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SnelStart announces partnership with BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital to accelerate growth and expand market leadership

Bregal unternehmerkapital

Zug / Alkmaar, October 14, 2025 – SnelStart, a family-owned and managed company and market leader for financial management software to accounting/bookkeeping offices, small businesses and freelancers in the Netherlands, announces a new partnership with BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital (“BU”), a leading entrepreneurial capital provider to family businesses and mid-market firms.

With a diversified customer base of nearly 170,000 clients, including over 5,000 accounting offices, SnelStart has built its strong market position through a highly customer-centric go-to-market and continuous innovation, guided by its vision to help entrepreneurs to grow in an increasingly complex digital world.

The strategic partnership is built on a joint vision to further strengthen SnelStart’s market leadership, accelerate innovation, and deliver even more value to customers through technology, service and operational excellence. Together, SnelStart and BU aim to expand the company’s reach, advance its product platform, and continue setting high standards in user experience and customer satisfaction.

Herman Weessies, co-owner and CEO of SnelStart, commented: “Finding the right partner for SnelStart’s next growth phase was very important for us as a family business. I was not looking for only a capital provider, but for a partner who could help us stay independent and continue to build the platform we build for our entrepreneurs. A partner who truly understands entrepreneurs – one who shares our values, believes in long-term development, and puts customers at the center of everything. With BU, we found exactly that: a partner with deep software expertise, a strong track record with family-owned businesses, and a collaborative mindset focused on sustainable growth. Together, we are ready to take SnelStart to the next level.”

Norbert Heller, Partner at BU, added: “SnelStart is a remarkable company that has embarked on an impressive growth trajectory, driven by a highly entrepreneurial leadership with a clear vision and strong customer focus. We are convinced of the company’s potential and look forward to supporting its continued success. With our software expertise, hands-on partnership approach, and long-term perspective, we aim to help accelerate SnelStart’s development and strengthen its position as a market leader with a growing and satisfied customer base. We are inspired by the passion and dedication of Herman and his team and are proud to accompany them on this journey.”

Philipp Struth, Partner at BU, explains: “BU has been active in the Dutch market for over eight years, supporting our partner companies in their growth ambitions in the region. With SnelStart, we are now taking the next step with bringing our deep expertise in unlocking the potential of market leaders into a growth partnership that originates in the Netherlands. The country is home to many excellent hidden champions striving to reach their next level – and BU is well prepared to support them on that journey.”

The partnership remains subject to the completion of the advice procedure of SnelStart’s works council and satisfaction of the required regulatory filings and procedures.

About SnelStart

Founded in 1982 with several offices across the Netherlands, SnelStart is a strongly growing software solutions provider that develops intuitive financial management and bookkeeping software tailored to freelancers, small businesses, and accounting firms. With over four decades of experience, SnelStart helps nearly 170,000 entrepreneurs simplify their financial processes, improve efficiency, and gain clearer insights into their business performance.

About BU

BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital (“BU”) is a leading investment firm with offices in Zug, Munich, Milan and London. With more than €7bn in Assets under Management, BU is the largest mid-cap investor headquartered in the DACH region. With the mission to be the partner of choice for entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses, BU seeks to partner with market leaders and “hidden champions” with strong management teams and breakout potential. Since its founding in 2015, the funds advised by BU have invested in more than 150 companies with more than 29,000 employees. Thereby, around 10,000 jobs have been created. BU supports entrepreneurs and families as a strategic partner to develop, internationalize, and digitize their businesses, while helping them generate sustainable value on a responsible basis with the next generation in mind.

Categories: News

Uniconta brings growth partner BU on board and intensifies European expansion

Bregal unternehmerkapital

Zug / Copenhagen, October 14, 2025: Uniconta A/S, a leading Danish provider of a cloud-based, all-in-one accounting and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for small and medium-sized businesses, is about to accelerate its international expansion with the help of BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital (“BU”).

Funds advised by BU have acquired a majority stake in the company, including its two distributors in Germany and the Netherlands. Uniconta”s founder Erik Damgaard will remain a significant shareholder with a large equity stake and, as CTO, will continue to lead the development of Uniconta. Together, the new partners aim to further fuel Uniconta”s strong success in its home market Denmark, and to further accelerate its growth story into other European countries, with the goal to become a major player there as well.

