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Festool Group Joins Emerald’s Industrial Innovation Fund to Accelerate Innovation and Sustainability

Zurich, Switzerland  – Emerald Technology Ventures, a globally recognized venture capital firm with over two decades of industrial-sector leadership, has announced that Festool Group, a premium manufacturer of professional power tools and systems, has joined Emerald’s Industrial Innovation Fund as a Limited Partner (LP). The partnership reflects Festool’s strategic commitment to innovation, sustainability, and long-term transformation in a rapidly evolving industrial landscape.

Festool’s decision to invest in Emerald’s fund is driven by its ambition to stay at the forefront of technological change—particularly around robotics, automation, AI, digitalization and sustainability. As the sustainable industrial transformation accelerates globally, the power tools sector is undergoing a shift, with cleaner, smarter, and more efficient systems reshaping the job site and the shopfloor alike.

“Innovation and sustainability are at the heart of Festool Group,” said Roman Stiehl, Manager Open Innovation at Festool Group. “Partnering with Emerald gives us direct access to breakthrough technologies and startups that help us strengthen our core business and shape the future of our industry.”

Festool selected Emerald based on a strong alignment of values—premium quality, innovation, and sustainability—as well as Emerald’s 25+ year track record in industrial venture capital and open innovation. The partnership will enable Festool to access a global network of cutting-edge startups and scale the integration of external innovation into its core processes and products.

“We are delighted to welcome Festool Group to the Industrial Innovation Fund,” said Mehran Zaker, Partner and Head of Automation and Industrial IT at Emerald. “Festool exemplifies the type of forward-thinking industrial partner we aim to support—committed to both technological leadership and a more sustainable future.”

Through the fund, Festool gains curated exposure to emerging technologies, rapid startup engagement opportunities, and insights into critical innovation themes such as digitilization, low-emissions manufacturing, and intelligent battery systems.

More on industrial innovation at Emerald:

Industrial IT & Mobility Sector

Want to know your “Return on Innovation”?

Emerald part of VC trend driving European innovation

About Emerald Technology Ventures

Emerald is a globally recognized venture capital firm, founded in 2000, that manages and advises assets of over €1 billion from its offices in Zurich, Toronto and Singapore. The firm invests in start-ups that tackle big challenges in climate change and sustainability, with four current funds, hundreds of venture transactions and five third-party investment mandates, including loan guarantees to over 100 start-ups.

This is Emerald.

Bold Ideas. Bright Future.  www.emerald.vc

CONTACT FOR EMERALD:

info@emerald.vc

About Festool Group

Festool Group is a premium manufacturer of professional power tools and systems, headquartered in Wendlingen near Stuttgart, Germany. Known for its uncompromising commitment to quality, performance, and user-centric design, Festool Group combines tradition and innovation to develop industry leading, sustainable solutions that empower professionals worldwide.

Further information can be found at www.festool.com.

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CVC Liquid Credit prices its seventh new issue CLO of 2025 with the pricing of Cordatus XXXVII

CVC Capital Partners

CVC Credit, the fast growing €48 billion global credit management business of CVC, is pleased to announce that it has successfully priced Cordatus XXXVII (37), a new €400m Collateralised Loan Obligation (“CLO”) vehicle. This is CVC Credit’s seventh new issue CLO of 2025 and twenty seventh when including resets and refinancings.

JP Morgan served as the lead arranger for the vehicle, which has a four-and-a-half-year reinvestment period. More than 65% of Cordatus XXXVII’s assets were sourced prior to pricing.

Quotes

Despite recent market volatility we were pleased to receive strong support for this vehicle from both new and long term investors, reflecting not only our strong track record, but also, and importantly in the current environment, a highly disciplined approach in underwriting to fundamentals.

