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CVC, Nordic Capital and ADIA complete acquisition of Hargreaves Lansdown to accelerate and enhance its transformation plan and deliver on its growth potential

CVC Capital Partners

ADIA PED) announce the completion of the acquisition of Hargreaves Lansdown and the subsequent delisting of the Company from the London Stock Exchange.

Hargreaves Lansdown is the UK’s market leading platform for retail investors with an impressive position and strong purpose in the attractive UK wealth market.

The Consortium is motivated by Hargreaves Lansdown’s mission to make it easier for people in the UK to find their financial freedom. Hargreaves Lansdown’s goal is to give more retail investors access to the tools, information and services required to make sound investment decisions, combined with a transparent approach and good value. The Consortium intends to continue investing in improving the client proposition and the customer experience, and will use Hargreaves Lansdown’s scale and experience to continue innovating and developing new features and services to help its customers achieve better outcomes and great value.

On behalf of the Consortium, Pev Hooper, Managing Partner at CVC, Emil Anderson, Partner at Nordic Capital Advisors and Hamad Shahwan Aldhaheri, Executive Director of the Private Equities Department at ADIA, said: “Hargreaves Lansdown has an important purpose: to make it easy for people to save and invest for a better future. Over the 40 years since it was founded, Hargreaves Lansdown has built a strong and trusted brand, underpinned by high levels of customer loyalty and advocacy. The Consortium brings extensive experience in supporting businesses undergoing transformation, and its members have strong track records of investing in regulated financial services companies to build better businesses and create better customer experiences. We look forward to partnering with Hargreaves Lansdown’s management to accelerate its transformation plan – including investment in technology infrastructure, digital channels and service enhancement – all with client value, service, speed of innovation, and Hargreaves Lansdown’s clear purpose at the core.”

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Jean-Pierre Saad joins CVC as a Managing Partner

CVC Capital Partners

CVC is pleased to announce the appointment of Jean-Pierre Saad as a new Managing Partner. Jean-Pierre will join in June 2025 to lead private equity technology investments in Europe and will be based in London.

Jean-Pierre brings a wealth of sector and investment experience having spent over 15 years at KKR. Most recently he was leading KKR’s Technology activities for EMEA Private Equity. Key investments he led/co-led include Exact, SoftwareOne, Devoteam and Koerber Supply Chain Software. Prior to joining KKR, Jean-Pierre was in the telecoms and media team of Lehman Brothers in London.

Soren Vestergaard-Poulsen, Managing Partner and Chair of the Private Equity Board at CVC, said: “I’m delighted that Jean-Pierre is coming on board. His deep sector expertise will strengthen our capabilities to source and execute high-quality investment opportunities in this key sector for CVC.”

Jean-Pierre Saad added: “I am excited to be joining this talented team and look forward to contributing to the CVC’s continuing growth and success. Technology in Europe is a sector with considerable potential and I am excited to help expand the platform and unlock many more of these opportunities.”

Categories: People

Dun & Bradstreet Enters Into a Definitive Agreement To Be Acquired by Clearlake Capital Group

Clearlake

Dun & Bradstreet Shareholders to Receive $9.15 per Share in Cash Transaction Valued at $7.7 Billion

SANTA MONICA, CA and JACKSONVILLE, FL – March 24, 2025 – Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., (together with certain of its affiliates, “Clearlake”), today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (“Dun & Bradstreet”) (NYSE: DNB), a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, in a transaction valued at $7.7 billion, including outstanding debt / with an equity value of $4.1 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by Dun & Bradstreet’s Board of Directors, Dun & Bradstreet shareholders will receive $9.15 in cash for each share of common stock they own.

“We have been on a strategic journey over the last six years, executing a major transformation that has strengthened our business and financial results. We have grown revenue by approximately 40%, EBITDA by 60%, expanded margins by nearly 600 basis points, and leverage has come down from 9 times to 3.6 times, all while extending our lead in data breadth, depth and quality,” said Anthony Jabbour, CEO of Dun & Bradstreet. “We are pleased to be partnering with Clearlake on this new leg of that journey. With their support, our team looks forward to evolving and growing the company with new ways to put our trusted, proprietary and mission-critical data assets to work for our clients.”

