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Increasing demand for innovative whistleblowing solution as European Whistleblowing Directive comes into effect

Fortino Capital
  • In December 2019 the European Union adopted a far-reaching Directive on the protection of whistleblowing ( “EU Whistleblowing Directive”)
  • Launched more than 3 years ago, the EU Directive is a far-reaching piece of legislation providing a voice and protecting the rights of millions of workers across Europe.
  • Scandals such as Wirecard, The Voice, Qatargate and Royal Mail prove the necessity of having a next-generation whistleblowing mechanism, which is what People Intouch is providing.
  • Currently 500 mid-sized and large organisations are using innovative platform, reaching millions of employees worldwide, resulting in 50,000 reports in 2022.

Amsterdam, 24 January 2023 – All companies operating in the European Union are to comply with the EU Whistleblowing Directive by the end of this year (in Belgium on February 15th). The Directive is aimed at providing a minimum standard of protection across the European Union to employees who report breaches of European law, such as fraud, misconduct or harassment with their employer. In the run-up to compliance, leading ethics & compliance software provider People Intouch has seen a rapid increase in the adoption of their whistleblowing platform SpeakUp across 60 countries. The acquisition of a majority stake in the company by B2B software investor Fortino Capital proves the market’s confidence in its mission and solution.

 

Leveraging technology & knowledge for easy compliance

Founded in 2004, People Intouch is a leading ethics & compliance software provider focused on providing whistleblowing solutions under the SpeakUp brand. Around 500 mid-sized and large organisations in over 60 countries rely on the innovative SpeakUp platform every day. This enables them to connect with and protect their employees, suppliers and the communities they operate in, by providing them with a user-friendly, secure and efficient way to report and correct irregularities and unethical behaviour. The SpeakUp platform is operational in almost every country in the world and allows employees to speak up in their native language 24/7/365 days per year via mobile app, web or telephone.

 

Adoption fuelled by the Directive

Fuelled by upcoming regulation and an overall desire for more transparency, the company is seeing the volume of reports consistently increase by high double-digit figures in recent years.  More than 50,000 reports were submitted in 2022. To meet this growth, the company decided to invest significantly in its next generation SpeakUp platform and SpeakUp Success Model. The SpeakUp platform combines anonymous communication, advanced case management and analytics functionalities. The SpeakUp Success Model ensures strong embedding in the organisation. The company’s unique approach is valued by many leading European multinationals such as Nestlé, Randstad, KLM, Skanska, Polestar, Sweco and HILTI. Fortino Capital recognised the value of the platform, the team’s deep domain knowledge and customer proximity, resulting in a majority investment and partnership with the company to help fuel its further growth.

 

Maurice Canisius, CEO of People Intouch: “Whistleblowing is a priority in many boardrooms today, and rightly so, because we all know speaking up is hard. Our mission is to help organisations combat misconduct. The way we do that is by making it easier for people to speak up. In the last few years, we managed to combine our unique expertise and knowledge into our next generation SpeakUp platform. We help our customers to more easily address the whistleblowing dilemma and navigate the journey towards organisational transparency while also making them regulatory compliant. Our entire team is looking forward to partner up with an experienced investor like Fortino. With them on board, we will be able to deliver more knowledge, keep innovating our product and make an even bigger impact with our customers and their employees.”

Ida Kuijken, Partner with Fortino Capital: “The Whistleblowing market is expected to expand tremendously, driven by societal shift towards increased transparency as well as regulatory initiatives such as the European Whistleblowing Directive. Maurice & Raymond have laid a solid foundation for the future and we are impressed with what they have managed to achieve to date. We are convinced that with a powerful, secure and user-friendly product in combination with a strong team, People Intouch is optimally positioned to capitalise on these trends. Our investment and operating teams look forward to partnering up and accelerating the business strategically and geographically”.

Ida Kuijken, Fortino Capital

Flavio de Souza, Chief Compliance Officer of Nestlé Group: “People Intouch’s team is passionate and willing to efficiently understand our needs and developments. Their unique SpeakUp technology and how they approach us have been essential for the continuity and development of our global compliance program. We are looking forward to seeing what is next.”

