growing at a CAGR of 13%[5], with private bank clients materially increasing their allocation to alternatives. We see significant opportunity to grow this market with Itaú.”

About KKR

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

About Itaú Unibanco Asset Management

Itaú Unibanco Asset Management (IAM) is a leading Brazilian-based global asset manager and a division of Itaú Unibanco, one of the largest banks in Latin America. IAM’s roots trace back to 1957 when it launched Brazil’s first equity mutual fund. With more than 65 years of history, IAM remains at the forefront of the Latin American financial sector with US $198 billion in AUM across a complete platform of products, including ETF and other listed funds, fixed income and private credit products, as well as a multi-strategy platform with more than 120 portfolio managers. IAM has offices in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Miami and Santiago.

Media Contacts:

For Itaú Unibanco Asset Management

imprensa@itau-unibanco.com.br

For KKR:

Kenny Juarez

(212) 750-8300

media@kkr.com

 

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A-LIGN announces strategic investment from Hg to accelerate its global expansion

HG Capital

Partnership with Hg will accelerate A-LIGN’s growth trajectory and support its mission to become the global cyber compliance services champion.

TAMPA, FLORIDA, July 8th: A-LIGN, a leading provider of technology-enabled cybersecurity compliance services, today announces that it has secured a significant strategic investment from Hg, a leading investor in European and transatlantic software and services businesses. Hg will acquire a majority stake in the company from Warburg Pincus.

The investment comes as organizations face a surge in cyber-attacks, with AI-powered threats making compliance and security more critical and complex than ever before. This has increased the demand for sophisticated compliance partners to navigate this environment and provide assurance to stakeholders.

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, A-LIGN’s cybersecurity compliance audits and related assessments allow organizations to provide assurances to their customers that sensitive data is protected, and that mission-critical operations are conducted with integrity.

Since its founding in 2009, A-LIGN has established itself as a category leader in cybersecurity compliance services, serving over 5,700 clients with audits and assessments including SOC 2, ISO, HITRUST, FedRAMP, CMMC and PCI standards.

A-LIGN’s customer-first approach and extensive use of technology has enabled the firm to deliver over 50% compounded annual growth over the past 15 years. A-LIGN’s delivery model combines deep domain expertise with proprietary technology, to deliver superior audit quality, while driving operational efficiency for its customers.

The partnership with Hg will support A-LIGN’s ambitious growth plans, leveraging Hg’s extensive network to accelerate its global expansion, and building on Hg’s commitment and expertise in data and AI to drive significant value for A-LIGN’s customers.

Scott Price, CEO of A-LIGN, commented: “This new partnership comes at the perfect time as we enter our next phase of growth. Hg’s deep expertise and track record in scaling tech-enabled services businesses globally, combined with world-class operational resources, makes them the ideal partner to help us provide the best possible services to our customers. I’d also like to thank Warburg Pincus and FTV Capital for their support over the last few years, in helping us reach this milestone.”

Hector Guinness and Joris van Gool, Partners at Hg: “Scott and his world-class team have built an exceptional and truly client-centric business. We have been particularly impressed by their unwavering commitment to quality, while leveraging proprietary technology to drive efficiency for their customers. This combination has created a sustainable source of competitive differentiation that we believe can extend A-LIGN’s growth in new regions, adjacent service lines, and new customer groups.”

William Holmes, Principal at Hg, added: “A-LIGN has all the hallmarks of what Hg looks for in tech-enabled services investments, and we are excited to support Scott and his world-class team to become the global champion in cyber compliance services.”

Brian Chang, Managing Director at Warburg Pincus, said: “It has been a privilege to support Scott and the talented team at A-LIGN through an exceptional period of transformative growth, partnering closely with them to expand the company’s service offerings and grow its customer base. A-LIGN is a strong example of our firm’s focus on accelerating the success of innovative market leaders in cybersecurity and compliance, especially as the number of cyber-attacks continue to rise and compliance and security needs become more complex. We wish Scott and the A-LIGN team the best in their next chapter and look forward to the company’s continued success.”