Uniconta was founded in 2015 by IT entrepreneur Erik Damgaard and today is used in more than 45,000 companies in 67 countries. Its ERP system has been continuously adapted to master new challenges and has maintained state-of-the art status throughout its existence. As a modern, cloud-based system it tracks finances, inventory, projects, production and logistics data, as well as helping small and medium-sized businesses become more digital. The system offers a highly customizable user experience, allowing clients to display the fields, tables and screens most relevant to their use case. In 2017, Uniconta received DKK 60 million in new equity funding from Danish pension fund AkademikerPension to accelerate its growth in the Danish market.

“In Denmark, we have been very successful in rolling out our cloud-based ERP solution and have built an excellent market position”, explains Erik Damgaard. “Now it is time to enhance our footstep in countries like Germany and the Netherlands where we are already present with solutions tailored to local legislation. In BU, I have found the best partner for driving our growth in Germany and the Netherlands, while also continuing our momentum in the Danish market.”

Dr. Stephan Schmid, Partner at BU, says: “Danish firms are widely admired for their digital excellence, and innovative ERP systems like Uniconta are a big part of that success. We see great potential for the product to replace outdated systems in the market and thus help businesses to digitize in other countries as well. Together with Erik and his team, we have identified particularly strong potential in markets like Germany and the Netherlands, and we are very excited to support of Uniconta”s ambition with our deep sector knowledge, network and capital”.

About Uniconta A/S

Uniconta A/S was founded in 2015 by IT entrepreneur Erik Damgaard. The company develops and sells the cloud-based, all-in-one accounting and ERP system Uniconta, which is targeted at small and medium-sized businesses. Today, Uniconta”s solutions are used in 67 countries by more than 45,000 companies. Erik Damgaard was also a co-founder of Damgaard Data in 1984, which was sold to Microsoft in 2002 for a multi-billion DKK sum.

About BU

BU is a leading European investment firm with offices in Zug, Munich, Milan and London. With more than €7bn in Assets under Management, BU is the largest mid-cap investor headquartered in the DACH region. With the mission to be the partner of choice for entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses, BU seeks to partner with market leaders and Hidden Champions with strong management teams and breakout potential. Since its founding in 2015, the funds advised by BU have invested in more than 150 companies with more than 29,000 employees. Thereby, around 10,000 jobs have been created. BU supports entrepreneurs and families as a strategic partner to develop, internationalize, and digitize their businesses, while helping them generate sustainable value on a responsible basis with the next generation in mind.

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Ecorobotix Secures $150M to Accelerate AI-Powered Plant-by-Plant™ Care, Unveiling New Innovation at Agritechnica

ECBF

Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland – 13 October 2025 – Ecorobotix, the global leader in AI-powered Ultra-High Precision (UHP) spraying, is driving the future of sustainable agriculture with innovations that improve crop health and efficiency. Building on rapid growth, proven field results, and a strong financial foundation with $150 million raised in Series C ($45m, 2024) and Series D ($105m, 2025), the company will present its latest advancements at Agritechnica this November in Hanover.

Central to Ecorobotix’s momentum is its Plant-by-Plant™ AI technology, which can distinguish and treat each individual plant with unmatched precision, using a spray footprint of just a few centimeters. This approach reduces the use of pesticides and other crop protection products by as much as 95% while maintaining effectiveness. For growers, the benefits are far-reaching: the safe use of non-selective products, lower input costs, compliance with increasingly strict regulations, and ultimately, higher yields.

Fueling Innovation Through Investment
These new advances are made possible thanks to the company’s strong backing from global investors. The Series D round was led by Highland Europe, one of the continent’s top venture capital funds, with ECBF and McWin Capital Partners also joining as new investors.

 “These latest investment rounds have allowed us to accelerate our innovation, expand into new crop types, broaden our product range, and bring our advanced crop algorithms to market faster,” said Dominique Mégret, CEO of Ecorobotix. “Thanks to the trust of our investors, we are scaling a proven solution to help deliver better-quality food for the world.”

Showcasing New Innovation at Agritechnica 2025
This November at Agritechnica, Ecorobotix will unveil its latest innovation, setting a new standard for crop protection worldwide.
“Farmers today face rising costs, labor shortages, and pressure to reduce inputs while still producing more food,” added Mégret. “Our new innovation takes precision even further to help them meet those challenges.” 

