Monthly Archives: June 2017

BioGeneration Ventures Fund III Secures EUR 66m, exceeding EUR 50m target

BioGeneration Ventures

  • Attracted by the strong performance of BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), new investors joined BGV III including the European Investment Fund, whose contribution comes from InnovFin Equity Facility and the Dutch Venture Initiative II
  • BioGeneration Ventures focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation in therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics in Europe
  • BGV III already made 4 investments and expects to make 15 investments in total

Naarden, The Netherlands, 27 June, 2017 – BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), the early stage life sciences venture capital firm with funds focussed on European biotechnology companies, announces today an investment by the European Investment Fund (EIF) and other new investors in BGV III, taking the total capital commitments to EUR 66m, out of a maximum EUR 75m. The Fund is supported by the “InnovFin – EU Finance for Innovators” initiative under Horizon 2020 and the European Fund for Strategic Investments.

The new fund will build on the track record of the first two BGV funds which yielded major successes including Dezima Pharma and Acerta Pharma. BGV was founding investor in both companies which were sold within three years at multi-billion dollar valuations. At USD 7 billion Acerta was the largest private exit in Europe in the biotech sector to date. These companies are typical examples of the biotech sector’s ability to generate so-called “unicorns” delivering outsized returns for investors.

The firm’s third fund will focus on therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics, within Europe, in particular in Benelux and Germany. Four investments have already been made from the fund into German immuno- oncology company Catalym, and Dutch companies Escalier Biosciences, Scenic Biotech and Varmx, working on autoimmune diseases, target discovery, and haematology respectively.

Edward van Wezel, Managing Partner said: “Our third fund makes BGV amongst the largest life sciences funds dedicated to seed investments in Europe. Over the last decade we have made over twenty investments in the European life sciences ecosystem. We’ve observed an ever-increasing interest from pharma in acquiring innovations earlier. With this third closing we are significantly exceeding our target fund size and are delighted with the commitment of EIF and other new and existing investors in BGV III. We expect to reach the maximum fund size of EUR 75m before the end of 2017.”

Pier Luigi Gilibert, Chief Executive of the European Investment Fund, said: “The EIF enhances SMEs access to finance. By investing in BGV’s new fund, the EIF is continuing its long-standing support for entrepreneurship and innovation in early stages of company development.”

BGV operates as a joint venture with Forbion Capital Partners, providing access to the later stage perspective on early innovation and a global network of experts and pharma companies. The BGV team has broad experience in investment, life sciences, business development, and commercial operations. The team includes experienced biotech entrepreneurs as venture partners and advisors.

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About BioGeneration Ventures (BGV)

BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) is a specialist life sciences venture capital firm, with a focus on early stage European biotech, medtech, and diagnostics companies. BGV has a strong track record of significant financial returns through investing in innovations in healthcare and providing the expertise to build world- class teams. BGV manages funds investing in areas where the science, the unmet medical need, and the potential to promptly demonstrate a significant proof of concept all come together.

Successful investments include divestment of Dezima Pharma to Amgen for up to USD 1.55 billion in total deal value and in Acerta Pharma for up to USD 7 billion with a guaranteed payment of USD 4 billion. In both companies BGV was founding investor. The Acerta Pharma sale was the largest exit ever of a privately held European biotech company. Over the last decade BGV has made over 20 investments.

About EIF

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe’s micro, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth, and employment.

About the Investment Plan for Europe

The Investment Plan focuses on strengthening European investments to create jobs and growth. It does so by making smarter use of new and existing financial resources, removing obstacles to investment, providing visibility and technical assistance to investment projects. The Investment Plan is already showing results. The projects and agreements approved for financing under the European Fund for Strategic Investments – the financing arm of the plan – so far are expected to mobilise over EUR 168 billion in total investments across 28 Member States and to support more than 387 000 SMEs.

On 14 September 2016, the European Commission proposed extending EFSI by increasing its firepower and duration as well as reinforcing its strengths. Find the latest EFSI figures by sector and by country here.

About InnovFin Equity

InnovFin Equity is part of InnovFin – EU Finance for Innovators, the new generation of EU financial instruments and advisory services developed under Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation programme, to help innovative firms access finance more easily.

