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Carlyle to Acquire KFC Korea

Carlyle

The deal builds on Carlyle’s strong F&B and quick-service restaurant experience in Asia and aims to accelerate KFC Korea’s growth and expansion in South Korea

Seoul, South Korea, December 22, 2025 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) today announced that an affiliated entity of Carlyle Asia Partners (CAP) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 100% stake in KFC Korea. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

KFC Korea operates the KFC brand in South Korea under a master franchise agreement with Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant chain company with more than 55,000 restaurants. Since opening its first store in Seoul in 1984, KFC Korea has grown to operate over 200 stores nationwide.

Carlyle seeks to leverage its significant experience in the food and beverage (F&B) and quick-service restaurant sectors in Asia to work with KFC Korea’s management team to help accelerate new store openings, enhance marketing capabilities, and drive menu innovation to meet evolving consumer preferences in Korea.​ Carlyle also owns KFC Japan and looks to further strengthen its strategic relationship with Yum! Brands through this transaction.

John Kim, Partner and Head of Carlyle Korea, said: “We are excited to further partner with Yum! Brands and work with the management team at KFC Korea to grow this iconic brand in South Korea. With its strong heritage and position in the market, we see significant opportunities for KFC Korea to expand its presence and capitalize on the growing demand for quick-service dining with Korean consumers.”

Tony Shin, CEO of KFC Korea, said: “This partnership with Carlyle marks an exciting milestone for KFC Korea. Carlyle has extensive experience in the quick-service restaurant and F&B sectors, and we look forward to working with the team to drive continued growth and innovation. Together, we aim to further elevate the exceptional KFC experience that Korean customers have come to know and love.”​

Carlyle has extensive investment experience in the restaurant, food and consumer sectors, including quick-service restaurant franchises, both in Asia and globally. Carlyle currently owns A Twosome Place, a leading premium dessert café chain with over 1,700 stores in South Korea, and KFC in Japan. Previous portfolio companies in the sector have included McDonald’s China and Japanese restaurant chain operator Chimney, among others.

 

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About Carlyle
Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across its business and operates through three segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest. With $474 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2025, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,400 people in 27 offices across four continents. Further information is available at carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group and on X at @OneCarlyle.

 

Media Contacts

Carlyle
Lonna Leong
Tel: +852 9023 1157
Email: lonna.leong@carlyle.com​

 

The SIGNATURE
Jason Sohn
Tel: +82 10 9622 5915
Email: Jason.sohn@thesignature.co.kr

 

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Graphite + Cursor: One Engineering Platform for the AI Era

Accel

Today Graphite is joining forces with Cursor to build the ultimate engineering platform for the AI era.

When we first partnered with Merrill, Tomas, and Greg, we saw a massive opportunity to re-imagine code collaboration, starting with review. Code review’s core primitives had not been re-thought for decades, and the pressure on this “outer loop” was made obvious as AI increased code volume tenfold. Graphite was tackling these problems head-on with infrastructure that supported the fastest-moving engineering organizations at scale.

Similarly, our conviction in Cursor came from the belief that owning the core flywheel of code generation would be the richest source of intent and context for downstream workflows. We believed this “inner loop” would continue to compound, evolving from a mere text editor to an AI-native operating system engineers would live in every day.

Graphite + Cursor: One Engineering Platform for the AI Era

Fast forward to today, and these theses have converged. Code generation and review are rapidly blending together, and collaboration is becoming fluid across teams of humans and agents.

The refrain we now hear from engineering leaders is simple: the “inner loop” and “outer loop” should be connected.The ultimate software engineering platform will combine the raw horsepower of code generation with the reliability, contextual understanding, and collaboration of a code review platform. This combination is exactly what Graphite and Cursor make possible together.

From our time working with both teams, we see a lot of shared DNA: distinctive product taste, exceptional talent density across New York and San Francisco, and a relentless commitment to building tools developers absolutely love. Together, these qualities form a uniquely powerful foundation that is hard to replicate, and even harder to beat.

Congratulations to the entire Graphite team on this milestone. We couldn’t be more excited to continue to partner and build the platform to define engineering in the years to come.

written by

Christine Esserman

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Ardian signs an agreement to sell its stake in NHV to GD Helicopter Finance

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Ardian

Ardian, a global private investment firm, announces it has entered into exclusive discussions with GD Helicopter Finance (“GDHF”) to sell its majority stake in NHV, a leading European helicopter operator specializing in B2B services.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Ostend, Belgium, NHV has grown to become a leading B2B helicopter service provider, operating around the North Sea and West Africa. It has over 400 employees and operates a modern fleet of 28 aircraft, with a special focus on offshore transportation, including for the Oil & Gas and Maritime sectors. Its transportation services are complemented by maintenance, repair, overhaul and training activities.