Guillaume TarneaudPartner and Co-Head of Global Liquid Credit at CVC Credit

Guillaume Tarneaud, Partner and Co-Head of Global Liquid Credit at CVC Credit, said: “We are delighted to announce the successful pricing of Cordatus XXXVII, our seventh new issue globally and fourth in Europe this year. Despite recent market volatility we were pleased to receive strong support for this vehicle from both new and long term investors, reflecting not only our strong track record, but also, and importantly in the current environment, a highly disciplined approach in underwriting to fundamentals.”

CVC’s Liquid Credit business manages €31 billion in assets across more than 70 active funds, managed by a team of around 40 investment professionals in both Europe and the US.

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Nyver announces oversubscribed closing of inaugural fund at €335m hard-cap

Nyver Capital Partners

Nyver Capital Partners (“Nyver”), an Amsterdam-based newly established private equity firm, is delighted to announce the final close of its inaugural Nyver I fund (“the Fund”) at its hard cap of €335 million. This makes it the largest first-time private equity fund raised to date in the Netherlands. The fund was significantly oversubscribed, reaching its hard cap in just over four months, which is a testament to the strong support from a diverse group of global investors.

The Fund will focus on buyout investments in knowledge-intensive, asset-light businesses across the Netherlands, focusing on founder-led companies. Nyver will target profitable B2B companies across IT & business services, critical engineered components and essential products. Nyver applies a human capital centric approach helping strong teams build even stronger organisations and accelerate growth.

Nyver I received the vast majority of its commitments from a broad group of institutional investors globally, including endowments and foundations, asset managers, family offices and insurance companies. This was augmented with commitments from its network of respected entrepreneurs. The strong demand for Nyver I reflects investor confidence in the team’s vision and track record.

Floris Waage, Managing Partner at Nyver, commented:

“Our vision for Nyver is to be the partner of choice for Dutch entrepreneurs seeking to accelerate and transform their businesses into true market leaders. We have a deep passion for entrepreneurship and cooperating with the best teams possible. We help to build organisations and grow people, not just numbers. We are very grateful that high quality institutional investors and well-respected Dutch entrepreneurs alike have given their overwhelming support to Nyver.”

Asante Capital Group acted as exclusive global fundraising adviser, while Loyens & Loeff acted as lead outside counsel.

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EQT agrees to sale of shares in Azelis Group NV

eqt

Azelis

c. 44 million shares in Azelis agreed to be sold

Akita I S. à r. L., an entity indirectly controlled by an affiliate of the funds called EQT VIII (“EQT”) is pleased to announce it has signed a definitive agreement to sell c. 44 million shares in Azelis Group NV (EBR:AZE) (the “Company”) to JNE Partners, First Pacific Advisors, LP’s managed funds and accounts, and Temasek, all existing shareholders of the Company, and others. 

Following the Sale, EQT will hold a c.10% ownership stake in the Company and the remaining stake is subject to customary lock-up terms for 90 days. The Sale is due to complete on Wednesday 12th November, 2025.

Contact
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

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About EQT
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 267 billion in total assets under management (EUR 139 billion in fee-generating assets under management) as of 30 September 2025, within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com
Follow EQT on LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram 

About Azelis 
Azelis is a leading global innovation service provider for the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry. The Company serves more than 63,000 customers who benefit from its application know-how, technical support and have access to a wide product portfolio from more than 2,800 specialty raw material producers. The company has more than 4.200 employees and is present in over 65 countries, with 70 application laboratories globally.

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Engelmann joins forces with new partner Rivean Capital to strengthen its position as an international leader in smart submetering technologies

Rivean

Strategic partnership for sustainable growth

  • Engelmann is an international innovation leader in smart submetering technologies for heat, cooling, and water measurement
  • Continued international expansion and ongoing product innovation are at the core of the future growth strategy
  • Smart submetering – Driving data transparency and security as well as sustainable, circular energy use

Wiesloch-Baiertal/Frankfurt – European private equity firm Rivean Capital, together with Engelmann’s management, has acquired a majority stake in Engelmann from funds advised by DPE Deutsche Private Equity. Engelmann, headquartered in Wiesloch-Baiertal, is a leading developer and manufacturer of smart submetering technologies that play a central role in measuring and billing heat, cooling, and water consumption in multi-tenant buildings. The partnership with Rivean Capital will enable Engelmann to strengthen its market leadership and expand into existing and new international markets.