InnovFin Equity consists of several predominantly early stage equity products. The products aim at improving access to risk finance by early-stage RDI-driven SMEs and small midcaps through supporting mainly early-stage risk capital funds that invest, on a predominantly cross-border basis, in individual enterprises. SMEs (and small midcaps) located in Member States or in Horizon 2020 Associated Countries are eligible as final beneficiaries. The aggregate investments to venture capital funds made out of InnovFin SME Venture Capital are expected to support between EUR 1.6 to EUR 2 billion of equity financing to final beneficiaries.

About DVI II

Publicly launched in March 2016, DVI-II is a EUR 200m Venture and Growth Capital Fund-of-funds initiative of the EIF and PPM Oost, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

DVI-II intends to build a balanced portfolio of 15 to 20 venture and growth capital funds that are able to demonstrate a strong investment focus on the Netherlands. DVI-II supported Fund Managers need to focus on companies in their early or development stages. Eligible funds should also have a strong innovative angle, by focusing on companies operating in different technology areas, such as ICT, Life Sciences, Cleantech or Energy.

As an advisor to DVI-II, the EIF can rely on over 20 years of experience in the European Venture Capital market and successful implementation of similar initiatives in close collaboration with national and regional partners across Europe.

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KPN Ventures joins €8M investment round in Belgian data company Sentiance

KPN Ventures

Antwerp, New York, June 22, 2017

Sentiance announces today that it has secured €8 million in funding led by Volta Ventures, with co-investor KPN Ventures. All previous investors including Samsung Catalyst Fund, Qbic, Pamica (investment company of Michel Akkermans) and top management participated in the new funding round. The investment will be used to execute on Sentiance’s vision to gain leadership, strengthen its intelligence platform and accelerate the growth globally.

The company’s platform uses machine learning algorithms and deep learning techniques to analyse IOT sensor data from mobile phones, wearables and IoT gateways. Sentiance turns this data into rich behavioural and contextual insights: understanding and predicting how people go through their everyday lives. Clients use the Sentiance platform to enrich their first-party customer data with real-life behavioural data so they can deliver context-aware and highly personalized experiences. Sentiance powers a broad range of applications including world class telematics and driver scoring, personalized health coaching, real-time customer engagement as well as smart home products and services.

“As IOT gains momentum consumers are rapidly adopting smart objects in their everyday lives. The sensors in these IOT devices generate a ton of data about how they behave and why they behave the way they do. Sentiance helps companies make sense of this new and very powerful data. Some of the world’s most innovative companies are adopting our platform to help them make their customers’ lives safer, smarter, healthier and convenient. Ultimately the Internet of Things should be about people, not things. We believe the real promise of IOT is the Internet of You.” said Toon Vanparys, CEO of Sentiance.

“Major players in the insurance, ride-hailing, mobility, health and IOT industries use Sentiance’s AI platform to power the Internet of You. This has the potential to change the lives of everyone around us which makes working with the Sentiance team such a positive and rewarding experience. ” said Frank Maene managing partner of Volta Ventures. “Sentiance was the first investment we made when we started the fund in January 2015 and we’re excited to continue our journey with them as the team grows to its next stage.”

Herman Kienhuis, managing director of KPN Ventures adds: “The future digital customer experience will be fully personalized. Sentiance’ powerful predictive analysis technology offers companies a unique tool to improve their customers’ experience and develop new personalized services, while respecting strict European privacy laws. We’re happy to support the Sentiance team in realizing this ambition, together with a powerful group of international investors”

About Sentiance
Sentiance is a data science company turning IOT sensor data into rich insights about people’s behaviour and real-time context. Sentiance was born in January 2015, has offices in Antwerp, New York and London. More than 80% of the employees are highly skilled data scientists and software engineers, specialized in machine learning, deep learning and signal processing. As an enabling platform, Sentiance focuses on large innovation driven companies and disruptors, as a partner and collaborator to drive transformational change. Sentiance core purpose is to become the context engine for the Internet of You leveraging our core expertise in behavioural analytics based on observed data by assisting them in building out deeper and more valuable relations with their end-customers. www.sentiance.com