Since its investment in NHV in 2013, Ardian has helped the company expand its historical offshore operations in Europe, notably as the launching customer of Airbus’ H175, one of the first “super-medium’ helicopters, but also via the acquisition of Blueway Group in 2014. In addition, it supported the Group’s diversification into MRO and training services, as well as expansion in the Defense sector. The company has demonstrated strong resilience over the past ten years in the context of wider market challenges, and has managed to return to a good organic growth trajectory and profitability. With Ardian’s support, Lars-Henrik Thorngreen has also been appointed as CEO one year ago, and promoted internal talents to its management team, who have demonstrated their ability to drive the company’s future growth.

The partnership with GDHF, a helicopter leasing and finance company based in Ireland, will combine GDHF’s large helicopter portfolio with NHV’s operational expertise to capture growing market opportunities, both in the group’s traditional sectors and in new segments.

“We are proud of our longstanding partnership with NHV and opportunities we have created together. The sale to GDHF demonstrates NHV’s strong strategic value and proven operational expertise in the sector. The company now is ideally positioned to capture growth potential in Europe and West Africa, in an industry with high barriers to entry. We would like to thank Lars-Henrick Thorngreen and the whole NHV team for their commitment throughout our collaboration and we wish NHV and GDHF every success for the future.” Anaïs Robin, Senior Investment Manager, Buyout, Ardian

“In the last ten years, NHV has been transformed to become a European leader in the B2B segment across a range of industries. Ardian’s operational expertise has been invaluable in helping us maintain cash generation, particularly through more difficult market conditions, and position the business for further development in the years to come. We are looking forward to the next steps of NHV’s growth story and to combining our strengths with GDHF to offer the best helicopter transportation services.” Lars-Henrik Thorngreen, CEO, NHV
The completion of the transaction remains subject to the usual regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

About Ardian

In a world of constant evolution, Ardian stands out for its ability to anticipate, adapt, and turn challenges into opportunities. As a global, diversified private markets firm with 22 offices and more than 350 investment professionals worldwide, we provide investment and customized solutions that reflect new economic dynamics and help our clients remain resilient in a changing world.
We deliver multi-local expertise and long-term performance for our investors and partners as well as shared value for the broader society. Since Ardian’s inception in 1996, our pioneering approach to diversification and our ability to offer tailor-made solutions at scale have remained the heart of our strategy.
Through commitment, knowledge and technology, we bring lasting value to our companies and contribute positively to the whole industry.
Ardian currently manages or advises $196bn for more than 1,890 clients worldwide across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit.
Ardian. Mastering change for lasting value.

ardian.com

About NHV

NHV Group, headquartered in Ostend Belgium, specialises in B-to-B helicopter services and operates with a strong geographic presence in Europe and Western Africa. The group conducts operations from several bases on two continents with a team of 450+ employees.
NHV’s main focus is on the energy-producing industry, including the Renewables Sector. The company’s scope of work also includes Maritime Services and Harbour Pilot Services, and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) solutions. In addition to supporting its own fleet, NHV provides extensive third-party maintenance services to a variety of civil and military clients. Aside from the helicopter operations, NHV has set up the NHV Training Academy, which offers ATO pilot training, HHOP training and delivers EASA and CAA certified Part 147 training. The group has a multipurpose high-value fleet of over 30 helicopters.

nhv.be

Press contact

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com 

Categories: News

KKR acquires remaining stake in Wella from Coty

KKR
  • 750 million of immediate cash proceeds and right to significant share of ongoing proceeds after KKR preferred return
  • Marks successful completion of multi-year Wella monetization program exactly inline with its original target to divest Wella by end of CY25
  • Transaction reduces Coty’s financial net leverage to ~3x by the end of CY25, strengthening its path towards 2.0x

NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Regulatory News:

Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY) (Paris: COTY) (“Coty” or “the Company”) today announced that it has sold its remaining 25.8% stake in Wella to KKR managed capital accounts and investment affiliates. Under the terms of the transaction, Coty will receive upfront cash consideration of $750 million and 45% of any proceeds from a further sale or an initial public offering of the business, after KKR’s preferred return has been met. Based on Wella’s strong recent and expected performance, as well as current market valuations, Coty sees strong potential for additional cash proceeds, bringing the total gross proceeds closer to the carrying value of its investment in Wella. The sale completes the program initiated in 2020 to simplify Coty’s portfolio and operations, while realizing the full value of its Wella business.

Coty intends to use the vast majority of the Wella upfront cash proceeds related to this transaction, net of tax, to pay down its short term and long term debt. Both the Wella proceeds and Coty’s strong free cash flow generation (over $350 million in the first half of FY26, inline with its recent guidance) are expected to reduce Coty’s financial net leverage to ~3x by the end of CY25.