Engelmann employs 210 people across two sites in Germany and one in China. For more than a decade, Engelmann has grown significantly faster than the market, driven by product innovation, portfolio development, and increasing internationalization.

Strategic focus for future growth

“Rivean Capital has convinced us with its expertise and strategic resources that we can achieve our growth targets even faster. The partnership allows us to further enhance our innovation capabilities and expand into complementary markets,” says Michael Keuthen, CEO of Engelmann.

Engelmann is renowned for its end-to-end ecosystem in smart submetering, including innovative heat and water meters that are essential for efficient consumption measurement and billing in multi-tenant buildings. The partnership with Rivean Capital will help to accelerate the development of new products and strengthen Engelmann’s market presence.

“Together with management, we plan to actively shape Engelmann’s next growth phase,” says Alexander Dokters, Director and member of the Investment Team at Rivean Capital. “We see significant potential to further expand Engelmann’s strong market position – particularly through technological portfolio enhancements, consistent internationalization, and targeted add-on acquisitions.”

International market with strong growth potential

The global submetering market continues to show strong growth dynamics. Rising demand for energy-efficient solutions in multi-tenant buildings and increasing connectivity of submetering systems – including real-time data analysis, consumption optimization, and integration into smart home and district solutions – offer Engelmann long-term growth prospects. In recent years, the company has established itself as one of the leading providers of smart submetering technologies.

“With Rivean Capital’s support, Engelmann will accelerate its international expansion while advancing product development in areas such as intelligent submetering systems and software solutions to improve building energy efficiency,” says Dr. Justus Heuer, Partner and member of the Portfolio Enhancement Team at Rivean Capital. “The focus is not only on entering new markets but also on further developing digitalization within the company.”

Commitment to sustainability with a circular economy strategy

Engelmann’s frontrunner circularity approach reduces the product carbon footprint through recyclability and eco-design, supported by a comprehensive circular economy policy. The company focuses on designing products with modular components, durable materials, and improved energy efficiency during use, while ensuring that end-of-life units can be disassembled and reintegrated into production. Initiatives include closed-loop recycling processes, use of recycled materials in new products, and continuous innovation in eco-design to minimize environmental impact across the product lifecycle.

“Engelmann has established itself as a reliable partner in the smart submetering industry, with a clear focus on quality, innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainability. These values align perfectly with Rivean Capital’s approach of investing in leading companies in the industrial tech sector,” explains Matthias Wilcken, Senior Partner and member of the Executive Committee at Rivean Capital. “We are confident that Engelmann will continue to grow in the coming years, supported by our financial resources and strategic guidance.”

About Engelmann

Founded in 1976 in Wiesloch-Baiertal, Engelmann offers a fully integrated product and service portfolio of heat, cooling, and water meters, electronic heat cost allocators, gateways, software, and data services. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the market, Engelmann is among the few providers offering its customers a complete end-to-end ecosystem. Engelmann delivers more than one million devices annually to customers worldwide, helping them comply with EU Energy Efficiency Directive requirements and enabling accurate, consumption-based billing.

Further information:

The purchase price of the transaction has not been disclosed. Completion is subject to customary conditions, including merger clearance.

Engelmann is Rivean Capital’s seventh platform investment in Germany, alongside Perbility, Dataciders, Green Mobility Holding, ]init[ AG für digitale Kommunikation, Best4Tires, and TonerPartner.