Jefferies LLC served as lead financial advisor and Guggenheim Securities, LLC served as financial advisor to A-LIGN and Warburg Pincus. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP served as legal counsel for A-LIGN and Warburg Pincus. Harris Williams served as financial advisor to Hg, with Latham & Watkins serving as Hg’s legal counsel.

For further information, please contact:

A-LIGN
Press inquiries, press@a-lign.com

Hg
Tom Eckersley, tom.eckersley@hgcapital.com
Sam Ferris, sam.ferris@hgcapital.com

Warburg Pincus
Kerrie Cohen, kerrie.cohen@warburgpincus.com

About A-LIGN
A-LIGN is the leading cybersecurity compliance partner, trusted by over 5,700 organizations worldwide to navigate the complexities of compliance, audit, and risk.

With a tech-enabled delivery model and deep domain expertise, A-LIGN has completed more than 31,000 audits. It is the #1 issuer of SOC 2 reports and a top three FedRAMP assessor. Founded in 2009, A-LIGN delivers high-quality, efficient audits across frameworks including SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP, CMMC, ISO 42001, PCI, and HITRUST. To learn more, visit: https://www.a-lign.com.

About Hg
Hg is a leading investor in European and transatlantic software and services businesses. We help to build sector-leading enterprises that supply critical software applications or workflow services to deliver intelligent automation for their customers.

We take an active approach to value creation, combining deep end-market knowledge with world class operational resources to provide compelling support to entrepreneurial leaders looking to scale enduring businesses.

With a vast European network and strong presence across North America, Hg has more than $85 billion in assets under management and more than 400 employees. Our portfolio spans more than 50 companies worth over $160 billion in aggregate enterprise value, employing more than 126,000 people and consistently growing revenues at more than 20% annually.

About Warburg Pincus
Warburg Pincus LLC is the pioneer of private equity global growth investing. A private partnership since 1966, the firm has the flexibility and experience to focus on helping investors and management teams achieve enduring success across market cycles.

Today, the firm has more than $87 billion in assets under management, and more than 220 companies in their active portfolio, diversified across stages, sectors, and geographies. Warburg Pincus has invested in more than 1,000 companies across its private equity, real estate, and capital solutions strategies.

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

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Blackstone Real Estate to Acquire Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor from Allegiant Travel Company for $200 Million

Blackstone

New York & Las Vegas – Blackstone (NYSE: BX) and Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) today announced that funds affiliated with Blackstone Real Estate have agreed to acquire Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor from Allegiant for $200 million.

With 785 rooms spanning 22 waterfront acres on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor is a brand-new resort with extensive core amenities, including multiple food and beverage concepts, two pools, a spa, a fitness center, a rooftop adult pool and bar, a championship golf course and more than 60,000 square feet of combined indoor meeting space.

Scott Trebilco, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone Real Estate, said: “The acquisition of this brand new, highly-amenitized resort demonstrates our strong conviction in hospitality and travel and the continued growth in group-oriented destinations. Allegiant has built a fantastic property and we look forward to bringing our extensive experience with large scale resorts to Sunseeker.”

“Blackstone’s extensive hospitality holdings and their execution capabilities make them the ideal counterparty for this transaction and also to help realize the full potential of Sunseeker Resort,” said Gregory C. Anderson, CEO at Allegiant Travel Company. “Furthermore, it supports Allegiant’s strategy centered around the airline and we plan to use the proceeds from the sale to repay debt and strengthen our balance sheet.”

Barclays served as financial advisor to Allegiant on this transaction.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to satisfying customary conditions.

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 $320 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).

Allegiant – Together We FlyTM
Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com. Media information, including photos, is available at http://gofly.us/iiFa303wrtF.