 

 

About People Intouch

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Amsterdam, People Intouch is one of pioneers in the field of whistleblowing software.  We do not believe in the traditional approach to whistleblowing and aspire to help our customers move beyond paper compliance. When employees feel safe enough to speak up, no one needs to blow the whistle. Our cloud-based software solution SpeakUp® allows people to report from anywhere in the world, in any language and in full anonymity. By focusing on the dialogue, we help organisations talk to their employees and create safer work environments. Our unique approach to whistleblowing is valued by many leading European multinationals, such as Nestlé, Randstad, KLM, Skanska, Polestar, Sweco and HILTI. For more information: peopleintouch.com

About Fortino Capital

Fortino Capital is a European investment company with a focus on high-growth B2B software solutions managing two private equity funds and two venture capital funds. With offices in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, Fortino backs exceptional and ambitious entrepreneurs in North-Western Europe. Fortino Capital’s private equity portfolio includes Symbio (DE), VanRoey (BE), BizzMine (BE) Mobilexpense (BE), Efficy CRM (BE), Tenzinger (NL), Maxxton (NL), Bonitasoft (FR) among others. Fortino’s Venture Capital portfolio includes Vertuoza (BE), TechWolf (BE), Timeseer.ai (BE), Zaion (FR), Salonkee (LUX), Sides (DE), D2X (NL), Peers (DE), Reveall (NL) and Kosli (NO) among others.

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Ratos Company TFS HealthScience acquires Appletree CI Group

Ratos

TFS HealthScience (TFS), a global contract research organization (CRO), acquires Appletree CI Group (Appletree) to enhance the company’s existing expertise in the complex fields of ophthalmology, medical devices, and pediatric studies, simultaneously expanding geographic reach for clients.

Appletree CI Group was founded in 2013. The company is focused on five primary business areas; in addition to ophthalmology and medical devices, they have expertise in the fields of dermatology, pediatric trials, and regulatory affairs.

 

Ophthalmology is a rapidly growing field of medicine, with novel innovations and cutting-edge treatments for sight-threatening diseases.

“The acquisition is fully in line with Ratos strategy, where add-on acquisitions as part of growing existing companies in the group are an important part. We are proud of the successful development of TFS and look forward to a new year where TFS will play an important role in our increased commitment to professional services”, says Anders Slettengren, Chairman of the board of TFS and Executive Vice President, Ratos.

 

The strategic acquisition of Appletree will complement TFS HealthScience’s mission to be a market leader in ophthalmology research. The two companies will now offer complimentary and expanded service offerings to clients, including a specialized therapeutic focus in ophthalmology, significantly expanding the company’s global footprint.

 

“We are proud to partner with Appletree as we continue to provide our clients with in-depth, comprehensive knowledge and therapeutic expertise, particularly in the field of ophthalmology,” said CEO of TFS HealthScience, Bassem Saleh. “This acquisition is a clear indicator of the growth and success of TFS. The partnership with Appletree will have a measurable impact on better treatments for patients and company growth, establishing a new presence in Switzerland and additional presence in Poland, Belgium, Hungary, and the U.K.”

 

About TFS HealthScience

TFS HealthScience is a global Contract Research Organization (CRO) that supports biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies throughout their entire clinical development journey. In partnership with customers, they build solution-driven teams working for a healthier future. Bringing together nearly 800 professionals, TFS delivers tailored clinical research services in more than 40 countries.

 

About Appletree CI Group

Appletree CI Group is an expert niche CRO and global regulatory affairs service provider with track records in ophthalmology and medical device investigations. They are present in 11 European countries and have over 30 permanent staff. By having an in-depth understanding of local cultures and customs, as well as experience with national regulations they are able to facilitate your clinical development and regulatory projects.

For more information, please contact
Josefine Uppling, VP, Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21, josefine.uppling@ratos.com

About Ratos
Ratos is a business group consisting of 16 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 30 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

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Village Pet Care Launches as New Pet Care Services Platform with Strategic Growth Investment from General Atlantic

Currently spanning 17 locations in six states, Village Pet Care to partner with global growth investor General Atlantic as it seeks to drive continued nationwide growth of pet boarding, daycare, and grooming platform

Salt Lake City, UT and New York, NY – January 18, 2023 – Village Pet Care, a new pet care services platform led by Shane Kelly, today announced its launch with an investment from global growth equity firm General Atlantic. Village Pet Care currently owns and operates 17 pet care services centers across six states, providing pet boarding, daycare, grooming, and training offerings. Village Pet Care intends to accelerate its growth through local and regional acquisitions of single and multi-unit providers, broadening service offerings, and enhancing business operations, with a vision of building a trusted national platform catering to the unique needs of pets and their owners.