About Rivean Capital

Rivean Capital is a leading European private equity investor for mid-market transactions, active in the DACH region, the Benelux countries, and Italy. Funds advised by Rivean Capital manage over EUR 5 billion in assets. Since its inception in 1982, Rivean has supported more than 250 companies in realizing their growth ambitions and has a strong track record of supporting and scaling successful high-tech businesses with cross-border growth agendas, including footprint expansions and operational excellence trajectories. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Rivean Capital also has offices in Brussels, Frankfurt/Main, Milan, and Zug, enabling a strong local presence across key European markets.

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Francisco Partners to Acquire Majority Stake in OEConnection from Genstar Capital

Franciso Partners

Cleveland, London, and San Francisco, November 11, 2025 — Francisco Partners, a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology businesses, today announced that it has agreed to acquire OEConnection LLC (“OEC” or the “Company”), a leading end-to-end platform serving as the mission-critical digital backbone for the automotive aftersales ecosystem, from Genstar Capital (“Genstar”), a leading private equity firm focused on investments in targeted segments of the software, financial services, industrials, and healthcare industries. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

OEC was founded in 2000 as a partnership between several original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), including Ford and General Motors, to provide high-quality technology solutions to facilitate the sale of original equipment replacement parts between automakers and franchised dealers and their wholesale customers. Over time, OEC has significantly expanded its capabilities and now powers connections across a broad automotive aftersales network, serving OEMs, repair shops, and aftermarket suppliers. Its solutions enable seamless collaboration throughout the vehicle repair lifecycle, making it easier to deliver quality repairs to vehicle owners. With a global presence spanning six countries, 1,500 employees, and a customer base that includes 45 manufacturers, 30,000 auto dealers, and 135,000 wholesale customers, OEC continues to evolve as a trusted and comprehensive partner to the automotive industry, enabling the repairers who keep global mobility in motion.

“Joining forces with Francisco Partners positions OEC to build on our strong momentum and further strengthen the value we deliver to our customers and partners,” said Patrick Brown, CEO of OEC. “Our transformative partnership with Genstar has enabled us to significantly expand our offerings in collision and mechanical repair, accelerate innovation, and grow our network globally. We are pleased that Genstar, Ford, and General Motors will remain minority investors as we enter this next chapter. With Francisco Partners’ support, we look forward to continuing to deliver industry-leading solutions and improving repair outcomes for all stakeholders in the automotive aftersales ecosystem.”

“OEC’s vision of ‘eliminating the pain in the vehicle repair process’ resonates strongly with us. As the industry undergoes a generational and technological shift, OEC is uniquely positioned as a trusted partner that can deliver greater connectivity, efficiency, and profitability across the ecosystem,” said Petri Oksanen, Partner at Francisco Partners. “We are thrilled to welcome OEC to the portfolio and excited to support Patrick and his strong team in this next chapter of growth with additional resources,” added Christine Wang, Partner, and Mac Fountain, Principal, at Francisco Partners.

Eli Weiss, Managing Partner of Genstar, said, “It has been a pleasure working with Patrick and the OEC management team as they have significantly grown OEC over our ownership period. We are excited to remain a minority shareholder and are confident that under Francisco Partners’ ownership, OEC is well positioned for continued growth and success.”

Evercore is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Ropes and Gray LLP is serving as legal advisor to Genstar. Citi and TD Securities are serving as financial advisors and Paul Hastings LLP is serving as legal advisor to Francisco Partners.

About OEConnection (OEC)

OEConnection (OEC) is a leading end-to-end technology platform serving as the mission-critical digital backbone for the global automotive aftersales ecosystem. Founded in 2000 as a partnership between several major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Ford and General Motors, OEC has evolved to power connections across one of the broadest automotive aftersales networks, serving OEMs, repair shops, dealers, fleets, insurers, and aftermarket suppliers worldwide. OEC’s suite of software and data solutions enables seamless collaboration throughout the vehicle repair lifecycle, helping industry participants deliver quality repairs efficiently and get vehicles back on the road safely. OEC has a global presence spanning six countries, 1,500 employees, and a customer base that includes 45 manufacturers, 30,000 auto dealers, and 135,000 wholesale customers. For more information, visit www.oeconnection.com.

