Monthly Archives: October 2019

Efficy strengthens its shareholding to speed up European expansion. Fortino Capital Partners joins forces with Efficy, a flexible and fully customizable CRM software solution

Fortino Capital

Antwerpen – Fortino Capital Partners joins forces with Efficy, a flexible and fully customizable CRM software solution developed for medium and large enterprises. The Efficy Group, which employs 165 people, is headquartered in Brussels but is also serving 6 other European countries (France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Spain).

A state-of-the-art and user-friendly CRM software solution
Efficy offers an all-in-one CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solution, developed specifically to meet the needs of medium and large enterprises. It serves today ~2,500 customers in 33 countries and benefits from outstanding customer loyalty. The solution is end-to-end and can be highly customized to clients’ needs as it is deployed by Efficy’s inhouse implementation team or by its wide integration ecosystem.

A state-of-the-art and user-friendly CRM software solution

Efficy offers an all-in-one CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solution, developed specifically to meet the needs of medium and large enterprises. It serves today ~2,500 customers in 33 countries and benefits from outstanding customer loyalty. The solution is end-to-end and can be highly customized to clients’ needs as it is deployed by Efficy’s inhouse implementation team or by its wide integration ecosystem.

With the breadth of functionalities, its local presence and fast implementation times, Efficy presents a very competitive proposition compared to other large US enterprise CRM vendors.

Growth opportunities

Over the past years, the Group has experienced double digit growth through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions and recorded ~€20M in revenues last year. The last major acquisition by the Group was E-Deal (2018), which positions them today as one of the leaders in the Benelux & French markets. Both founders Cédric Pierrard and Robert Houdart have the ambition to further drive the consolidation of the European CRM market, which is still highly fragmented with many local solutions.

As a new partner, Fortino Capital will assist Efficy and can deploy more capital out of its €235M Growth Fund to fuel its development in existing geographies and further drive the existing buy & build strategy.  The leadership team remains onboard for the next phase of growth.

Matthias Vandepitte, Partner at Fortino Capital, explains: “We are delighted to embark on this journey together with Cédric and his team and to support them in realising their ambition. At Fortino, we have a strong expertise in business software and we look forward to supporting Cédric and his team on this new journey.“

Cédric Pierrard, founder of Efficy, adds: “Over the last 15 years, we have built a strong CRM software solution addressing the complex needs of clients all around Europe. In order to further ramp up Efficy’s growth and become the European leader, we were looking for a partner with the requisite experience and values as well as with the ability to further assist us in our international ambitions.“

Efficy is the fourth  investment of Fortino’s Digital Growth Fund, succeeding MobileXpense, Maxxton and Odin Groep.

VMB and Bird & Bird acted respectively as financial and legal advisors to Fortino Capital Partners. CMS was legal advisor to the Company.

About Fortino Capital Partners

Fortino Capital Partners is an investment company with a focus on technology and digital transformation. Our mission is to support ambitious management teams in realizing their growth plans. We invest in young companies (venture capital) and established companies (growth capital) where growth is an integral part of the strategy. Fortino has offices in Belgium and the Netherlands, and also invests beyond the Benelux. For more information, please visit www.fortinocapital.com

About Efficy

Efficy is a software provider offering medium & large businesses a complete, flexible and extended CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solution which helps companies manage their Customer Relationship. Efficy has over 170,000 daily users in 33 countries.

Founded in 2005, the Efficy Group, ISO 9001 certified, works with companies from a wide variety of sectors: Banking (Belfius, BNP Paribas, Fortuneo), Insurance & Mutual insurance (Amma, Thélem), Social housing, Industry (CEA, Gradus, Poujoulat), Services, Tourism & Transport (Kinepolis, Geneva Tourism), Retail (La Redoute, Groupe Gautier), Local authorities & Chambers of commerce. Headquartered in Brussels, Efficy has approximately 165 employees in its 7 local offices in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Germany. For more information, please visit www.efficy.com.

For more information please contact:

Laëtitia Baret lba@efficy.com +33 6 13 03 63 67

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rdian and LaSalle to sell the West Bridge building in Levallois, France

Ardian

Paris, October 22, 2019 – Ardian, a world leading private investment house and LaSalle Investment Management (“LaSalle”), one of the world’s leading real estate investment managers, announce today the sale of their participation in the West Bridge building to a joint venture formed by Amundi Immobilier, la Française Real Estate Partners and the Caisse d’assurance vieillesse des pharmaciens.

Acquired in 2017, West Bridge is an iconic office building located at 145-149 rue Anatole France in Levallois-Perret, France. The 28,000 m2 building is undergoing a major renovation program led by Baumschlager Eberle Architecture. The complete refurbishment aims to reposition it as a grade A building. The building, for which completion is scheduled end of 2020, will include two restaurants, a vast auditorium, two gardens and co-working areas spread over eight floors as well as a rooftop terrace offering a panoramic 360° view. Sustainability focus was at the heart of this project and in line with the strategies of Ardian Real Estate and LaSalle, and as such the building will be certified BREEAM Excellent, HQE Excellent and WELL Gold.