About our New Investors

Highland Europe
Highland Europe invests in exceptional growth-stage technology and consumer companies. Formally launched in 2012, Highland Europe has raised over €2.75 billion. Highland’s collective history of investments across the US, Europe and China includes 45+ IPOs, 150+ M&A exits and 40 billion-dollar-plus companies.

ECBF
The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is the leading venture capital fund dedicated to accelerating Europe’s transition to a sustainable, circular bioeconomy. With €300 million under management, ECBF invests in growth-stage companies. As an Article 9 SFDR fund, ECBF combines rigorous ESG standards with deep industry expertise to scale impactful innovations.

McWin Capital Partners
McWin Capital Partners (“McWin”) is a specialist private equity and venture capital firm, dedicated to the food ecosystem. With deep industry expertise across three business segments; Food Tech, Foodservice and Restaurants, McWin’s purpose is to lead the food industry through positive change and create value on behalf of investors and portfolio companies of the McWin Funds by leveraging its scale, network and experience to deliver outstanding returns.

Ecorobotix also acknowledges the vital support of its long-term partners such as 4FOX Ventures, AQTON, BASF Venture Capital, Capagro, Cibus Capital, Flexstone Partners, Fondation Domaine de Villette, Meritech, Stellar Impact, Swisscanto, Swisscom Ventures, and Yara Growth Ventures.

About Ecorobotix
Ecorobotix is a Swiss B Corporation® certified company whose mission is to transform agriculture through artificial intelligence and ultra-precise spraying technologies. With more than 25 crop algorithms now supported, its flagship product, ARA, is the world’s most versatile ultra-high-precision sprayer, capable of targeting specific crops as well as different types of weeds. Present in more than 20 countries in Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, Ecorobotix is redefining the standards of sustainable crop protection.

Press contact | ECBF Management GmbH
Cornelia Mann | pr@ecbf.vc| +49.160.892.774.4

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KKR Completes Acquisition of OSTTRA From S&P Global and CME Group

KKR

October 10, 2025

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced that investment funds managed by KKR have completed the acquisition of OSTTRA, a leading provider of post-trade solutions for the global OTC market, from S&P Global and CME Group. The terms of the deal for OSTTRA equaled total enterprise value at $3.1 billion.

Established in 2021 as a joint venture between CME Group and S&P Global, OSTTRA serves the global financial ecosystem with a comprehensive suite of critical post-trade offerings across interest rates, FX, credit and equity asset classes. OSTTRA provides end-to-end connectivity and workflow solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, and other market participants across trade processing, trade lifecycle, and optimization.

Guy Rowcliffe and John Stewart will continue to lead the OSTTRA management team. Building on OSTTRA’s strong foundation as a trusted provider of critical market infrastructure, KKR will support the Company’s customer-centric growth by increasing OSTTRA’s investments in technology and innovation across its leading post-trade solutions platform.

KKR will also support OSTTRA in creating a broad-based equity ownership program to provide all of the company’s nearly 1,500 employees the opportunity to participate in the benefits of ownership.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and BofA Securities, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett served as financial and legal advisors, respectively, to KKR. Barclays served as financial advisor and Davis Polk served as legal advisor to S&P Global. Citi served as financial advisor and Skadden served as legal advisor to CME Group.

About OSTTRA

OSTTRA provides critical post trade infrastructure to global financial markets. Launched in 2021 through the combination of four businesses that have been at the heart of Post Trade innovation for more than 20 years (MarkitServ, Traiana, TriOptima and Reset), the OSTTRA network connects thousands of market participants to process millions of trades each day, streamlining end to end workflows – from trade capture and confirmation, through portfolio optimisation, to clearing and settlement. For additional information, please visit www.osttra.com.