“Dun & Bradstreet has built a trusted, globally recognized brand and has amassed a preeminent set of data and analytics that empower organizations of all sizes. As companies become more data-centric in their decisioning in this fast-paced world, we see vast potential for Dun & Bradstreet to deliver AIpowered solutions to their global client base,” said Behdad Eghbali, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, and James Pade, Partner, at Clearlake. “We are excited to partner with Anthony and his team to support the company in unlocking its full potential.”

Transaction Details The purchase price will be funded by Clearlake with a combination of equity and debt financing on the terms set forth in the respective commitment letters executed in connection with the transaction.

The agreement provides for a “go-shop” period, during which Dun & Bradstreet, with the assistance of BofA Securities, will actively solicit, evaluate and potentially enter into negotiations with and provide due diligence access to parties that submit alternative proposals. The go-shop period is 30 days. Dun & Bradstreet will have the right to terminate the agreement and enter into a superior proposal, subject to the conditions and procedures specified in the merger agreement to be filed by Dun & Bradstreet with the Securities and Exchange Commission today on Form 8-K. There can be no assurance this process will result in a superior proposal. Dun & Bradstreet does not intend to disclose developments about this process unless and until its Board of Directors has made a decision with respect to any potential superior proposal.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to Dun & Bradstreet shareholder approval, regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions. The Dun & Bradstreet Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote to approve the merger at an upcoming special meeting of shareholders. Upon completion of the transaction, Dun & Bradstreet will become a privately held company and shares of Dun & Bradstreet common stock will no longer be listed on any public market. BofA Securities is serving as financial advisor to Dun & Bradstreet and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is serving as legal counsel. Financial advisors to Clearlake include Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Rothschild & Co, Barclays, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Santander, and Wells Fargo. Ares Credit Funds and HSBC also participated in the committed financing for the transaction. Sidley Austin LLP is serving as legal counsel to Clearlake.

About Dun & Bradstreet Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, enables companies around the world to improve their business performance. Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Cloud fuels solutions and delivers insights that empower customers to accelerate revenue, lower cost, mitigate risk, and transform their businesses. Since 1841, companies of every size have relied on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity.

About Clearlake Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is an investment firm founded in 2006 operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit and other related strategies. With a sector-focused, approach, the firm seeks to partner with experienced management teams by providing patient, long-term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake’s operational approach, O.P.S.® The firm’s core private equity target sectors are technology, industrials, and consumer. Clearlake currently has over $90 billion of assets under management and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 400 investments, and has deployed over $57 billion in liquid and illiquid credit investments globally. The firm is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA with affiliates in Dallas, TX, London, UK, Dublin, Ireland, Luxembourg, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Singapore. More information is available at www.clearlake.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the effects of the proposed acquisition of Dun & Bradstreet by an affiliate of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. Forward-looking statements are based on Dun & Bradstreet’s management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “expects,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “likely,” “will,” “should” and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. Examples of forwardlooking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding the outlook for our future business and financial performance. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected. It is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors. Consequently, the risks and uncertainties listed below should not be considered a complete discussion of all of our potential trends, risks and uncertainties and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to make any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this communication or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this communication, whether as a result of new information, future events/developments or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that forward-looking statements are subject to include, but are not limited to: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (ii) the inability to complete the proposed merger due to the failure to obtain shareholder approval for the proposed merger or the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the proposed merger; (iii) risks related to disruption of management’s attention from our ongoing business operations due to the proposed merger; (iv) the effect of the announcement of the proposed merger on our relationships with our customers, operating results and business generally; (v) the risk that the proposed merger will not be consummated in a timely manner; (vi) our ability to implement and execute our strategic plans to transform the business; (vii) our ability to develop or sell solutions in a timely manner or maintain client relationships; (viii) competition for our solutions; (ix) harm to our brand and reputation; (x) unfavorable global economic conditions including, but not limited to, volatility in interest rates, foreign currency markets, inflation, and supply chain disruptions; (xi) risks associated with operating and expanding internationally; (xii) failure to prevent cybersecurity incidents or the perception that confidential information is not secure; (xiii) failure in the integrity of our data or systems; (xiv) system failures and personnel disruptions, which could delay the delivery of our solutions to our clients; (xv) loss of access to data sources or ability to transfer data across the data sources in markets where we operate; (xvi) failure of our software vendors and network and cloud providers to perform as expected or if our relationship is terminated; (xvii) loss or diminution of one or more of our key clients, business partners or government contracts; (xviii) dependence on strategic alliances, joint ventures and acquisitions to grow our business; (xix) our ability to protect our intellectual property adequately or cost-effectively; (xx) claims for intellectual property infringement; (xxi) interruptions, delays or outages to subscription or payment processing platforms; (xxii) risks related to acquiring and integrating businesses and divestitures of existing businesses; (xxiii) our ability to retain members of the senior leadership team and attract and retain skilled employees; (xxiv) risks related to changes in the political and legislative landscape in which we operate (including as a result of changes in domestic and international governments and policies) and potential corporate tax reform, and our ability to adapt to those changes as well as adaptation by our key customers and suppliers; (xxv) risks related to registration and other rights held by certain of our largest shareholders; (xxvi) an outbreak of disease, global or localized health pandemic or epidemic, or the fear of such an event, including the global economic uncertainty and measures taken in response; (xxvii) the potential for political, social, or economic unrest, terrorism, hostilities or war, including increased economic uncertainty related to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, and associated trends in macroeconomic conditions, and (xxviii) the other factors described under the headings “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 21, 2025 (the “Company’s 2024 Annual Report”).