Kelly is an experienced entrepreneur with over 25 years of operational pet care experience, including most recently as founder and former CEO of Destination Pet, a leading provider of pet care services that he helped build to more than 75 locations nationally. Prior to Destination Pet, Kelly led five private equity and venture-backed companies across pet care and human healthcare. He brings deep industry relationships and extensive experience across the broader pet care services market, spanning operations, M&A and integration, marketing, and commercialization.

Currently an $11 billion market, the U.S. pet care services industry is expected to grow 8% in 2022 as pet ownership climbs further and consumers continue to look for high-quality service offerings for their pets.[1] The market remains fragmented, leading to variation in quality at a time when pet owners are increasingly focused on pet needs and comfort. Village Pet Care seeks to address this growing opportunity by building a trusted network of care centers offering consistent and high-quality services across the country.

“We are thrilled to launch Village Pet Care with the mission of providing high-quality services to families across the U.S. As the pet population continues to grow, we see a real opportunity to build a trusted network of care providers offering key services and adhering to our standards of excellence,” said Shane Kelly, CEO of Village Pet Care. “With the support of General Atlantic, we intend to continue expanding our geographic reach and service offerings, all while striving to go above and beyond for our customers and their pets.”

“We are excited to partner with Shane with the aim of expanding Village Pet Care into a nationwide operator,” said Andrew Ferrer, Managing Director at General Atlantic. “Working to build a leading business in the boarding, daycare, and grooming services sector expands upon our thematic approach to the growing pet care industry.”

“Shane and his team are highly experienced operators who share our vision for long-term company building,” added Ben Sherman, Vice President at General Atlantic. “We believe there is significant white space to drive growth through acquisition and bring innovation and operational excellence to this fast-growing category.”

Village Pet Care is actively acquiring single and multi-unit pet care services businesses across the country. The M&A team can be reached at info.acquisitions@villagepet.com.

About Village Pet Care

Village Pet Care is a leading pet care services platform committed to providing high-quality pet care in North America. Founded by a deeply experienced and pet-loving team, Village Pet Care is building a trusted network of pet care centers at scale, with a mission of going above and beyond for families and their pets. The company currently owns and operates 17 pet care services centers across six states, providing pet boarding, daycare, grooming, and training offerings. Village Pet Care is backed by General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm. For more information, please visit www.villagepet.com.

About General Atlantic

General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 445 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and deliver lasting impact, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to scale innovative businesses around the world. General Atlantic currently has over $73 billion in assets under management inclusive of all products as of September 30, 2022, and more than 215 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Miami, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Stamford and Tel Aviv. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit the website: www.generalatlantic.com.

 

Media Contacts

Emily Japlon & Gurion Kastenberg
General Atlantic media@generalatlantic.com

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Ardian acquires majority stake in Assist Digital, a leading European provider of end-to-end customer experience services and digital CRM technology, to accelerate its international growth

Ardian

23 January 2023 Expansion Italy, Milan

 

Reiterating their commitment to the business, the management team led by President and founder Enrico Donati and CEO Francesca Gabrielli will hold 40% of the company alongside Ardian.

Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, has signed a binding agreement to acquire a majority stake of about 60% in Assist Digital, the fast-growing international company providing end-to-end customer experience services. The firm is a leader in digital services and CRM technology with a network of 20 offices located across Europe, including in Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.

Progressio SGR, which has invested in Assist Digital through the Progressio Investimenti Fund III, will divest its minority stake while the management team will reinvest strongly alongside new partner Ardian, maintaining a stake of about 40%. BNL/Bnp Paribas, minority shareholder alongside Progressio, will also reinvest in Assist Digital.

Under the leadership of Executive Chairman Enrico Donati and CEO Francesca Gabrielli, Assist Digital has become a pan-European market leader serving over 100 blue-chip clients, including well-known brands such as ENI, Stellantis, Toyota, Luxottica, Vodafone and DAZN. Assist Digital’s unique offering and integrated business model has enabled the company to compete on a global scale by offering a suite of innovative and customer-centric end-to-end technology solutions and services.