In May 2019, LaSalle and Ardian announced they had signed a 12-year lease with WPP. The agency has decided to set up its new Paris campus in this building.

Stéphanie Bensimon, Head of Real Estate at Ardian, says: “We are very happy to have given a second wind to this iconic building. The lease signed with WPP and the sale to Amundi Immobilier, La Française Real Estate Partners and the Caisse d’assurance vieillesse des pharmaciens bear testament to the success of our joint project and the validation of our strategy.”

Beverley Shadbolt, Country Manager for France at LaSalle, continues: “We are delighted to announce this sale, which marks another decisive step in the redevelopment of West Bridge. The ambitious refurbishment program that we have been carrying out with Ardian since 2017 in an environment which has seen a shortage in the number offers for new assets explain the success of this investment. This transaction perfectly illustrates our expertise in projects with high value creation potential. We will continue to focus on restructuring and building developments in the established markets of the Paris region in the coming months.”

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$96bn managed or advised in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base.
Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardian’s activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world.
Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 640 employees working from fifteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul). It manages funds on behalf of around 970 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt.
www.ardian.com

ABOUT LASALLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

LaSalle Investment Management is one of the world’s leading real estate investment managers. On a global basis, LaSalle manages approximately $67 billion of assets in private and public real estate property and debt investments as of Q2 2019. LaSalle’s diverse client base includes public and private pension funds, insurance companies, governments, corporations, endowments and private individuals from across the globe. LaSalle sponsors a complete range of investment vehicles including separate accounts, open- and closed-end funds, public securities and entity-level investments. For more information please visit
http://www.lasalle.com
NOTE: This information discussed above is based on the market analysis and expectations of LaSalle and should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice regarding LaSalle funds or any issuer or security in particular. The information presented herein is for illustrative and educational purposes and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy in any jurisdiction where prohibited by law or where contrary to local law or regulation. Any such offer to invest, if made, will only be made to certain qualified investors by means of a private placement memorandum or applicable offering document and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Past performance is not indicative of future results, nor should any statements herein be construed as a prediction or guarantee of future results.

PRESS CONTACTS

ARDIAN
Headland
TOM JAMES
Tel: +44 207 3675 240
tjames@headlandconsultancy.co.uk
LASALLE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Patricia Crowley
Head of Corporate Communications, EMEA
+44 (0) 780 166 7547
patricia.crowley@lasalle.com

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Cision Ltd. Announces Agreement to Be Acquired by an Affiliate of Platinum Equity for $10.00 Per Share in All Cash Deal Valued at Approximately $2.74 Billion

Platinum

Transaction Provides Immediate Value for Shareholders Acquisition Expected to Close in Q1 2020

CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Cision Ltd. (NYSE: CISN), a leading global provider of software and services to public relations and marketing communications professionals, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Platinum Equity in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $2.74 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the members of Cision Ltd.’s board of directors, an affiliate of Platinum Equity will acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Cision Ltd. for $10.00 per share in cash. The purchase price represents a 34% premium over Cision Ltd.’s 60-day volume-weighted average price ended on October 21, 2019.

A special meeting of Cision Ltd.’s shareholders will be held as soon as practicable following the filing of a definitive proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and subsequent mailing to its shareholders.  Certain affiliates of GTCR, collectively holding approximately 34% of the outstanding shares of Cision Ltd., have entered into a voting agreement committing them to, among other things, vote in favor of adopting the acquisition agreement.  The proposed transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020 and is subject to approval by Cision Ltd.’s shareholders, along with the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and antitrust regulatory approvals, as necessary. Upon completion of the acquisition, Cision Ltd. will become wholly owned by an affiliate of Platinum Equity.

Cision Ltd. may solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties during a “go-shop” period from the date of the agreement until November 12, 2019. There is no guarantee that this process will result in a superior proposal, and the agreement provides Platinum Equity with a customary right to match a superior proposal and termination fee if a superior proposal is accepted.  Cision Ltd. does not intend to disclose developments with respect to the solicitation process unless and until the company determines such disclosure is appropriate.

“This transaction will provide shareholders with immediate and substantial cash value, while also providing us with a partner that shares in our commitment to customers and employees and can add strategic and operational value,” said Kevin Akeroyd, Cision’s Chief Executive Officer. “Based on our extensive engagement with Platinum over the past several months, we are confident that Platinum’s support will enable Cision to execute on its strategy and next phase of growth.”

Commenting on the transaction, Platinum Equity Partner Jacob Kotzubei said: “Cision has a long history of leadership providing software and services to public relations and marketing communications professionals and has developed a growing portfolio of earned media management offerings for the world’s leading brands. Platinum looks forward to nurturing Cision’s core business, supporting and anticipating the diverse needs of the company’s customers, and driving new opportunities for innovation. As a private company, Cision will be able to make strategic investments for sustainable and profitable growth, while remaining agile and focused on operational excellence. We are excited to partner with Cision’s management team as it embarks on this new chapter.”