Contacts
Jeffrey Kauth
212-583-5395
Jeffrey.Kauth@blackstone.com

Allegiant
702-800-2020
mediarelations@allegiantair.com

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Gilde Healthcare’s private equity fund combines Artinis and NIRx into a world-leading neuroimaging group

GIlde Healthcare

Gilde Healthcare today announces the combined private equity investments in Artinis Medical Systems (Netherlands) and NIRx Medical Technologies (Germany/United States), both pioneers in functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) solutions. This dual transaction brings together two highly complementary companies, establishing a new global leader in fNIRS.

Advancing fNIRS technology
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy is a differentiated neuroimaging technology that offers unique advantages over traditional brain imaging methods such as fMRI and EEG. The technology offers scientists a new perspective on understanding the functions of the human brain, enabling, high-impact, neuroscience research worldwide. With its strong scientific foundation in basic research, fNIRS is increasingly adopted in applied research environments, unlocking its potential in therapeutic areas such as neurodegenerative diseases, mental health, stroke rehabilitation and developmental neuroscience.

Joining forces for innovation
Artinis and NIRx, both recognized as market leaders with superior technology and support, will continue to operate from their current locations and under their existing brand names. The founders and current management teams of both companies remain actively involved. The newly formed group will leverage its complementary product offerings, shared expertise, integrated R&D, and increased scale to accelerate innovation and commercial growth.

The shared vision is to develop the newly formed group in the go-to platform for neuroimaging- and related research tools while driving innovation across (multi-)modalities. The new platform aims to enhance the adoption of fNIRS in applied neuroscience by setting industry standards, and by making the technology more accessible to academic researchers globally. Apart from organic growth, the group will pursue additional add-on acquisitions in line with this vision.

Gilde’s entrepreneurial investment strategy to drive better care at lower cost
This transaction exemplifies Gilde Healthcare’s entrepreneurial investment strategy, which focuses on partnering with founders and managers to accelerate growth and develop organizations in attractive healthcare niches.  The investment via two parallel transactions was executed in a proprietary setting, leveraging Gilde’s own developed investment thesis, broad network and deep expertise in the research tools sector.

By combining Artinis and NIRx, Gilde Healthcare enables the formation of a global market leader with the ability to fuel ground-breaking neuroscience research that addresses the growing complexity and prevalence of brain-related conditions. This ultimately contributes to better care and lower cost for the healthcare system.

Willy Colier, co-founder and CEO of Artinis, commented: “Roeland, my co-founder, and I are proud of Artinis’ journey over the past 24 years. We have built a company known for its great products, fantastic people, and satisfied customers. Joining forces with NIRx is an exciting step that will enhance the value we provide to both our current and future customers. We look forward to this new phase as we leverage our combined scale and expertise, benefiting from the support of Gilde Healthcare. “

Patrick Britz, CEO of NIRx, commented: “Constant innovation has made functional near-infrared spectroscopy a rapidly growing and highly productive solution for neuroscience. Now, with the strong support of Gilde Healthcare, two highly skilled teams, NIRx and Artinis, are joining forces to accelerate these advancements. I am genuinely thrilled about the possibilities this partnership unlocks, fNIRS is just at its beginning.”

Boyd Rutten, Investment Director at Gilde Healthcare, commented: “These parallel transactions are an excellent example of our entrepreneurial investment strategy. By bringing both companies together, we are creating a platform that will lead innovation and makes brain imaging tools more accessible to researchers globally. We want to thank the founders of Artinis and NIRx for their trust and express our excitement about working together going forward.”         

Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

About Gilde Healthcare
Gilde Healthcare is a specialized healthcare investor managing over €2.6 billion across two fund strategies: Venture&Growth and Private Equity. The Venture&Growth fund of Gilde Healthcare invests in fast growing companies active in digital health, medtech and therapeutics, based in Europe and North America. The Private Equity fund of Gilde Healthcare participates in profitable lower mid-market healthcare companies based in North-Western Europe. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.gildehealthcare.com.

