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Paul Miller to Lead Combined Emerald and Questex Business as Chief Executive Officer

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Visionary Events and Media Operator to Drive Organic Growth and Unlock Full Value of New, Scaled, Leading B2B Events Platform

Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky to Serve as Senior Advisor Upon Close

NEW YORK, June 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The holding company formed to acquire Emerald Holding, Inc. (NYSE: EEX) (“Emerald”) and Questex, LLC (“Questex”) in connection with the previously announced acquisitions by Apollo-managed funds (the “Apollo Funds”) today announced that Paul Miller, current Chief Executive Officer of Questex, will lead the combined company as CEO, effective upon closing of the transaction.

Following the close of the transaction, Hervé Sedky will transition from his current role as President and Chief Executive Officer of Emerald to serve as a senior advisor to the combined company.

Mr. Miller brings over three decades of experience across the events, information services, and media industries and a track record of increasing revenue streams, scaling multi-vertical platforms, and driving growth across cycles. Since becoming CEO of Questex in 2018, he has transformed and expanded the company’s portfolio across industries, including hospitality, travel, healthcare, life sciences, beauty, and technology, achieving remarkable growth in revenue and profit. With deep operational expertise and experience, including successfully integrating acquisitions and expanding innovative customer engagement capabilities powered by first-party data, Mr. Miller is well positioned to bring Emerald and Questex together to drive continued organic growth, pursue strategic acquisitions, and realize the full value of the combined business.

“Paul is an experienced operator who shares our vision for building a scaled, customer-centric platform at the forefront of the B2B events industry,” said Shahid Bosan, Managing Director at Apollo. “We are confident in his ability to unite these two organizations to create a distinct platform that is well-positioned for sustained growth and long-term value creation.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the combined company and work alongside such a talented group of employees across both Emerald and Questex,” said Mr. Miller. “As we embark on this next chapter, my focus will be on bringing together the strengths of both organizations to create a scaled, highly complementary platform that is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for trusted, in-person gatherings, leveraging the strength of both companies’ customer relationships and engagement capabilities to continue to deliver value for all our respective stakeholders.”

“Leading Emerald and building a portfolio of market-leading brands alongside an extraordinary team has been one of the defining privileges of my career,” said Mr. Sedky. “This combination creates a stronger platform – one defined by greater scale, deep expertise, expanded capabilities, and a shared commitment to delivering meaningful value for our customers, exhibitors, and partners. I look forward to working with Paul and the rest of the leadership team as we build on that foundation and guide both companies into this next chapter.”

Transaction Update
The previously announced transaction is still expected to be completed in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

About Paul Miller
Paul Miller currently serves as CEO of Questex, where he has shaped the company’s growth strategy and advanced its position as a next-generation information services company across core markets with events at the center and year-round engagement driving deep data to produce better outcomes for customers. Prior to joining Questex in 2018, Mr. Miller served as President of Informa’s Industry & Infrastructure Intelligence where he brought a high level of innovation and creativity to help customers achieve superior ROI on marketing investments. Earlier in his career, he served as President of Penton’s Industry Group and held a variety of leadership positions at UBM, including CEO of UBM Tech, where he led the business’s event expansion into international markets as well as growing digital content and services. Mr. Miller is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

About Apollo
Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2026, Apollo had approximately $1.03 trillion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

About Emerald
Emerald Holding, Inc. is a leading U.S.-based B2B event organizer, empowering businesses year-round by expanding meaningful connections, developing influential content, and delivering powerful commerce-driven solutions. As the owner and operator of a curated portfolio of B2B events spanning trade shows, conferences, B2C showcases and a scaled Executive Peer Network platform. Emerald also delivers dynamic solutions across leading industries through its robust content and e-commerce marketplace. Emerald is a trusted partner for its thousands of customers, predominantly small and medium-sized businesses, playing a pivotal role in driving ongoing commerce through streamlined buying, selling, and networking opportunities. Powered by an experienced, talented and deeply engaged team, Emerald is fostering impactful engagement and delivering unparalleled market access with a commitment to driving business growth 365 days a year. For more: http://www.emeraldx.com.