No Offer or Solicitation; Additional Information and Where to Find It This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In connection with the proposed merger, the Company intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A to be filed with the SEC (the “Proxy Statement”). This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that the Company may file with the SEC or send to its shareholders in connection with the proposed merger. SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE PROPOSED MERGER AND THE BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING. All such documents, when filed, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). These documents, once available, and the Company’s other filings with the SEC also will be available free of charge on the Company’s website at https://investor.dnb.com/financials/sec-filings/default.aspx.

Participants in the Solicitation The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers and employees may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. Information regarding the names of the Company’s directors and executive officers and certain other individuals and their respective interests in the Company by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024 (the “2024 Definitive Proxy”), which is available here. Please refer to the sections captioned “Executive Compensation” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” in the 2024 Definitive Proxy. To the extent that certain Company participants or their affiliates have acquired or disposed of security holdings since the “as of” date disclosed in the 2024 Definitive Proxy, such transactions have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 or amendments to beneficial ownership reports on Schedules 13D filed with the SEC, which are available at: https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?CIK=0001799208&owner=exclude. Such filings and the 2024 Definitive Proxy are available free of charge on the Company’s website at https://investor.dnb.com/financials/sec-filings/default.aspx or through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Updated information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Company’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger.

For Dun & Bradstreet:

Media Contact:

PR@dnb.com 904-648-6130

Investor Contact:

IR@dnb.com 904-648-8006

For Clearlake:

Media Contact:

Jennifer Hurson jhurson@lambert.com 845-507-0571

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Contact Information for Inquiries Regarding Compensation for Tendering Securityholders in First Tender Offer for FUJI SOFT

KKR

TOKYO, March 25, 2025 – FK Co., Ltd. (“Tender Offeror”), an entity owned by investment funds managed by KKR, will provide compensation to the shareholders and share option holders who tendered into the First Tender Offer that was completed on November 5, 2024 (“Securityholders Eligible for Compensation”) in connection with the two-stage tender offer scheme for the common shares and share options of FUJI SOFT INCORPORATED (TSE stock code 9749; “FUJI SOFT”), as stated in KKR’s press release on November 15, 2024, “KKR Receives Support and Recommendation from FUJI SOFT for Second Tender Offer and Expects to Launch Tender Offer Next Week” (“KKR Press Release Dated November 15, 2024”). Accordingly, KKR is providing a dedicated contact point for inquiries for the Security Holders Eligible for Compensation.

Eligible Persons
Shareholders and share option holders of FUJI SOFT that tendered in the First Tender Offer.