About Volta Ventures
Volta Ventures Arkiv invests in young and ambitious internet and software companies in the Benelux. The fund’s team, with active support from some 30 business angels, expects to make a substantial impact on every company it invests in by working with the founders and management to identify new markets and customers, hire senior talent, provide ongoing guidance and arrange further financing rounds. Volta Ventures Arkiv is supported by ARKimedes-Fund II (an initiative of ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen NV and the Flemish Region) and the European Investment Fund. www.volta.ventures

About KPN Ventures
KPN Ventures is the venturing arm of KPN, The Netherlands’ leading telecom & ICT company. KPN Ventures aims to build value-creating partnership with innovative technology companies, providing access to capital, expertise, network and customer channels. It focuses on early growth-stage investments in European companies in the segments: Internet of Things, Connected Home, Digital Healthcare, Cyber Security, Mobile/OTT services, Cloud Computing and Data & Analytics. KPN Ventures has its main office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and has invested in a.o. Actility, EclecticIQ, SecurityMatters, Viloc, Sensara, CardioSecur and Nello.
www.kpnventures.com | twitter.com/kpnventures

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TeleComputing sells consultancy company Kentor to European IT-giant

TeleComputing has made en agreement which means that Sopra Steria acquires IT consultancy company Kentor with 330 employees and business operations in Stockholm, Göteborg and St. Petersburg. Kentor has since 2007 been a company in the TeleComputing group. The agreement means that TeleComputing will cultivate and strengthen the strategic focus on its core business.

Telecomputing

– We see this as a very positive solution for all parties. Kentor, a very strong and reputable consultancy company, will be part of an international enterprise with similar focus, values and business operations. And TeleComputing, a leading Nordic provider of flexible and hybrid cloud services, can cultivate its strategic business development focusing on both existing and new markets, says Terje Mjøs, CEO TeleComputing.

Kentor offers services in digital transformation, system integration, system development and IT-consultancy. The company was founded in 1983 and has since enjoyed a very stable growth with good results. Kentor has been part of the TeleComputing group since 2007.

– There are many advantages with this merger, especially for Kentor as we now will have a more natural home and resources to increase our market share in Sweden. As an added bonus, we gain access to an international market which will be an advantage both to our customers and staff. We have so much in common with Sopra Steria, and we complement each other very well both in business and culture, says Fredrik Arbman, Kentor´s CEO.

This proposed transaction is subject to the usual public conditions that apply. If it is approved, Sopra Steria could consolidate Kentor in its accounts in the 2nd half of 2017.

 

For more information, please contact:
TeleComputing                       Terje Mjøs, CEO                      +47 915 06 570                   www.telecomputing.com             Sopra Steria                            Kjell Rusti, CEO Scandinavia +47 908 26 026                   www.soprasteria.com/en         Kentor                                      Fredrik Arbman, CEO             +46 70 896 50 60               www.kentor.se

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Almi Invest BoneSupport succesful listed

Almi Invest

The medical technology company BoneSupport listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, Stockholm Small Cap, two days before midsummer at a valuation of about 1.4 billion.

Almi Invest is a partner in BoneSupport through Teknoseed which conducted its first investment already in 2007.

BoneSupport develops injectable bone filling material bioceramic Cerament absorbed by the body while stimulating the growth of new bone. Cerament used for example in trauma, fractures caused by osteoporosis, bone infection and to fix screws and implants in bone.

– It is very gratifying to note that BoneSupport completed such a successful listing, says Marcus Skärbäck, investment manager at Almi Invest. With good access to capital and a strong management team and board of directors, the company has good prospects for further expansion.

In connection with the listing took BoneSupport the SEK 500 million from new and existing investors. The money will be used for continued market expansion in Europe and the US and to further clinical studies, including with the aim of getting the product Cerament G approved in the United States.

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EQT VII to invest in global “hidden champion” and medical mobility technology market leader Ottobock

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  • EQT VII to acquire a 20% stake in Germany-based Ottobock, the global market leader in medical mobility solutions ranging from prosthetic and orthotic products to wheelchairs and accompanying services
  • Founded by Otto Bock in 1919, the Company has been an industry innovator and has launched the first completely microprocessor-controlled lower limb prosthesis, among others
  • EQT will support majority owner Professor Hans Georg Näder and the management team on Ottobock’s continued growth trajectory and focus on innovation

The EQT VII Fund (“EQT VII”) has entered in to an agreement to acquire a 20% stake in Ottobock (or “the Company”) from Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH.