About Questex
Questex fuels exceptional business connections—where every buyer and seller interaction matters. Through live events enriched with data insights and active year-round digital communities, we deliver measurable results. It happens here.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as “believes”, “expects”, “will”, “may”, and other similar expressions. In particular, the forward-looking information contained in this press release includes statements regarding the proposed transaction described herein, including the proposed timing and steps contemplated in respect of the proposed transaction and approvals with respect thereto. These statements are based on the current expectations as of the date hereof, and although they are believed to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and not guaranteed. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and other factors outside of Emerald’s control that may cause its business, industry, strategy, financing activities and the ability of the parties to complete the proposed transaction to differ materially. See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Emerald’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings for a discussion of factors that may affect Emerald’s business performance. Emerald undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts
Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
(212) 822-0540
IR@apollo.com

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
(212) 822-0491
Communications@apollo.com

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Main Capital Partners closes landmark €5.25bn dual fundraise in under six months

Main Capital Partners

Main Capital Partners, a specialized European Enterprise Software investor, announces today that Main Capital IX and Main Foundation III have together closed over €5.25 billion in commitments, marking the largest private equity buyout fundraising initiative ever in the Netherlands.

  • Main Capital IX and Main Foundation III have secured €5.25 billion in commitments in the final closing, reaching their hard caps of €4 billion and €1.25 billion, respectively, and marking the largest private equity buyout fundraising initiative ever in the Netherlands.
  • The two funds represent a more than twofold increase over predecessor funds Main Capital VIII and Main Foundation II and increase Main’s total Assets under Management to over €12 billion.
  • Main’s existing LP base demonstrated strong continued conviction, reflected in a re-up rate exceeding 120%.
  • With these new funds, Main plans to expand into the United Kingdom, alongside its core markets in the Benelux, DACH, Nordics, France, and North America.
  • The level of investor commitments highlights Main’s ability to capture AI-driven growth opportunities in the Enterprise Software industry, supported by the firm’s consistent performance and more than 20 years of lower mid-market specialization, despite a challenging fundraising and geopolitical environment.

The Hague, June 24, 2026 – Main Capital Partners, a specialized European Enterprise Software investor, announces today that Main Capital IX and Main Foundation III have together closed over €5.25 billion in commitments. Main Capital IX closed at a hard cap of €4 billion and Main Foundation III reached a hard cap of €1.25 billion, together representing a more than twofold increase over their predecessor funds and increasing Main’s total Assets under Management to over €12 billion. Both funds were oversubscribed, reflecting sustained and growing investor demand for Main’s highly differentiated lower mid-market Enterprise Software strategy.

In line with prior fundraises, Main received continued support from its existing LP base, with a re-up rate exceeding 120%. Alongside re-ups from existing investors such as Hamilton Lane, both funds also attracted meaningful new commitments from a broadened global institutional investor base. New investors primarily came from the United States, Asia, and the Middle East, and comprised sovereign wealth funds, public pension funds, and insurance companies, including reputable names such as the State Teachers’ Retirement System of Ohio, the Korean Teachers’ Credit Union, and AkademikerPension. The pace and scale of commitments secured, despite a continued challenging fundraising environment and geopolitical tensions, reflect Main’s consistently strong investment performance and its more than 20-year specialization in lower mid-market Enterprise Software buyouts. Over the course of its history, Main has realized 38 exits with a weighted average gross return of 4.7x and a loss rate well below 0.5%.

Main will continue to execute on its proven lower mid-market Enterprise Software strategy, investing equity tickets between €5 and €150 million in profitable, resilient software businesses and building these into larger, scalable cross-border software groups through a combination of organic growth and targeted M&A. Main will maintain its deep focus on its core geographies — Benelux, DACH, the Nordics, France, and North America — and, as a meaningful strategic expansion, will begin actively pursuing platform investments in the United Kingdom with these new funds. The UK represents one of Europe’s most dynamic and mature Enterprise Software markets, and Main’s local operational model and sector expertise position it well to build lasting relationships with software founders and entrepreneurs in that market.

Main is acutely focused on the profound transformation that artificial intelligence is bringing to the Enterprise Software industry. AI is rapidly reshaping how software is built, sold, and scaled, creating a new frontier of growth opportunities across Main’s core product-markets, from HealthTech and GovTech to Infrastructure and PropTech. Main’s proprietary Market Intelligence & Performance Excellence capabilities, combined with an active portfolio of over 55 Enterprise Software companies, position the firm well to identify where AI is generating durable value and to support portfolio companies in embedding AI into their products and operations. Main believes that the convergence of consolidation dynamics and AI-driven innovation makes the current environment one of the most compelling for Enterprise Software investing in the firm’s two-decade history.