“This transaction marks a pivotal milestone for Coty – both in our transformation and in our long-running deleveraging commitment,” said Laurent Mercier, Coty’s CFO. “Our strategic partnership with KKR has proven highly value accretive. We have benefited from Wella’s strong growth by progressively monetizing our stake, allowing us to strengthen Coty’s financial foundations year-after-year. Completing this transaction exactly inline with our original target to fully divest Wella by the end of CY25 underscores our focus on delivering on our financial commitments and crystallizing value from non-core assets, all while sharpening our strategic focus.”

Citi is serving as financial advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal advisor to Coty. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal counsel to KKR.

About Coty Inc.

Founded in Paris in 1904, Coty is one of the world’s largest beauty companies with a portfolio of iconic brands across fragrance, color cosmetics, and skin and body care. Coty serves consumers around the world, selling prestige and mass market products in over 120 countries and territories. Coty and our brands empower people to express themselves freely, creating their own visions of beauty; and we are committed to protecting the planet. Learn more at coty.com or on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to, among other things, the use of proceeds from the sale transaction and the expected impact on Coty’s future results and financial condition as a result of the transaction including net debt and leverage ratio, as well as the extent and timing of any future profit distributions. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by words or phrases, such as “anticipate”, “are going to”, “estimate”, “plan”, “project”, “expect”, “believe”, “intend”, “foresee”, “forecast”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “outlook”, “continue”, “temporary”, “target”, “aim”, “potential”, “goal” and similar words or phrases. These statements are based on certain assumptions and estimates that we consider reasonable, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual events or results (including our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects) to differ materially from such statements, including risks and uncertainties relating to the timing and cost of redemptions of the Company’s outstanding debt or other deleveraging activities, the timing and terms of any future Wella exit transaction by KKR and any related future profit distribution, and other factors described elsewhere in documents that the Company files with the SEC from time to time.

Contacts
For more information:

Investor Relations
Olga Levinzon, +1 212 389-7733
olga_levinzon@cotyinc.com

Media
Antonia Werther, +31 621 394495
antonia_werther@cotyinc.com

 

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CAMP4 and GSK Enter Strategic Collaboration to Advance RNA-Based Therapeutic Discoveries

5Am Ventures

Collaboration to leverage CAMP4’s RAP Platform® to accelerate development of novel antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for neurodegenerative and renal diseases

CAMP4 to receive $17.5 million upfront and eligible for additional milestone-based payments, in addition to tiered royalties

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CAMP4 Therapeutics Corporation (“CAMP4” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: CAMP), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of regulatory RNA-targeting therapeutics designed to upregulate gene expression with the goal of restoring healthy protein levels to treat a broad range of genetic diseases, has entered into a strategic research, collaboration and license agreement with GSK to identify and develop antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drug candidates for multiple gene targets relevant to neurodegenerative and kidney disease indications.

“Protein under-expression plays a critical role in diseases such as neurodegenerative and kidney disease. Our collaboration with GSK, focused on the rapid identification of novel targets and potential ASO therapeutics that increase the expression of validated genetic targets, underscores the potential of our discovery platform to create transformational medicines for patients,” said Josh Mandel-Brehm, President and Chief Executive Officer of CAMP4.

Under the terms of the agreement, CAMP4 will receive a $17.5 million cash upfront payment. Additionally, CAMP4 has the potential to receive additional payments for certain development and commercial milestones, in addition to tiered royalties on future product sales.

CAMP4 will utilize its proprietary RAP Platform® to identify regRNAs controlling the expression of multiple gene targets and generate regRNA-targeting ASO candidates that amplify target gene expression for potential development. GSK will be responsible for the further development and commercialization of ASO drug candidates identified through the collaboration.

Chris Austin, SVP Research Technologies, GSK, said: “We are excited to collaborate with CAMP4, combining their RNA discovery platform to increase specific gene activity with GSK’s expertise in therapeutic oligonucleotides, genetics and advanced laboratory and data technologies. This agreement aims to drive the development of novel medicines for neurodegenerative and kidney disease and demonstrates our approach of harnessing cutting-edge technologies to deliver transformational therapies for patients.”