About KKR

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

Media

OSTTRA:
Ted Harvey
+447515961906
osttra@aspectusgroup.com

KKR:
Lauren McCranie
212-750-8300
media@kkr.com

Source: KKR

 

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BASF and Carlyle reach binding transaction agreement on coatings business to create a leading standalone company

Carlyle

  • Enterprise value of €7.7 billion agreed for BASF’s automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinish coatings and surface treatment businesses

  • Carlyle to leverage its global industrial and carve-out expertise to support BASF Coatings’ next phase of growth 

  • BASF to hold equity stake in coatings business to continue building on today’s success 

  • Subject to customary regulatory approvals, closing is expected in Q2 2026

Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Washington D.C. – October 10, 2025 – BASF and funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG), in partnership with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), have entered into a binding agreement relating to BASF’s automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinish coatings, and surface treatment businesses (“BASF Coatings”). 

The enterprise value of the transaction amounts to €7.7 billion. Subject to customary regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in Q2 2026. This transaction, together with the already closed divestiture of the decorative paints business, value BASF’s entire Coatings division at an enterprise value of €8.7 billion and an implied 2024 EV/EBITDA multiple before special items of approx. 13x. This represents a significant step in unlocking the value of BASF’s standalone businesses, as the company swiftly executes its Winning Ways strategy. BASF will also reinvest in the coatings business holding a 40% equity stake and will receive pre-tax cash proceeds of approx. €5.8 billion at closing of the transaction.

BASF Coatings is a global player in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings as well as applied surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass substrates in a wide range of industries. The business operates in Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific, and generated sales of approx. €3.8 billion in 2024.

Working closely alongside management, Carlyle will support the future growth of the business through investing in its commercial capabilities, innovation pipeline, and organizational structure to enhance customer focus. Carlyle will leverage its strong track record and extensive experience in successful carve-outs of industrial and chemical assets, following previous investments in Axalta, Atotech, and Nouryon. 

“We are delighted to partner with Carlyle, whose sector expertise, carve-out capabilities and collaborative approach will help position BASF Coatings for long-term success,” said Dr. Markus Kamieth, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. “By retaining an equity stake, we are showing our belief in Coatings’ future value creation and upside potential. The passion, expertise, and customer focus of our Coatings team is what makes this business outstanding.”

“The transaction announced today opens a new chapter of opportunity for BASF Coatings, building on today’s success and shaping an even stronger future,” said Anup Kothari, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and responsible for the Coatings division.

“BASF Coatings is an exceptional platform with leading technologies, a world-class management team, strong customer partnerships, and a truly global footprint,” said Martin Sumner, Global Head of Industrials, and Tanaka Maswoswe, Partner at Carlyle. “We see compelling opportunities to leverage our global platform to support the business becoming an established independent leader. This transaction exemplifies Carlyle’s ability to execute complex carve-outs in partnership with leading global corporates.”

“QIA is pleased to partner with Carlyle to support the next phase of BASF Coatings’ continued growth,” said Mohammed Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA. “This investment aligns with QIA’s approach of investing in industry leaders and is testament to our belief in the long-term resilience of German businesses.”

Business continuity for customers will be ensured throughout the transaction process. In accordance with legal requirements and local practice, employee representatives will be involved.

Further information

BASF will host a conference call on the transaction on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 14:00 to 14:30 CEST. The webcast will be available at: http://basf.com/conference-call-2025-10-10.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

Forward-looking statements and forecasts relating to BASF

This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current estimates and projections of the Board of Executive Directors and currently available information. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the future developments and results outlined therein. These are dependent on a number of factors; they involve various risks and uncertainties; and they are based on assumptions that may not prove to be accurate. BASF does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release above and beyond the legal requirements.

About Carlyle 

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across its business and conducts its operations through three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest. With $465 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2025, 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. Carlyle employs more than 2,300 people in 27 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on X @OneCarlyle and LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group.

About QIA 

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. QIA was founded in 2005 to invest and manage the state reserve funds. QIA is among the largest and most active sovereign wealth funds globally. QIA invests across a wide range of asset classes and regions as well as in partnership with leading institutions around the world to build a global and diversified investment portfolio with a long-term perspective that can deliver sustainable returns and contribute to the prosperity of the State of Qatar.