Since its foundation in 1919 by Otto Bock, the Company has been a synonym for revolutionizing, innovating and moving forward medical mobility technology. Otto Bock started the first serial production of prosthetic components post World War I. After World War II, the Company introduced the modular solution for upper and lower limb prosthesis. In 1997, Ottobock launched the C-Leg, the world’s first completely microprocessor-controlled lower limb prosthesis solution. Over nearly a century, Ottobock’s products have allowed users to achieve a better quality of life, more mobility and independence. True to this philosophy, Ottobock has actively supported the Paralympic Games since 1988 and has been a partner of the International Paralympic Committee since 2005.

Ottobock is headquartered in Duderstadt, Germany and operates subsidiaries in more than 50 countries with more than 7,000 employees worldwide. In 2016, the Company generated more than EUR 880 million in sales and EQT valued the Company at EUR 3.15 billion.

“I am very pleased to take EQT on board as a partner who shares the values of a family-backed company given its Wallenberg background. EQT also has a track record of sustainable value creation and growth”, says Professor Hans Georg Näder, majority shareholder and grandson of the company founder. “I am convinced that EQT’s experience in developing companies will allow us to continue Ottobock’s success story well beyond the Company’s 100th birthday”, concludes Professor Näder.

“We are impressed by Ottobock’s long heritage of innovation and its ability to define the landscape of mobility solutions in the area of wearable home rehabilitation regarding the growing market of human bionics. Based on EQT’s deep healthcare expertise, and as one of the most active investors in the sector, we will be a strategic partner to Professor Näder, the management and the Company. We look forward to working together and contributing to the continued success of Ottobock”, added Marcus Brennecke, Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT VII.

About EQT

EQT is a leading alternative investments firm with approximately EUR 37 billion in raised capital across 24 funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 19 billion and approximately 110,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtpartners.com

About Ottobock

Ottobock develops medical technology products and fitting concepts for people with limited mobility in the fields of Prosthetics, Orthotics, Human Mobility (wheelchairs, rehabilitation devices) and MedicalCare. Subsidiaries in over 50 countries offer quality “Made in Germany” worldwide and employ more than 7,000 people. Ottobock has been a family-managed company since its founding in 1919 and has also been supporting the Paralympic Games with its technical know-how since 1988.

More info: www.ottobock.com

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IK Investment Partners to support Pinard Emballages

IK Investment Partners to support Pinard Emballages

IK Investment Partners (“IK”), a leading Pan-European private equity firm, is pleased to announce that the IK VIII Fund has reached an agreement with Thomas and Pierre-Olivier Pinard to acquire a majority stake in the family-owned company Pinard Emballages (“the Company”), a leading producer of high-end plastic bottles. The management team will reinvest alongside the IK VIII Fund and will continue managing and developing the Company.

Founded in 1970, Pinard Emballages specialises in the design, development and manufacturing of high-end plastic bottles mainly for the cosmetics, fragrance and personal care markets. Its product portfolio comprises standard plastic bottles as well as custom bottles tailored to clients’ specific needs. The Company is recognised as a trusted supplier to several French as well as and internationally prestige brands because of its technical know-how, product quality and service level. Managed by brothers Thomas and Pierre-Olivier Pinard, the family business employs approximately 90 people and operates two production facilities and a logistics site close to Oyonnax, in the heart of France’s “plastic valley”.

“Pinard Emballages has demonstrated an outstanding growth track record, benefiting from its technical and operational expertise and from the quality of its staff. We share the common objective to continue the expansion of the Company via organic growth in France and in export markets as well as via selected acquisitions in Europe,” said Dan Soudry, Partner at IK Investment Partners and adviser to the IK VIII Fund.

“We are pleased to partner with IK on this key step of the Company’s development. Their team shares our strategic vision and will be a well-suited partner to support the future growth of the Company in France and abroad,” added Thomas and Pierre-Olivier Pinard, Managers of Pinard Emballages.

Pinard Emballages represents the IK VIII Fund’s fifth investment, following Ellab (Danish manufacturer of thermal validation solutions), Zytoservice (German compounder of pharmaceuticals for patient-individualised infusions), SCHOCK (the world’s leading granite kitchen sink manufacturer) and Colisée (active in the elderly care segment in France).

Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. Completion of the transaction is subject to legal and regulatory approvals.