About Francisco Partners

Francisco Partners is a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. Since its launch over 25 years ago, Francisco Partners has invested in over 500 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. With over $50 billion in capital raised to date, the firm invests in opportunities where its deep sectoral knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential. For more information on Francisco Partners, please visit www.franciscopartners.com.

About Genstar Capital

Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com) is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high-quality companies for over 35 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Genstar currently has approximately $50 billion of assets under management and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the software, financial services, industrials, and healthcare industries.

Media Contacts

OEConnection
Katie Burnet, Chief Marketing Officer, OEC
marketing@oeconnection.com

Francisco Partners
Prosek Partners
Pro-FP@Prosek.com

Genstar Capital
FGS Global
GenstarCapital@fgsglobal.com

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RealPage Appoints Dirk Wakeham as Chief Executive Officer

Thomabravo

Dirk Wakeham brings decades of leadership, SaaS and multifamily experience to lead RealPage’s next chapter of growth

RICHARDSON, Texas—RealPage®, a leading global provider of AI-enabled software platforms for the real estate industry, has appointed Dirk Wakeham as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. In conjunction with the appointment, Wakeham also joins the company’s Board of Directors.

“Returning to RealPage feels like coming home,” said newly appointed Dirk Wakeham, President and Chief Executive Officer, RealPage. “I’m honored to step into this role at such an important moment for the company and our industry. RealPage’s success has always been rooted in partnership and trust. Together, with our customers, we’ll continue creating vibrant communities that deliver great living experiences and help residents achieve financial wellness and lasting success.”

Wakeham brings extensive leadership experience as a six-time CEO and President for Software and SaaS organizations, with a strong focus in PropTech and FinTech. He previously served as Managing Director for Vista Equity Partners and was President of RealPage following its acquisition of LeasingDesk, the company he founded. His track record includes leading organizations such as Zego, Kibo, Lanyon, storEDGE, LeasingDesk, and RealPage through transformational growth.

Wakeham succeeds Dana Jones, who has served as RealPage’s President and CEO since 2021. Under Dana’s leadership, RealPage sharpened its operational discipline, strengthened its financial foundations, and accelerated innovation – expanding the company’s leadership in AI and resident experience.

Charles Goodman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, RealPage, said, “On behalf of the RealPage Board of Directors, we want to thank Dana for her tremendous contributions at RealPage. She has been a trusted leader through a period of significant transformation and growth. We wish her every success in her next chapter.”

Goodman adds, “We welcome Dirk Wakeham back to RealPage. He brings deep industry roots, proven technological leadership, and a long track record of driving scale, innovation, and value creation. I’m confident that Dirk will propel RealPage’s growth and reinforce its position as the technology partner of choice for the real estate industry.”

About RealPage, Inc.
RealPage improves the business of living for both housing providers and residents. As the leading platform for AI-powered real estate operations, we connect property owners, operators, and residents across every stage of the rental journey – creating smarter, more transparent, and more responsive experiences. Our technology unifies marketing, leasing, operations, and financials for over 24 million rental units worldwide, putting AI at the center of real estate. From automating work and turning data into actionable insights to introducing the industry’s first agentic AI workforce, we empower property teams to deliver exceptional living experiences. Through our resident experience platform, LOFT, and an integrated suite of services, RealPage helps millions of residents lease, live, and engage in their communities with greater flexibility and convenience. Backed by Thoma Bravo and recognized by Forbes, Newsweek, and EnergyStar for innovation, sustainability, and workplace culture, RealPage is headquartered in Richardson, Texas, with offices across North America, Europe, and Asia. We’re building the future of real estate by connecting technology, people, and communities.