The company’s success can also be credited to its skilled workforce and omnichannel structure, which is powered by its proprietary Artificial Intelligence software. The firm employs over 600 professionals working across consultancy, data science, software engineering and UX/UI design, and 5,000 contact center agents based across its European offices.

In 2022, Assist Digital recorded turnover of over €165 million, up 30% year-on-year, and expanded its international footprint through organic growth in its core markets. Management expects to achieve further increases in turnover this year, reaching more than €200 million by the end of 2023.

Through its partnership with Ardian, Assist Digital will be able to accelerate the implementation of its international expansion strategy, which will include M&A, and benefit from Ardian’s wide network of contacts. Ardian will also support the company with its continued investment in innovation and technology, while enhancing managerial continuity and the company’s ability to attract new talent.

“Assist Digital’s target market remains resilient even in the current economic climate. The company has significant organic growth potential as part of the trend towards outsourcing and digital transformation, which will be bolstered by its international M&A strategy. The Expansion team at Ardian offers a unique combination of strategic and financial support to strengthen Assist Digital’s presence in Europe. We see enormous potential in the company’s collaborative and skilled management team, who we will support in this next phase of growth by drawing on our experience and international network.” Marco Molteni, Managing Director, Ardian

“Ardian is the ideal partner to accelerate Assist Digital’s growth. Assist Digital is a unique skills and services platform, capable of attracting the best talent, empowering digital transformation and delivering a new standard of customer experience for our clients. Ardian’s investment strengthens our resilience and ability to face challenges, and will help us to expand internationally. Our employees, who are at the heart of this company’s dynamic, innovative and entrepreneurial culture, will also benefit from new opportunities for professional growth and development”. Enrico Donati, Executive Chairman, Assist Digital

“We are proud to have supported Assist Digital’s management team on an important development path, also with acquisitions in several European countries. We are convinced that there are preconditions to reach ambitious goals in the near future, which will lead to the further strengthening of Assist Digital’s leadership position on a European scale”. Massimo Dan, Partner Progressio Sgr

ADVISOR

  • ARDIAN

    • Deal team: Marco Molteni, Giacomo Brettoni, Elisabetta Bozzoni Pantaleoni, Edoardo Munari
    • M&A e debt advisor: Fineurop Soditic – Eugenio Morpurgo, Germano Palumbo, Umberto Zanuso
    • M&A advisor: Marco Morfino
    • Strategic consultant: Roland Berger – Andrea Bassanino, Nicola Morzenti
    • Financial advisor: KPMG – Matteo Contini, Stefano Rizzone
    • Legal advisor: Studio Gattai, Minoli, Partners – Stefano Catenacci, Gian Luca Coggiola
    • Tax advisor: Studio Gitti & Partners – Diego De Francesco, Paolo Ferrandi
    • Cybersecurity: Almond – Francois Ehly
    • ESG dd: PWC – Paloma Lopez Imizcoz
    • Insurance dd: Marsh – Federico Moia

  • ASSIST DIGITAL

    • Legal Advisors: Giovannelli&Associati, Alessandra Pieretti
    • Financial Advisor: Deloitte – Luca Zesi, Mario Arnone
    • Tax Advisor: Russo De Rosa Associati – Leo De Rosa, Federica Paiella

  • PROGRESSIO SGR/BNL-BNP Paribas

    • Legal Advisor: Bonelli Erede – Eliana Catalano, Marco Bitetto

Ardian

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house, managing or advising $140bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,400 clients globally. Our broad expertise, spanning Private Equity, Real Assets and Credit, enables us to offer a wide range of investment opportunities and respond flexibly to our clients’ differing needs. Through Ardian Customized Solutions we create bespoke portfolios that allow clients to specify the precise mix of assets they require and to gain access to funds managed by leading third-party sponsors. Private Wealth Solutions offers dedicated services and access solutions for private banks, family offices and private institutional investors worldwide. Ardian is majority-owned by its employees and places great emphasis on developing its people and fostering a collaborative culture based on collective intelligence. Our 1000+ employees, spread across 15 offices in Europe, the Americas and Asia, are strongly committed to the principles of Responsible Investment and are determined to make finance a force for good in society. Our goal is to deliver excellent investment performance combined with high ethical standards and social responsibility. At Ardian we invest all of ourselves in building companies that last.

