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Carlyle-backed SER Welcomes New Investment from TA to Accelerate Growth

Carlyle

Bonn, Germany, 21 March 2024 – SER (the “Company”), a leading global Intelligent Content Automation (“ICA”) software vendor in the Enterprise Content Management (“ECM”) market, today announced that TA Associates (“TA”), a leading global private equity firm, has agreed to make a strategic growth investment in the Company. SER and Carlyle, an investor in SER since 2018, welcome TA as the new lead investor.

“We are delighted to welcome TA to SER as an investor and we are proud that they share our perspective on the significant opportunities ahead for our business,” said Dr. John Bates, CEO of SER. “SER is revolutionizing the way enterprise content is automated, understood and managed. We have amazing customers, a fantastic team and market leading technology. We have had an outstanding partnership with Carlyle, with incredible support throughout the journey, and we are delighted that TA now joins us to supercharge the next phase of growth.”

Since its founding in 1984, SER has developed from a primarily DACH-focused ECM solutions provider into a category-defining ICA player with highly differentiated AI capabilities and an increasingly international enterprise customer base. In partnership with Carlyle, SER built out its senior management team, successfully executed a rapid shift to a subscription-first business model, expanded its innovation-led product offering, and entered new markets including the US, UK, continental Europe, and the Middle East, through considerable organic investment and M&A.

Today, SER has over 600 employees across 20 offices in 11 countries. The Company’s technology is trusted by blue-chip enterprise customers worldwide. SER’s flagship product, Doxis ICA (“Doxis”), combines traditional ECM capabilities with AI-enabled services that are designed to bridge and automate content across best-of-breed apps and multiple vendor ecosystems like SAP, Salesforce, Microsoft and more.

“SER’s impressive suite of next-generation ECM solutions helps organizations work faster, smarter and more efficiently,” said Morgan Seigler, Managing Director at TA, and Stefan Dandl, Director at TA. “As the demand for AI-powered technologies continues, we believe SER has a meaningful opportunity to support organizations in their digital transformation journey, harnessing the Doxis platform to streamline document processing and content management needs. We look forward to partnering with Carlyle and SER to accelerate international expansion, invest in AI innovation and enhance the Company’s product offering.”

“We are immensely proud to have partnered with SER during such a significant period of growth and transformation for the business,” said Dr. Thorsten Dippel, Managing Director in the Carlyle Europe Technology Partners (“CETP”) Investment Advisory team. “Through our work with Dr. John Bates and his incredible team, the Company has developed into the category-leading, international ICA software vendor it is today. SER is well-placed to continue its success story as an enterprise software player of scale in the large and growing global ECM market. We are delighted to partner with TA as the new lead investor in SER as the Company enters the next phase of its growth journey.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

 

Contacts

For SER
Maureen Cueppers
maureen.cueppers@sergroup.com

 

For TA
Maggie Benoit
mbenoit@ta.com

 

For Carlyle
Nicholas Brown
nicholas.brown@carlyle.com

 

About SER
Trusted by over 5 million users worldwide, SER is defining Intelligent Content Automation (ICA), the next generation of Enterprise Content Management which leverages AI to provide intelligent content understanding and process automation. SER’s highly scalable Doxis platform brings ICA capabilities into a single, unified platform that works seamlessly across multiple applications and vendor ecosystems, such as SAP, Salesforce and Microsoft. Offering many pre-built solutions and user-friendly no-code tooling, SER’s Doxis delivers rapid time-to-value, superior ROI and lower total cost of ownership for next-generation content applications. Headquartered in Bonn, Germany, SER has a well-established market leadership position in DACH and a fast-growing international business with blue-chip customers around the world.

 

About TA
TA is a leading global private equity firm focused on scaling growth in profitable companies. Since 1968, TA has invested in more than 560 companies across its five target industries – technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services. Leveraging its deep industry expertise and strategic resources, TA collaborates with management teams worldwide to help high-quality companies deliver lasting value. The firm has raised $65 billion in capital to date and has over 150 investment professionals across offices in Boston, Menlo Park, Austin, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA can be found at www.ta.com.

 

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 Global Investment Solutions. With $426 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2023, 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 2,200 people in 28 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. For more, follow Carlyle on LinkedIn and X.

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ParkHub and JustPark Agree to Merge Alongside Strategic Growth Investment from FTV Capital and LLR Partners

FTV Capital

Combination of leading parking technology and payments providers creates robust end-to-end platform to serve entire parking ecosystem in North America and the United Kingdom.

DALLAS and LONDON – ParkHub, a leading North American provider of parking management software and payments solutions, today announced an agreement to combine businesses with JustPark, one of the UK’s leading app-based parking reservations technology and payments platforms. The combination creates a full-service parking software and payments solution for customers across North America and the United Kingdom. As part of this transaction, ParkHub secured a strategic growth investment led by FTV Capital with participation from existing investor LLR Partners.