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CapMan Real Estate invests SEK 692 million in 205-unit multifamily housing development in Stockholm

Capman

CapMan Real Estate, through its third value-add fund CapMan Nordic Real Estate III (“CMNRE III”, the “Fund”), has acquired a residential development project comprising 205 rental units in Jakobsberg, Järfälla from JM. The project is expected to be completed in Q4 2027.

Located in a highly attractive micro-location with excellent access to public transportation, the site offers commuting time of under 25 minutes to central Stockholm. The area benefits from strong tenant demand and a limited supply of rental housing. Designed to meet high sustainability standards, the project will feature BREEAM certification, a minimum EPC rating of B, solar panels, EV charging stations, and aims for EU Taxonomy alignment. Tenants will benefit from a range of mobility solutions, including access to carpool, to support sustainable commuting.

“We are pleased to grow our residential portfolio in Greater Stockholm and act on compelling opportunities in the current market. With strong fundamentals and structural supply-demand imbalances, the residential sector remains a high-conviction theme for us. This project is designed to meet the growing need for high-quality, middle-income rental housing in one of Europe’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas,” says Pontus Danielsson, Investment Manager at CapMan Real Estate.

“This acquisition is fully aligned with our strategy of investing in sustainable, well-located residential assets across key Nordic growth regions. With strong local market knowledge and a robust deal pipeline, we are well positioned to continue scaling our residential platform,” adds Marcus Lotzman, Head of Transactions, Sweden at CapMan Real Estate.

The transaction is structured as a forward purchase, with closing expected upon project completion in Q4 2027. It marks the 22nd investment made by CMNRE III.

CapMan Real Estate manages approximately €5.5 billion in real estate assets, with a team of over 80 professionals based in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and London.

For further information, please contact:

Marcus Lotzman, Head of Transactions, Sweden, +46 70 680 60 81

Pontus Danielsson, Investment Manager, +46 70 385 58 00

About CapMan

CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value creation and €6.4 billion in assets under management. As one of the private equity pioneers in the Nordics we have developed hundreds of companies and assets creating significant value for over three decades. Our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors by enabling change across our portfolio companies. An example of this is greenhouse gas reduction targets that we have set under the Science Based Targets initiative in line with the 1.5°C scenario and our commitment to net-zero GHG emissions by 2040. We have a broad presence in the unlisted market through our local and specialised teams. Our investment strategies cover real estate and infrastructure assets, natural capital and minority and majority investments in portfolio companies. We also provide wealth management solutions. Altogether, CapMan employs around 200 professionals in Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, London and Luxembourg. We are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki since 2001. www.capman.com

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Ardian finalizes the sale of its iconic Parisian Renaissance building, located in the heart of the Golden Triangle

Ardian

Ardian, a world-leading private investment firm, announces the sale of the Renaissance building, one of its iconic real estate assets, located at 26bis – 32 rue François 1er, in the Paris Golden Triangle.

Ardian had acquired this historic complex, the former headquarters of the Europe 1 radio station, in May 2018 through Ardian Real Estate European Fund I. Ardian led a major restructuring project to reposition it as a unique, modern, and exceptional mixed-use building (for both office and retail), meeting the highest market standards.

Today, Renaissance is home to international law firm A&O Shearman, which occupies high-end office space, as well as prestigious names such as world-renowned art gallery Hauser & Wirth, Japanese fashion house Issey Miyake and luxury car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover.

“Renaissance embodies a unique product which is the fruit of a project management effort of rare complexity and exemplary execution. The inimitability of this project, both in terms of its location and the quality of its execution, makes it a benchmark in the market. It is precisely this uniqueness that gives Renaissance its remarkable liquidity, even in a core market environment where there are not currently many transactions of this scale.” Sébastien Bégué, Head of Real Estate Investment Management & Managing Director, Ardian

“The sale of Renaissance, in a European market now showing signs of recovery, is a perfect illustration of Ardian’s ability to anticipate investor expectations and enhance the value of exceptional assets. This success testifies to the unique expertise of our teams in repositioning emblematic buildings and confirms the renewed appetite of long-term investors for high-quality products.” Stéphanie Bensimon, Member of the Executive Committee, Member of the Board of Ardian France & Head of Real Estate, Ardian