www.ardian.com

ASSIST DIGITAL

Assist Digital provides end-to-end Customer Experience services and solutions in Europe with more than 20 offices in major markets, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK: customer management services – CX Advisory and Digital Operations – Experience Design and Customer Insight – AI, Tech, Cloud, and Digital Solution.
It is a leader in digital CRM services and technologies. The company employs more than 5,700 professionals and operating agents with expertise in marketing, sales, and customer services, as well as business process optimization, business & UX/UI design, AI & RPA, systems integration, data management, cloud services management, and IT operations.
Assist Digital serves large companies operating in various industries (B2B and B2C): Energy, Telco, Media, Insurance, Entertainment, Automotive, Banking, Retail, Travel and Tourism.

www.assistdigital.com

Media Contacts

ARDIAN

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com  

ASSIST DIGITAL

Carola Canossi

carola.canossi@assistdigital.com Tel.: 320 0514868

 

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Waterland announces closing of two new funds with €4.0 billion in capital raised in four months

Waterland

Waterland Private Equity Investments (“Waterland”) is pleased to announce the closing of its ninth institutional flagship fund, Waterland Private Equity Fund IX (“WPEF IX”) at € 3.5 billion, alongside Waterland Partnership Fund I (“WPF I”) at € 500 million. The funds closed at their respective hard caps four months after initial launch.

The fundraise attracted commitments from world-class institutional investors globally. The investor base for both funds is well diversified by geography, consisting of investors across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. By investor type it consists of asset managers, public and private pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations and family offices, amongst others.

Both funds were oversubscribed with demand significantly exceeding the fundraising targets. This is attributable to continued strong support from existing investors combined with significant interest from new investors.

WPEF IX expects to make investments in medium-sized companies in fragmented growth markets in Europe to finance organic and acquisitive growth. This is a continuation of the successful buy-and-build investment strategy applied to the firm’s prior funds over the last two decades. WPF I is a natural extension of the Waterland platform. WPF I expects to make minority investments in a very select number of Waterland portfolio companies when these are exited.

“The fundraisings for WPEF IX and WPF I have been a great success in a challenging fundraising market. It is a significant achievement for us to have closed both funds in just four months. We remain thankful for the strong support of our existing and new investors and their confidence in our team and strategy. We look forward to making investments with both funds and continue to see many attractive opportunities in our target region despite the volatile macro environment.” said Frank Vlayen, Group Managing Partner.

“We are grateful and humbled by this strong vote of confidence by our investors. We are looking forward to partnering closely with ambitious management teams across Europe to jointly execute buy-and-build programs. We will also continue to invest in our own firm to further strengthen our position as a leading local buy-and-build investor in Europe across our integrated network of 13 European offices.” said Cedric Van Cauwenberghe, incoming Group Managing Partner. As previously announced, Cedric Van Cauwenberghe will succeed Frank Vlayen as new Group Managing Partner of the firm later this year.

Marc Lutgen, Head of Investor Relations, said: “We are grateful for the strong support from existing and new LPs for this dual fundraise, despite the challenges faced by many investors in the past year. We look forward to a fruitful partnership as we strive to continue to deliver exceptional returns for our investors.”

Evercore Private Funds Group acted as the global strategic fundraising adviser for Waterland. Kirkland & Ellis International LLP acted as the global legal, tax and regulatory counsel. De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V. acted as Dutch legal and regulatory counsel. Matheson LLP acted as Irish legal, tax and regulatory counsel.

About Waterland
Waterland is an independent European private equity investment group that supports entrepreneurs in realizing their growth ambitions. Waterland currently manages over € 14 billion of investor commitments and has made over 950 acquisitions, including over 150 platform investments and over 800 add-ons. Since its founding in 1999, Waterland has grown to more than 170 professionals operating across 13 offices in 11 countries. Waterland is a licensed Alternative Investment Fund Manager only offering interests to professional investors and is under the supervision of the Dutch Financial Services Authority (AFM).