“After 18 years at the forefront of transforming parking experiences for millions, our merger with ParkHub catapults JustPark to new heights,” said Anthony Eskinazi, founder and CEO of JustPark. “Our dedication to improving the parking experience for drivers continues, and with our cutting-edge technology and unrivalled support, we’re set to revolutionize parking for our customers and partners both here in the UK, and now also in North America.”

ParkHub provides a complete parking technology ecosystem to optimize revenue-driven parking operations, including facilitating payments and delivering real-time business insights for parking operators and venue management companies across North America, serving some of the largest sports and entertainment venues, universities, municipalities and commercial asset holders. JustPark will continue to leverage its technology to facilitate an online marketplace in the UK by matching drivers with available parking spaces and monetizing unused parking capacity. Together, ParkHub and JustPark currently serve more than 20 million drivers and more than 500 B2B customers, representing $1 billion+ in booking volume. JustPark’s Eskinazi will continue to lead the UK business.

“We are excited to invest in JustPark’s vision to provide the world’s best parking experiences and look forward to leveraging the combined company’s capabilities for our marquee customers across North America and the UK,” said Jeff Shanahan, CEO at ParkHub. “Having successfully worked with FTV in the past, I’m confident that their track record and extensive expertise within the vertical software and payments space make them the ultimate value-add partner to complement LLR as we chart this next phase of growth.”

The accelerating transition from cash to digital payments and growing adoption of prepaid parking has precipitated a need for an end-to-end platform that helps high-velocity parking facilities more efficiently manage their parking operations. Adding to this momentum, primary ticketing vendors are increasingly relying on partnerships with prepaid parking providers for on- and off-venue parking to help improve ingress and effectively manage parking reservations. With this acquisition, we believe that ParkHub is well positioned to capitalize on these industry tailwinds by leveraging JustPark’s parking reservations and mobile payments capabilities.

“Both ParkHub and JustPark stand out as category-leading vertical SaaS and payments platforms in their respective markets, and we’re excited to help these two complementary, yet distinct, offerings come together and accelerate growth in the expansive parking software and payments market,” said Kyle Griswold, partner at FTV Capital. “We’re also thrilled for the opportunity to once again partner with both Jeff and LLR. Jeff has been a leader at several successful FTV portfolio companies and has extensive experience growing and scaling vertical software and payments companies.”

“We are thrilled to announce our combination with JustPark, and to partner with Anthony and the entire JustPark team. Together, we will continue to provide our customers and partners with industry leading parking software and payment solutions,” said Ryan Goldenberg, partner at LLR Partners. “In addition, we welcome FTV Capital to ParkHub’s board of directors and look forward to a successful strategic partnership.”

As part of this growth investment, Kyle Griswold and Adam Hallquist, principal at FTV Capital, joined ParkHub’s board of directors.

About ParkHub

ParkHub is the leading integrating software, payments, and data insights provider for the North American market. ParkHub solutions include multiple payment options, real-time operational data, robust performance analytics, dynamic pricing, and is the industry leader in seamless integrations with the nation’s renowned ticketing and parking reservation providers. For more information, visit ParkHub.com.

About JustPark

JustPark, established in 2006, is the UK’s favorite parking app, parking a car every 2 seconds. With 13 million drivers and more than 250,000 spaces – including 50,000 residential spaces and some of the UK’s biggest councils and car parking companies, JustPark markets and monetizes both unused driveways and car park capacity, benefitting drivers and creating revenue for space owners. Their investors include Index Ventures, LocalGlobe, Itochu and 10,000 retail investors via Crowdfunding.

About FTV Capital

FTV Capital is a sector-focused growth equity investment firm that has raised $6.2 billion to invest in high-growth companies offering a range of innovative solutions in three sectors: enterprise technology and services, financial services, and payments and transaction processing. FTV’s experienced team leverages its domain expertise and proven track record in each of these sectors to help motivated management teams accelerate growth. FTV also provides companies with access to its Global Partner Network®, a group of the world’s leading enterprises and executives who have helped FTV portfolio companies for two decades. Founded in 1998, FTV Capital has invested in 140 portfolio companies,  including BillingPlatform, EBANX, Kore.ai, LoanPro, Ottimate, ReliaQuest, True Potential and Vagaro, and successfully exited/partially exited companies including CardConnect (acquired by First Data), Enfusion (NYSE: ENFN), Globant (NYSE: GLOB), InvestCloud (recapitalized), RapidRatings (recapitalized), Strata Fund Solutions (acquired by Alter Domus), Vpay (acquired by Optum) and WorldFirst (acquired by Ant Financial). FTV has offices in San Francisco, New York, Connecticut and London. For more information, please visit www.ftvcapital.com and follow the firm on LinkedIn.