Cision Ltd. will file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q reporting its third quarter financial results but does not intend to host a quarterly earnings call.

Financing & Advisors
Equity financing will be provided by investment funds managed, advised or sponsored by Platinum Equity. Platinum Equity has secured committed debt financing for the transaction from Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Rothschild & Co is serving as lead financial advisor to Cision and its Board of Directors. Centerview Partners LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are also acting as financial advisors to Cision. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal counsel to Cision, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is acting as M&A legal counsel and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is acting as financing legal counsel to Platinum Equity.

For further information regarding the terms and conditions contained in the definitive merger agreement, please see Cision Ltd.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be filed in connection with this transaction.

About Cision
Cision Ltd. (NYSE: CISN) is a leading global provider of earned media software and services to public relations and marketing communications professionals. Cision’s software allows users to identify key influencers, craft and distribute strategic content, and measure meaningful impact. Cision has over 4,800 employees with offices in 22 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. For more information about its award-winning products and services, including the Cision Communications Cloud®, visit www.cision.com and follow Cision on Twitter @Cision.

About Platinum Equity
Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with more than $19 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 40 operating companies that serve customers around the world. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 25 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 250 acquisitions.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the statements made concerning the proposed transaction, and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “aim,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “goal,” “can,” “seek,” “target” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. You should read any such forward-looking statements carefully, as they involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ significantly from those projected or contemplated in any such forward-looking statement. Those risks, uncertainties and assumptions include: (i) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the Company’s business and the price of the Company’s ordinary shares; (ii) the failure to satisfy any of the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the authorization of the merger agreement by the Company’s shareholders and the receipt of certain regulatory approvals; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance or condition that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed transaction on the Company’s business relationships, operating results and business generally; (v) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the proposed transaction; (vi) risks related to diverting management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations; (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company related to the merger agreement or the proposed transaction, (viii) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; (ix) uncertainties as to Platinum Equity’s ability to obtain financing in order to consummate the merger; and (x) other risks described in the Company’s filings with the SEC, such as its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication or the date of any document incorporated by reference in this document. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements whether as the result of new developments or otherwise.



Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and furnish to the Company’s shareholders a proxy statement. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, THE COMPANY’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT (IF ANY) BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and shareholders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders may obtain a free copy of the Company’s filings with the SEC from the Company’s website at http://investors.cision.com or by directing a written request to: Cision Ltd., Attn: Secretary, 130 E. Randolph St., 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601.

Participants in the Solicitation
The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers, and certain other members of management and employees of the Company may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of the Company in favor of the proposed merger. Information about directors and executive officers of the Company is set forth in the proxy statement for Cision’s 2019 annual general meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on August 9, 2019. Additional information regarding the interests of these individuals and other persons who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation will be included in the proxy statement with respect to the merger that the Company will file with the SEC and furnish to the Company’s shareholders.

Contacts:

Cision Ltd.:
Investor Contact:
Jack Pearlstein
Chief Financial Officer
Jack.Pearlstein@cision.com

Media Contact:
Jenn Deering Davis
VP, Communications
Jenn.Deering.Davis@cision.com

Platinum Equity:
Dan Whelan
Principal, Platinum Equity
dwhelan@platinumequity.com

SOURCE Cision Ltd. Group, Inc.

Investor Relations
and Media Contacts:

Mark Barnhill
Partner
+1 310.228.9514 E-mail Mark

Dan Whelan
Principal
+1 310.282.9202 E-mail Dan

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Latour acquires S+S Regeltechnik

Latour logo

Investment AB Latour (publ) has, through its subsidiary Bemsiq AB, signed an agreement to acquire S+S Regeltechnik GmbH, a company based in Nürnberg in Northern Bavaria, Germany. S+S Regeltechnik is a pan-European leader in advanced sensor technology for measurement and control in facility automation and mechanical engineering. The acquisition further strengthens Bemsiq’s product offering towards the building automation segment and expands the group’s geographical reach with a strong base in Germany.

S+S Regeltechnik’s product range includes a holistic offering of field devices and room controllers for building automation and products sold are based on own design and proprietary technology. The company has 65 employees and annual revenue of EUR 16.3 million in 2018 with a profit level well over Latour’s financial target. The seller is Mr. Tino Schulze through his family’s holding company. Mr. Schulze is also the CEO of the company.

“I am very happy to welcome S+S Regeltechnik to the Bemsiq group of companies”, says Mikael J Albrektsson, CEO for Bemsiq. “We have known the company for many years and their wide range and high product quality is very appreciated by system integrators and partners in Germany and internationally. The acquisition is an important step in our ambition to grow on the international market for building automation and creates a strong presence in Germany for Bemsiq.”

“I see Bemsiq and Latour as very good long-term owners of S+S Regeltechnik”, says Mr. Tino Schulze, CEO and former owner of S+S Regeltechnik. “I look forward to continue to develop and grow S+S Regeltechnik alongside the other companies in the Bemsiq group. Being a member of the Bemsiq group opens new growth and development possibilities for S+S Regeltechnik.”