Compensation
Securityholders Eligible for Compensation will be compensated in the amount calculated by multiplying the compensation amount per share or share option announced in the KKR Press Release Dated November 15, 2024 (namely 651 yen per common share, 130,200 yen per 5th Series Share Option, 130,200 yen per 6th Series Share Option, and 65,100 yen per 7th Series Share Option), by the respective number of shares or share options that the Securityholder Eligible for Compensation tendered in the First Tender Offer.

Next Steps
The Tender Offeror plans to contact the Securityholders Eligible for Compensation sequentially from mid-April 2025 onwards. If you are no contacted by the Tender Offeror by the end of April 2025, please reach out via the email address provided below.

Contact Point for Inquiries
Dedicated contact point for inquiries for the Security Holders Eligible for Compensation:
fujisoft_inquiry@kkr.com

 

This press release does not constitute, either in whole or in part, a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase any securities. The existence of this press release (or any part thereof) or its distribution shall not be construed as a basis for any agreement regarding the First Tender Offer, nor shall it be relied upon in concluding an agreement regarding the First Tender Offer.

 

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KKR Appoints Philipp Pausder as Senior Advisor to Support European Infrastructure & Climate Investments

KKR

London, UK – 25 March 2025 – KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the appointment of Philipp Pausder as a Senior Advisor. In this role, Mr. Pausder will contribute his deep industry expertise and entrepreneurial experience to help advance KKR’s Infrastructure and Climate investment activities in Europe working closely with the firm’s European infrastructure team.

Philipp Pausder is the founder of Thermondo, a leading provider of decentralized energy solutions such as heat pumps and photovoltaics systems in Germany. With the company, he built an innovative platform to enhance energy efficiency in the building sector. As a recognized thought leader in climate technology and sustainable infrastructure, he has developed innovative business models throughout his career that make a significant contribution to decarbonization.

“We are delighted to welcome Philipp to KKR as a Senior Advisor,” said Vincent Policard, Partner and Co- Head of European Infrastructure at KKR. “His expertise in climate and energy transition, combined with his experience as a founder and operator, will be instrumental as we continue to invest in transformative infrastructure solutions that accelerate decarbonization, energy security, and long-term economic growth.”

Commenting on his appointment, Philipp Pausder said: “KKR has a strong track record of investing in climate and the energy transition in Europe, helping to scale innovative infrastructure solutions. I am excited to collaborate with the team and contribute my experience in sustainable energy and climate technology to support KKR’s mission of driving impactful investments. I firmly believe that if we truly want to accelerate the pace of decarbonization, we need strong, globally positioned partners like KKR.”

KKR launched its dedicated Climate Strategy in 2023 to sharpen its focus on the long-term, trillion-dollar investment opportunity tied to the energy transition. This includes accelerating the deployment of mature climate technologies such as renewable energy, storage, and energy efficiency. KKR is also supporting the growth of new climate solutions, including transportation electrification, the battery value chain, and the circular economy. Additionally, the firm is focused on driving the decarbonization of higher-emitting assets and business models, such as industrial infrastructure and conventional power and utilities as well as enabling the electrification of heating processes in buildings and industry, a critical lever for reducing emissions at scale.

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 $21 billion in this sector from its infrastructure platform alone. To date, KKR has made five investments from its climate strategy. In September 2023, KKR invested in Zenobē, a UK-based market leader in transport electrification and battery storage solutions, and in March 2024, KKR invested in Avantus, a premier US developer of large utility-scale solar and solar-plus-storage projects, and in Ignis, a leading integrated global renewable group based in Spain, to develop primarily green hydrogen and ammonia projects for industrial applications in hard-to-abate sectors. Most recently, KKR invested in Dawson Group in the UK, which supports fleet electrification as well as in EGC in Germany, a leader in energy efficiency solutions.

Philipp Pausder’s appointment reflects KKR’s commitment to further strengthening its Climate investments and supporting the rapid deployment of sustainable infrastructure across Europe.

 

About KKR

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

Media contact
Julia Leeger
media@kkr.com

 

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Jean-Pierre Saad joins CVC as a Managing Partner

CVC Capital Partners

CVC is pleased to announce the appointment of Jean-Pierre Saad as a new Managing Partner. Jean-Pierre will join in June 2025 to lead private equity technology investments in Europe and will be based in London.

