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Apollo Names Yasuo Kashiwagi Head of Japan

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Seasoned executive to advance firm’s role as a leading provider of flexible private capital solutions to the Japan market

NEW YORK, Sept. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that Yasuo Kashiwagi has joined the firm as Head of Japan, overseeing the firm’s integrated strategy and local partnerships in Japan, including local operations across asset management, capital solutions, wealth and retirement solutions.

Apollo has held an active presence across Asia Pacific for nearly two decades, opening a dedicated office in Tokyo in 2019 and steadily expanding its platform across origination, insurance and wealth in the region to meet the rising demand for flexible equity and yield-oriented solutions. The firm has grown its local team to over 30 professionals and is expected to continue its rapid expansion alongside a growing base of local institutional and distribution partnerships.

Mr. Kashiwagi will lead the next phase of Apollo’s growth in Japan, driving the firm’s strategic expansion in the market, deepening institutional and regulatory relationships and overseeing local execution across the firm’s businesses. He brings over 30 years of global financial leadership experience, most recently serving as Senior Managing Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Executive of the Asset Management & Investor Services Business Unit at Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation. He has also held senior roles at Nomura Holdings in Europe and the United States.

“Japan stands out as a market where long-term structural trends align with Apollo’s strengths,” said Jim Zelter, President of Apollo Global Management. “Institutions and corporates are increasingly turning to private capital as a solution, not just for financing, but also for long-term partnership. At the same time, Japan’s demographics are creating urgent demand for retirement income solutions. We are committed to building trusted relationships and delivering scaled, flexible capital that addresses these needs. With the addition of Kashiwagi’s leadership to our talented regional and global team, we are positioned to deepen our presence and broaden our impact.”

“Apollo’s approach in Japan has been to listen carefully, remain disciplined and deliver tailored solutions to our partners,” said Tatsuo Tanaka, Japan Chair. “As corporates look beyond traditional sources of capital and the retirement ecosystem evolves, our ability to take a long-term, outcome-focused approach has only become more relevant. Kashiwagi’s appointment reflects our commitment to serving the needs of today’s business leaders and delivering next generation investment strategies to help individuals achieve better outcomes in retirement.”

“I’m honored to lead Apollo’s efforts in Japan and work closely with our local and global teams to advance the firm’s position as a leading provider of capital and retirement solutions,” said Yasuo Kashiwagi. “We see growing demand for capital that is aligned, durable and flexible, especially in an environment where investors and issuers alike are focused on long-term outcomes. I believe Apollo is uniquely positioned to support Japan’s transition with a platform that combines global origination capabilities, retirement expertise, equity and yield-oriented solutions at scale.”

Mr. Kashiwagi’s appointment builds on Apollo’s recent activity in Japan, including the addition of seasoned professionals across wealth management, credit and hybrid businesses, capital support for several blue-chip companies by its established equity platform and new partnerships with leading institutions to expand lending and retirement offerings. Apollo and Athene’s integrated platform manages approximately $20 billion in assets in Japan, offering a full suite of investment strategies across private credit, hybrid and private equity.

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 June 30, 2025, Apollo had $840 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

Apollo Contacts

Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0540
IR@apollo.com

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0491

Categories: People

Apheon combines Millbio with Cain Foods to create a global champion in clean-label bakery solutions

Apheon

Apheon, a pan-European private equity investor, is pleased to announce the landmark acquisition of Cain Foods (“Cain”) and the creation of a global champion in clean-label bakery solutions through the combination with Millbio, its portfolio company.

Millbio, a leading player in functional clean-label bakery ingredients, and Cain, a U.S.–based value-added manufacturer of clean label ingredients for industrial bakeries with a focus on natural preservation systems, today announce the creation of a fully vertically integrated global platform in natural bakery solutions, best positioned to capitalize on the strong underlying market’s growth driven by sustained consumer demand and stricter industry requirements for clean label ingredients.

The combined group will have operations spanning the Americas, Europe and Asia, representing a highly synergistic match between Millbio’s fermentation know-how and R&D expertise and Cain’s manufacturing, R&D and logistics capabilities, which are primarily located in the Americas. As a combined platform, the group will have a strengthened position as the preferred supplier to industrial bakeries that seek clean-label solutions on a global scale.