About CAMP4 Therapeutics 
CAMP4 is developing disease-modifying treatments for a broad range of genetic diseases where amplifying healthy protein may offer therapeutic benefits. Our approach amplifies mRNA by harnessing a fundamental mechanism of how genes are controlled. To amplify mRNA, our therapeutic ASO drug candidates target regulatory RNAs (regRNAs), which act locally on transcription factors and are the master regulators of gene expression. CAMP4’s proprietary RAP Platform® enables the mapping of regRNAs and generation of therapeutic candidates designed to target the regRNAs associated with genes underlying haploinsufficient and recessive partial loss-of-function disorders, of which there are more than 1,200, in which a modest increase in protein expression may have the potential to be clinically meaningful. For more information, visit camp4tx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements which involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the development of ASO drug candidates for multiple gene targets relevant to neurodegenerative and kidney disease indications; the potential of the Company’s platform technology; the Company’s receipt of future contingent milestones and/or royalties; and the Company’s strategy, goals, business plans and focus. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the Company’s limited operating history, incurrence of substantial losses since the Company’s inception and anticipation of incurring substantial and increasing losses for the foreseeable future; the Company’s need for substantial additional financing to achieve the Company’s goals; the uncertainty of clinical development, which is lengthy and expensive, and characterized by uncertain outcomes, and risks related to additional costs or delays in completing, or failing to complete, the development and commercialization of product candidates; delays or difficulties in the enrollment and dosing of patients in clinical trials; the impact of any significant adverse events or undesirable side effects caused by product candidates; potential competition, including from large and specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; the Company’s ability to realize the benefits of the Company’s current or future collaborations or licensing arrangements and ability to successfully consummate future partnerships; the ability to obtain regulatory approval to commercialize any product candidate in the United States or any other jurisdiction, and the risk that any such approval may be for a more narrow indication; the Company’s dependence on the services of the Company’s senior management and other clinical and scientific personnel, and the Company’s ability to retain these individuals or recruit additional management or clinical and scientific personnel; the Company’s ability to grow the Company’s organization, and manage the Company’s growth and expansion of the Company’s operations; risks related to the manufacturing of product candidates, which is complex, and the risk that third-party manufacturers may encounter difficulties in production; the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain sufficient intellectual property protection for current and future product; the Company’s reliance on third parties to conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials; the Company’s compliance with the Company’s obligations under the licenses granted to the Company by others, for the rights to develop and commercialize the Company’s product candidates; risks related to the operations of suppliers; and other risks and uncertainties described in the section “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as well as other information the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release are inherently uncertain and are not guarantees of future events. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond the Company’s control, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, the Company operates in an evolving environment. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and management cannot predict all risks and uncertainties. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Sara Michelmore
Milestone Advisors
sara@milestone-advisorsllc.com

Media:
Jason Braco, Ph.D.
LifeSci Communications
jbraco@lifescicomms.com

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Empowering the Future of Energy: How exnaton is Leading Europe’s Electrification Shift

Elevator Ventures

Our portfolio company exnaton is driving electrification across Europe.

As Europe accelerates toward full-scale electrification, utilities are under increasing pressure to modernize their systems, launch innovative energy products, and meet rapidly evolving customer expectations. The rise of electric vehicles, rooftop solar and decentralized flexibility is transforming the energy market from a linear value chain into a dynamic ecosystem – one that demands smarter billing, transparent data andregulatory compliance at unprecedented scale.

Regulatory requirements are amplifying this shift. The EU Electricity Market Design law (Directive EU/2024/1711) has been transposed into national law, reshaping how Member States enable flexibility, consumer participation and dynamic pricing. This policy is underpinned by the continent-wide rollout of smart meters: Spain has reached 100% coverage, the Netherlands is above 95%, France is at 93%, and Austria has already surpassed roughly 95% of its meters by late 2024. Germany is targeting 95% by 2030 and Poland is moving toward 100% by 2031.

Utilities know change is unavoidable, and most recognize the challenge of moving fast enough in this new environment of electrification, flexibility and data-driven regulation.

This is where exnaton comes in.

A Real-World Challenge: Utilities Need Flexibility, not full IT Overhauls

Most utilities operate on legacy ERP systems built for a world of stable, predictable electricity flows. But dynamic tariffs, prosumer models, energy communities and smart electric vehicle charging require a more innovative approach to analyzing data coming from PoDs (Point of Delivery). The in-house development of capabilities, such as automated billing and seamless customer interfaces, is slow, expensive and often impractical.

Customers, meanwhile, increasingly expect transparency and personalization. Regulators demand accuracy and flexibility. Markets reward innovation.

exnaton bridges this gap with a modern intelligence layer that transforms existing infrastructure – without forcing utilities to rebuild it.

About exnaton: An Intelligence Platform Built for the New Energy System

Founded in Zurich in 2020, exnaton develops an AI-powered SaaS platform that helps utilities deploy next-generation energy products rapidly and at scale. Rather than replacing existing IT architecture, exnaton adds a modular, flexible intelligence layer that handles billingworkflows, dynamic pricing and data analysis.

Today, more than 50 utilities across Europe rely on exnaton’s technology – including examples such as TotalEnergies in Belgium, the E.ON brands eprimo, Bayernwerk in Germany, enersuisse in Switzerland, and Burgenland Energie in Austria – collectively demonstrating how exnaton enables both large multinational suppliers and regional champions to drive the digital transformation of the energy sector.

With research backgrounds from ETH Zürich, Stanford University, and University of St. Gallen, the team combines academic depth with practical industry expertise. Their mission is simple: empower utilities to deliver sustainable, data-driven energy products that make the energy transition tangible for every household.