About LLR Partners

LLR Partners is a private equity firm investing in technology and healthcare businesses. We collaborate with our portfolio companies to identify and execute on key growth initiatives and help create long-term value. Founded in 1999 and with more than $6 billion raised across seven funds, LLR is a flexible provider of equity capital for growth, recapitalizations and buyouts. Learn more at www.llrpartners.com and follow the firm on LinkedIn.

Contact

Prosek Partners on behalf of FTV Capital
Alexa Ottenstein
Pro-ftvcapital@prosek.com
646-818-9051

Categories: News

Funding for TripleMed to achieve CE marking

Brightland Venture Partners

 

Funding for TripleMed to achieve CE marking
Afbeelding


Solutions for better treatment of aortic aneurysms step closer

Geleen, March 21, 2024.

TripleMed BV is a medical startup focused on improving the treatment of aortic aneurysms. A consortium of existing and new investors has contributed more than two million euros to enable the clinical trials needed for CE marking and market launch. The aim is to achieve CE marking early in 2025. LIOF previously invested from the Limburg Business Development Fund (LBDF) and has now taken a stake in the company through the Participation Fund. Existing shareholder Brightlands Venture Partners (BVP) reinvested in TripleMed from its Chemelot Ventures fund.

Lenn Houbiers, investment manager at LIOF: “The TripleMed solution will eventually lead to more efficient management of aortic aneurysms, better quality of life and lower healthcare costs. In doing so, TripleMed makes an important contribution to the health transition, one of the transitions on which LIOF is strongly focused.”

Solutions under development
TripleMed is currently conducting clinical studies at a number of hospitals in the Netherlands and Belgium to validate AneuFix Endoleak Repair (fixing a leak after aneurysm surgery) and AneuFill Prophylactic Sac Filling (preventive insertion of a polymer to prevent leaks). The AneuFix/AneuFill concept is a 2-component polymer in a syringe. Upon insertion, the 2 components are mixed and then harden into an elastic permanent implant in the aneurysm.

Clinical trials started in 2020, 33 patients have been treated to date. The interim results of the clinical trial are very positive, in 89% of the patients the leakage remains stopped for a long time. By the end of 2024, the company hopes to have treated 57 patients and thus completed the clinical study so that CE marking can be obtained for AneuFix, followed in 2026 by CE marking for Aneufill.

“We are pleased with the new financial injection that will allow us to continue our research and achieve the certification required for the market launch of both products” said Tjeerd Homsma, CEO of TripleMed.”

Extent of aortic aneurysms
More than 150,000 patients worldwide are treated for aortic aneurysms each year. As many as 10-15% of all aortic aneurysms previously treated with stent-grafts experience leakage and further growth of the aneurysm. No effective treatment currently exists for this.

About TripleMed
TripleMed was founded in 2011 by three reputed vascular surgeons, Dr. Hans Brom, Dr. Alexander de Vries and Prof. Dr. Michael Jacobs. The company is based at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen. TripleMed focuses on developing innovative and cost-effective solutions for the treatment of aortic aneurysms.
Despite the obvious benefits of endovascular treatment using endoprostheses, the procedure is associated with a relatively high number of complications and repeat operations in the years following the initial surgery, which has a major impact on patients’ quality of life and high costs. With its products, TripleMed expects to make a significant improvement to more effective and cost-efficient treatment of aortic aneurysms.
More information:  www.triplemedical.com.

About Brightlands Venture Partners
Brightlands Venture Partners (BVP) is the fund manager of Chemelot Ventures and is a so-called ecosystem investor. BVP invests in companies benefiting from and contributing to the Brightlands campuses in the south of the Netherlands. Other funds under management are BVP Fund IV, Brightlands Agrifood Fund and Limburg Ventures. Chemelot Ventures has a portfolio of investments in startups and scaleups in sustainability and health. Together the BVP funds have made over 50 investments.
More information on https://brightlandsventurepartners.com/.

AneuFill procedure - TripleMed.PNG

Image on the left: During the procedure, AneuFill polymer is inserted through a filling catheter immediately after the endoprosthesis is placed (green).
Image on the right: The entire space of the aneurysm around the endoprosthesis is filled with AneuFill polymer (blue).

 

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KKR Invests In Avantus To Support Renewable Energy Deployment In The United States

KKR

Transaction Marks First U.S. Investment from KKR’s Global Climate Strategy

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Today, KKR, a leading global investment firm, announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which investment funds and accounts managed by KKR agreed to acquire a majority stake in Avantus, a premier U.S. developer of large utility-scale solar and solar-plus-storage projects. Following the close of the transaction, KKR and existing investor EIG, a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, will be the sole equity investors in Avantus. Both equity sponsors are dedicated to supporting the next phase of Avantus’ growth, including having secured commitments for a substantial development financing facility alongside their equity commitments to the company, totaling upwards of $1 billion in the aggregate.