Cain’s shareholders, including top management and founding family members, will reinvest significantly alongside Apheon and Millbio’s team, ensuring strategic continuity and growth alignment. Apheon will retain control and continue supporting the group’s international development.

Alessandro Boggiani, Founder of Millbio, commented, “This partnership marks a key step forward in our mission to become a global leader in natural, clean-label bakery solutions. By combining Millbio’s fermentation and technical know-how with Cain’s reach and client intimacy in the Americas, we can now offer a truly integrated value proposition — from raw material to finished formulation and distribution — broadening our market access and customer proximity.”

Tom McCurry, CEO and shareholder of Cain Foods, added, “We are thrilled to join forces with Millbio and Apheon. The alignment across our values, product philosophies, and commitment to technical excellence is strong. Together, we will be able to serve customers more effectively and uniquely position ourselves in the market as a fully integrated global partner for clean-label baking solutions”.

Riccardo Collini, Partner at Apheon, commented: “We are excited to open a new chapter in Millbio’s growth journey. Since our initial investment, we have worked closely with Alessandro and his team to expand Millbio’s international footprint and accelerate innovation. This strategic combination with Cain, that will double the size of our company, represents a natural next step, and we look forward to supporting the Group as it scales globally and continues to lead in clean-label innovation”.

About Millbio
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Italy, Millbio develops natural functional ingredients for the food industry, with special focus on bakery. Its products — including natural mold inhibitors, sourdough, enzyme-based improvers, botanical extracts and healthy innovative solutions — help industrial bakeries improve shelf life, texture, flavor and nutritional profile with simplified ingredient lists. Millbio operates fermentation, production, blending and R&D facilities in Italy and China, serving customers across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. For more information, visit www.millbio.com.

About Cain Foods
Established in 1971 in Dallas, Texas, Cain Foods is a value-added manufacturer of clean label ingredients and custom mixes to commercial bakeries across the Americas. Its portfolio includes natural mold inhibitors, dough conditioners, shelf-life extenders and custom ingredient systems. Supported by an in-house innovation center, Cain Foods focuses on label-friendly formulations and technical assistance to replace artificial additives. For more information, visit www.cainfoods.com.

About Apheon
Apheon is a pan‑European mid‑market private equity firm managing more than €3 billion in assets from select global institutional investors and families. Known for a “patient and friendly capital” approach, Apheon partners with entrepreneurs and management teams, offering industrial expertise to prepare companies for future growth. Through its European presence, the firm serves as a gateway into Europe for companies in the mid-market. Since its founding in 2005, Apheon has raised more than €3.5 billion in capital, invested in ~40 companies across Europe and completed ~200 add-on acquisitions for a total aggregate transaction value in excess of €7 billion. Apheon’s current portfolio consists of 21 companies across its target sectors, representing ~€3 billion sales and more than 20,000 employees. Apheon is advised by Apheon Advisors which has offices in Brussels, Milan, Madrid, Paris, Munich and Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.apheon.com.

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Apheon
John Mansvelt, COO, Apheon
jm@apheon.com
T: +32 2 213 60 90

Natalia Yek, Head of Investor Relations, Apheon
ny@apheon.com
T: +32 2 213 60 90

 

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Altor divests Retta to Adelis Equity Partners

September 1, 2025. Altor Fund IV (“Altor”) has entered into an agreement to divest Retta Oy and Retta AB (“Retta”) to Adelis Equity Partners (“Adelis”).

Altor invested in Retta, previously Realia Group, with the ambition to build a high-quality real estate management company. During Altor’s ownership, Retta has made significant digital investments, launched new service lines to offer a full lifecycle offering for real estate owners, and successfully expanded to Sweden. Today, Retta has established itself as one of the Nordic leaders in the B2B property management sector.

“We have worked closely with management to build a group with high quality services and a strong customer satisfaction. Many milestones later and with a strong market position, our partnership is now coming to a close. We want to thank the management team and applaud them for their hard work over the years. We look forward to seeing them grow in their next chapter with Adelis” said Bengt Maunsbach, Partner at Altor.