The transaction will be completed during January 2020, subject to certain conditions that must be fulfilled before that. As an effect of the acquisition the net debt of Investment AB Latour is expected to increase compared to the net debt level at the end of June 2019 as communicated in the Interim report January – June 2019, to around SEK 5.1 billion, all else equal.

Göteborg, 22 October, 2019

INVESTMENT AB LATOUR (PUBL)
Johan Hjertonsson
President and CEO

For further information, please contact:
Johan Hjertonsson, President and CEO Investment AB Latour +46 702 29 77 93
Björn Lenander, CEO Latour Industries AB, +46 708 19 47 36
Mikael J Albrektsson, CEO Bemsiq AB, +46 733 23 36 06

Investment AB Latour is a mixed investment company consisting primarily of a wholly-owned industrial operations and an investment portfolio of listing holdings in which Latour is the principal owner or one of the principal owners. The investment portfolio consists of nine substantial holdings with a market value of about SEK 60 billion. The wholly-owned industrial operations have an annual turnover of about SEK 12 billion.

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Ardian Real Estate acquires an office building rue des Pyramides in Paris from Zaka Investments

Ardian

Paris, October 21, 2019 – Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, announces today the acquisition of an office complex located at 14 rue des Pyramides, in Paris’ first arrondissement. This transaction is in line with Ardian Real Estate’s strategy to invest in commercial real estate assets with strong value creation potential.

The 3,800 m² Haussmann-style building consists of two interconnected five- and six-storey buildings, organized around a central courtyard. Very well located in the central business district, near the Opera House, the Tuileries Gardens and at the foot of Pyramides station (metro lines 14 and 7), this asset will be refurbished in order optimize the office spaces to prime market standards and offer new services to its future users.

Stéphanie Bensimon, Head of Ardian Real Estate, said: “We are delighted to have been able to acquire this building located in a very dynamic central district of Paris. This business district is one of the most sought-after European markets but with a lack of high quality offers. We look forward to implementing our strategy to redevelop the building, which will count 400 workstations in a modern and pleasant environment.”

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Buyer: Ardian
Buyer’s advisors: Victoires Notaires Associés, Linklaters
Architect: Architecture Studio
Seller’s advisors: L’Etude du 25
Broker: BNP

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$96bn managed or advised in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base.
Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardian’s activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world.
Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 640 employees working from fifteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul). It manages funds on behalf of around 970 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt.
www.ardian.com

ABOUT ZAKA INVESTMENTS

ZAKA Investments, a Parisian real estate company owned by Pierre Bastid’s Family Office, led by Romain Yzerman, has carried out some sixty transactions since 2012 for a total amount exceeding €900 million. Its Strength? A small team of about ten people, quasi-institutional resources with immediate entrepreneurial business decision-making capacity. Its expertise? Favour complex investments, internal control of the entire investment process: acquisition, financing, eviction, permits and project management, right up to marketing or sale.
Since its creation, Zaka Investments has already completed numerous institutional disposals (Generali, Macif Immo, Cardif, Sofidy, AEW…) of core & core plus restructured office buildings, as well as several valued portfolios of commercial properties. In addition, since 2014 Zaka Investments has been pursuing the real estate development of the hotel group “EVOK” with 4 5* luxury hotels already delivered and opened in Paris (“Nolinski” 3,200 m² in Av. de l’Opéra, “Brach” 6,000 m² in La Muette with Philippe Starck, “Sinner” 3,000 m² in rue du Temple and “Cour des Vosges” 800 m² in Place des Vosges), and will follow Venice, Madrid and Rome.

PRESS CONTACTS

ARDIAN
Headland
TOM JAMES
Tel: +44 207 3675 240
tjames@headlandconsultancy.co.uk

Categories: News

BBS Automation acquires ReaLead and closes group financing

eqt

Following a successful EUR 140 million refinancing, EQT portfolio company BBS Automation steps up its ambitious consolidation strategy and closes its third add-on in one year; ReaLead, a founder-led Chinese automation business with strong growth momentum and complementary customer base.
Headquartered in Munich, Germany, BBS Automation (“BBS”) develops flexible and high-quality automation solutions for complex manufacturing and testing processes. With production sites in Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, the US, China and Malaysia, BBS Automation supports a diverse network of blue-chip customers on a global scale. The EQT Mid Market Europe and EQT Mid Market Asia III funds jointly invested in BBS in May 2018 alongside the company’s founding families to support continued growth, both organically and through add-on acquisitions.

ReaLead is BBS’ third add-on under EQT’s ownership period and follows the acquisition of ANT Solutions, a Polish founder-led provider of digital factory solutions in November 2018 and TEAM (now BBS Winding), a founder-led Italian specialist for coil winding technology for e-engines in May 2019.
The recent EUR 140 million refinancing of BBS’ existing working capital and guarantee facility is set to provide sufficient financial headroom for increased organic growth and financial flexibility for further consolidation of the automation market.