Founded in 2009, Avantus supports solar and energy storage development throughout the project lifecycle – from selecting a project site through operations – and owns a large project pipeline of 30 GWp of solar and 94 GWh of battery storage, enough to provide 20 million people with clean, reliable power. The company has a substantial presence and track-record of successful development in the southwestern U.S. and California power markets, which are among the highest-quality markets for development in the U.S. Since its founding, Avantus has developed and sold 6.5 GWp and 6.3 GWh of solar and storage projects, respectively.

Avantus is poised to benefit from material secular tailwinds supporting renewables development in the United States. According to BloombergNEF, global energy transition investment needs to almost triple from today’s investment levels to align with global climate goals. Together, investment in renewable energy and power grids is expected to continue to draw the largest share of energy transition spending.1

“To support an economy-wide energy transition, there is a need to significantly expand renewable energy generation by 2050 and enable grid electrification. Because of these tailwinds, we see enormous opportunity for Avantus. The company’s impressive team and development track record, coupled with its mature project pipeline, set it apart from other renewables developers,” said Charlie Gailliot, Partner and Co-Head of Global Climate Strategy, KKR. “We are delighted to support Avantus in realizing its full potential.”

Cecilio Velasco, Managing Director in KKR’s Infrastructure team, added, “We look forward to working with Avantus and EIG and leveraging KKR’s substantial resources and operational expertise to accelerate the growth of the business. Today marks the beginning of a new era for the company, one that will help further the transition of the power sector through sustainable, clean energy solutions.”

Blair Thomas, EIG Chairman and CEO, said, “EIG has been pleased to support Avantus since 2021, through capital solutions uniquely tailored to the company’s needs and goals. Throughout our partnership, Avantus has maintained and extended its position as one of the leading and most innovative renewables developers in the United States, helping to spur the industry’s rapid growth and expanding access to affordable, reliable and clean energy. We are excited to continue working with the Avantus team and are pleased to welcome KKR as we pursue the next phases of Avantus’ growth and evolution.”

“Solar is the fastest growing electricity source in the U.S.2, and along with energy storage, will serve as the backbone of a modern electric grid that is clean, reliable and resilient,” said Patrick Goff, Chief Financial Officer at Avantus. “KKR’s investment provides Avantus the financial backing and expertise to execute on our ambitious portfolio and lead the energy transition across the Western United States. We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter with KKR and EIG and continue our company’s growth.”

Following the closing of the transaction, KKR will support Avantus in creating an equity ownership program to provide all employees the opportunity to participate in the benefits of ownership of the company. This strategy is based on the belief that employee engagement is a key driver in building stronger companies. Since 2011, KKR portfolio companies have awarded billions of dollars of total equity value to over 60,000 non-management employees across more than 40 companies.

With over 15 years of experience in infrastructure investing, KKR has deep expertise in renewable energy and climate-related investments and has invested more than $15 billion in this sector from its infrastructure platform alone. KKR is funding the investment from its global climate strategy, which is dedicated to investing in solutions at scale to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Jefferies LLC acted as sole financial advisor to KKR. KKR Capital Markets and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) acted as the lead structuring agents and arrangers of a development financing facility for the Company. Scotiabank served as financial advisor to Avantus.

About KKR

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

About Avantus

Avantus is shaping the future by making reliable, low-cost clean energy a global reality. Our legacy of leadership in next generation solar energy includes developing one of the nation’s largest solar clusters and one of the first projects to beat fossil fuel prices back in 2016. Today, we are expanding the boundaries of existing technologies to build one of the largest portfolios of solar plants with integrated storage, capable of providing 20 million people with affordable, zero-emission energy – day and night.

For more information, please visit www.avantus.com, and follow Avantus on LinkedIn.

About EIG

EIG is a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors with $22.9 billion under management as of December 31, 2023. EIG specializes in private investments in energy and energy-related infrastructure on a global basis. During its 41-year history, EIG has committed over $47.1 billion to the energy sector through over 405 projects or companies in 42 countries on six continents. EIG’s clients include many of the leading pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, foundations and sovereign wealth funds in the U.S., Asia and Europe. EIG is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Houston, London, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong and Seoul. For additional information, please visit EIG’s website at www.eigpartners.com.