We believe AI is unlocking a new wave of growth and value creation opportunities, and Main’s deep sector expertise, proprietary data capabilities, and disciplined operational approach position the firm well to capture this opportunity for our portfolio companies and our investors alike.”

– Charly Zwemstra, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Main

Charly Zwemstra, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Main, said: “Main was among the first movers in European software buyouts, and for more than two decades we have built an unrivalled track record of creating larger, more resilient software groups from the lower mid-market. Securing commitments for Main Capital IX and Main Foundation III of over €5 billion is a powerful validation of our strategy and of the enduring trust that our LP base places in us. We stand at an inflection point for the Enterprise Software industry: we believe AI is unlocking a new wave of growth and value creation opportunities, and Main’s deep sector expertise, proprietary data capabilities, and disciplined operational approach position the firm well to capture this opportunity for our portfolio companies and our investors alike.”

Jorn de Ruijter, Partner and Head of Fund Structuring & Investor Relations at Main, said: “The speed and scale at which we secured over €5 billion in commitments, surpassing our prior combined fundraise more than twofold, is a direct testament to Main’s long-term investment performance and the depth of our LP relationships. A re-up rate of more than 120% is something we are truly proud of; it reflects not just confidence in our track record, but genuine conviction in what we are building at Main. We are grateful to both our existing and new investors for their trust. With Main Capital IX and Main Foundation III, we are well-equipped to continue driving the consolidation in the fragmented European & US software markets, to expand into the United Kingdom, and to pursue the opportunities that AI is creating across the Enterprise Software industry.”

Main did not use a placement agent for the fundraising and Loyens & Loeff acted as legal counsel.

Nothing contained in this Press Release is intended to project, predict, guarantee, or forecast the future performance of any investment. This Press Release is for information purposes only and is not investment advice or an offer to buy or sell any securities or to invest in any funds or other investment vehicles managed by Main Capital Partners or any other person.

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EQT Life Sciences participates in RQ Bio’s USD 115 million Series A financing

EQT Life Science

RQ Bio

  • EQT Life Sciences joins new investors Frazier Life Sciences, Forbion, Monograph and Wellington Management, alongside existing investors LifeArc, Oxford Science Enterprises and Oxford University Innovation, in RQ Bio’s oversubscribed USD 115 million Series A financing 
  • RQ Bio is developing antibody therapies to prevent seasonal influenza in high-risk and immunocompromised populations, with the Series A supporting its clinical progression and broader infectious disease pipeline
  • As part of the financing, RQ Bio appointed Christian S. Schade as Executive Chairman, having most recently served as President and CEO of Halda Therapeutics

EQT Life Sciences is pleased to announce participation in a USD 115 million (GBP 86 million) Series A financing in RQ Bio, a UK biotechnology company developing antibody therapies for the prevention of influenza in high-risk and immunocompromised populations through one of its managed funds. The financing was led by Frazier Life Sciences, with participation from new investors EQT Life Sciences, Forbion, Monograph and Wellington Management, alongside existing investors LifeArc, Oxford Science Enterprises and Oxford University Innovation. The Series A funding will support the clinical development of RQ Bio’s lead program, RQB01, and help advance the company’s broader pipeline of therapies for other infectious diseases. 

Founded in 2021 by four leading infectious disease scientists, RQ Bio is developing new antibody therapies that aim to protect people from seasonal flu for an entire season with just one treatment. The company’s lead programme is progressing towards clinical development and is intended to provide broad protection for high-risk patients, including those who remain vulnerable despite existing vaccination strategies.

EQT Life Sciences will support RQ Bio as it advances RQB01, its lead programme towards the clinic and continues to expand its broader pipeline. Drawing on its experience backing innovative biotechnology companies through clinical development, EQT Life Sciences will work alongside management and the investor syndicate to help scale the organisation, strengthen development capabilities and support the company’s long-term growth.

Felice Verduyn – van Weegen, Partner at EQT Life Sciences, said: “Influenza continues to pose a significant burden for high-risk populations, despite the availability of existing treatments. RQ Bio’s single-administration approach to durable, season-long protection addresses a clear unmet need among the patients who remain most vulnerable. We are excited to support this European company as it advances towards the clinic and expands its pipeline.”