BBS Automation and ReaLead – making use of EQT’s global platform
Founded by Kevin Nie in Kunshan, China, ReaLead is a fast-growing automation solutions provider with strong credentials, technical capabilities and high quality of services. The company has a longstanding track record of providing a diverse range of automation solutions, including die casting parts, electric vehicle parts and the company is one of the early entrants, and an important player, in the fast-growing 5G telecommunication space. With approximately 150 employees and an experienced technical team, ReaLead serves both Western blue chips as well as domestic Chinese customers.

By joining forces, BBS is ideally positioned to accelerate growth in Asia, and in particular, gain access to ReaLead’s Chinese customer base and country-wide manufacturing automation network. Furthermore, ReaLead is expected to enable BBS’ diversification into the Chinese 5G telecommunications space, while leveraging exposure to new potential customers through both BBS’ and EQT’s global platforms.

Josef Wildgruber, CEO of BBS Automation, commented: “The addition of ReaLead is well-aligned with our intention of strengthening our global network and increasing our Chinese presence to continue enabling our customers the best possible automation solutions and service. Kevin and our new Chinese colleagues are energetic and motivated, and we are excited to welcome them to the BBS family.”

Kevin Nie, Founder of ReaLead, added: “We are very excited to join BBS and take this next step in ReaLead’s evolution. This partnership will enable us to leverage on the technical know-how and successful experience of BBS, to improve our quality of offering and enable us to continue to drive value creation for our customers.”

Jerry He, Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT Mid Market Asia III, concluded: “We are very happy to see that EQT’s dual-fund investment in BBS is off to a very good start with a track record of exciting strategic add-ons and excellent collaboration with the founding partners. This is a great example of how to leverage the strategic advantages of EQT’s global platform, which enables cross-continental teamwork and sharing of local know-how. The acquisition of ReaLead will broaden BBS’ offering, market competitiveness and customer access in the fast-growing Chinese market. Looking ahead, BBS will continue to leverage on the ‘local-with-local’ expertise of both EQT’s European and Asian teams and the global network of EQT Advisors.”

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Tosca to acquire Polymer Logistics

Apax

Addition of Polymer Logistics will enhance Tosca’s geographic and product diversification and build on strong innovation platform

Atlanta, Georgia, USA, October 16, 2019: Tosca, an innovator in reusable packaging and supply chain solutions in the United States, announced today that it has agreed to acquire Polymer Logistics (“Polymer”), an innovative company specializing in reusable transport packaging and retail merchandising systems in the United States and Europe, from a consortium of private investors.

Tosca to acquire Polymer Logistics

In conjunction with the transaction, funds advised by Apax Partners (the “Apax Funds”), which acquired Tosca in 2017, will commit additional capital to Tosca to fund the acquisition of Polymer. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Tosca has a 60-year history of innovation that has driven its growth into a leading North American provider of reusable packaging and supply chain solutions across a wide array of markets. Today the company employs more than 950 people and operates 14 service centers across the US, working with the nation’s largest and most influential grocery retailers and suppliers to provide solutions for shipping perishables, reducing shrink and driving supply chain efficiency.

Founded in 1994, Polymer is a leader in retail ready packaging systems and technologies. The company provides reusable containers and other packaging and related services to grocery end markets, as well as retail, logistics and consumer goods customers. Its manufacturing operations are based in Israel and the company operates across the US, the UK and Continental Europe.

The acquisition of Polymer will expand Tosca’s geographic reach and increase its product portfolio. This will offer customers a stronger value proposition through increased network density, particularly in the US, and an expanded product offering.

Eric Frank, CEO of Tosca stated: “The acquisition of Polymer represents a major milestone in Tosca’s growth. Polymer is a leading RPC provider, with a broad international footprint, vertically integrated manufacturing operation, and a shared focus on innovation that will allow us to significantly enhance our geographic reach and offer customers an expanded product line to better meet their needs.”

Ashish Karandikar, Partner at Apax Partners, said: “We are excited to support Tosca in this transformational acquisition. Polymer has a strong track record of financial performance and a culture of innovation. The acquisition allows Tosca to access attractive markets outside of the US, while benefiting from scale, cross-selling opportunities, and collaboration on innovation.”

Gideon Feiner, Founder and CEO of Polymer Logistics, noted: “Tosca and Polymer have a shared commitment to service excellence, innovation and reducing waste throughout the supply chain. I am excited about the possibilities that will be created by our combined company and am looking forward to stepping into a new leadership role at the planned Cleanpal® unit.”

Following the close of the acquisition, Tosca intends to carve out Polymer’s Cleanpal® reusable pallets business as a separate unit within the company. Polymer Founder and CEO Gideon Feiner will assume the role of its CEO.

About Tosca 

Tosca is a leading provider of reusable packaging and supply chain solutions across a diverse range of products including eggs, case-ready meat, poultry, produce, and cheese. Our proven RPC system is a smarter way to move fresh product safely from source to shelf, substantially reducing shrink and labor cost, maintaining product quality, and optimizing overall supply chain efficiency for retailers, growers, and suppliers. For more information visit: www.toscaltd.com.