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment firm, managing or advising $180bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,850 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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Sizzling Platter Partners with Bain Capital to Drive Next Chapter of Growth

BainCapital

The investment will accelerate Sizzling Platter’s growth in partnership with category-leading restaurant brands

SALT LAKE CITY – July 2, 2025 – Sizzling Platter, LLC (“Sizzling Platter” or the “Company”), a premier restaurant franchise growth platform, today announced that it has partnered with Bain Capital to accelerate its expansion. The investment is being made by Bain Capital North American Private Equity, which is acquiring the business from CapitalSpring. Sizzling Platter will continue to be led by Chief Executive Officer Nathan Garn. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.

Sizzling Platter was founded in 1963 and has since evolved into one of the largest franchise platforms in North America, operating a portfolio of nationally recognized fast-casual and quick-service restaurant brands, including Little Caesars, Wingstop, Jersey Mike’s, Dunkin’, and Jamba, and employing over 13,000 team members across more than 800 locations in the United States and Mexico.

“This is a pivotal milestone for Sizzling Platter as we look to build on more than six decades of delivering unparalleled experiences for our team members, guests, and brand partners,” said Garn.  “Bain Capital’s extensive experience investing in growing restaurant businesses makes it the right value-added partner to help expand our platform. The extraordinary scale we’ve achieved—and this transaction itself—would not have been possible without the strength, relevance, and enduring appeal of the exceptional brands we are fortunate to grow in. Together, we have an aligned vision on how we can continue to innovate and lead in a rapidly evolving industry.”

“With an exceptional portfolio of category defining brands, deep operational expertise, and a proven track record of profitable growth, we believe that Sizzling Platter is uniquely positioned to continue to scale as a global leader in franchising,” said Adam Nebesar, a Partner at Bain Capital. “We are excited to partner with Nate and the team to build on its strengths and long-term brand partnerships to enhance capabilities and accelerate growth,” added Mark Saadine, a Managing Director at Bain Capital.

“Nate and the Sizzling Platter team have been tremendous partners as we navigated the pandemic and executed on a multi-pronged growth strategy to double the company’s footprint,” said Erik Herrmann, Partner, Head of Investment Group at CapitalSpring, which has owned Sizzling Platter since 2019. “The accelerated growth we achieved working with the management team was driven by a focus on organic growth in our existing brands and investments in the Company’s infrastructure to support new unit development, acquisitions, and the addition of new brands to the platform,” added Kaivon Abrishami,  Managing Director at CapitalSpring.

BofA Securities acted as lead financial advisor, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel to Bain Capital. UBS Investment Bank acted as lead financial advisor, and Proskauer Rose acted as legal counsel to Sizzling Platter and CapitalSpring.  Deutsche Bank and North Point also served as financial advisors to Sizzling Platter and CapitalSpring.  UBS Investment Bank, Jefferies, Deutsche Bank Securities, HSBC, BNP Paribas, KKR Capital Markets, Mizuho, RBC Capital Markets, Santander, Stifel, and Wells Fargo Securities provided committed debt financing for the transaction and financial advisory services to Bain Capital.

About Sizzling Platter 
Sizzling Platter is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic restaurant franchise growth platforms. We are proud of our longstanding track record as a trusted growth partner to iconic, category-leading brands. As a people-first organization, our mission is to deliver unparalleled experiences for our team members, guests, and brands.  Relentless focus on our mission continues to fuel our growth.  For more information about the Company, visit www.sizzlingplatter.com

About Bain Capital  
Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms. We are committed to creating lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a culture of collaboration, advantages that enable us to innovate investment approaches, unlock opportunities, and create exceptional outcomes. Our global platform invests across five focus areas: Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. In these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and wide-ranging capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $185 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com. Follow @BainCapital on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

Bain Capital North American Private Equity has deep experience investing in restaurants including prior historical investments in Bloomin’ Brands, Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, and Dunkin’ Brands, and its current investment in Fogo de Chão.