___________________________
1 BloombergNEF: Energy Transition Investment Trends 2024
2 U.S. Solar Market Insight 2023 Year in Review

Media:
KKR
Liidia Liuksila
(212) 750-8300
media@kkr.com

Avantus
Katie Struble
press@avantus.com

EIG
FGS Global
Kelly Kimberly / Brandon Messina
+1 212-687-8080
EIG@fgsglobal.com

Source: KKR

 

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Unveiling the Intersection of Private Equity and Artificial Intelligence: Driving Innovation and Value

Artificial Intelligence

Private Equity Ventures into the AI Frontier: Unveiling Investments in Cutting-Edge Technology

Private equity companies have long been at the forefront of identifying lucrative investment opportunities across various industries. In recent years, the convergence of finance and technology has paved the way for a new wave of investments in artificial intelligence (AI) companies. These ventures not only underscore the transformative potential of AI but also highlight the strategic foresight of private equity firms in capitalizing on disruptive technologies to drive growth and generate value.

The AI Revolution: Transforming Industries

Artificial intelligence, encompassing machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and predictive analytics, has emerged as a game-changer across numerous sectors. From healthcare and finance to retail and manufacturing, AI technologies are revolutionizing business operations, enhancing productivity, and enabling data-driven decision-making.

In healthcare, AI-powered algorithms are driving innovations in medical diagnosis, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans. Financial institutions are leveraging AI for fraud detection, risk assessment, and algorithmic trading, while retailers utilize AI-driven insights for demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and customer engagement.

Private Equity’s Foray into AI: Strategic Investments

Private equity firms have recognized the immense potential of AI to disrupt traditional business models and drive competitive advantage. As such, they have actively sought investment opportunities in AI companies at various stages of development, from early-stage startups to established players poised for growth.

One notable example is the acquisition of AI startups specializing in machine learning and predictive analytics. Private equity firms have invested in companies developing AI-driven solutions for customer relationship management, marketing automation, and supply chain optimization, recognizing the value proposition of these technologies in enhancing operational efficiency and driving revenue growth.

Moreover, private equity companies have facilitated the expansion of AI companies through strategic mergers and acquisitions. By providing capital and operational expertise, private equity firms enable AI companies to scale their operations, penetrate new markets, and accelerate product development initiatives.

Case Studies: Private Equity Investments in AI

Several high-profile examples illustrate the growing interest of private equity in AI investments:

  1. Blackstone Group’s Acquisition of HealthEdge: In 2020, Blackstone Group acquired HealthEdge, a leading provider of healthcare IT solutions leveraging AI and machine learning. The acquisition aimed to capitalize on the growing demand for AI-driven healthcare technologies and position HealthEdge for accelerated growth and market expansion.
  2. KKR’s Investment in AppLovin: In 2018, KKR invested in AppLovin, a mobile advertising platform utilizing AI algorithms to optimize ad targeting and user engagement. KKR’s investment valued AppLovin at over $2 billion, highlighting the attractiveness of AI-driven advertising technologies to private equity investors.
  3. Thoma Bravo’s Acquisition of Sophos: In 2019, Thoma Bravo acquired Sophos, a cybersecurity company specializing in AI-powered threat detection and prevention. Thoma Bravo’s investment aimed to capitalize on the growing demand for AI-driven cybersecurity solutions and position Sophos as a market leader in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Challenges and Opportunities

While private equity investments in AI present lucrative opportunities for value creation and portfolio diversification, they also entail certain risks and challenges. The rapid pace of technological innovation, regulatory uncertainty, and potential ethical concerns surrounding AI adoption are among the key considerations that private equity firms must navigate.

Furthermore, successful AI investments require a deep understanding of the technology landscape, as well as access to talent with expertise in data science, machine learning, and AI development. Private equity firms must also ensure alignment between their investment thesis and the long-term strategic objectives of AI companies to maximize returns and mitigate downside risks.

Looking Ahead: Shaping the Future of AI Investments

As AI continues to evolve and permeate various industries, private equity firms are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI investments. By leveraging their capital, industry expertise, and operational capabilities, private equity companies can accelerate the growth and development of AI startups, drive consolidation within the AI ecosystem, and unlock new sources of value for their investors.

In conclusion, private equity investments in AI represent a convergence of financial acumen and technological innovation, with the potential to reshape industries and drive sustainable growth. As AI continues to gain prominence as a transformative force in the global economy, private equity firms are well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities and generate outsized returns for their stakeholders.

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Montagu to acquire Johnson Matthey’s Medical Device Components business

Montagu
Montagu, a leading private equity firm, has announced that it has agreed to acquire the carved-out Medical Device Components business (MDC) of Johnson Matthey Plc.