About Polymer

Polymer Logistics is a provider of Retail Returnable Packaging (“RRP”) solutions to leading retailers and suppliers mainly in the US, Continental Europe and the UK. It designs and supplies reusable RRP units that function as both transport storage containers/pallets and in-store displays. The Group is a provider of pool equipment services, supplying RRP units directly to retailers, or indirectly to major suppliers to retailers, through rental agreements. Both methods are aimed at establishing long term rental relationships with customers. Polymer Logistics is based in The Netherlands with subsidiaries in the UK, Italy, Israel, the US and branch offices in Spain and in Austria.

About Apax Partners

Apax Partners is a leading global private equity advisory firm. Over its more than 40-year history, Apax Partners has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of approximately $50 billion. The Apax Funds invest in companies across four global sectors of Tech & Telco, Services, Healthcare and Consumer. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For more information see: www.apax.com.

Media Contacts

For Tosca

Susan Heil, Tosca I +1 920 569 5335 I sheil@toscaltd.com

For Polymer Logistics

Shlomit Gotlib, Polymer Logistics I +97 2 54 6923064 I Shlomit.Gotlib@polymerlogistics.com

For Apax Partners

Global Media: Andrew Kenny, Apax | +44 20 7 872 6371 | andrew.kenny@apax.com

USA Media: Todd Fogarty, Kekst CNC | +1 212 521 4854 | todd.fogarty@kekstcnc.com

UK Media: Matthew Goodman / James Madsen, Greenbrook | +44 20 7952 2000 | apax@greenbrookpr.com

Notes to Editors 

London-headquartered Apax Partners (www.apax.com), and Paris-headquartered Apax Partners (www.apax.fr) had a shared history but are separate, independent private equity firms.

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Tosca to acquire Polymer Logistics

Apax

Addition of Polymer Logistics will enhance Tosca’s geographic and product diversification and build on strong innovation platform

Atlanta, Georgia, USA, October 16, 2019: Tosca, an innovator in reusable packaging and supply chain solutions in the United States, announced today that it has agreed to acquire Polymer Logistics (“Polymer”), an innovative company specializing in reusable transport packaging and retail merchandising systems in the United States and Europe, from a consortium of private investors.

In conjunction with the transaction, funds advised by Apax Partners (the “Apax Funds”), which acquired Tosca in 2017, will commit additional capital to Tosca to fund the acquisition of Polymer. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Tosca has a 60-year history of innovation that has driven its growth into a leading North American provider of reusable packaging and supply chain solutions across a wide array of markets. Today the company employs more than 950 people and operates 14 service centers across the US, working with the nation’s largest and most influential grocery retailers and suppliers to provide solutions for shipping perishables, reducing shrink and driving supply chain efficiency.

Founded in 1994, Polymer is a leader in retail ready packaging systems and technologies. The company provides reusable containers and other packaging and related services to grocery end markets, as well as retail, logistics and consumer goods customers. Its manufacturing operations are based in Israel and the company operates across the US, the UK and Continental Europe.

The acquisition of Polymer will expand Tosca’s geographic reach and increase its product portfolio. This will offer customers a stronger value proposition through increased network density, particularly in the US, and an expanded product offering.

Eric Frank, CEO of Tosca stated: “The acquisition of Polymer represents a major milestone in Tosca’s growth. Polymer is a leading RPC provider, with a broad international footprint, vertically integrated manufacturing operation, and a shared focus on innovation that will allow us to significantly enhance our geographic reach and offer customers an expanded product line to better meet their needs.”

Ashish Karandikar, Partner at Apax Partners, said: “We are excited to support Tosca in this transformational acquisition. Polymer has a strong track record of financial performance and a culture of innovation. The acquisition allows Tosca to access attractive markets outside of the US, while benefiting from scale, cross-selling opportunities, and collaboration on innovation.”

Gideon Feiner, Founder and CEO of Polymer Logistics, noted: “Tosca and Polymer have a shared commitment to service excellence, innovation and reducing waste throughout the supply chain. I am excited about the possibilities that will be created by our combined company and am looking forward to stepping into a new leadership role at the planned Cleanpal® unit.”

Following the close of the acquisition, Tosca intends to carve out Polymer’s Cleanpal® reusable pallets business as a separate unit within the company. Polymer Founder and CEO Gideon Feiner will assume the role of its CEO.

About Tosca 

Tosca is a leading provider of reusable packaging and supply chain solutions across a diverse range of products including eggs, case-ready meat, poultry, produce, and cheese. Our proven RPC system is a smarter way to move fresh product safely from source to shelf, substantially reducing shrink and labor cost, maintaining product quality, and optimizing overall supply chain efficiency for retailers, growers, and suppliers. For more information visit: www.toscaltd.com.

About Polymer

Polymer Logistics is a provider of Retail Returnable Packaging (“RRP”) solutions to leading retailers and suppliers mainly in the US, Continental Europe and the UK. It designs and supplies reusable RRP units that function as both transport storage containers/pallets and in-store displays. The Group is a provider of pool equipment services, supplying RRP units directly to retailers, or indirectly to major suppliers to retailers, through rental agreements. Both methods are aimed at establishing long term rental relationships with customers. Polymer Logistics is based in The Netherlands with subsidiaries in the UK, Italy, Israel, the US and branch offices in Spain and in Austria.