Mike Westby, CEO of RQ Bio, said: “Influenza remains a serious and persistent threat for patients whose immune systems cannot rely on vaccination alone. Our vision is to develop a preventative therapy capable of delivering reliable protection for an entire flu season with a single administration. This financing will support clinical development of RQB01 as well as advance our proprietary antibody discovery approach towards a pipeline of assets for prophylaxis of respiratory viral diseases.”

As part of the financing, RQ Bio appointed Christian S. Schade as Executive Chairman, who most recently served as President and CEO of Halda Therapeutics that was acquired by Johnson & Johnson for USD 3.0 billion in December 2025. He brings extensive leadership, board and transaction experience from across the biotechnology sector. As Executive Chairman, he will work closely with the management team and Board of Directors to guide corporate strategy and support the Company’s continued growth.

Contact
EQT Press Office,
press@eqtpartners.com

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About EQT Life Sciences
EQT Life Sciences was formed in 2022 following an integration of LSP, a leading European life sciences and healthcare venture capital firm, into the EQT platform. As LSP, the firm raised over EUR 3.0 billion (USD 3.5 billion) and supported the growth of more than 150 companies since it started to invest over 30 years ago. With a dedicated team of highly experienced investment professionals, coming from backgrounds in medicine, science, business, and finance, EQT Life Sciences backs the smartest inventors who have ideas that could truly make a difference for patients.

More information: https://eqtgroup.com/private-capital/eqt-life-sciences

 

About RQ Bio 
RQ Bio is a UK-based biotechnology company developing long-acting monoclonal antibodies against seasonal influenza with the goal of providing immediate, powerful, and long-lasting protection against severe viral disease in immunocompromised and high-risk subjects. The Company is advancing its lead product RQB01; a long-acting, potent, and broadly protective dual monoclonal antibody product through IND-enabling studies.

Founded in 2021, RQ Bio has a highly experienced team with proven success in developing long-acting antibodies against viral targets. RQ Bio is backed by a strong syndicate of specialist investors – Frazier Life Sciences, EQT Life Sciences, Monograph, Wellington, Forbion, LifeArc, Oxford Science Enterprises and Oxford University Innovation.

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The New Salary.com Launches Max: Autonomous Agents and Real-Time Market Intelligence for the AI Era of Compensation Management

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WALTHAM, Mass., March 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Salary.com,  the global leader in compensation data, software, and AI, unveiled a new brand identity alongside its new Max model, a purpose-built AI that brings autonomous agents and real-time market intelligence into compensation workflows. Built on Salary.com’s proprietary ontology, Max understands compensation data in context, delivering actionable, trustworthy intelligence for confident pay decisions. Max is the latest innovation in the CompAnalyst® AI Suite.

Founded in 1999, Salary.com built its reputation on structured compensation data and the CompAnalyst platform, which today supports more than 10,000 organizations in benchmarking jobs, building pay structures, managing merit increases, and more. Over nearly three decades, the company has expanded from a market data provider to enterprise-grade AI software, equipping HR and compensation professionals with autonomous agents, seamless integrations, and real-time market intelligence built for how comp teams actually work.

“AI is fundamentally shifting how organizations approach compensation. It’s not just changing how the work gets done — it’s doing the work itself. Companies that embrace this shift will make better, more timely pay decisions and build businesses that last,” said Yong Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Salary.com. “With 27 years of compensation data, technology, and expertise behind us, Max turns that depth into an advantage our customers can feel every day — autonomous agents that don’t just surface insights but execute complex tasks.”

Salary.com’s new brand identity reflects this evolution, and a broader vision for AI-powered compensation software and autonomous agents. The company’s mission hasn’t changed, but Max represents a fundamentally new way of delivering on it. Built on Salary.com’s proprietary ontology, Max connects salary surveys, aggregated market data, job posting signals, and enterprise software into a single intelligence layer that’s as actionable as it is insightful. Agents automate pre- and post-planning analysis, identify compression risks before a cycle begins, and generate practical narratives for HR leaders and managers — turning what used to take weeks of manual reconciliation into streamlined AI-driven workflows.

“Real-time intelligence isn’t optional for compensation professionals anymore, but too many decisions are still being made on stale data across disconnected sources,” said Chris Knize, SVP of Products at Salary.com. “The Max model changes that by bringing real-time, context-aware market intelligence directly into the workflows and benchmarking practices compensation professionals rely on every day. Unlike generic AI tools or text-analysis models that simply surface trends, Max understands the context — why one role is scoped differently than another, or why a competitor’s job posting may signal a pay adjustment before the next survey cycle. Our purpose-built AI doesn’t just inform decisions; it helps drive them.”