MDC develops and manufactures miniature components for minimally invasive medical devices used in high-growth clinical specialties. It focuses on complex and high-precision components made from Platinum Group Metals and Nitinol, with decades of expertise in the metallurgy, micro-machining, and coating of these specialty alloys.  As one of the few suppliers globally with the ability to design and produce these specialty components with the required scale and quality, MDC plays a crucial role in its markets and is uniquely positioned to support its blue-chip customers to accelerate innovation and improve patients’ lives. With manufacturing sites in the USA (San Diego), Mexico (Mexicali) and Australia (Tullamarine), MDC supports its customers on a global basis.

After the transaction closes, MDC will operate as a new standalone company, led by its existing management team.

MDC Chief Executive Don Freeman said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Montagu in the next phase of MDC’s development. They bring a significant amount of expertise in healthcare and in particular IP-led medical devices, and they share our ambitions for the business over the coming years, both organically and through M&A.”

We are delighted to be partnering with Montagu in the next phase of MDC’s development. They bring a significant amount of expertise in healthcare and in particular IP-led medical devices.

Don Freeman, Chief Executive, Medical Device Components

Adrien Sassi, Partner at Montagu said: “The carve-out of MDC aligns strongly with Montagu’s approach. MDC has rare and hard to replicate capabilities that enable it to handle the most complex and demanding precision-engineered components at scale. With support from Johnson Matthey, Don and his team have positioned the business to capitalize on the fast growth of its underlying markets and blue-chip OEM customers. We look forward to supporting their ambitious expansion plans.”

We look forward to supporting their ambitious expansion plans.

Adrien Sassi, Partner, Montagu

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

This is Montagu’s second carve-out transaction announcement in three months. The firm completed its acquisition of Cook Medical’s biotech business unit in January and its subsequent merger with RTI Surgical. Since 2002, Montagu has initiated and successfully implemented over 30 carve-outs.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. acted as financial advisor, Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal advisor, and PwC as transaction advisor to Montagu.

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The Polaris Private Equity Team Expands

Polaris

Polaris is thrilled to announce the addition of two exceptional new investment professionals, Johan Pålsson as Partner, and Camilla Ringsted as Associate Director. We are excited to welcome them into the team and look forward to working together.

Johan Pålsson assumes the role of Partner within our private equity team, contributing a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years. His most recent position was as the Managing Partner at CapMan Buyout and prior to that he spent 10 years in the investment team at Ratos. Over the years, Johan has been involved in various significant deals, including those involving PDSVISION, Hydroware, HENT, and many others.

Camilla Ringsted joins the private equity team as an Associate Director. She holds a degree in economics from the University of Copenhagen and Cornell University. Camilla brings extensive knowledge from her career in consulting, most recently as Associate Partner in Bain, where she primarily worked with private equity and M&A in their ringfence team.

We are confident that Johan and Camilla’s valuable skills and great personas will further enhance the strength and capabilities of our private equity team.

Categories: People

The CareVoice Completes Nearly $10 Million Series B Funding to Drive Further Global Expansion and Product Innovation

Apis Partners

London, March 20th 2024, Insurtech Insights Conference – The CareVoice (the “Company”), the leading global embedded health enabler for insurers, announces successful completion of its Series B funding, raising a total of nearly $10 million, in a round led by Apis Insurtech Fund I (the “Fund”). This funding will be instrumental in accelerating the Company’s growth, expanding collaborations with insurers across regions, and investing in the next generation of the CareVoiceOS platform.

The Fund is managed by Apis Partners LLP (“Apis”), a UK-based asset manager known for its commitment to, and success in generating, both financial returns and positive social impact. The team at Apis utilises its sector expertise to lead value creation initiatives at its portfolio companies, enhancing the lives of millions of people served by these businesses. Since the Fund’s first investment in CareVoice in 2019, Apis’ team has contributed to several areas of expansion and development at the Company. These efforts include supporting business development activities to attract enterprise customers, leveraging Apis’ network in the insurance industry, and engaging stakeholders to facilitate these partnerships. Apis’ investment philosophy aligns with the Company’s mission to revolutionize the way insurers engage with their customers for a healthier life. Together, CareVoice and Apis will work to deliver personalized, data-driven health and wellness solutions to insurance customers worldwide.

Over the past two years, CareVoice has achieved significant milestones and solidified its position as a global leader in embedded health solutions. The Company has expanded and formed new major collaborations with insurers, serving millions of customers across more than 15 countries worldwide. Additionally, the Company has established strategic partnerships with global players, including reinsurers and digital distribution enablers, to enhance its capabilities and jointly serve insurers.

CareVoice has demonstrated strong unit economics and maintained cash-flow neutrality over the past 18 months. The Company experienced a remarkable doubling of revenues in 2023 compared to the previous year.