BASF contacts:

Dr. Stefanie Wettberg

+49 621 60-48002

stefanie.wettberg@basf.com

Jens Fey

+49 621 60-99123

jens.fey@basf.com

Carlyle contacts: 

Brittany Bensaull

+1 (212) 813-4839

Brittany.Bensaull@carlyle.com

Andrew Kenny

+44 7385 662334

andrew.kenny@carlyle.com

Lonna Leong

+852 9023 1157

lonna.leong@carlyle.com

QIA contact:

media@qia.qa

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Our Investment in n8n: The AI platform for automation

Accel

written by

Ben Fletcher

Rich Wong

Jakob Buchmayer

Enterprises have reached a tipping point in their AI investments. Pilots are widespread, but most companies have yet to translate those experiments into full workflow transformations. Their ability to capture the value that AI promises depends on integrating an increasing number of task and function-specific AI agents and systems across their businesses.

n8n has built the missing piece that enterprises need in order to translate their AI investments into real, durable value for their organizations. Its central system of record enables companies to build, evaluate, observe, and orchestrate agentic automations across their global operations, all while integrating directly into their existing workflows through over 1,000 native integrations, APIs, ETL connectors, and MCPs.

Accel’s Ben Fletcher and n8n’s Jan Oberhauser together in Berlin.

Today, we’re pleased to announce that Accel has led the Series C in n8n’s AI-native workflow automation platform. This funding round follows explosive, capital-efficient growth over the past year that has seen n8n become the underlying infrastructure for orchestrating and integrating agents into leading enterprises. We’re grateful to be joined by a variety of angels and strategic partners, including CrowdStrike’s George Kurtz, NVIDIA’s NVentures, and Deutsche Telekom’s T.Capital.

Previous generations of automation software relied on “if this, then that” deterministic logic. It’s a fundamental mismatch for agentic AI workflows, and diminishes the potential value LLMs promise. n8n has built the automation and orchestration layer for the AI era: today, more than 80% of workflows built on n8n embed AI agents.

n8n has dramatically expanded the share of work that can be automated. Teams can fully customize workflows, mixing AI agents with deterministic steps and team inputs where required. The range of use cases on n8n is vast: AI builders define full backend logic. Fortune 500 companies standardize operations spanning IT, finance, marketing automation, and security orchestration. System integrators have transformed customer support, sales, and DevOps with easy AI automations. No matter where customers are on their AI journey, n8n makes it easy to unlock real value and efficiency gains.

What truly sets n8n apart is its radically open “Fair Code” model and the community it has inspired. n8n has become a Top 50 GitHub Project with over 145,000 stars, and is now supported by a vibrant community of more than 700,000 active developers. n8n users also tend to be n8n evangelists: extending it through workflow templates and integrations, and spreading the word across online forums. Community members now organize over 60 community events around the world each year.  In this, we’ve recognized a similarity with some of Accel’s most notable investments – Atlassian, Slack, Vercel, Webflow –  that built effusive, loyal communities centered around great products.

n8n events around the world focused on builders

At Accel, we’ve long believed in partnering with the builders creating the foundational tools powering software. Accel portfolio companies Cursor, Linear, Lovable, Supabase and Vercel are rapidly defining the next-gen AI stack. n8n is the next step of this thesis, providing the open, community-first operating system to embed AI into daily work. We’re grateful to Jan and his team for trusting Accel as a partner for their next phase of global growth and we look forward to the remarkable journey ahead.

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Anna Tye joins the Hg investment team as Partner and senior leader in North America

HG Capital

New York, NY and San Francisco, CA. October 9, 2025. Hg, a leading investor in European and transatlantic software and services businesses, today announces that Anna Tye will join the firm as a senior leader in North America and a Partner in Hg’s Saturn Fund in January 2026.

Anna brings exceptional depth to Hg with over 16 years at The Carlyle Group, where she served as Partner and Co-Head of Technology Investing. She was instrumental in leading the build out of the financial technology practice where she led or was a key contributor to all the firm’s North American investments across fintech including YipitData, Abrigo, Dealogic, ION Group and OpenLink Financial, among others. Anna was recognized on The Wall Street Journal’s 2023 “Women to Watch” Pro PE list.

Anna will be based in Hg’s New York office and will co-lead Saturn North America operations with Jon Wulkan in San Francisco. In addition to Hg’s large cap software strategy, Anna will focus on investments in financial technology and insurance. Her investment focus aligns well with the Saturn fund’s strategic priorities, particularly in the intersection of software and data analytics.