Jean-Pierre brings a wealth of sector and investment experience having spent over 15 years at KKR. Most recently he was leading KKR’s Technology activities for EMEA Private Equity. Key investments he led/co-led include Exact, SoftwareOne, Devoteam and Koerber Supply Chain Software. Prior to joining KKR, Jean-Pierre was in the telecoms and media team of Lehman Brothers in London.

Soren Vestergaard-Poulsen, Managing Partner and Chair of the Private Equity Board at CVC, said: “I’m delighted that Jean-Pierre is coming on board. His deep sector expertise will strengthen our capabilities to source and execute high-quality investment opportunities in this key sector for CVC.”

Jean-Pierre Saad added: “I am excited to be joining this talented team and look forward to contributing to the CVC’s continuing growth and success. Technology in Europe is a sector with considerable potential and I am excited to help expand the platform and unlock many more of these opportunities.”

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KKR Enters into MoU with Founding Family of FUJI SOFT; to Acquire 100% of FUJI SOFT

KKR

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– KKR, a leading global investment firm, announced today that in connection with the privatization of FUJI SOFT INCORPORATED (TSE stock code 9749; “FUJI SOFT” or the “Company”) by FK Co., Ltd. (“FK”), an entity owned by investment funds managed by KKR, a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) was entered into on March 24, 2025 with the founding family of FUJI SOFT to take the Company private.

Under the MoU, the parties agree to:

  • collaborate in the implementation of a share consolidation that will result in FK and NFC Corporation (“NFC”) becoming the only shareholders of FUJI SOFT (“Squeeze-out”);
  • vote in favor of various proposals concerning the privatization, including the Squeeze-out, at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 25, 2025; and
  • the transfer of FUJI SOFT shares held by NFC to FUJI SOFT after the completion of the Squeeze-out (“Share Repurchase”).

In addition to the securities that FK acquired through the First and Second Tender Offers for the common shares and share options of FUJI SOFT, the Squeeze-out and Share Repurchase will result in FK acquiring 100% of the shares of FUJI SOFT. The Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders for the Squeeze-out is scheduled to be held on April 25, 2025, and the Share Repurchase is currently planned after early June 2025, after the Squeeze-out takes effect.

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.

For more information, please contact:

KKR Asia Pacific
Wei Jun Ong
+65 6922 5813
WeiJun.Ong@kkr.com

Source: KKR

 

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Carlyle provides €250 million strategic capital for Sanoptis

Carlyle

Zug, Switzerland and London, UK, 25 March 2025 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) today announced that its Global Credit platform has provided a strategic investment of EUR 250 million to Sanoptis, a European leader in ophthalmology services. The investment, which is through a preferred equity instrument, will be used to accelerate Sanoptis’ growth, including the continued expansion of Sanoptis’ European footprint through M&A and investment in state-of-the-art technologies and treatments.

Majority-owned by investment company Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (“GBL”) (ENXTBR: GBLB), Sanoptis is one of Europe’s largest ophthalmology services providers with over 450 locations across Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Austria and Greece. With c.4,700 employees, the company performs 3.3 million treatments per year in conservative ophthalmology consultations as well as in surgeries, while adhering to the highest standards of quality in healthcare.

Adnan Khalef, a Managing Director in Carlyle’s European Private Credit business, said: “We are delighted to provide this strategic investment to Sanoptis in order to strengthen and expand their leading position in ophthalmology services in Europe. We are also pleased to partner with GBL, a leading investor in Europe, who is focused on long-term value creation and benefits from a supportive family shareholder base. The transaction demonstrates our ability to provide flexible capital solutions to strong European businesses to accelerate their growth trajectory.”

Volker Wendel, CEO and Founder of Sanoptis, said: “We are very excited that Carlyle is joining us as a new partner alongside our lead investor GBL. This capital increase is, above all, excellent news for our network. It underscores our commitment to our mission of making high-quality ophthalmology accessible to everyone.”

Michal Chalaczkiewicz, Investment Partner at GBL, said: “We are thrilled about this partnership with Carlyle and our ability to further accelerate the growth trajectory of Sanoptis. Carlyle’s track record and confidence in this endeavour further attests to the value-creation potential this platform holds and represents another important proof point of GBL’s private assets’ strategy.”