Investing in Innovation: Next Generation CareVoiceOS Platform

The new funding will enable CareVoice to accelerate its growth trajectory further and drive innovation in its CareVoiceOS platform. The platform’s next generation will enhance scalability, reduce implementation costs, and empower insurers to implement or upgrade customer solutions seamlessly. The recent release of the CareEngage framework has demonstrated increased customer engagement and perceived value among end-users.

Accelerating Growth with Strengthened Leadership Team

To support its expansion plans, CareVoice has established a European headquarters in Luxembourg. Concurrently, the Company has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Simon Guest as Chief Commercial Officer and will leverage his industry experience at Generali Vitality and AXA to accelerate CareVoice’s global growth and forge transformative collaborations with insurers worldwide. Additionally, Jan Velich, one of its co-founders, has taken a new role as Chief Experience Officer, leading the expansion of CareVoice reach and impact with its existing major clients. These strategic moves further fuel the Company’s mission to unlock the next growth frontier for the life and health insurance industry by adopting embedded health solutions at global scale.

Sebastien Gaudin, CEO and Co-founder of CareVoice, said: “We are collaborating with two types of insurers, those early movers in the health and wellness space who are already aware of the gaps in their capabilities, and new entrants who want to accelerate, avoiding the pitfalls and challenges other insurers have faced. Both types are looking to generate additional profitable insurance business directly and through attracting and retaining healthier customer profiles. We see an exciting future development of this partnership approach which delivers mutual growth.”

Matteo Stefanel and Udayan Goyal, Co-Founders and Managing Partners at Apis Partners, stated: “The success of CareVoice is clear, demonstrated by the revenue growth of 2x year-on-year by the end of 2023, and the geographical expansion to 15 countries worldwide. With this Series B commitment from Apis Insurtech Fund I, we look forward to continuing to support CareVoice as it matures further and leads the embedded health category as a global leading software for insurance companies.”

CareVoice’s success is further exemplified by testimonial from existing customer. Aura Rebelo, CEO of Fully Wellness Ecosystem at Prudential International Insurance, commented, “CareVoice has been instrumental in translating Prudential’s total wellness vision into reality by contributing to the delivery of Fully SuperApp, offering a holistic wellness user experience across physical, mental and financial wellness. CareVoice’s service ecosystem and data orchestration, its engagement framework as well as its continuous upgrade and innovation with evolving ecosystem are three critical capabilities for Fully Wellness Ecosystem to continuously expand the values for Prudential, its other business partners and their respective customers.”

CareVoice’s achievements and ongoing growth reflect the increasing demand for embedded health solutions and its potential to transform the insurance industry.

-END-

About CareVoice

The CareVoice is on a mission to make insurance more human, with health at its core. We are a global embedded health leader that enables insurers to engage with their customers through configurable user journeys that leverage an open digital health ecosystem, delivered in any front-end solutions.

CareVoice has teams based across Asia and Europe, with insurer clients across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and America regions. Graduated from SOSV-backed Orbit Startups program (2016), Ping An Tech Accelerator (2018) and Insurtech Munich Hub (2020), CareVoice received multiple awards and ranked amongst the top 100 Global Insurtechs.

The CareVoice is backed by specialized Software, Healthtech and Insurtech VCs such as Apis Partners, LUN Partners or DNA Capital, and completed its Series A (2019) and its Series B (2024). www.thecarevoice.com

About Apis Partners

The Apis Group (“Apis”) is an ESGI-native global private equity and venture capital asset manager that supports growth-stage financial services and financial infrastructure businesses by providing them with catalytic growth equity capital. Collectively Apis, through its team of around 40 professionals with deep industry expertise, manages or advises on total committed capital from investors (including drawn and invested capital) of US$1.2 billion.

Including its headquarters in London, Apis has representation in eight countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Apis is highly conscious of the developmental impact that the provision of growth capital for financial services and financial infrastructure businesses in global markets can achieve, and as such, financial inclusion and financial wellness are core tenets of Apis’ impact investment approach. https://apis.pe/

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Quilvest Capital Partners appoints Richard Berke as Global Head of Human Resources

Quilvest Capital logo

20 March 2024—Quilvest Capital Partners (“Quilvest”), a dedicated global mid- and lower midmarket alternatives investment manager with over $7 billion in AUM and a century-long, sevengeneration family shareholder heritage, today announces the appointment of Richard Berke as its Global Head of Human Resources.

In his role, based in London, Richard will spearhead the HR department, steering all facets of
HR strategy and operations to not only support Quilvest’s growth but also to facilitate the
development of its portfolio companies. This highlights the firm’s commitment to attracting toptier talent to drive innovation across core functions.

Richard brings to Quilvest a wealth of experience, including over two decades of leadership in
HR and recruitment. Most recently, he has held the position of Principal—Global Human
Resources at Pantheon Ventures, a private markets investment firm, since 2019. Before that, he
served as Head of Resourcing at Insight Investment, a leading global asset manager.