For further information please contact:
Marc Lutgen, Head of Investor Relations, Waterland, lutgen@waterland.nu

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Waterland Private Equity’s UK team invests in marketing agency network Markettiers4DC

Waterland

Waterland Private Equity (“Waterland”) today announced its majority investment in Markettiers4DC (“M4DC”), a London-headquartered network of tech-enabled, data-driven, broadcast activated, strategic communications agencies. Financial details have not been disclosed.

Founded by CEO Howard Kosky in 1994, M4DC works with large national and international corporations including Rolls-Royce, Linkedin and Unilever. Today, the business employs a team of 150 people in the UK and UAE, providing services across its three key pillars of strategic communications: data and insight, broadcast and virtual / hybrid events.

M4DC aims to become a global leader in evidence-driven communications. This partnership with Waterland will support M4DC’s vision by accelerating investment in services that deliver meaningful and measurable impact to its clients, and by helping retain and attract the best people in the industry. M4DC also has international growth ambitions, predominantly focussing on entry to the North American market.

M4DC operates in the global communications market worth £69bn, growing at 7-10% per annum. This is driven by an increasingly complex and fragmented media landscape, but also growing demand from clients for more data-led communications strategies to deliver improved effectiveness. Through M4DC’s market-leading services and reputation for flawless operational delivery, the business has enjoyed 30% year-on-year revenue growth over the recent period.

With Waterland’s support, the business aims to expand internationally through an active buy and build programme. Waterland has deep experience in the marketing and communications industries from its recent and current partnerships in Dept, Intracto, Sideshow Group and Farner Consulting. Over the investment period, M4DC’s buy and build strategy is focussed on acquiring complementary communications businesses, helping the group build expertise, new capabilities and geographical coverage. Follow-on funding is available to the business to support these plans.

Howard Kosky, Founder and CEO, will continue to lead the business supported by M4DC’s leadership team of Peter Mitchell (Group MD), Nicky Marks (MD, Censuswide and Opinion Matters) and Scott Jackson (MD, Through The I).

Howard Kosky, CEO of M4DC, said: “In Waterland, we have found an experienced and supportive partner to help us achieve our growth ambitions. We see strong potential to expand our business internationally, particularly in the US, and Waterland’s experience as a specialist buy and build investor will help deliver our acquisition strategy, finding the right businesses to partner with and integrate into the growing M4DC network.”

Ryan Hallworth, Associate Principal at Waterland Private Equity, said: “M4DC has all the hallmarks of an exciting Waterland investment. Successful for nearly thirty years with a history of growth and innovation and a global client base, the business is well placed to expand both in the UK and internationally. The Company operates in a highly fragmented market offering compelling opportunities for value-adding acquisitions in both the UK and North America. We very much look forward to working alongside Howard and the team as they embark on the next stage of their growth journey.”

European private equity investment group Waterland opened its first UK office in the North West in early 2017, and expanded its presence with a London office in June 2021.
Over the last six years, Waterland UK has made seven platform investments and 38 bolt-on acquisitions, with a market-led origination strategy focusing on partnering with entrepreneurs and family businesses operating in fragmented markets.

Waterland was advised by Pinsent Masons (Legal), PwC (Tax), 8Advisory (FDD), Luminii Consulting (CDD), Rowan Group (MDD) and Clearwater (Debt Advisory). Debt was provided by Thincats. Waterland team: Ryan Hallworth, Robin Elley, Anton Holm.

M4DC was advised by PCB Partners (M&A) and Mayer Brown (Legal).

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Ratos company Semcon signs new framework agreement with GKN Aerospace Sweden AB in Trollhättan

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Ratos

Semcon has entered a new framework agreement with GKN Aerospace. The agreement is for services spanning Semcon’s entire offering, such as design, simulation and calculations, software development, and aftermarket solutions.

The aviation and aerospace industries are facing huge challenges, not least in terms of sustainability. With many years of experience and deep specialist knowledge, GKN Aerospace manufactures components for these industries, including launch rockets and the majority of the world’s aircraft engines. This is a field that is constantly under development.

“We are proud of the trust to support GKN Aerospace on their continued journey. Together, we look forward to developing tomorrow’s technology that will really make a difference,” says Markus Granlund, CEO at Semcon.

Semcon has a broad offering with expertise in many of GKN Aerospace’s business areas – everything from calculation, simulation and production methodology to digital information solutions for service and maintenance.