About CapitalSpring 
CapitalSpring is a leading private equity and debt investment firm with deep expertise in foodservice, multi-location business models and related industries. For over 19 years, CapitalSpring has supported entrepreneurs and management teams with financial, operational, and strategic resources to help accelerate growth and to realize the full potential of their businesses. CapitalSpring offers one-stop solutions for a broad range of investments including private equity, mezzanine capital and senior lending. The firm has offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York.

Media Contacts

 Scott Lessne / Charlyn Lusk

 

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Warner Music Group and Bain Capital Announce Launch of Joint Venture to Invest Up To $1.2 Billion in Iconic Music Catalogs

BainCapital

NEW YORK and BOSTON – July 1, 2025 – Warner Music Group (NASDAQ: WMG), the global music entertainment company, and Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm, are launching a joint venture to allow for the purchase of up to $1.2 billion of legendary music catalogs across both recorded music and music publishing. The partnership was formed through equal equity commitments from WMG and Bain Capital.

This new strategic venture will provide artists and songwriters with opportunities to preserve and expand the reach of their catalogs, ensuring their legacies are well cared for. WMG and Bain Capital will together source and acquire the catalogs, while WMG will manage all aspects of marketing, distribution, and administration. By combining WMG’s worldwide infrastructure and relationships with Bain Capital’s global resources and financial capabilities, the venture is well-positioned to set a new standard as the preferred partner for renowned musical talent.

This deal comes at an opportune time in the music industry, given changing fan behavior, driven by streaming and emerging technologies that introduce classic music to new audiences.

“Iconic artists and songwriters choose WMG to grow their legacies and introduce their art to new generations through impactful and innovative campaigns,” said Robert Kyncl, CEO, Warner Music Group. “Augmenting our deep expertise and global infrastructure with Bain Capital’s financial prowess and belief in music will make us the destination of choice for preeminent catalogs.”

“Timeless music content continues to sit at the center of consumer entertainment,” said Angelo Rufino, a Partner at Bain Capital. “Stewardship of catalogs has never been more important as artists and songwriters deserve support to enhance the value of their work while delivering fans new and exciting collaborations. Warner Music Group, with its deep creative resources and partnership culture, is the ideal partner for Bain Capital to work alongside as we grow and safeguard the world’s iconic music.”

Goldman Sachs and Fifth Third Bank will serve as joint lead arrangers to the joint venture.

About Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group (WMG) brings together artists, songwriters, entrepreneurs, and technology that are moving entertainment culture across the globe. Operating in more than 70 countries through a network of affiliates and licensees, WMG’s Recorded Music division includes renowned labels such as 10K Projects, 300 Entertainment, Asylum, Atlantic, Big Beat, EastWest, Elektra, Erato, First Night, Fueled By Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Sire, Spinnin’, Warner Records, Warner Classics, and Warner Music Nashville. WMG’s music publishing arm, Warner Chappell Music, has a catalog of over one million copyrights spanning every musical genre, from the standards of the Great American Songbook to the biggest hits of the 21st century. Warner Music Group is also home to ADA, which supports the independent community, as well as artist services division WMX. Follow WMG on Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

About Bain Capital;

Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms. We are committed to creating lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a culture of collaboration, advantages that enable us to innovate investment approaches, unlock opportunities, and create exceptional outcomes. Our global platform invests across five focus areas: Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. In these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and wide-ranging capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $185 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com. Follow @BainCapital on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

 

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The uvex group announces majority investment by Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus logo

Owner families Winter and Grau to retain significant minority stake

Fürth and Berlin, July 1, 2025 – The UVEX WINTER HOLDING GmbH & Co. KG (uvex  group), a leading family-owned provider of personal protective and sports protective  equipment, announced today that Warburg Pincus, the pioneer of private equity global growth  investing, will acquire a majority interest in the company. The owner families Winter and Grau  will retain a significant minority stake and will be actively involved in the future growth of the  business.