Deep Dive: How the Platform Works – and why it matters

exnaton’s intelligence platform focuses onthree key areas that address the most pressing needs of today’s utilities:

AI-Enhanced Billing

Utilities can automate complex billing processes using granular, 15-minute energy data from smart meters. AI-powered processing ensures accuracy, reduces operational costs and minimizes manual reconciliation work – critical for dynamic tariffs and flexible grid fees.

Modular & Scalable Architecture

The platform integrates directly with existing ERP systems, enabling faster time-to-market for new, time-series-based energy products. Its modularity supports a wide range of use cases, from energy communities and peer-to-peer sharing to intelligent electric vehicle charging and prosumer billing.

White-Label Customer Experience

exnaton provides a customizable user interface that allows consumers to easily monitor their energy consumption, production and – where integrated – smart device activity. This transparency empowers customers to make data-driven decisions – and increases their engagement with sustainable products.

For utilities, this combination improves efficiency, unlocks new business models, and strengthens customer loyalty. For consumers, it makes the energy transition intuitive, accessible, and actionable.

Why Energy Tech: The “Beyond Banking” Trend

For Elevator Ventures, this is a crucial investment that aligns perfectly with our focus on “Beyond Banking” solutions in relevant areas like energy transition. The energy market represents a huge opportunity, particularly given Raiffeisen’s existing activities in the Austrian energy sector like Auri by Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien, Enlion and Raiffeisen Regenerative as well as the strong network of clients and partners in energy utilities across Austria and Central and Eastern Europe. As we see it, exnaton can play a leading role in the integration of finance into the future of energy.

Looking Ahead: Scaling Europe’s Decarbonized Grid

With its newly raised Series A financing, exnaton is poised to accelerate its European expansion and further develop AI-driven capabilities for real-time billing and decentralized and data-driven flexibility management.

Join us in Powering the Future

At Elevator Ventures, we believe in elevating the growth of founders who are building the infrastructure for tomorrow. By supporting exnaton, we are backing a team that is redefining how utilities innovate – and is ultimately accelerating the transition to a cleaner, smarterand more flexible energy system.

Learn more about exnaton: https://www.exnaton.ai/

picture of the exnaton software on phones

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IK Partners invests in Ascora

IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK Small Cap IV Fund (“IK SC IV”) has acquired a majority stake in Ascora Group (“Ascora” or “the Group”), a French multi-specialist insurance broker, as part of a management buyout (“MBO”) designed to support its founder’s succession. IK has invested from its dedicated pool of Development Capital, with this transaction representing the fourth closed from IK SC IV, which held a final close on €2.0 billion in July 2025.

Founded in 1989 by Erik and Stéphane Henry, Ascora is one of the top 20 direct insurance brokers in France, offering end-to-end services from policy underwriting to claims management. Its expertise is organised across three main areas: Real Estate; Property & Casualty (“P&C”); and Health & Protection.

Largely operating in the Île-de-France region, Ascora serves over 12,000 clients. Grounded in technical depth and a people-centric culture built on proximity, trust and care, the Group has established a strong reputation for delivering highly personalised advice tailored to individual needs.

After more than three decades of leading the Group, Stéphane Henry wished to step back from his role as President. This transaction — led by IK with the support of both Stéphane and the management team — facilitates this transition and, as part of the MBO, enables the management team led by CEO Bruno Deschamps to increase its shareholding.

Ascora has successfully acquired 13 brokers to date and intends to continue executing a targeted buy-and-build strategy, leveraging IK’s Insurance Brokerage expertise built through its work with Yellow Hive (Netherlands), Ascentiel Group (France) and Seventeen Group (UK). Ascora also aims to strengthen its position as a leading insurance brokerage platform by accelerating growth in its core Real Estate and P&C segments, supported by investments in its sales team and digital tools. To ensure future scalability and effectiveness, it will look to further professionalise its central functions and strengthen its organisational structure.

Stéphane Henry, Founder of Ascora, said: “Over the past 30 years, we have focused on building a robust consolidation platform in the French insurance brokerage market and I am very proud of all that we have achieved together. As the Group enters the next phase of its journey with IK’s backing, I would like to thank everyone who has been instrumental in Ascora’s success to date and I look forward to supporting Bruno and the team in my new role on the Board.”

Bruno Deschamps, CEO of Ascora, added: “On behalf of the management team and everyone at Ascora, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Stéphane for his exceptional leadership over the past three decades. Our clients value the fact that we pick up the phone, fight their claims with the same determination we would apply to our own assets and provide genuine expertise — not just distribution. With IK as our partner, we will preserve everything that makes Ascora distinctive while expanding our presence and capabilities across France.”

Pierre Gallix, Managing Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK SC IV Fund, commented: “Ascora is a high-quality platform operating at the heart of resilient, high-growth real estate niches, supported by strong fundamentals such as recurring revenues, market-leading technical performance and an exceptionally skilled team. A hallmark of Ascora’s business model is its superior claims management capability, supported by a team of experienced legal professionals and in-house specialists. This approach has driven best-in-class loss ratios, high recovery rates and consistently strong outcomes for the Group’s clients. We are excited to partner with Bruno and his team on this next chapter and to accelerate the Group’s expansion through organic initiatives and bolt-on acquisitions.”