Max represents the beginning, not the destination. Salary.com’s roadmap extends the same AI foundation that has driven 27 years of innovation across the full compensation lifecycle. The vision is a single platform where every compensation decision is informed by the same connected ontology.

Compensation teams have long struggled with a fragmented, time-consuming process — jumping between multiple tools to gather market data, manually matching jobs, and still lacking confidence that their comparisons are accurate. Max eliminates that friction. What once took half a day can now be completed in minutes — with greater accuracy and defensibility.

“The CompAnalyst AI Suite is proving to be a valuable planning resource,” said Alma Sosa, Compensation Business Partner at Omaha Steaks. “It enables our team to work more efficiently and make more informed decisions, giving me confidence that Salary.com will continue to be a trusted partner as we improve how we approach compensation management.”

Rather than forcing compensation professionals to constantly catch up to a shifting market, the CompAnalyst AI Suite and the Max model are designed to keep them ahead of it.

About Salary.com

Founded in 1999, Salary.com helps organizations get pay right with a complete approach to compensation management. Built on a proprietary job ontology, Salary.com delivers AI software, data, and services that enable companies to define roles, benchmark jobs, manage pay structures, and make pay decisions built to last. More than 10,000 customers worldwide trust Salary.com, with insights powered by over 30,000 organizations across 140+ countries and spanning more than 20,000 leveled job titles.

Combining pragmatic innovation in artificial intelligence with deep human expertise, Salary.com helps organizations make precise pay decisions, build trust with employees, and compete in a changing world. For more information, visit www.salary.com

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Cegeka acquires cybersecurity specialist 3Point

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Cegeka acquires cybersecurity specialist 3Point to accelerate leadership in defense and public safety environments.

Cegeka today announced that it has acquired 3Point, a Belgium-based cybersecurity and IT consulting company specialized in defense and public safety environments. Financial details of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Hasselt, Belgium – June 23, 2026  This acquisition represents an important next step in Cegeka’s strategy to build a leading position in the defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure sectors. By combining 3Point’s deep expertise and strong track record in highly classified environments with Cegeka’s scale and execution power, the company is significantly strengthening its ability to support these sectors in addressing increasingly complex, mission-critical challenges.

As geopolitical tensions rise and investments in defense and public safety accelerate across Europe, Cegeka is positioning itself as a long-term partner for governments and critical organizations, capable of designing, securing, and operating the digital backbone of the most sensitive environments.

Advancing Cegeka’s position in defense and high-security environments
Koen Deryckere, CEO of Cegeka, said: “This acquisition marks an important milestone in our strategy. We are building a leading position in defense, intelligence, and highly classified environments. Europe’s security and sovereignty increasingly depend on resilient digital infrastructure, and on partners who are trusted to protect it. With 3Point, we are building Cegeka’s position as a long-term partner for the defense, intelligence and public safety sectors, in the environments where trust and discretion matter most.”  

Headquartered in Antwerp, 3Point provides advisory and project-based services in security architecture, cyber defense operations, and customized IT solutions. The company also developed proprietary threat monitoring solutions, like Pointguard, that support organizations in protecting their critical infrastructure and operations.

3Point’s solution Pointguard will further strengthen Cegeka’s capabilities in pre-emptive threat monitoring. In today’s landscape, where cybersecurity threats are increasingly amplified by the use of AI, having comprehensive and up-to-date intelligence on potential attack vectors is critical. Pointguard enables advanced monitoring, including dark web analysis and threat hunting, allowing organizations to proactively detect and respond to cyber threats at an earlier stage.

Combining expertise and scale to address rising demand  
3Point has built a strong reputation in the Belgian defense and public safety ecosystem, operating in highly sensitive and classified environments and supporting key national initiatives.

With this acquisition, Cegeka gains immediate access to specialized expertise, security-cleared talent, and deep domain knowledge and experience in defense and public safety. At the same time, 3Point will benefit from Cegeka’s scale, operational backbone, and international footprint to further accelerate its growth.

The combination will enable both companies to better respond to the growing demand for large-scale, high-security IT and cybersecurity projects driven by increased investments in defense and critical infrastructure.