Founded in 1926 by Philipp M. Winter, who manufactured protective eyewear in his “Optische Industrie-Anstalt”, uvex group has evolved into a global leader in protective safety and sports  equipment. With the “protecting people” philosophy as both a mission and responsibility, uvex  group develops, manufactures and distributes products and services for the safety and  protection of people at work, in sport and for leisure pursuits.

The company differentiates itself from its peers through its high-quality products and by  ensuring its products are characterized by technological innovation, comfort of wear and  unmistakable design. By partnering with Warburg Pincus, uvex group will continue to  accelerate growth globally, expanding its international presence, refining its premium product  offering and growing in new segments. The company will also drive growth through M&A,  building on successful transactions to date.

Michael Winter, Managing Partner and CEO of uvex group, commented: “The brand promise ‘protecting people’ has guided us for 100 years. As a fourth-generation  family-owned company, we are committed to shaping the next phase of our corporate  development with a strong growth partner. Our goal is to further increase the resilience of the  uvex group in the future and remain the first choice for our customers. We are confident that  we have found such a partner in Warburg Pincus and look forward to a successful  collaboration.”

Tobias Weidner, Managing Director at Warburg Pincus, commented: “Congratulations to the Winter and Grau families for building and leading uvex group over  the last 100 years into the strong business and brand it is today. We are excited to partner  with them to continue that journey together. We share the uvex group team’s vision to  become the global market leader in protecting people through protective equipment.  Together with the family and the management team we are looking forward to bringing uvex  group’s premium products to more people around the world.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Media contacts: 

uvex group
Dagmar Hugenroth
+49 151 1084 8855
presse@uvex.de

Regina Frauen
+49 160 8855 105
uvex@fgsglobal.com

Warburg Pincus
Alice Gibb
+44 7827 3093 20
alice.gibb@warburgpincus.com

Katharina Gebsattel
+49 172 718 68 57
katharina.gebsattel@warburgpincus.com

About uvex group 

The uvex group brings together four companies under one roof: the uvex safety group (uvex  safety, HexArmor, laservision and Heckel), the uvex sports group (uvex sports, ALPINA and  Hiplok), the Filtral group (Filtral and Primetta) and the UD2C Group for the direct-to-consumer  online business. The uvex group is represented by 49 branch offices in 23 countries and  produces in its own factories. In total, 60% of the company’s workforce of more than 3,000  staff (as at: 2023/24 financial year) are employed in Germany. uvex is a global partner to  international elite sport and equips a host of top athletes. The “protecting people” philosophy  is both a mission and responsibility. To this end, the uvex group develops, manufactures and  distributes products and services for the safety and protection of people at work, in sport and  for leisure pursuits. For more information, please visit www.uvex-group.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Warburg Pincus 

Warburg Pincus LLC is the pioneer of private equity global growth investing. A private  partnership since 1966, the firm has the flexibility and experience to focus on helping investors  and management teams achieve enduring success across market cycles. Today, the firm has  more than $87 billion in assets under management, and more than 220 companies in their  active portfolio, diversified across stages, sectors, and geographies. Warburg Pincus has  invested in more than 1,000 companies across its private equity, real estate, and capital  solutions strategies.

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

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KKR Acquires ProTen from Aware Super

KKR

SYDNEY–(BUSINESS WIRE)– KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Aware Super, a leading Australian super fund, today announced the signing of definitive agreements under which funds managed by KKR will acquire ProTen Pty Limited (“ProTen”), one of the largest agricultural infrastructure businesses in Australia, from Aware Super.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250701097305/en/

Established in 2001, ProTen develops, owns, and operates farm infrastructure for Australia’s poultry supply chain, and plays an important role in supporting access to affordable, sustainable nutrition for Australian households. Today, the company manages poultry infrastructure including more than 700 poultry sheds across over 60 farms, located in key agricultural regions nationwide.