About Ascora

Founded in 1989 by Stéphane Henry, Ascora is one of the top 20 direct insurance brokers in France, offering end-to-end services from policy underwriting to claims management. Its expertise is organised across three main areas: Real Estate, Property & Casualty, and Health & Protection. For more information, please visit ascora.com

About IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is a European private equity firm focused on investments in the Benelux, DACH, France, Nordics and the UK. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €20 billion of capital and invested in over 200 European companies. IK supports companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit ikpartners.com

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Vantage Group Holdings to be acquired by Howard Hughes Holdings

Carlyle

Vantage’s Diversified Specialty Insurance Platform Delivers Lower Risk and Superior Return Potential

HHH to Host a Conference Call and Presentation on Thursday, December 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET, 

With an X Spaces Session to Follow

 

Hamilton, Bermuda December 17, 2025 – Vantage Group Holdings Ltd. (“Vantage”), a privately held leading specialty insurance and reinsurance company backed by Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HHH) (“Howard Hughes,” “HHH,” or the “Company”) to acquire 100% of Vantage for $2.1 billion in cash or approximately 1.5x year-end 2025 book value. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Upon closing, Vantage will anchor Howard Hughes’ transformation into a diversified holding company.

Founded in 2020, Vantage has scaled into a next-generation leading specialty insurer and reinsurer, offering a diversified portfolio of global P&C products supported by modern infrastructure and advanced analytics.

“I’m excited about starting Vantage’s next chapter through this acquisition,” said Greg Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer of Vantage. “With Howard Hughes’ permanent capital and long-term vision, we expect to strengthen our balance sheet and expand opportunities in specialty insurance, reinsurance, and partnership capital. After closing, we anticipate enhanced resources to fuel profitable growth, drive innovation, and deliver even greater value to brokers and clients over time. None of this would be possible without the amazing passion and energy of 360 colleagues, the unwavering support of Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman, and the incredible support of our brokers and clients.”

Strategic Benefits of the Transaction:

  • Vantage will continue to operate with the same name, brand, and culture, with our colleagues retaining the same roles, teams, and go-to-market strategy.
  • HHH’s holding-company ownership of Vantage provides long-term capital support which materially strengthens Vantage’s credit profile and underwriting flexibility. An emphasis on underwriting profitability—driven by disciplined risk selection, pricing, and portfolio optimization rather than growth—will allow Vantage to effectively navigate the insurance cycle and optimize asset allocation over time.
  • Pershing Square will manage Vantage’s assets on a fee-free basis, enhancing investment returns and furthering alignment with policyholders and shareholders. Over time, Vantage’s investment portfolio will be directly invested in cash, short-term Treasurys, high-quality fixed-maturity securities, and a portfolio of common stocks subject to rating agency and regulatory considerations.

Jim Burr, Co-Head of Global Financial Services at Carlyle, and Jitij Dwivedi, Partner in the Financial Services team at Carlyle, said: “We are proud to have partnered with Greg Hendrick and the entire Vantage management team over the past five years and support the launch and build-out of the business. Together, we have built a top tier specialty insurance and re-insurance business, differentiated by its culture and tech-enabled underwriting platform, delivered strong earnings growth and diversified Vantage’s business model through innovative insurance-linked strategies. We think Howard Hughes will be a great home and wish Greg and the Vantage team continued success as it enters its next phase of growth.”

“We are so proud of what Greg and the team have built since we launched together in 2020. Today, Vantage is a high-quality insurance and reinsurance franchise with an excellent team and deep underwriting capabilities. We look forward to watching its continued growth and success in its next chapter,” said Adam Halpern-Leistner, Partner at Hellman & Friedman, and Hunter Philbrick, Partner at Hellman & Friedman.

Conference Call and X Spaces Session Information

HHH Executive Chairman Bill Ackman, CIO Ryan Israel, and CEO David O’Reilly will discuss the Vantage acquisition on a conference call tomorrow morning, Thursday, December 18, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The call will be followed by an X Spaces Session, with a town hall format open to the public providing the opportunity for participants to ask questions and engage in dialogue with HHH’s executive leadership.

To listen to the conference call and view the accompanying presentation via a live webcast, please visit the Howard Hughes website. Listeners who wish to participate in the question-and-answer session may do so via telephone by pre-registering on HHH’s event registration webpage.

The X Spaces session will be available at https://x.com/BillAckman

Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Vantage. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is acting as legal counsel. Jefferies LLC is acting as financial advisor to Howard Hughes Holdings, and Latham & Watkins are acting as legal counsel. Oliver Wyman is acting as the Company’s actuarial advisor.