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Ardian set to mobilize Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) with European Investment Bank (EIB), Proparco and British International Investment (BII) for a €100m commitment for its Nature-Based Solutions strategy

Ardian

Ardian’s Nature-Based Solutions strategy is dedicated to investing in projects in reforestation, wetlands and mangrove restoration intended to protect biodiversity.
• The strategy aims at providing carbon credit to corporates in their decarbonisation strategy. It will enable the sequestration of 85 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere over a 40 year’ period.
• European Investment Bank commits €50m and Proparco €20m and British International Investment intend to commit €10m, reflecting increasing DFIs appetite in the sector.

Ardian, a world-leading private investment firm, today announces that it has secured commitment from several Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Proparco. British International Investment (BII) have signaled their intention to provide commitment to the Nature Based Solutions fund. Total fund commitments will stand for a total of c. €100m by year end to Ardian’s Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) strategy. As anchor investors, EIB’s development arm EIB Global commits €50m, while Proparco will commit €20m and British International Investment has received approval for a €10m commitment, subject to final negotiations. 

Averrhoa NBS is a SFDR* Article 9 impact fund overseen by Ardian’s Infrastructure team in partnership with aDryada, a specialist developer and manager of large-scale ecosystem restoration projects. The strategy is dedicated to investing in projects to reforest and restore wetlands and mangroves, intended to protect biodiversity while enabling the sequestration of large volumes of carbon from the atmosphere via natural carbon sinks. The strategy aims to sequester 85 million tons of carbon over a period of 40 years**. These anchors investors, including FDJ UNITED for €5m and Mutuelle d’Ivry (La Fraternelle), will allow the fund to secure a €100m first round of commitment, and to attract institutional investors and corporate seeking to have positive environmental and social impact through their investment activities.

As well as sequestering carbon, Averrhoa NBS projects will seek to contribute to climate mitigation by preserving water resources and improving soil and air quality. The aim is to rebuild ecosystems and to protect natural habitats and biodiversity through richer and stronger ecosystems, as well as bringing sustainable income and investments in social infrastructures to local economies.

Over 50% of global GDP depends on healthy ecosystems, yet biodiversity loss is threatening economic stability, warns the World Bank. Forests are vanishing at 5 million hectares a year, while rising temperatures make the 1.5°C target harder to reach and are driving unprecedented species loss, endangering food security, climate resilience, water access, and public health***. Ardian is contributing to address these challenges by developing high‑integrity, nature‑based carbon capture projects that also intend to restore biodiversity, benefit local communities, and support growing demand for credible net‑zero solutions. 

Ardian strives to address a shortage of projects in this area. Large buyers are prioritizing nature-based solutions projects to achieve net zero due to their potential to restore biodiversity and create benefits for local communities.

Ardian’s NBS team has built a robust pipeline across Latin America, Africa and Asia through the careful selection of developers. Key criteria for project selection include a strong track record, a local team equipped for stringent monitoring, and advanced offtake discussions. 

The NBS strategy forms a central part of Ardian’s broader decarbonization agenda. This track record includes financing 8.2GW of heat and renewable energy and its €2bn Hy24 hydrogen infrastructure fund. Ardian also provides capital solutions to companies committed to reducing their carbon footprint, with 11,000 portfolio companies committed to Science-based Target Initiative (SBTI) to support global net-zero target. 