Anna joins Hg following four senior hires across the US over the past few years, with Alan Cline joining as Head of North America, Paul Zuber as Operating Partner, North American Lead, Laura Grattan joining as a US Genesis Partner, and Farouk Hussein joining as a US Mercury Partner.

By strengthening the senior team in the US, Hg continues to build a leading transatlantic position in software investment, anchored by a leading position and scale in Europe. This strategy provides a compelling opportunity to support an increasingly transatlantic portfolio, with almost two thirds of Hg’s $180 bn combined enterprise value of businesses comprising those that serve customers in both North America and Europe.

Anna Tye, Partner at Hg, said: “I am thrilled to join the team at Hg. As one of the world’s largest investors in software and technology with over $100bn under management, Hg is exceptionally well positioned to expand its leadership in this dynamic market. Hg has an impressive track record, outstanding culture, and has made huge strides in AI innovation across the firm and portfolio. The opportunity to work with such a talented team and to contribute more broadly to the leadership in North America is a once-in-a career opportunity and I am looking forward to getting started.”

Nic Humphries, Senior Partner and Head of Saturn, said: “Anna is a fantastic addition to our US leadership team. I believe she will add immediate value as both an investor and as a leader, driving forward the Saturn Fund alongside Jon and the broader investment team in the US. We feel very fortunate she has chosen Hg to continue what has already been a very impressive and successful career in software investing.”

Alan Cline, Head of North America, at Hg said: “We have gotten to know Anna well over several years and instantly recognized her as a natural cultural fit for Hg, adding to her clear investment acumen and leadership skills. Her deep expertise in enterprise software and fintech, combined with her proven ability to partner with exceptional founders and leaders, further strengthens our North American and Saturn leadership teams.”

For further information, please contact:

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

Harry Mayfield (Brunswick, USA)
+1 917 818 5204
HG@brunswickgroup.com

About Hg

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

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

Categories: People

France-based Phagos lands $29m to further develop its antibiotic alternative for livestock

Agfund

[Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor in Phagos.]

Paris, France-based biotech company Phagos has raised a €25 million ($29 million) Series A round to further develop its bacteriophage drugs used to treat bacterial disease in animals and, eventually, humans.

The company calls these drugs “a sustainable answer to the global challenge of bacterial resistance.” It will use the funding to deploy treatments, starting with animal health, as well as further develop its technology that simplifies the discovery process.

CapAgro, Hoxton Ventures, CapHorn, and Demeter co-led the round, which also saw participation from Acurio Ventures, Citizen Capital, Entrepreneur First, Founders Capital, and Station F.

Drug pipeline to fight AMR ‘insufficient’ 

Phagos’ fundraise news comes just days after the World Health Organization released new reports that detail the escalating problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the “insufficient” pipeline of drugs and innovations needed to tackle drug-resistant bacterial infections.

AMR is expected to cause some 39 million deaths globally over the next 25 years. It is also a leading cause of death among animals, which raises food security and livelihood concerns in addition to those around animal welfare.

In its new reports, the WHO calls for “greater investment in tools designed for resource-limited settings, including those that eliminate the need for culture and simplifying diagnostic platforms for primary and secondary care use.”

The promise of phage therapy 

Bacteriophage—or simply “phages”—are present in everything from soil to the human gut, and regulate the number of bacteria in humans, plants, and animals.

Phagos says that thanks to millions of years of co-evolution with bacteria, phages are specialized to detect specific bacterial targets without harming other cells. This makes them an attractive potential alternative to antibiotics. In animal health, for example, they could be used to treat salmonella or E. coli.

The Phagos platform, dubbed “Alphagos,” combines microbiology with artificial intelligence to diagnose bacterial strains, identify phages that can fight those strains, and develop “ultra-targeted bacterial treatments” that leverage phages, says the company.

These treatments are continuously updated to ensure subjects stay healthy without contributing to AMR.

The company, founded in 2021, has started with solutions for animal health, which it says can be tailored to the needs of a specific livestock operation or environment. Currently, the Phagos phage therapy is deployed across the chicken, cattle, swine, and shrimp sectors. Phagos also recently filed a patent for its AI platform.

“We are convinced that phage therapy can transform the history of medicine just as antibiotics did in the last century,” noted Phagos’ founders Alexandros Pantalis and Adèle James.