Aware Super, which manages A$190 billion on behalf of its 1.2 million members, has owned ProTen since 2018 and has overseen significant growth in the business. Aware Super’s infrastructure team expanded ProTen’s operational footprint across all states, along with a four-fold expansion of its property portfolio. KKR’s investment will build on ProTen’s position for continued growth and its operational excellence in the poultry supply chain.

Andrew Jennings, Managing Director and Head of Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) Infrastructure, KKR, said, “Our investment in ProTen is a unique opportunity to acquire a high-quality agricultural infrastructure asset, supported by availability-based long-term contracts, that plays an essential role in the food supply chain. KKR has been actively monitoring the agricultural infrastructure space as a high-conviction thematic. We are impressed by the quality of ProTen’s assets, its long-term contractual relationships with its customers, and the favorable dynamics within the poultry industry. As demand for sustainable protein and resilient food supply increases in Australia, we believe ProTen is well placed for continued growth. We look forward to leveraging KKR’s global network, operational expertise, and deep experience in scaling businesses to support ProTen.”

Jiren Zhou, Aware Super Portfolio Manager – Infrastructure, said, “We are proud to have grown ProTen into the leading business it is today, through our active stewardship of the business. Following seven years of significant investment, we are delighted to achieve this result on behalf of our members, to grow their retirements funds and deliver long-term sustainable returns. This is an excellent example of how Aware Super’s disciplined and long-term approach has strengthened the fund’s high quality, diversified infrastructure portfolio, which currently has more than A$20 billion invested globally.”

James Wentworth, CEO of ProTen, said, “ProTen is very grateful for the long-standing relationship it has enjoyed with Aware Super. Over the last seven years they have been unwavering in their commitment to and investment in the business. This support and the hard work of our team has enabled us to service and grow with our customers. We look forward to an exciting new chapter with KKR. Our business, management and focus will remain unchanged – partnering with our customers to feed Australia.”

KKR is making this investment from its Asia Pacific Infrastructure Investors II Fund. This marks KKR’s latest infrastructure investment in the ANZ region. Past investments include Zenith Energy, a leading independent remote power producer in Australia; Queensland Airports Limited in Australia, which consists of four airports in Queensland, including Gold Coast Airport; Spark Infrastructure, which owns high-quality, regulated electricity networks across Australia; and Ritchies Transport, a leading transportation operator in New Zealand. KKR’s Asia Pacific infrastructure platform has grown to approximately US$13 billion in assets under management since it was established in 2019.

The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

About ProTen

ProTen is one of Australia’s largest broiler chicken growers, setting the benchmark in broiler farm operations and development. Established in 2001, the business operates over 700 poultry sheds across more than 60 broiler farms spanning New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland. Driven by the mission “We grow the chickens”, ProTen is committed to contributing to the health and wellbeing of Australians by delivering affordable, sustainable, high‑quality protein. Find out more at: https://proten.com.au/

About KKR

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

About Aware Super

Aware Super is one of Australia’s top-performing and largest industry super funds with a core objective of delivering the strongest risk-adjusted returns for its 1.2 million members. Our Australian and London-based investment teams currently originate and manage A$190 billion AUM on behalf of our members. As one of the top 50 institutional investors globally, we typically take an active management approach across alternative assets, including infrastructure, real estate and private equity, and additionally allocate to liquid markets. Returns for our A$20 billion infrastructure portfolio are driven by a globally-diversified program which captures global trends in demography, sustainability and technology to achieve a broad universe of assets. It has a targeted focus on opportunities in Europe, North America, Australia and Asia with a sector focus on energy transition and digital opportunities. Visit aware.com.au

Media
For KKR:
Wei Jun Ong
+65 6922 5813
WeiJun.Ong@kkr.com

James Strong
+61 (0)448 881 174
james.strong@sodali.co

For Aware Super:
Brendan Altadonna
+61 409 919 891
baltadonna@gracosway.com.au

Sara Bradford
media@aware.com.au

Source: KKR

 

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