Carlyle’s Global Credit platform manages $192 billion in assets under management, as of December 31, 2024. It regularly pursues investments in privately negotiated capital solutions partnering with high-quality sponsors and leading family or entrepreneur-owned companies. The Sanoptis transaction follows the final close of the third Carlyle Credit Opportunities Fund (“CCOF III”) in December 2024, which raised $7.1 billion in investable capital.

Jefferies acted as sole financial adviser to Sanoptis and GBL on this transaction.

—

About Sanoptis

Sanoptis is a leading provider of ophthalmology services in Europe, operating a network of over 450 locations across Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Greece. With a team of c.4,700 professionals, Sanoptis delivers high-quality eye care through state-of-the-art clinics and ophthalmic practices, performing approximately 3.3 million treatments annually, including both conservative consultations and surgical procedures. Committed to medical excellence, innovation, and patient-centric care, Sanoptis partners with leading ophthalmologists to ensure the highest standards in diagnostics and treatment. The company provides access to modern infrastructure, advanced technologies, and sustainable growth opportunities while preserving the entrepreneurial independence of its affiliated clinics and practices. For more information, visit www.sanoptis.com.

 

About Carlyle 

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Global Investment Solutions. With $441 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2024, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,300 people in 29 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on X @OneCarlyle and LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group.

 

About Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (“GBL”) 

Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (“GBL”) is an established investment holding company, with seventy years of stock exchange listing and a net asset value of €15.7 billion at the end of December 2024. As a leading and active investor in Europe, GBL focuses on long-term value creation with the support of a stable family shareholder base.

GBL aims to grow its diversified high-quality portfolio of listed, direct private and indirect private investments.

GBL is focused on delivering meaningful growth by providing attractive returns to its shareholders through a combination of growth in its net asset value per share, a sustainable dividend and share buybacks.

GBL is listed on Euronext Brussels (Ticker: GBLB BB; ISIN code: BE0003797140) and is included in the BEL20 index.

 

Media Contacts

Sanoptis

Martin Cordes

Martin.cordes@sanoptis.com

+49 174 2319 621

 

Carlyle

Andrew Kenny

Andrew.kenny@carlyle.com

+44 7816 176120

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AnaCap acquires majority stake in Luxembourg-based corporate and fund services provider FJMF

Anacap

Anacap, a market-leading private equity investor specialising in partnering with founders and entrepreneurial management teams across services, technology and software within the European financial ecosystem, today announces that it has signed transaction documentation for the acquisition of a majority stake in Fiduciaire Jean Marc Faber (“FJMF” or “the Company”).

FJMF is a leading independent provider of trust, fund, and corporate services based in Luxembourg. Founded in 1995 by Jean-Marc Faber, the Company is currently led by him along with partners Christophe Mouton and Daniel Galhano. The Company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including corporate administration, accountancy, trust, fund and payroll services. FJMF has experienced significant growth in recent years, fuelled by a strong organic growth strategy and strategic acquisitions.

With approximately 70 full-time equivalents (“FTEs”), FJMF is a member of the Ordre des Experts-Comptables (“OEC”). The Company serves as a “one-stop-shop” provider for more than 1,800 clients, mostly institutional fund customers and patrimonial clients.

Luxembourg is a leading financial centre in Europe, domiciling 25% of total European assets. The outlook for FJMF is positive, as the highly fragmented local market begins to consolidate. This trend aligns with the shared ambitions of AnaCap and FJMF to expand the Company’s inorganic growth strategy, leveraging AnaCap’s unique expertise and FJMF’s strong reputation. This acquisition represents AnaCap’s second investment in Luxembourg after it successfully sold First Names Group to SGG in 2017.This development also represents AnaCap’s third investment for its latest flagship fund, following the acquisitions of two founder-led businesses: Edge Group, an Italian insurance broking platform, and DK Accountants & Adviseurs, a Dutch accountancy services provider. Closing is expected first half of April.