“Thanks to our regulatory breakthroughs and our patented platform combining microbiology and artificial intelligence, we now have the opportunity to establish phage therapy as a global reference solution: for animal health today, and for human health tomorrow.”

The Series A financing will go towards further deployment of veterinary phage therapy in the field. Funds will also enable further development of the Alphagos platform as well as international expansion across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Paris, France-based biotech company Phagos has raised a €25 million ($29 million) Series A round to further develop its bacteriophage drugs used to treat bacterial disease in animals and, eventually, humans.

The company calls these drugs “a sustainable answer to the global challenge of bacterial resistance.” It will use the funding to deploy treatments, starting with animal health, as well as further develop its technology that simplifies the discovery process.

CapAgro, Hoxton Ventures, CapHorn, and Demeter co-led the round, which also saw participation from Acurio Ventures, Citizen Capital, Entrepreneur First, Founders Capital, and Station F.

Drug pipeline to fight AMR ‘insufficient’ 

Phagos’ fundraise news comes just days after the World Health Organization released new reports that detail the escalating problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the “insufficient” pipeline of drugs and innovations needed to tackle drug-resistant bacterial infections.

AMR is expected to cause some 39 million deaths globally over the next 25 years. It is also a leading cause of death among animals, which raises food security and livelihood concerns in addition to those around animal welfare.

In its new reports, the WHO calls for “greater investment in tools designed for resource-limited settings, including those that eliminate the need for culture and simplifying diagnostic platforms for primary and secondary care use.”

The promise of phage therapy 

Bacteriophage—or simply “phages”—are present in everything from soil to the human gut, and regulate the number of bacteria in humans, plants, and animals.

Phagos says that thanks to millions of years of co-evolution with bacteria, phages are specialized to detect specific bacterial targets without harming other cells. This makes them an attractive potential alternative to antibiotics. In animal health, for example, they could be used to treat salmonella or E. coli.

The Phagos platform, dubbed “Alphagos,” combines microbiology with artificial intelligence to diagnose bacterial strains, identify phages that can fight those strains, and develop “ultra-targeted bacterial treatments” that leverage phages, says the company.

These treatments are continuously updated to ensure subjects stay healthy without contributing to AMR.

The company, founded in 2021, has started with solutions for animal health, which it says can be tailored to the needs of a specific livestock operation or environment. Currently, the Phagos phage therapy is deployed across the chicken, cattle, swine, and shrimp sectors. Phagos also recently filed a patent for its AI platform.

“We are convinced that phage therapy can transform the history of medicine just as antibiotics did in the last century,” noted Phagos’ founders Alexandros Pantalis and Adèle James.

“Thanks to our regulatory breakthroughs and our patented platform combining microbiology and artificial intelligence, we now have the opportunity to establish phage therapy as a global reference solution: for animal health today, and for human health tomorrow.”

The Series A financing will go towards further deployment of veterinary phage therapy in the field. Funds will also enable further development of the Alphagos platform as well as international expansion across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

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EQT Real Estate completes sale of national truck terminal portfolio

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Truck Terminal Image

  • Portfolio includes seven logistics assets totaling 475 dock-high and drive-in doors, 89 usable acres and more than 312,000 square feet 
  • Properties span six U.S. states, concentrated in Phoenix, Atlanta, Southern California and Texas
  • Sale reflects growing institutional demand for mission-critical freight infrastructure 

EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Real Estate Industrial Value Fund V (“EQT Real Estate”) has completed the sale of a seven-asset truck terminal portfolio across the U.S. The portfolio includes high-flow-through industrial facilities located across major freight corridors, supporting the growing need for efficient goods movement and regional distribution. 

Assembled through a series of strategic acquisitions between 2021 and 2022, the portfolio comprises more than 312,000 square feet, 475 dock-high and drive-in doors, and spans 89 acres across Phoenix, Atlanta, Southern California’s Inland Empire, Texas and Wichita. The sites are fully paved, fenced, and located within three miles of major interstates, offering last-mile access to densely populated markets. 

EQT implemented robust targeted leasing and site improvements to institutionalize the portfolio and bring it to stabilization. The properties are now leased to a diversified mix of national and regional logistics users. 

The transaction is part of EQT Real Estate’s broader disposition strategy as it selectively crystallizes marquee investments across its industrial platform. Backed by a strong, world-class management team and deep local operating partners, EQT remains well-positioned to execute efficiently in today’s market environment. 