About Altor

Since inception, the family of Altor funds has raised more than EUR 12 billion in total commitments. The funds have invested in more than 100 companies. The investments have been made in medium-sized companies predominantly in Nordic and DACH with the aim to create value through growth initiatives and operational improvements. Among current and past investments are Silo AI, Mandatum, Eleda, Kaefer and Toteme.

About Retta

Retta is the leading provider of B2B real estate management and other real estate services, serving institutional investors, real estate investors, property owners, and other commercial clients in Finland and Sweden.

About Adelis Equity Partners

Adelis is a growth partner for well-positioned companies in the Nordic and DACH regions. Adelis partners with management and/or owners to build businesses in growth segments and with strong market positions. Since raising its first fund in 2013, Adelis has been one of the most active investors in the Nordic middle-market, making 49 platform investments and more than 270 add-on acquisitions. Adelis manages approximately €4.5 billion in capital. For more information, please visit www.adelisequity.com.

Press contact

Karin Åström

Head of Communications

karin.astrom@altor.com

+46 707 64 86 59

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Atlas Holdings Announces Sale of Saxco

Atlas Holdings

GREENWICH, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Atlas Holdings (“Atlas”) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Saxco International, LLC (“Saxco”) to Novvia Group (“Novvia”), which is backed by Kelso & Company (“Kelso”). The transaction is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. Terms were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Fairfield, California, Saxco is a leading value-added distributor of rigid packaging, focused on the beverage market. Founded in 1936, Saxco serves a loyal customer base of more than 5,000 wineries, brewers, distillers, and specialty food and beverage manufacturers across North America. With a strong heritage in glass, Saxco is today known for its eco-friendly and sustainable packaging solutions. Now servicing customers for almost a century, Saxco enjoys deep customer relationships that span more than 50 years. With an exceptional Leadership Team, Saxco experienced tremendous growth since Atlas’ acquisition in December 2019, strengthening its sourcing capabilities while growing and diversifying its customer base of premier brands.

“We want to congratulate CEO JB Berry and his superb team at Saxco. We are immensely proud of the transformation we drove together in our five-year partnership with Saxco,” said Atlas partner Sam Astor. “Saxco is a textbook example of a core Atlas competency – recognizing a business with a clear reason to exist and working in partnership with the Leadership Team to seize on the opportunity to return it to a position of market leadership. Saxco has diversified its supplier network and expanded the scope of services available to customers, deepening its already strong industry relationships while gaining traction with new end markets through innovation and a commitment to reliability. We wish them much continued growth in the years ahead.”

“It has been an honor to lead Saxco alongside the Atlas team. Together, we built an exceptional business and we’re looking forward to what lies ahead,” said Saxco CEO JB Berry.

About Atlas Holdings

Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut and founded in 2002, Atlas and its affiliates own and operate 26 companies, which employ more than 50,000 associates across 350 facilities worldwide. Atlas operates in sectors such as automotive, building materials, capital equipment, construction services, food manufacturing and distribution, metals processing, packaging, paper, power generation, printing, pulp, supply chain management and wood products. Atlas’ companies together generate approximately $16 billion in revenues annually.

 

About Saxco

At Saxco International, LLC, our mission is to “package customers’ dreams.” With more than 80 years of industry experience providing a broad range of packaging solutions and supply chain services to the wine, spirits, beer and food industries, Saxco offers a broad range of packaging products including glass, metal, and plastic containers, capsules, closures, custom packaging and mold development. Headquartered in Concord, California, Saxco has a vast network of customer support and fulfillment centers operating throughout the United States, Canada and Asia and was just awarded the Best Bottles Supplier in the nation from Spirited Magazine’s annual Reader’s Poll.

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Tikehau Capital announces key appointments to its Compliance team

Tikehau

Tikehau Capital, the global alternative asset management group, announces changes to its compliance team with the appointment of Alexandre Baladès as Head of Compliance of Tikehau Investment Management, and Andrew Craven as Chief Compliance Officer for the Americas.