About Vantage Group Holdings

Vantage Group Holdings Ltd. (Vantage) was established in late 2020 as a re/insurance partner designed for the future. Driven by relentless curiosity, the Vantage team of trusted experts provides a fresh perspective on clients’ risks and adds creativity to tech-enabled efficiency and robust analytics to address risks others avoid. Vantage operating subsidiaries Vantage Risk Ltd., Vantage Risk Assurance Company and Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company are rated “A-” (Stable) by AM Best and “A-” (Stable) by S&P Global Ratings. Founded with support from Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman, global investment firms with deep experience in the re/insurance industry, Vantage has grown into a leading provider of specialty insurance, reinsurance, and partnership capital solutions. Additional information about Vantage can be found at www.vantagerisk.com.

About Howard Hughes Holdings
Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (HHH) is a holding company focused on growing long-term shareholder value. Through its real estate platform, Howard Hughes Communities, HHH owns, manages, and develops commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Its award-winning assets include the country’s preeminent portfolio of master planned communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including The Woodlands®, Bridgeland® and The Woodlands Hills® in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin® in Las Vegas; Teravalis™ in the Greater Phoenix, Arizona area; Ward Village® in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi; and Merriweather District in Columbia, Maryland. Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHH. For additional information visit www.howardhughes.com.

About Carlyle

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across its business and operates through three segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest. With $474 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2025, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,400 people in 27 offices across four continents. Further information is available at carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group and on X at @OneCarlyle.

About Hellman & Friedman 

Hellman & Friedman is a preeminent global private equity firm with a distinctive investment approach focused on a limited number of large-scale equity investments in high-quality growth businesses. H&F seeks to partner with world-class management teams where its deep sector expertise, long-term orientation, and collaborative partnership approach enable companies to flourish. H&F targets outstanding businesses in select sectors, including technology, financial services, healthcare, consumer services & retail, and information, content & business services. Since its founding in 1984, H&F has invested in over 100 companies and has over $120 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2025. Learn more about H&F’s defining investment philosophy and approach to sustainable outcomes at www.hf.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements accompanied by words such as “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “enables,” “realize,” “plan,” “intend,” “assume,” “transform” and other words of similar expression, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, assumptions, and projections as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth as risk factors in Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly and Annual Reports. Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. cautions you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

 

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Media Relations:

John Flannery

Vantage Risk

john.flannery@vantagerisk.com

203-918-7151

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Blackstone and Phoenix Financial Announce Partnership

Blackstone

TEL AVIV and NEW YORK – December 17, 2025 – Phoenix Financial (“Phoenix”, TASE: PHOE), a leading Israel-based asset management and insurance company, and Blackstone (NYSE: BX), the world’s largest alternative asset manager, today announced a strategic partnership.

Under the agreement, Phoenix and Blackstone will collaborate across a range of credit strategies, including corporate, real estate and asset-based credit. Phoenix will invest up to $5 billion across these strategies, leveraging Blackstone’s global credit origination capabilities and additional co-investment opportunities for the benefit of its clients.

Jon Gray, Blackstone President & COO, said: “We’re thrilled to further support Phoenix and its clients through this partnership. We continue to see compelling opportunities to invest across the rapidly expanding private credit universe, leveraging Blackstone’s scale, origination capabilities and insights from across the firm.”

Blackstone has over $1.2 trillion in assets under management across a wide range of alternative investment asset classes. Specifically in credit, Blackstone is the largest third-party investment manager globally, with $508 billion in credit assets. This includes investment businesses across private corporate credit, liquid corporate credit, infrastructure and asset based credit, and real estate debt, as well as a team dedicated to serving the firm’s insurance clients.

Phoenix is the largest asset manager in Israel, with more than $180 billion in assets under management, and continues to expand internationally through partnerships with global investment leaders. Today’s announcement aligning Phoenix with Blackstone underscores this long-term strategy, strengthening its investment platform and broadening access for Israelis to differentiated global opportunities.

Eyal Ben Simon, CEO of Phoenix Holdings, said: “We are proud to broaden our global alternatives platform by partnering with Blackstone, a world-class leader in private credit and origination. This collaboration enhances the range of high-quality opportunities we bring to Israeli investors and reflects Phoenix’s strategy of working with the strongest partners globally. Blackstone’s exceptional capabilities represent another important step in delivering diversified, institutional-grade solutions to our clients.”

About Blackstone
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests. Blackstone’s over $1.2 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

About Phoenix Financial
Phoenix Financial is a leading Israel-based asset management and insurance company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: PHOE). Phoenix activities have demonstrated strong growth and performance across the cycle, and serve a significant portion of Israeli households and businesses with a broad set of financial solutions. Managing over $180 billion in assets, Phoenix accesses Israel’s vibrant and innovative economic activity through a robust investment portfolio, creating value for both clients and shareholders.