“This first €100m round of commitments marks a milestone in Ardian’s journey to becoming a -leading player in nature restoration projects. On top of targeting the sequestration of 85 million tons of carbon, the fund aims to play a significant role in restoring ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, while benefiting local communities. We are very grateful to our anchor investors for their confidence in Ardian’s world-class Infrastructure and NBS investment expertise.” Laurent Fayollas, Member of the Executive Committee and Deputy Head of Infrastructure, Ardian

“This fund represents an important step forward in scaling nature-based solutions across emerging markets. We are helping to address climate change, protect biodiversity and improve the livelihoods of local communities. This investment reflects our commitment to mobilizing public and private capital for environmental protection and sustainable development.” Ambroise Fayolle, Vice President, EIB

“As part of Proparco’s Natural Capital strategy, we are proud to partner with Ardian, aDryada, and the EU CarbonSinks Programme to support long-term investments in high-quality afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation projects. These initiatives will remove carbon from the atmosphere while also delivering strong climate, biodiversity, and socio-economic benefits for local communities.” Jean-Baptiste Sabatié, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Proparco

“Supporting nature-based solutions is central to climate mitigation and adaptation, a cornerstone of BII’s climate strategy. At COP30, we reaffirm our commitment to mobilising capital for high impact projects that restore ecosystems and build climate resilience in emerging markets because tackling the climate emergency requires both innovation and scale.” Leslie Maasdorp, Chief Executive Officer, British International Investment

With Ardian clients and institutional investors increasingly prioritizing their contributions to biodiversity protection, Ardian’s Nature-Based Solutions strategy offers opportunities to invest in projects intended to enhance biodiversity, restore large-scale depleted ecosystems and support local economies.
Important notice: This press release is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or interests in any fund. Investments in private equity involve risks, including the risk of partial or total loss of capital. Any investment decision should be made solely on the basis of the fund’s official offering documentation. The fund referenced herein is intended exclusively for professional investors within the meaning of Directive 2014/65/EU or equivalent investor categories under the laws of the relevant jurisdictions.

*Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on sustainability‐related disclosures in the financial services sector. The European Union sustainable-finance rules are still evolving. Hence, it cannot be excluded that future changes in law or guidance may not support the Fund’s current categorization under SFDR

**Indicative figures based on current pipeline of project. Post ramp-up phase and assuming 40 years project life.

***Damania, Richard; Ebadi, Ebad; Mayr, Kentaro; Russ, Jason; Zaveri, Esha. Reboot Development: The Economics of a Livable Planet. Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025.

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment firm, managing or advising $192bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,860 clients globally. Our broad expertise, spanning Private Equity, Real Assets and Credit, enables us to offer a wide range of investment opportunities and respond flexibly to our clients’ differing needs. Through Ardian Customized Solutions we create bespoke portfolios that allow institutional clients to specify the precise mix of assets they require and to gain access to funds managed by leading third-party sponsors. Private Wealth Solutions offers dedicated services and access solutions for private banks, family offices and private institutional investors worldwide. Ardian’s main shareholding group is its employees and we place great emphasis on developing its people and fostering a collaborative culture based on collective intelligence. Our 1,050+ employees, spread across 20 offices in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Middle East are strongly committed to the principles of Responsible Investment and are determined to make finance a force for good in society. Our goal is to deliver excellent investment performance combined with high ethical standards and social responsibility.
At Ardian we invest all of ourselves in building companies that last.

ardian.com

Media contact

ARDIAN

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com 

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Permira Appoints Mark Solomons as Senior Advise

Permira
  • Appointment adds deep M&A and digital marketplace expertise to Permira’s global advisory network

London, 11 November 2025 – Permira, the global investment firm, today announced the appointment of Mark Solomons as a Senior Adviser, bringing extensive global M&A and digital marketplace expertise to support strategic M&A and value creation activity across the portfolio, with a particular focus on the Consumer sector.

Mark brings over 30 years of experience spanning finance, e-commerce and digital marketplaces, with a strong track record in board leadership roles and driving strategic transactions. He currently serves as Independent Non-Executive Chairman of the Board at Permira-backed Catawiki, and has held senior board positions at Adevinta, OLX Brazil, Apollo Korea (Gmarket), and Distilled Media Group.

Previously, Mark served as Vice President of Corporate and Business Development and Vice President of Strategic Investments at eBay, where he led global M&A and investment activity. Before joining eBay, he spent two decades in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan, where he led a number of significant technology M&A transactions.