Alexis Meffre, Executive Chairman at Quilvest, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Richard
to Quilvest. His experience in HR and proven leadership in managing global teams resonate
deeply with our strategic ambitions. Richard’s appointment signifies not just an addition to our
leadership but a pivotal step towards enriching our organizational culture, enhancing our
capabilities to attract and nurture top-tier talent, and driving innovation across all levels. This is a
testament to our commitment to excellence and our relentless pursuit of shaping the future of
Quilvest.”
-ENDS

About Quilvest Capital Partners
Quilvest Capital Partners is a leading global investment firm focused exclusively on the midmarket. We operate four investment strategies: Buyout, Primaries, Co-Investments and
Secondaries, Private Credit and Real Estate.

As one of the earliest pioneers in the alternative investment industry, we pride ourselves on our
rich and extensive history, with decades of experience deploying capital across multiple business
cycles and environments. We are trusted to manage over $7bn AUM for a prestigious base of
global investors, including leading pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies,
and family offices. Our heritage dates back more than a century to 1917, managing the wealth of
our founding shareholder, the Bemberg family, which we continue to do today.

With six offices worldwide, our team is focused on identifying the global trends and themes
underpinning each investment strategy. We overlay this thematic approach with an extensive
global network of highly valued relationships, enabling us to identify and invest in the best
opportunities for our investors and partners.

Quilvest Capital Partners is committed to the highest standards of excellence. We offer best-inclass infrastructure and the professionalism of a leading global investment firm while retaining the
deeply personal, entrepreneurial, nimble approach routed in our origins.

For more information, visit www.quilvestcapitalpartners.com
Media contacts
Greenbrook
Tashi Lassalle / Alan Tovey / Demi Kurban
+44 (0) 20 7952 2000
Quilvestcapital@greenbrookadvisory.com

Categories: People

DOB Equity Announces Leadership Transition

DOB Equity

Outgoing Co-CEOs Saskia van der Mast and Hayo Afman have been pivotal in advancing impact investment in East Africa

Coen Boevé to take over as interim CEO

DOB Equity, a family-backed impact investment fund committed to fostering positive social and environmental change across East Africa, announces a significant change in its senior leadership.

After a tenure spanning 19 and 9 years, respectively, Co-CEOs Saskia van der Mast and Hayo Afman will be stepping down from their roles, marking the conclusion of a transformative era for the organization.

The fund will also commence the search for a new  CEO to lead its next phase of growth. In the interim, Coen Boevé, CFO of DOB Equity, will assume the role of interim CEO.

During their tenure, Saskia and Hayo have been instrumental in driving the growth and success of DOB Equity and shaping the landscape of impact investment in East Africa.

They have grown the portfolio from the first investment in 2007 to over 30 impactful companies to date, winning multiple awards, amongst others, for best Impact Investment Firm by the East Africa Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.

With successful exits in companies such as M-Kopa, Bridge International Academies, and Twiga Foods, they have demonstrated that impact investments in Africa can yield both strong social and financial returns.

Saskia highlights: “For example, we were the first investors in M-Kopa on their proposition to sell solar home systems on an affordable payment plan. A decade later the company has avoided 2.2m tons of carbon, issued over $1 billion of credit to the underbanked and positively impacted the lives of over 3 million people, with the value of our investment growing in parallel.”

Hayo adds “Our impact philosophy is centered on investing in innovative and scalable businesses that solve meaningful problems and have the potential to impact millions in the region. When the impact is cemented in the company’s leadership and business model, commercial traction, impact, and financial value naturally grow hand-in-hand.”

Reflecting on their time with the organization, Saskia and Hayo express gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to positive change in Africa. “It has been an incredible journey to witness the transformative power of impact investing firsthand. We are immensely proud of what we have achieved together and are confident in the continued success of DOB Equity under new leadership”.

Moving forward, DOB will utilize its extensive expertise, team, network, and data accumulated over nearly 20 years to invest patient capital in skilled founders and businesses offering local solutions to local problems. The focus will be on innovative, realistically scalable start-ups within water, energy, and food systems, enhancing access and resilience against a backdrop of climate change impacts. DOB Equity will focus on Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, targeting investments from seed to series A.

Frank Tobé, a board member of DOB Equity and member of DOB Equity’s founding family adds “On behalf of the Board and family, we extend our deepest gratitude to Saskia and Hayo for their exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication. Under their guidance, DOB Equity has flourished, contributing significantly to a more sustainable and inclusive future for Eastern-Africa.”

Frank Tobé, “As DOB Equity embarks on this new chapter, it remains steadfast in its mission to drive positive impact and create lasting change across the East-African region.”

Categories: People