Compliance plays a pivotal role in upholding Tikehau Capital’s investment rules and principles, underpinning the Group’s commitment to regulatory integrity and sound governance across all markets. As Tikehau Capital continues to expand globally, the Group is focused on maintaining rigorous compliance standards to support its growth and protect the interests of its stakeholders.

Alexandre Baladès is an experienced compliance and internal control professional. He serves as Head of Compliance and Internal Control at Groupe SOFIDY (Tikehau Capital) since 2018. Previously, he spent nearly eight years at Foncia, where he established the group’s compliance function and led internal audit missions. Alexandre began his career in 2004 at PwC, conducting external audits for listed companies. Based in Paris, he replaces Anne Maillé who has decided to pursue opportunities outside Tikehau Capital. We warmly thank her for her commitment and valuable contributions to the development and advancement of our activities and compliance framework in accordance with the highest industry standards, and we wish her every success in her future endeavours. Andrew Craven will join Tikehau Capital as Chief Compliance Officer for the Americas, based in New York. Andrew brings extensive experience in compliance leadership, having held senior roles at Man Group plc, Eton Park Capital Management, and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. He has implemented and operated compliance programs in both the U.S. and Europe across many asset classes.

These appointments reflect Tikehau Capital’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of compliance and governance throughout its operations.

“We are pleased to welcome Alexandre Baladès and Andrew Craven to their new roles at Tikehau Capital. Their expertise will be instrumental in implementing our compliance framework and ensuring we meet the expectations of our clients, partners, and regulators,” said Geoffroy Renard, Group General Counsel of Tikehau Capital.

ABOUT TIKEHAU CAPITAL Tikehau Capital is a global alternative asset management Group with €51.0 billion of assets under management (at 30 June 2025). Tikehau Capital has developed a wide range of expertise across four asset classes (credit, real assets, private equity and capital markets strategies) as well as multi-asset and special opportunities strategies. Tikehau Capital is a founder-led team with a differentiated business model, a strong balance sheet, proprietary global deal flow and a track record of backing high quality companies and executives. Deeply rooted in the real economy, Tikehau Capital provides bespoke and innovative alternative financing solutions to companies it invests in and seeks to create long-term value for its investors, while generating positive impacts on society. Leveraging its strong equity base (€3.1 billion of shareholders’ equity at 30 June 2025), the Group invests its own capital alongside its investor-clients within each of its strategies. Controlled by its managers alongside leading institutional partners, Tikehau Capital is guided by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and DNA, shared by its 735 employees (at 30 June 2025) across its 17 offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. Tikehau Capital is listed in compartment A of the regulated Euronext Paris market (ISIN code: FR0013230612; Ticker: TKO.FP). For more information, please visit: www.tikehaucapital.com.

PRESS CONTACTS: Tikehau Capital: Valérie Sueur – +33 1 53 50 03 64 UK – Prosek Partners: Philip Walters – +44 (0) 7773 331 589 USA – Prosek Partners: Trevor Gibbons – +1 646 818 9238 press@tikehaucapital.com SHAREHOLDER AND INVESTOR CONTACTS: Louis Igonet – +33 1 40 06 11 11 Théodora Xu – +33 1 40 06 18 56 Julie Tomasi – +33 1 40 06 58 44 shareholders@tikehaucapital.com

DISCLAIMER This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale or investment advisory services. It contains general information only and is not intended to provide general or specific investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future earnings and profit, and targets are not guaranteed. Certain statements and forecasted data are based on current forecasts, prevailing market and economic conditions, estimates, projections and opinions of Tikehau Capital and/or its affiliates. Due to various risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those reflected or expected in such forward-looking statements or in any of the case studies or forecasts. All references to Tikehau Capital’s advisory activities in the US or with respect to US persons relate to Tikehau Capital North America.

Categories: People

Ardian arranges financing for Carlyle Tech’s investment in leading software provider Ingentis

Ardian

Ardian, a world-leading private investment firm, has arranged a unitranche financing for Carlyle Tech (Carlyle Europe Technology Partners) to support its acquisition of Ingentis. Headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany, Ingentis is a leading software provider enabling organisations to visualise, design, analyse, and plan current and future workforce and organisational structures.