“It is gratifying that Semcon’s competence and experience from a wide range of industries benefit the aviation and aerospace industry. I am convinced that the collaboration will strengthen both Semcon and GKN Aerospace. The development of new technology is crucial in the transition towards to a more sustainable society,” says Anders Slettengren, Chairman of the Board at Semcon and Executive Vice President, Ratos.

The framework agreement runs indefinitely from December 2022 and includes services in both of Semcon’s business areas: Engineering & Digital Services and Product Information.

For more information, please contact
Josefine Uppling, VP Communication, Ratos
+46 76 114 54 21, josefine.uppling@ratos.com

Per Nilsson, Corporate Communication and Marketing Director, Semcon
+ 46 73 973 72 00, per.nilsson@semcon.com

About Ratos
Ratos is a business group consisting of 16 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 30 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

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Montagu announces key leadership developments

Montagu

Jason Gatenby becomes Managing Partner-Chair,
alongside Ed Shuckburgh, who is promoted to Managing Partner-Chief Executive

 

Montagu is delighted to announce key leadership developments, as Jason Gatenby, formerly CEO, becomes Managing Partner-Chair. Ed Shuckburgh, formerly Head of UK, Nordics and Benelux, is promoted to Managing Partner-Chief Executive.

Jason continues in a full-time executive leadership role, focusing on Montagu’s strategy, investments and portfolio. As Managing Partner-Chief Executive, Ed will have lead responsibility for managing Montagu’s people and its business, as well as continuing to lead the UK, Nordic and Benelux investment team.

Commenting on the developments, Jason Gatenby, Managing Partner-Chair said, ‘Over the past 55 years, Montagu has invested continuously in the private markets. Throughout that time the firm has continued to learn and evolve. This is the next, natural stage in our evolution. Looking ahead, I believe Montagu is ideally placed to outperform, both in the current market and over the long term.’

This is the next, natural stage in our evolution. Looking ahead, I believe Montagu is ideally placed to outperform, both in the current market and over the long term.

Jason Gatenby, Managing Partner-Chair, Montagu

Ed Shuckburgh, Managing Partner-Chief Executive added, ‘Our new management structure allows Jason, me, and our partners the senior bandwidth and focus to capitalise on the considerable opportunities in front of us. I look forward to taking up the responsibilities of my new role and harnessing our respective talents and experience for the maximum benefit of our investors.’

I look forward to taking up the responsibilities of my new role and harnessing our respective talents and experience for the maximum benefit of our investors.

Ed Shuckburgh, Managing Partner-Chief Executive, Montagu

Both appointments are subject to regulatory approval and will take effect upon FCA consent.

Categories: People

Sun Capital Affiliate Completes Acquisition of Fresh Origins

Sun Capital

Market Leading Grower and Shipper of Microgreens and Edible Flowers for Foodservice and Retail Customers Across the United States

January 19, 2023 – Sun Capital Partners, Inc. (“Sun Capital”),a leading private investment firm focused on defensible businesses in growing markets with tangible performance improvement opportunities, today announced its affiliate has completed the acquisition of Fresh Origins (or the “Company”), a market leading grower and shipper of Microgreens and Edible Flowers for foodservice and retail customers across the United States. Terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1996, Fresh Origins pioneered the Microgreens category and is known for having the widest product variety, exceptional quality and consistency, and most rigorous food safety standards in the industry. The Company offers over 600 varieties of Microgreens, Petite® Greens, Edible Flowers, Shoots, Tiny Veggies™, and other Specialty items, serving over 350 foodservice distributors, restaurants, and retailers across the United States. Fresh Origins’ San Marcos, California headquarters is ideal for natural sunlight growing with average annual temperatures between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit and over 250 days of sunshine. The Company’s operations have over 2.4 million square feet of growing capacity across more than 45 greenhouses on 123 total acres.

Microgreens and Edible Flowers are small, edible versions of vegetables, herbs, and flowers that are harvested 1-2 weeks into the growing cycle. Seed to ship is typically 10 to 14 days. Microgreens and Edible Flowers are utilized by chefs and consumers to elevate the visual appearance of prepared dishes while also enhancing the flavor profile and materially improving nutritional density.