Nassim Cherchali, AnaCap’s Managing Partner, commented:

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with FJMF. This represents AnaCap’s third investment in our latest flagship, with several other transactions already in the pipeline. This acquisition aligns with the AnaCap philosophy of partnering with founder-led platforms to support then during their next stage of growth. We believe FJMF is well-positioned to become a key consolidator in a highly fragmented local market, with this consolidation leading to improved service offerings for clients.”

Steven Gringoire, Director at AnaCap, added:

“We look forward to working closely with the entire team at FJMF and are thrilled for them to join the AnaCap platform. We were impressed with the Company’s recent growth, market reputation and constant focus on the quality of its services. We see an opportunity to cement FJMF’s leading position through increased M&A activity, continuous growth and expansion of the product proposition in an attractive sector. We are very excited for the next chapter of the company’s growth.”

Jean-Marc Faber, FJMF’s Founder and Managing Partner, concluded:
“We are pleased to partner with AnaCap and are very excited by what lays ahead of us for this new chapter. AnaCap’s entrepreneurial approach, track record and shared ambitions convinced us that they were the right partner to support us in our growth journey. We have very high ambitions for the Company as we look to continue expanding the value proposition for our clients and become a trusted consolidator in the corporate, fund and trust services sector.”

AnaCap received legal advice from Proskauer Rose LLP and Vam Campen / Liem. The financial details for this transaction are not disclosed.

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McGraw Hill Acquires Essaypop, Strengthening its Portfolio of Digital Literacy Tools

Platinum

Interactive, Research-based Writing Solution Will Enhance McGraw Hill’s Personalized Learning Capabilities for K-12

COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 24, 2025) – McGraw Hill, a leading global education company, announced the acquisition of Essaypop, an interactive, cloud-based writing solution built by teachers to demystify writing in a way that is user-friendly and intuitive for both educators and students.

“The Essaypop acquisition further supports McGraw Hill’s personalized learning capabilities and transformation into a global provider of digital learning solutions. This is another strategic addition to McGraw Hill’s portfolio that will help accelerate the company’s digital transformation.”

Jacob Kotzubei and Matthew Louie, Co-President and Managing Director, Platinum Equity

A research-based solution that offers a personalized teaching and learning experience that applies the science of writing, Essaypop adds to McGraw Hill’s growing portfolio of digital tools a comprehensive K-12 writing resource that keeps learners engaged with step-by-step guided instructional support, easy-to-understand writing templates and a vast library of lesson plans for any course area. Additionally, customized feedback and real-time, data-driven insights enable educators to monitor student progress and help students improve their writing over time.

“To truly master a language, we must unlock the abilities that all students have to express themselves, to communicate, to explore ideas, and to think critically,” said Jana Thompson, Chief Product Officer for McGraw Hill School. “Integrating this intuitive digital solution within McGraw Hill programs will empower educators to provide personalized learning experiences that connect writing to real-world contexts, inspiring students to reach their full potential.”

“McGraw Hill reaches millions of students and educators with its powerful personalized learning solutions, which is why there is no better place for Essaypop’s next chapter,” said Michael Hicks, Founder of Essaypop. “Joining forces with a company with such a trusted reputation will ensure that we’re able to continue to provide more learners with access to a resource that will help them become better writers.”

McGraw Hill is a portfolio company of Platinum Equity. The acquisition of Essaypop is McGraw Hill’s fourth transaction since Platinum Equity acquired the company in 2021.

“The Essaypop acquisition further supports McGraw Hill’s personalized learning capabilities and transformation into a global provider of digital learning solutions,” said Platinum Equity Co-President Jacob Kotzubei and Managing Director Matthew Louie in a joint statement. “This is another strategic addition to McGraw Hill’s portfolio that will help accelerate the company’s digital transformation.”

McGraw Hill

McGraw Hill is a leading global education company that partners with millions of educators, learners and professionals around the world. Recognizing their diverse needs, we build trusted content, flexible tools and powerful digital platforms to help them achieve success on their own terms. Through our commitment to equity, accessibility and inclusion, we foster a culture of belonging that respects and reflects the diversity of the communities, learners and educators we serve. McGraw Hill has over 30 offices across North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions for PreK-12, higher education, professionals and others available in more than 80 languages.

Categories: News