Scaling capabilities in defense, intelligence and space
Following the transaction, 3Point will work closely with Cegeka to further expand its Defense, Intelligence, and Space activities. The combined teams will focus on delivering complex, highly classified programs and supporting governments and organizations in safeguarding their most critical operations.

Brandon De Waele, Managing Director Defense, Intelligence & Space at Cegeka, says: “3Point brings exactly the capabilities we need to accelerate in this domain: deep technical expertise, the right security clearances, and strong credibility in highly classified environments. Together, we are uniquely positioned to support large-scale, mission-critical programs and to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of defense and public safety in Belgium and across Europe.” 

Paul Meys, Co-founder of 3Point: “This marks an important step in the next phase of 3Point’s growth. By joining forces with a partner like Cegeka, we gain the scale, reach, and complementary capabilities needed to further develop our expertise and support larger, more complex programs across critical environments. We remain fully committed to the same high standards of quality, independence, and close collaboration that our customers expect from us, while creating new opportunities for our people and our business to grow as part of a broader international platform.”

Stijn Haemhouts, Co-founder of 3Point: “For our clients, this combination strengthens our ability to deliver end-to-end support while preserving the trusted, specialist approach that has always defined 3Point. Our work often takes place in environments where reliability, security, and deep domain expertise are essential, and those principles will remain at the core of how we operate. With Cegeka, we will be able to broaden our offering, access additional expertise, and continue supporting our customers with the same commitment and proximity, now backed by the strength of a larger international group.” 

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CVC agrees sale of Fast Logistics Group in the Philippines

CVC Capital Partners

CVC is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to sell CVC Asia IV’s entire stake in Fast Logistics Group (“Fast”), the Philippines’ leading third-party logistics provider, to WLC Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned vehicle of the founding Chiongbian Family. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Founded in 1972, Fast is an integrated logistics provider, offering warehousing, transportation and distribution services to many of the country’s largest consumer and industrial companies. Today, Fast is the Philippines’ leading player operating across 98% of Philippine provinces, with the country’s largest warehousing network comprising approximately 160 dry warehouses and more than 1.9 million square metres of space. The company also operates the Philippines’ largest trucking fleet, with more than 2,500 vehicles, and the country’s largest FMCG distribution platform, serving over 120,000 stores nationwide.

CVC first invested in Fast in 2020, alongside the founding Chiongbian Family. During this successful five-year partnership, CVC supported the company’s expansion and professionalisation across several dimensions: strengthening the business development function and commercial capabilities; optimising procurement and operations across the transport and warehousing divisions; upgrading financial reporting and planning systems to improve visibility and decision-making; and modernising Fast’s technology infrastructure, including its transport and warehouse management systems and the introduction of a real-time Control Tower platform. The team also made a strategic decision to significantly expand Fast’s warehousing footprint, growing the network from approximately 100 to 160 dry warehouses through a mix of own-built sites and long-term leases. Today, the business is well-positioned for continued growth under the full ownership of the Chiongbian Family.

“Fast has built an exceptional platform and established itself as the clear leader in the Philippine logistics market,” said Brice Cu, Senior Managing Director at CVC. “Together with the Chiongbian Family and the management team, we have invested significantly in expanding the business and strengthening its capabilities. We are proud of what has been achieved during our partnership and believe Fast is very well-positioned for its next phase of growth.”

Quotes

We are proud of what has been achieved during our partnership and believe Fast is very well-positioned for its next phase of growth

Brice CuSenior Managing Director at CVC

William Chiongbian, CEO of Fast Logistics, added: “We would like to thank CVC for their partnership and support over the past five years. Together, we have significantly expanded our network, enhanced our service offering and strengthened our leadership position in the market. We are excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to support our customers and drive the next stage of Fast’s development.”

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Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®) welcomes CVC Strategic Opportunities as its first external investor

CVC Capital Partners

Gaming Laboratories International (“GLI”) and CVC, a leading global investment firm, together announce that they have entered into a strategic partnership to support GLI’s continued growth and long-term development. CVC, through its long-duration investment platform Strategic Opportunities, has completed an investment into GLI and related entities. The investment by CVC will provide resources and expertise to enhance the capabilities and growth prospects of GLI while upholding the company’s history and culture of providing world-class services to the global gaming industry.

GLI is the global leader in testing, certification and cybersecurity services to the global gaming industry with over 1,500 employees globally servicing over 710 regulated gaming jurisdictions worldwide. Founded in 1989 by James Maida and Paul Magno, GLI is headquartered in Lakewood, New Jersey, USA.