PARTIES INVOLVED

IK Investment Partners: Dan Soudry, Rémi Buttiaux, Thibaut Richard, Guillaume Veber
Commercial advisor: A.T.Kearney (Jerome Souied, Hugo Azerad, Thibault Hollinger)
Financial advisor: Eight Advisory (Pascal Raidron, Katia Wagner, Maxime Guichot Perere)
Legal advisor: Goodwin Procter (Maxence Bloch, Benjamin Garçon, Frederic Guilloux, Bruno Valenti, Marie-Laure Bruneel)

Pinard Emballages: Thomas Pinard, Pierre-Olivier Pinard
Financial advisor: ATFIS (Philippe Guez, Christian Tachon, Edouard Dupuy)
Legal advisor: HPML (Thomas Hermetet, Marina Llobell)

For further questions, please contact:

IK Investment Partners
Dan Soudry, Partner
Phone: +33 1 44 43 06 60

Mikaela Hedborg, Director Communications & ESG
Phone: +44 77 87 573 566
mikaela.hedborg@ikinvest.com

About Pinard Emballages
Pinard Emballages is a specialised designer and manufacturer of high-end plastic bottles mainly for the cosmetics, fragrance and personal care markets. It operates 2 production facilities and employs 90 people close to Oyonnax, France. For more information, visit www.pinard-emballages.com

About IK Investment Partners
IK Investment Partners (“IK”) is a Pan-European private equity firm focused on investments in the Nordics, DACH region, France, and Benelux. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €9 billion of capital and invested in over 100 European companies. IK funds support companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit www.ikinvest.com

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IK Investment Partners to sell its stake in Izium

IK Investment Partners (“IK”), a leading Pan-European private equity firm, is pleased to announce that the IK Small Cap I Fund has reached an agreement to sell its stake in Izium (or “the Group”), one of the leaders in the French CRM outsourcing market, to Comdata. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Izium offers an extensive portfolio of customer experience services, including consulting, telesales, customer services, debt collection and technical assistance, to a large client base. The Group operates 14 contact centres in France, Morocco and Madagascar. In 2016, Izium generated revenue of €200 million and employed approximately 6,000 people.

“During IK’s ownership, Izium has successfully diversified its client base outside the telecom industry, benefitting from the continued outsourcing trend of customers services in utilities, automotive and financial services. Furthermore, the Group completed three add-on acquisitions, and investigated a significant number of opportunities in adjacent fields and in neighbouring countries,” said Pierre Gallix, Partner at IK and advisor to the IK Small Cap I Fund.

“In Comdata we feel that we have identified a strategic buyer who will be able to oversee further growth of the business – both organically and through further acquisitions. This is a unique opportunity, and we cannot thank IK enough for their support”, said Maxime Didier, founder of Izium Group and b2s President.

Izium is the first exit from IK’s debut small cap fund.

Completion of the transaction is expected in August 2017, subject to work council consultation and regulatory approvals customary.

For further questions, please contact:

IK Investment Partners
Pierre Gallix, Partner
Phone: +33 1 44 43 06 60

Mikaela Hedborg
Director Communications & ESG
Phone: +44 77 87 573 566
mikaela.hedborg@ikinvest.com

About IK Investment Partners
IK Investment Partners (“IK”) is a Pan-European private equity firm focused on investments in the Nordics, DACH region, France, and Benelux. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €9 billion of capital and invested in over 100 European companies. IK funds support companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit  www.ikinvest.com

About Izium Group
Izium Group offers an extensive portfolio of customer experience services, including consulting, telesales, customer services, debt collection and technical assistance, to a large client base. The Group is well positioned to achieve additional growth, already operating 14 contact centres in France (10), Morocco (3) and Madagascar (1). In 2016, In 2016, Izium Group generated revenue of MEUR 200. The Group employs approximately 6,000 people and serves ca. 150 clients. For more information, visit http://izium.fr

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Celtra secures $15 million financing to lead creative transformation in digital advertising, providing Brands a Cloud-based Creative Operating System

 

celtra Logo

BOSTON, June 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Celtra, the creative management platform for digital advertising, today announced a $15 million investment led by Unilever Ventures and WPP. Unilever and WPP are partnering to use Celtra’s market-leading creative technology across Unilever’s global marketing organization and its ecosystem of service providers, technology vendors and media suppliers.