Contact
Thomas Clements
Thomas.clements@blackstone.com
646 482 6088

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Warburg Pincus Signs Agreement to Invest in Acclime, a Leading Tech-Forward Corporate and Business Services Provider in Asia Pacific

Warburg Pincus logo

Singapore / Hong Kong, December 17, 2025 – Warburg Pincus, the pioneer of global growth investing, today announced that it has signed an agreement to invest in Acclime, a leading provider of corporate and business services across Asia Pacific. Through this transaction, Warburg Pincus seeks to leverage its global track record in building leading business services platforms to support Acclime’s next phase of growth, international expansion, and innovation.

Founded in 2019 by industry veteran Martin Crawford, Acclime was established with a clear vision: to build a truly integrated professional services platform capable of supporting businesses operating across Asia’s most complex and fast-growing markets. From its inception, Acclime differentiated itself through a partner-led model that combines deep local expertise with global standards, enabling the firm to scale rapidly while maintaining strong governance, accountability, and client focus.

Since its founding, Acclime has executed an ambitious and disciplined growth strategy, completing more than 50 acquisitions to build a platform spanning 18 markets and employing more than 2,000 professionals. The firm today serves over 17,000 clients—including subsidiaries of multinational corporations expanding into Asia Pacific, regional businesses, family offices, private capital firms, and high-growth companies—with a comprehensive suite of services across accounting, tax, HR and payroll, fund services, corporate secretarial, and risk and advisory.

As part of its evolution into a scaled, multi-market platform, Acclime appointed Izzy Silva as Group Chief Executive Officer in early 2024. Since assuming the role, Mr. Silva has led the next phase of Acclime’s development, sharpening the firm’s strategic focus, strengthening its operating model, and accelerating investment across leadership, systems, and technology to support sustainable long-term growth. Under his leadership, Acclime has advanced its digital transformation agenda, including the development of Aura, the firm’s proprietary AI-enabled automation platform, enhancing service delivery, operational efficiency, and client experience at scale.

Martin Crawford, Founder and Chairman of Acclime, said: “Over the past several years, Acclime has evolved into a pan-regional leader by combining deep local knowledge with a commitment to high-quality service for our clients. What began as a plan on a page has grown into a scaled, multi-market platform that has exceeded our expectations, thanks to the dedication of our 60+ partners, Stem Financial as foundational investors, and our talented team. We are delighted to welcome Warburg Pincus as a partner. Its partnership-oriented culture, global network, and strong track record of supporting growth make it an ideal investor for our next chapter.”

Saurabh Agarwal, Managing Director and Head of Southeast Asia Private Equity at Warburg Pincus, said: “Acclime has built one of Asia Pacific’s most scaled and differentiated corporate and business services platforms, powered by strong leadership, disciplined acquisitions, and a clear commitment to technology-enabled excellence. In a region defined by regulatory complexity and rising cross-border activity, the demand for an integrated, tech-forward business services partner has never been greater. Acclime’s deep local expertise and scalable, technology-driven solutions position it to lead the next generation of corporate and business services across the region. We are excited to partner with Martin, Izzy, and the broader team to accelerate growth, expand capabilities, and create long-term value.”

“Acclime has reached an important inflection point in its journey,” said Izzy Silva, Group CEO of Acclime. “Warburg Pincus shares our conviction in the long-term opportunity to build a global, technology-enabled professional services platform, and brings deep experience in scaling complex, multi-market businesses. Together, we are well positioned to accelerate growth, broaden our capabilities, and create enduring value for our clients and partners.”

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About Acclime

Acclime is a leading professional services firm providing integrated corporate services, fund services, accounting, tax, and advisory solutions across Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Founded in 2019 by Martin Crawford and Debby Davidson, Acclime was built on a partner-led model designed to prioritise client success. With over 2,000 professionals operating as one unified firm across 18 markets, Acclime serves a diverse range of private clients, regional enterprises, multinationals, funds, and family offices. The firm combines deep market knowledge, cross-border expertise and industry leading tech-enablement to help clients navigate complex regulatory environments, scale their operations and achieve their strategic objectives at every stage of success. For more information, please visit: www.acclime.com

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is the pioneer of global growth investing. A private partnership since 1966, the firm has the flexibility and experience to focus on helping investors and management teams achieve enduring success across market cycles. Today, the firm has more than $85 billion in assets under management and more than 215 companies in its active portfolio, diversified across stages, sectors, and geographies. Warburg Pincus has invested in more than 1,000 companies across its private equity, real estate, and capital solutions strategies.

The firm is headquartered in New York with more than 15 offices globally. For more information, please visit www.warburgpincus.com.

Media Contacts

Warburg Pincus

Lisa Liang

Senior Vice President, Asia Head of Marketing and Communications

lisa.liang@warburgpincus.com

Acclime

Joshua Konechny

Chief Marketing Officer

pr@acclime.com

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