About Apax Partners

Apax Partners is a leading global private equity advisory firm. Over its more than 40-year history, Apax Partners has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of approximately $50 billion. The Apax Funds invest in companies across four global sectors of Tech & Telco, Services, Healthcare and Consumer. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For more information see: www.apax.com.

Media Contacts

For Tosca

Susan Heil, Tosca I +1 920 569 5335 I sheil@toscaltd.com

For Polymer Logistics

Shlomit Gotlib, Polymer Logistics I +97 2 54 6923064 I Shlomit.Gotlib@polymerlogistics.com

For Apax Partners

Global Media: Andrew Kenny, Apax | +44 20 7 872 6371 | andrew.kenny@apax.com

USA Media: Todd Fogarty, Kekst CNC | +1 212 521 4854 | todd.fogarty@kekstcnc.com

UK Media: Matthew Goodman / James Madsen, Greenbrook | +44 20 7952 2000 | apax@greenbrookpr.com

Notes to Editors 

London-headquartered Apax Partners (www.apax.com), and Paris-headquartered Apax Partners (www.apax.fr) had a shared history but are separate, independent private equity firms.

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The Carlyle Group completes acquisition of shareholding in Cepsa from Mubadala

Carlyle

  • Transaction completed in line with expectations announced on 8 April 2019
  • Carlyle acquires a 37% stake in Cepsa; Mubadala to remain majority shareholder in Europe’s largest privately-owned integrated energy company
  • Philippe Boisseau to be appointed CEO, taking over from Pedro Miro who will retire

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Mubadala Investment Company, the Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor, and global investment firm The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) have today reached completion of the transaction announced on 8 April 2019. 

Funds affiliated with Carlyle have acquired 37% shareholding in Compañía Española de Petróleos, S.A.U (Cepsa) from Mubadala.  Mubadala will remain the majority shareholder in Cepsa, holding the remaining 63%.

The composition of Cepsa’s Board of Directors reflects the new shareholding, with Mubadala entitled to appoint five members to the Board, including its chairman, and Carlyle to appoint three members.  In addition, there will continue to be one independent member and the company’s Chief Executive Officer will complete the board’s composition.

In parallel with the new shareholder partnership, Carlyle and Mubadala have named Philippe Boisseau as CEO to succeed Pedro Miro, who will be retiring.  Philippe is a seasoned industry leader with an extensive track record of over 30 years, notably with the Total Group, where he served in senior leadership roles in France, the Middle East, the United States and Argentina.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO, Petroleum & Petrochemicals, Mubadala, and Chairman of Cepsa, said: “We are pleased to have completed the transaction and look forward to working closely with Carlyle and Cepsa’s management on growing the business and creating even greater value from its portfolio and operations.”

“I want to thank Pedro Miro, especially, for his long and dedicated service to Cepsa.  He has played a vital role in developing Cepsa in recent years to become one of Spain’s leading companies and a business that is looking strong for the future.  I also want to welcome our incoming CEO Philippe Boisseau, who will be leading the company’s next phase of growth. Philippe is well known to Mubadala from his time in the Middle East with one of our long-term partners and we are pleased to have him on board.”

Marcel van Poecke, Head of Carlyle International Energy Partners and Vice-Chairman of Cepsa, commented: “Cepsa is an attractive, well-positioned international integrated energy player led by Pedro and his strong leadership team. We are pleased Philippe Boisseau has agreed to become CEO as he has an impressive range of skills and leadership in the international energy sector. I know he will work closely with Pedro and the Cepsa leadership team in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth and successful leadership transition. Carlyle remains excited about its role as an investor, along with Mubadala, in Cepsa.”

About Philippe Boisseau
Philippe Boisseau is a seasoned international executive who has worked throughout his career in the international energy sector.

Previously, Mr. Boisseau served as President, Marketing and Services, a global division of the Total Group and a member of the Executive Committee of Total S.A. (EPA: FP), a French oil and gas company, from January 2012 to April 2016.  Mr. Boisseau also served as President of Total Gas et Energies Nouvelles (Total Gas & Power), a division of Total S.A., from February 2007 to December 2011 and remained in charge of the New Energies activities until April 2016.  He also previously served as a member of Total S.A.’s Management Committee since January 2005.  He served as President, Middle East of Total S.A.’s Exploration & Production division between 2002 and February 2007 and, before that, as General Manager of Total Austral in Argentina from 1999 to 2002.  From 1995 to 1999, he worked in several management positions within the Refining and Marketing division in the United States and France.  At the beginning of his career, he served in various positions within French government ministries.

Mr. Boisseau is a member of the Regalwood Global Energy Ltd. Board of Directors and has also served as a member of the advisory board of the Energy Intelligence Group since 2018.  He is also on the board of Assala Energy and Enermech, both Carlyle International Energy Partners assets. Mr. Boisseau also serves on the board of I-Pulse Inc. since November 2017. Finally, he serves as senior advisor to Tellurian Inc. a US gas liquefaction Company.