Celtra aims to help advertisers maximize their creative potential and use creative as a lever to achieve better results in digital advertising.
“Creative is the conduit for the marketer’s message. It should always be on point and carefully refined,” said Miha Mikek, Founder and CEO of Celtra. “Celtra’s platform helps transform brands, agencies, creative producers and other partners into highly performant, data-driven, effective digital storytellers.”

Unilever was among the first global advertisers that recognized the potential of the approach.
“Creative is an increasingly complex challenge for large advertisers and one that is constantly changing due to rapid evolution of media consumption. People deserve advertising that feels native to each medium and delivers emotional value. Celtra helps us deliver that at global scale,” said Keith Weed, Chief Marketing Officer at Unilever.
Agencies, as trusted partners and advisers of brands, play a pivotal role in the process and WPP is a key partner in the use of Celtra’s Creative Management Platform across Unilever.
“We believe the market is due for a creative management solution that can deliver real-time data driven creative at scale and tailored for every individual, across media channels. Celtra is a leader in this space. This investment is in line with WPP’s commitment to technology, data and content, which, along with horizontality, new markets and new media, comprise the Group’s four strategic priorities,” said Sir Martin Sorrell, Chief Executive Officer at WPP.

About Celtra

Celtra is a Cloud-based Creative Management Platform for digital advertising. They have pioneered HTML5 authoring with integrated creative serving, designed from the start for mobile advertising. It is an agnostic solution enabling the most advanced video, display and native ad products with the greatest distribution reach in the industry. Since 2011, Celtra has acquired over 400 clients globally across the digital media and advertising landscape. Their platform powers ads for more than 3,500 brands and 2/3 of Fortune 500 advertisers.
Celtra is headquartered in Boston, with offices in New York City, San Francisco, London, Ljubljana, Singapore and Sydney. For more information, visit Celtra at www.celtra.com or @CeltraMobile on Twitter.

Media Contact:Cristy GarciaCeltra646-577-4332cristy@celtra.com

About Unilever Ventures
Unilever Ventures is the venture capital and private equity arm of Unilever. They invest in early stage, promising companies, accelerating growth by providing access to Unilever’s global ecosystem, assets and expertise. The fund looks to invest in tomorrow’s world-beaters in Personal Care and Digital Transformation. Key focus areas within Digital Transformation include content creation, artificial intelligence, data analytics, e-commerce, internet of things, mobile marketing and video, in both developed and emerging markets. Unilever Venture’s existing investments include Clavis Insight, Percolate, Blis, Gousto, Instacart, Blow, Nutrafol, Sun Basket, Iluminage Beauty, Froosh, and Voltea. For further information, please visit: www.unileverventures.com

About WPP

WPP is the world’s largest communications services group with billings of US$74 billion and revenues of over US$19 billion. Through its operating companies, the Group provides a comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services including advertising & media investment management; data investment management; public relations & public affairs; branding & identity; healthcare communications; digital, eCommerce and shopper marketing and specialist communications. The company employs over 205,000 people (including associates and investments) in over 3,000 offices across 112 countries. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.
WPP was named Holding Company of the Year at the 2016 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the sixth year running. WPP was also named, for the sixth consecutive year, the World’s Most Effective Holding Company in the 2017 Effie Effectiveness Index, which recognizes the effectiveness of marketing communications. In 2017 WPP was recognised by Warc 100 as the World’s Top Holding Company (third year running).
SOURCE Celtra
Related Links
http://www.celtra.com

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DIF acquires shadow toll road in Spain

Madrid, 21 June 2017 – DIF Infrastructure IV (“DIF”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired from OHL Concesiones (“OHL”) 45% of the shares in Autovía de Aragon, S.A, a shadow toll road linking the Madrid city center with Barajas airport (“Autovia de Aragon”).

In addition to DIF’s share, OHL will maintain its position as a significant industrial partner in Autovia de Aragon. TYPSA, a leading consulting engineering firm, will retain its 5% share in the company.

Autovia de Aragon is one of the main road accesses to Madrid and one of the alternatives that links the city center and the airport. The road is located in one of the most urbanized and industrial corridors linking Madrid’s urban center with Guadalajara. The 19-year concession started in 2007, (with end date December 2026) and operates the first section of the A-2 Motorway, which is the main connection between the cities of Madrid and Barcelona.