Dipan Patel, Co-CEO and Co-Managing Partner at Permira, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark as a Senior Adviser. Through our mutual investment in Adevinta with eBay, we have had the opportunity of seeing first-hand the significant value he brings as a partner, combining strategic clarity with deep operational insight. His experience in global corporate strategy will be invaluable as we continue to focus on delivering liquidity to investors through strategic M&A across the portfolio.”

Mark Solomons, Senior Adviser at Permira, added: “Permira has built an exceptional track record in partnering with world-class consumer and digital commerce businesses. I’ve worked with the Permira team for a number of years now and am excited to step into the fold officially to help management teams drive strategic growth and to support the Permira team in delivering successful transactions and outcomes at exit.”

In the past year, Permira has deepened its commitment to embedding senior strategic and operating expertise across its investment platform, spanning M&A, go-to-market transformation, data & AI, and sustainability. The firm has appointed a number of Senior Advisers and Executives-in-Residence to strengthen these capabilities, including Jason Wreath, a data and healthcare analytics leader from AWS; Jason Bordoff, a global energy and sustainability expert; George McMillan, a healthcare operations specialist; and John Turner, an Executive-in-Residence focused on go-to-market excellence.

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EQT to invest USD 930 million in Douzone Bizon, a leading provider of ERP and software solutions in South Korea

eqt

Duozone Bizon

  • EQT signs SPA to invest in Douzone Bizon, a provider of ERP and software solutions in South Korea
  • EQT plans to acquire a 37.6% stake in Douzone Bizon, including shares held by majority shareholder, Chairman Young-woo Kim, and other major shareholders, subject to customary regulatory approvals including merger control clearance and licensing authorization from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources
  • The investment reflects EQT’s continued, long-term commitment to the South Korean market and underscores the firm’s momentum across Asia this year

SEOUL – 7 November 2025 – EQT announced today that a vehicle managed by EQT (“EQT”) has signed a share purchase agreement (SPA) under which EQT will invest approximately USD 930 million (KRW 1.3 trillion) into Douzone Bizon (the “Company”; ticker symbol: KRX 012510), a provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and business software solutions in South Korea. The stake consists of the entire 23.2% held by Chairman Young-woo Kim and 14.4% held by affiliates of Shinhan Financial Group. Upon completion, the transaction would result in EQT holding 37.6% of shares outstanding (34.8% based on shares issued, including treasury shares) in Douzone Bizon.

Founded in 1991, Douzone Bizon develops and offers enterprise software solutions to small- and medium-sized enterprises in South Korea. Its suite of cloud and software offerings extend beyond core ERP into tax, accounting, compliance, and communication services. For EQT’s acquisition of Douzone Bizon to proceed, government approvals are required – including merger clearance from the Korea Fair Trade Commission and licensing authorization from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources.

This transaction represents EQT’s commitment to bringing its global expertise in digital transformation and enterprise solutions to the Korean market, with a focus on long-term value creation. Known for its purpose-driven investment approach, EQT typically implements management enhancement strategies over a period of at least five years. In line with this philosophy, the firm is expected to take a long-term perspective with Douzone Bizon – prioritizing internal investments and business strengthening in the early stages over short-term profitability.

With this transaction, BPEA Private Equity Fund IX is expected to be 5-10 percent invested (including closed and/or signed investments, announced public offers, if applicable, and less any expected syndication) based on hard cap fund size and subject to customary regulatory approvals.

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EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization focused on active ownership strategies. With a Nordic heritage and a global mindset, EQT has a track record of more than three decades of developing companies across multiple geographies, sectors and strategies. EQT has investment strategies covering all phases of a business’ development, from start-up to maturity. EQT has €‌​​267​‌ billion in total assets under management (€‌​​‌139​‌ billion in fee-generating assets under management) as of 30 September 2025, within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets.

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