James Maida, Chief Executive Officer of GLI, said, “We are truly excited and honored to welcome CVC as a strategic investment partner. CVC shares our vision, values, and long-term commitment to the global gaming industry. This partnership creates new opportunities for growth and innovation, allowing GLI to invest even more in the success of the future of the global gaming industry as well as investing in related and adjacent sectors. Our leadership, values, and culture focused on customer service remain unchanged. I will continue as CEO and our leadership team remains intact. Together we will stay focused on quality, speed and the customer experience while continuing to drive innovation and outstanding service worldwide.”

Matt Turner, Partner at CVC and GLI Board Member, added, “Within CVC Strategic Opportunities, we seek to partner with exceptional businesses that have histories of consistent success, strong market positions and significant long-term growth potential. GLI fits perfectly with that approach, as over nearly 40 years James and Paul have built GLI into the clear leader in its industry. The company plays a critical role in the global regulated gaming ecosystem and has established itself as a trusted partner to regulators, operators and suppliers around the world. This positions the business extremely well for continued growth, and we are looking forward to working alongside James and the talented team at GLI to support the company’s future success.”

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Ratos company HL Display has signed to acquire UFO Display Solutions

Ratos

HL Display has signed an agreement to acquire UFO Plastics and Displays Pty Ltd (”UFO Display Solutions”), an Australian full-service provider of multi-material point-of-sale display solutions for brand suppliers and retailers. The acquisition will expand HL’s footprint in Australia, further strengthening its position as a leading supplier for in-store merchandising and communication solutions. Executing value-creating add-on acquisitions in platform companies is a key focus area of Ratos’ 2030 strategy.

“HL Display’s acquisition of UFO Display Solutions is a strong example of how we combine an increased pace of M&A with disciplined capital allocation, focusing on attractive multiples, high earnings quality and value creation in line with the Ratos’ 2030 strategy. This marks the second add-on acquisition by HL Display in 2026,” says Gustaf Salford, CEO of Ratos.

“I am pleased to announce the acquisition of UFO Display Solutions. With its strong customer base and complementary offering, the company is an excellent fit for HL in Australia. UFO’s capabilities in Melbourne will complement our team in Sydney, enabling us to deliver both standard and tailored solutions that enhance in-store execution and support our customers’ growth. I am delighted to welcome the UFO team to HL,” says Jonas Magnusson, CEO of HL Display.

Founded 26 years ago, UFO Display Solutions has established itself as a leading supplier of point-of-sale display solutions, combining custom design and multi-material production capabilities with outstanding service. Located in Melbourne, the team is well-regarded for their high-quality solutions, and trusted relationships with their customer base of brand suppliers and retailers over the years. The company has annual revenues of approximately SEK 100m with profitability margin accretive to HL Display.

The acquisition is anticipated to close on 1 July 2026.

About HL Display
HL Display is a leader in in-store merchandising and communication solutions, helping customers to create a better shopping in-store experience for shoppers and personnel. Founded in 1954 and today present in more than 70 countries and their solutions can be found in 350,000 stores. The company supports its customers to grow sales, inspire shoppers, drive efficiency, reduce waste and improve work in-store. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and sales offices in 24 countries covering 40 markets as well as distribution partners covering the remaining markets globally. HL Display has 1,500 employees and net sales of SEK 3,000m (2025).

Ratos holds a 98 percent ownership stake in HL Display.

For more information, please contact:
Katarina Grönwall, VP Communications & Sustainability
+46 70 300 35 38
katarina.gronwall@ratos.com

Anna Vilogorac, CFO & IR
+46 70 616 50 19
anna.vilogorac@ratos.com

About Ratos
Ratos is a Swedish publicly listed investment company focused on long-term, active ownership. It holds majority and minority stakes in Nordic companies. In 2025, net sales totalled SEK 19 billion and adjusted EBITA SEK 1.9 billion. Ratos has approximately 9,100 employees and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

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The Master Group Expands U.S. Footprint with Acquisition of Distributor Corporation of New England (DCNE)

Novacap

Strengthens Presence in New England and Enhances Residential and Commercial HVAC-R Distribution Capabilities

The Master Group, a Novacap portfolio company and a leading North American distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, parts and supplies, today announced it has completed the acquisition of Distributor Corporation of New England, a well-established Carrier distributor serving the eastern New England region, including Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island for 63 years.