Mr. Boisseau graduated from the leading French engineering school, École Polytechnique, and also holds a DEA (master’s degree) in particle physics from the École Normale Supérieure.

About Cepsa
Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, Cepsa is Europe’s largest privately-owned integrated energy company.

Cepsa is a household name and significant Spanish-headquartered company that has evolved through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions.  It now operates assets across the full petroleum value chain in more than 20 countries, delivering through-the-cycle earnings resilience and also operates in the renewables sector.

The company’s upstream assets include significant reserves contained in both the Umm Lulu and SARB fields located offshore Abu Dhabi. Cepsa is also a significant oil producer in Algeria and operates in South America and Southeast Asia.

Cepsa’s retail business includes an extensive network of service stations across the Iberian Peninsula and an integrated energy offering to Spanish consumers, covering liquid fuels, gas and electricity.

The company owns and operates two refineries in Spain and has committed significant capital to ensure they remain among the most efficient in Europe and well positioned to respond to the new IMO quality and emissions requirements when they take effect in January 2020. 

Cepsa is also the global leader in the production of linear alkyl benzene (LAB), a key component in the manufacture of biodegradable detergents and the second largest producer of phenol and acetone.

About Mubadala Investment Company
Mubadala Investment Company is a sovereign investor managing a global portfolio, aimed at generating sustainable financial returns for its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi.

Mubadala’s US $229 billion portfolio spans five continents with interests in multiple sectors including aerospace, ICT, semiconductors, metals and mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, utilities, healthcare, real estate, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, agribusiness and a global portfolio of financial holdings across all asset classes. Mubadala has offices in Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, New York and San Francisco, with a joint venture in Hong Kong.

Mubadala is a trusted partner, an engaged shareholder and a responsible global company that is committed to world-class standards of governance.  

For more information about Mubadala, please visit: www.mubadala.com

About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across four business segments: Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit and Investment Solutions.  With $223 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2019, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of our investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest.  The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,775 people in 33 offices across six continents.Web: www.carlyle.com

About Carlyle’s Energy Platform
Carlyle has constructed a broad-based global energy, natural resources and infrastructure platform (currently with $27 billion in assets under management and 95 active portfolio companies), consisting of International Energy, North American Energy, North American Power and Global Infrastructure.

Media Contacts

London          
Rory Macmillan
roderick.macmillan@carlyle.com
Phone: +44 20 7894 1630

US
Christa Zipf
Phone: +1-212-813-4578
Christa.Zipf@carlyle.com

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HireVue Announces Close of Transaction with The Carlyle Group

Carlyle

SALT LAKE CITY – October 15, 2019 – HireVue, provider of the most comprehensive suite of AI-driven talent assessment and video interviewing solutions, today announced the completion of The Carlyle Group’s (NASDAQ: CG) majority investment in HireVue. Existing shareholders, including Granite Ventures, Sequoia and TCV, together with HireVue management, remain minority investors.

“I can’t imagine a better partner for HireVue than The Carlyle Group,” said Kevin Parker, Chairman and CEO at HireVue. “Together we’ll make swift progress on our broad, growth-focused agenda to deliver new hiring solutions and capabilities for the global enterprise.”

“We are delighted to partner with the HireVue team and to support its continued growth as it meets increasing demands for technology-driven interviewing and talent assessment capabilities,” said Patrick McCarter, Managing Director and Co-Head of TMT at The Carlyle Group.

The current executive team at HireVue continues to lead the company under the direction of Mr. Parker.

Equity capital for the investment came from Carlyle Partners VII, an $18.5 billion fund that makes majority and strategic minority investments primarily in the U.S. in targeted industries, including in technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) companies. TMT is a core area of focus for Carlyle, representing more than $30 billion of invested equity since inception.

About HireVue
HireVue is transforming the way companies discover, hire and develop the best talent by combining the power of video, games and AI for better hiring decisions. The HireVue Assessments and Video Interviewing Platform uses a ground-breaking combination of industrial/organizational science and rigorously tested, predictive artificial intelligence to help customers find and engage higher quality talent, faster. HireVue is available worldwide in over 30 languages and has hosted more than 11 million on-demand interviews and one million assessments. Its more than 700 customers worldwide include over one-third of the Fortune 100 and leading brands such as Unilever, Hilton, JP Morgan Chase, Delta Air Lines, Vodafone, Carnival Cruise Line and Goldman Sachs. For more information, visit www.hirevue.com.

HireVue Social Networks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/HireVue
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/HireVue
Facebook: www.facebook/HireVue
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/HireVue
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hirevue/

About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across four business segments: Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit and Investment Solutions. With $223 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2019, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,775 people in 33 offices across six continents.

PRESS CONTACTS

Cynthia Siemens
Communications Director, HireVue
323-509-7361
csiemens@hirevue.com 

Jenny Olson
mPR, Inc.
310-773-2568
jenny@mpublicrelations.com 

Christa Zipf
The Carlyle Group
212-813-4578
christa.zipf@carlyle.com

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