Autovia de Aragon is DIF’s first road investment in Spain following the acquisition of 6 PPP projects in other sectors. Long term financing is in place and provided by EIB, FMSW and ICO (Instituto de Crédito Oficial).

Fernando Moreno, DIF’s head of Spain, said: “DIF is very pleased to establish this long term partnership with OHL and invest in this high quality asset that will provide a strong return and steady cash yield for DIF’s investors”.

DIF was advised by Uría & Menéndez (legal), Garrigues (tax), PWC (model/financial) and Arup (traffic/technical).

DIF Profile

DIF is an independent and specialist fund management company, managing funds of approximately €4.2 billion. DIF invests in infrastructure assets that generate long term stable cash flows, including PPP / PFI / P3, regulated infrastructure assets and renewable energy projects in Europe, North America and Australia. DIF has offices in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Luxembourg, Madrid, Toronto and Sydney.

For more information, please contact:

Paul Nash, Partner
Email: p.nash@dif.eu

Allard Ruijs, Partner
Email: a.ruijs@dif.eu

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Sunrise Capital II invests in El Dorado Group

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Tokyo ,Wednesday 21 June, 2017

– CLSA Capital Partners, the alternative asset management arm of CLSA, is pleased to announce the investment by Sunrise Capital II (“Sunrise II”) into Japan-headquartered El Dorado Ltd, Lcode Ltd, and Hong Kong-headquartered CANDY MAGIC International Limited (collectively the “El Dorado Group”), a group of companies specialising in the design, manufacture and sales of beauty contact lenses. Sunrise II is a CLSA Capital Partners’ fund that invests in established, mid -cap companies withstrong growth potential in Japan.

 

Since its establishment in 2007, the El Dorado Group has been credited with pioneering the Japanese beauty contact lenses industry and has played an iconic role in promoting the use of beauty contact lenses as a new style of “eye make-up”.

The El Dorado Group manages multiple brands such as “Candy Magic” and “ReVIA” which are positioned to accommodate the various fashion needs and styles of their consumers and are highly popular among all age groups of female users. The El Dorado Group established a Hong Kong presence in 2015 to pursue further growth through Asian expansion , mainly targeting Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Upon investment, Sunrise II and the El Dorado Group’s founder and major shareholder, Mr. Tomohiro Fujiwara, will jointly establish an SPC , CM Holdings Ltd. Following the transaction, the companies affiliated to the El Dorado Group will become 100% subsidiaries of CM Holdings Ltd. The El Dorado Group will retain the existing management team, company names, brand names and does not anticipate material changes in the business’ operations. Sunrise II will work closely with the El Dorado Group’s management team as a strategic partner to jointly pursue further growth both domestically and overseas.

About the El Dorado Group

The El Dorado Group specialises in the design, manufacture and sales of beauty contact lenses and related products. El Dorado Ltd is responsible for the design, manufacture and OEM contract manufacturing of the El Dorado Group’s products, Lcode Ltd handles the domestic sales of products and CANDY MAGIC International Limited handles the sales of products within the Asian region (ex-Japan), mainly within Hong Kong and Mainland China. The core beauty contact lenses business operates six main brands including “Candy Magic” and “ReVIA”, and distributes its products at nationwide beauty contact specialised stores, drug stores, discount stores and general merchandise stores in addition to distributing through various e-commerce channels.

About Sunrise Capital

Sunrise Capital is a Japan-dedicated private equity strategy, capitalising on opportunities in the mid-cap buyout sector. Sunrise Capital’s unique features include a hands -on approach, in assisting portfolio companies realise their growth potential, and support with overseas expansion through CLSA’s global network. Including the El Dorado Group, Sunrise Capital has completed investments in 11 companies since its establishment in 2006.

 

About CLSA Capital Partners

CLSA Capital Partners is the alternative asset management arm of CLSA, Asia’s leading and longest –running brokerage and investment group. CLSA Capital Partners has more than US$3 billion under management and offices

across the region, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo. CLSA Capital Partners offers a diversified and increasing range of investment strategies managed by a diverse team of industry professionals with expertise in private equity, banking and finance, law and accountancy and various industry specialisations. For more information visit www.clsacapital.com

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