The acquisition supports Master’s continued expansion in the United States and strengthens its presence in the Northeast U.S., an established HVAC market with sustained demand across both residential and commercial segments.

DCNE operates a network of eight locations across their territory and has built a strong and well-respected reputation for customer service, technical expertise and long-standing contractor relationships. Anchored by its alignment with Carrier Corporation, DCNE provides HVAC residential & commercial equipment, replacement parts & supplies, ductless solutions, support services and ongoing training classes to contractors and technicians throughout New England.

DCNE customers will continue to be supported by the experienced long-standing team they know and trust, while gaining the added benefit of Master’s scale, resources and broader distribution capabilities. The acquisition also enhances Master’s ability to serve contractors with an expanded product offering, increased geographic reach and continued focus on service excellence.

“The success of DCNE is first and foremost a reflection of what the Kolligian family and its team have built over the years,” said Louis St-Laurent, CEO of The Master Group. “With a strong reputation grounded in customer trust, technical expertise and service excellence, DCNE represents exactly the type of organization we look to partner with as we continue to grow our presence in the U.S.”

The addition of DCNE is a natural fit with Master’s existing operations and long-term growth strategy. Together, Master and DCNE will be better positioned to support contractors across New England with expanded resources, continued local expertise and a shared commitment to helping customers succeed.

“Joining The Master Group represents an important milestone for DCNE,” said Michele M. Kolligian, President & CEO of DCNE. “Our customers can be reassured that they will continue to receive the same quality of professional partnerships, technical knowledge and service commitment they have come to expect. The legacy of our family-owned and operated business, passed on to us by our late father, Gregory Archie Kolligian, has been the driving force behind our steadfast commitment to growing our business and providing quality service, knowledge and premium HVAC products since 1963. We extend our best wishes to The Master Group and the DCNE organization for continued success, as well as our valued customers and business associates.”

Michele and Nancy Kolligian will continue to manage the business through a smooth transition.

Transaction Terms

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About The Master Group

The Master Group (Master) is Canada’s largest HVAC-R distributor and one of North America’s leading players in the industry. For more than 70 years, Master has supported contractors, engineers and industry partners with a broad portfolio of solutions across residential, commercial, institutional and industrial applications.

With now more than 2,000 dynamic and dedicated team members and a network of close to 100 branches, along with 9 distribution facilities across Canada and the United States, Master combines national scale with strong local presence. The company is known for its deep technical expertise, disciplined execution and long-standing partnerships with customers and suppliers.

Master’s approach is grounded in growth, simplicity, teamwork and doing what’s right — focusing on practical innovation, operational excellence and helping its partners succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.

For more information, visit www.master.ca

Improving lives, in every degree.

About DCNE

Distributor Corporation of New England (DCNE) is a leading HVAC distributor serving contractors across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

DCNE provides a full range of HVAC residential and commercial equipment, ductless solutions, parts & supplies and technical support services, with a team of seasoned sales and engineering professionals, and team of customer service associates with technical expertise across all product categories.

For more information, visit www.dcne.com

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Rivean Capital Announces Leadership Transition

Rivean

Amsterdam – Rivean Capital announced today that Nikolai Pronk has, after nearly thirty years with Rivean in a variety of roles, decided to step down from his position as Managing Partner and as member of the Executive Committee. Nikolai will remain actively involved with Rivean Capital as Senior Partner and member of the Investment Committee, continuing his work with portfolio companies.

Rivean Capital is pleased to share that the Partnership has appointed Maurits Boomsma as successor, who will assume the role of Managing Partner effective July 1, 2026.

Nikolai commented: “Reflecting on my journey, I am extremely proud of all we have accomplished together over the years and the strong results we have delivered for our investors, even in challenging economic times. Our firm’s tradition of successful leadership succession continues, and I am delighted to see Maurits stepping into this role and wish him all the best. I’m looking forward to supporting our continued success but then in a slightly different role.”

Maurits commented: “The entire team is truly grateful for everything Nikolai has done for Rivean. I am honoured to succeed him as Managing Partner and look forward to building on Rivean’s remarkable heritage together with him, and with the rest of our team, as we continue to grow and shape an even brighter future.”

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About Rivean Capital

Rivean Capital is a leading European private equity investor for mid-market transactions, active in the Benelux countries, the DACH region, 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 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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