Matthew Brodnik, Chief Investment Officer at EQT Real Estate, said: “This sale reflects the depth of buyer interest for functional, well-located logistics assets. Our team did a tremendous job executing on the value creation plan for these assets, upgrading each property, enhancing site functionality, and securing significant moderate-to-long-term leasing commitments from blue-chip tenants. Demand for freight and logistics infrastructure remains strong, and we look forward to continuing to unlock value across our portfolio as market opportunities evolve.”

EQT Real Estate was advised by Brian Fiumara and Zach Graham of CBRE National Partners. 

Contact

EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

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About EQT Real Estate

EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 266 billion in total assets under management (EUR 141 billion in fee-generating assets under management) as of 30 June 2025, divided into two business segments: Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT supports its global portfolio companies and assets in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership. Within EQT’s Real Assets segment, EQT Real Estate acquires, develops, leases, and manages logistics and residential properties in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. EQT Real Estate owns and operates over 2,000 properties and 400 million square feet, with over 440 experienced professionals across 50 locations globally. 

More info: www.eqtgroup.com
Follow EQT Real Estate on LinkedIn 

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Platinum Equity to Acquire Products & Healthcare Services Business from Owens & Minor

Platinum

Standalone P&HS anticipated to benefit from Platinum’s carve-out experience, sector expertise and
commitment to growth

Owens & Minor to retain a 5% equity stake in the business

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 7, 2025) – Platinum Equity announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Products & Healthcare Services (“P&HS”) segment of Owens & Minor (NYSE: OMI). Owens & Minor will retain a five percent interest in the business.

Headquartered in Richmond, VA, P&HS is a vertically-integrated medical supply distribution platform primarily serving the acute care market. It is a leading national distributor of medical and surgical supplies for hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare providers across the United States.

“We are pleased to provide Owens & Minor a divestiture solution for P&HS and are grateful for the continued partnership. With the support of Platinum’s operational capabilities, we are excited about further enhancing P&HS’s global capabilities to deliver essential products and services when and where its customers need.”

Jacob Kotzubei, Co-President, Platinum Equity

“Owens & Minor has played a vital role in supporting healthcare providers and patients across the country, and we are proud to invest in the future of P&HS,” said Jacob Kotzubei, Co-President of Platinum Equity. “We are pleased to provide Owens & Minor a divestiture solution for P&HS and are grateful for the continued partnership. With the support of Platinum’s operational capabilities, we are excited about further enhancing P&HS’s global capabilities to deliver essential products and services when and where its customers need.”

Platinum Equity has invested in numerous healthcare and supply chain businesses and has 30 years of experience acquiring and operating global businesses that have been part of large corporate entities. In recent years the firm has acquired businesses from firms like Ball Corporation, Caterpillar, Emerson Electric, Ingersoll Rand and Kohler, among others.

“Platinum Equity is the perfect home for the Products & Healthcare Services business,” said Edward A. Pesicka, President & Chief Executive Officer of Owens & Minor. “Platinum’s commitment to building on the customer-centric legacy of the business and to strategically invest to stay at the forefront of the evolving healthcare market will serve all stakeholders very well long into the future.”

Platinum Equity Managing Director Matthew Louie said that P&HS’s profile, combined with favorable macro dynamics, make the opportunity attractive for Platinum Equity’s hands-on operational approach to creating value.

“We believe the aging U.S. population and increasing demand for healthcare services will continue to drive sustainable long-term demand for medical supplies distribution,” said Louie. “We are committed to growing the P&HS business and have strong conviction in its potential as a standalone company. We look forward to working with the team to support its continued growth and operational transformation.”

The transaction is expected to close near the end of the year, subject to regulatory review and other customary closing conditions.

Bank of America and Fifth Third are serving as financial advisors to Platinum Equity on the P&HS acquisition. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal advisor, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is serving as debt financing counsel, and Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as special regulatory counsel to Platinum Equity on the transaction.

Citi and Wells Fargo are acting as financial advisors to Owens & Minor. Kirkland & Ellis is serving as Owens & Minor’s legal advisor.

About Platinum Equity

Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with approximately $50 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 60 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 30 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 500 acquisitions.

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