“We are excited about the opportunity to work closely with Fresh Origins’ CEO, Norma St. Amant, to continue to grow and enhance the business,” said Marc Leder, Co-CEO of Sun Capital. “Norma and Company management have built a great organization and we look forward to supporting the Company with our operational resources and extensive food industry expertise to help Fresh Origins expand its leadership position in the growing Microgreens and Edible Flowers market.”

“We are pleased to welcome Sun Capital as our new partner to help us capitalize on growth opportunities in our rapidly expanding market,” said St. Amant. “Sun’s experience, industry expertise, and resources will allow us to enhance our brand and continue to fulfill our commitment to delivering high quality products, market leading innovation, and world class service to our valued customers.”

“Fresh Origins is a leading specialty produce business in a rapidly growing, highly fragmented industry with tangible growth and performance improvement opportunities,” said Jonathan Jackson, Principal at Sun Capital. “We are excited to partner with Norma and the Fresh Origins leadership team to accelerate growth through continued foodservice penetration and retail adoption, as well as capitalize on performance improvement opportunities including facility automation and systems implementation.”

Sun Capital has extensive experience partnering with industry leading food businesses through current and prior investments, including Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, Del Monte Canada, Elan Nutrition, Fearman’s Pork, Harry’s Fresh Foods, Fresh-Pak, Northland Cranberries, Sunrise Growers-Frozsun Foods, and Timothy’s Coffees of the World.

Fresh Origins was advised on the transaction by Houlihan Lokey (advisory), FORVIS (financial), and Sidley Austin (legal). Sun Capital was advised on the transaction by EY (financial), EY-Parthenon (commercial), and Kirkland & Ellis (legal).

About Fresh Origins

Fresh Origins, headquartered in San Marcos, CA, is a market leading grower and shipper of Microgreens and Edible Flowers for foodservice and retail customers across the United States. Founded in 1996, Fresh Origins pioneered the Microgreens category and is known for having the widest product variety, exceptional quality and consistency, and most rigorous food safety standards in the industry. The Company offers over 600 varieties of Microgreens, Petite® Greens, Edible Flowers, Shoots, Tiny Veggies™, and other Specialty items, serving over 350 foodservice distributors, restaurants, and retailers.

 

Media Contact
Matthew Conroy
Stanton
646-502-3563
mconroy@stantonprm.com

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Vittorio Colao Rejoins General Atlantic as Vice Chairman of EMEA

General Atlantic

London and New York – January 19, 2023 – General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, announced today that Vittorio Colao rejoined the firm as Vice Chairman of EMEA. In his role, Mr. Colao will draw on his extensive expertise in technology, consumer and digital platforms to provide strategic counsel to the firm’s global investment teams and portfolio companies across EMEA. He previously served as Senior Advisor to General Atlantic from 2019-2021.

Mr. Colao returns to the firm after serving as Minister of Technological Innovation and the Digital Transition for the Italian government from 2021-2022, a role in which he led the growth of inclusive and efficient digital services across Italy and oversaw the country’s space program. Prior to this, Mr. Colao spent 20 years at Vodafone Group, serving as Group Chief Executive for a decade, where he led the business’ significant growth into one of the largest telecommunications groups globally. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at Verizon and is an Executive Committee member of Bocconi University in Italy.

Gabriel Caillaux, Co-President, Managing Director and Head of General Atlantic’s business in EMEA, said: “Vittorio rejoins the firm at a crucial moment in the evolution and intersection of the technology, consumer and digital industries across Europe, bringing unique experience through his multi-decade tenure at one of Europe’s premier telecoms businesses. Vittorio made a significant contribution to our business before his departure in 2021, and we look forward to drawing on his considerable expertise to help us navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

Mr. Colao added, “The opportunity for technological and digital innovation continues to be a key driver of economic and social inclusivity around the world. I am honored to again be part of General Atlantic’s global network and to partner with entrepreneurs and management teams across EMEA as we help their businesses scale access to solutions for some of the most pressing issues of our time.”

About General Atlantic

General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 445 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and deliver lasting impact, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to scale innovative businesses around the world. General Atlantic currently has over $73 billion in assets under management inclusive of all products as of September 30, 2022, and more than 215 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Miami, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Stamford and Tel Aviv. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit the website: www.generalatlantic.com.

Media Contacts

Mary Armstrong & Casey Gunkel
General Atlantic media@generalatlantic.com

Categories: People