Existing investor Maguar Capital Partners is selling its stake in Ingentis to Carlyle Tech, with equity for Carlyle’s investment provided by CETP V. As part of the transaction, members of the existing Ingentis management team are substantially reinvesting, forming part of the shareholder structure.

Founded in 1997, Ingentis is an innovative software provider whose platform allows organisations to boost efficiency and performance through data analytics, serving 2,000 customers and hundreds of blue-chip enterprises worldwide, including many Fortune 500 and DAX-listed companies. The company’s solutions allow clients to better visualise their internal structures and empower them to enact strategic improvements. Its flagship platform, Org.Manager, integrates with over 60 HCM systems, aiding its growing popularity across multiple countries.

The financing provided by Ardian is structured to support future growth initiatives, as well as strategic M&A opportunities, allowing Ingentis to follow its ambition of becoming a global category champion in the fast-growing organisational charting, design and analytics market.

This transaction is emblematic of the Private Credit team’s history of collaboration with Carlyle Tech and track record of jointly supporting businesses in the enterprise software space, such as SER, GBTEC and now Ingentis. Ardian also has a long-standing presence and experienced investment team in the DACH region.

“We are excited to partner once again with software specialist Carlyle Tech. Ingentis represents an exciting investment opportunity in a high-growth market. It has a very strong financial profile, and its innovative product suite has a truly global appeal. This transaction serves as a strong testimony of our track record supporting fast-growing mid-market companies in the DACH region and our deep sector understanding.” Lukas Stepanek, Head of Private Credit DACH & Managing Director, Ardian

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment firm, managing or advising $180bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,850 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 19 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 Contacts

ARDIAN

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com

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Cove Raises an additional $16 Million to ExpandAI-Native Insurance Platform and Offer Strategic Exit Options to Agency Partners

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San Francisco, CA – August, 2025 – COVU, the AI-native operating system for insurance, today announced it has raised $16 million in new capital, including equity and growth financing. This brings the company’s total funding to around $50 million to date, fueling its mission to transform how insurance is delivered, serviced, and experienced through agencies and partners.
The funding will accelerate platform development, expand operational infrastructure, and offer independent agency partners more options: whether they want to scale their operations or step away through a structured, supported transition.

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“We’re not here to sell software,” said Ali Safavi, CEO of COVU. “We’re building the infrastructure that powers the future of insurance. Our goal is to help agencies operate with more intelligence, more efficiency, and more care, while preserving the advisor relationship that customers trust.”
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A Modern Operating System for Independent Insurance

COVU supports insurance agencies with a full-service platform that combines AI-native technology, licensed support staff, and centralized customer operations. This allows agencies to streamline servicing, boost profitability, and modernize their customer experience without building infrastructure on their own.
The platform includes:

  • AI-powered customer support and automation.
  • End-to-end servicing delivered by licensed professionals
  • Direct carrier access and appetite matching
  • Compliance, staffing, and operational oversight
  • Growth and M&A enablement for partners ready to expand or exit

COVU’s role is not to replace agencies, but to power them. The company operates behind the scenes, delivering outcomes instead of tools, and protecting the advisor-customer relationship at every step.

Acquisition as a Continuation of Partnership

COVU has completed seven agency acquisitions to date. Each one originated as a servicing partnership. When a partner chooses to exit, COVU offers a seamless, non-disruptive path that ensures continuity for clients, staff, and carrier relationships.

“We believe deeply in the agency model,” Safavi added. “We help our partners grow and evolve, but we also support them when they’re ready for a transition. That flexibility is critical to modernizing this industry with care and respect.”

Accelerating the Future of Insurance Operations

With this capital, COVU will continue to expand its AI-native platform and servicing infrastructure, onboard new carrier partners, and support both organic and M&A-driven growth for agencies across the country.
As the industry faces growing complexity and capacity constraints, COVU provides agencies and carriers with a clear path forward. A modern insurance experience, delivered with technology, trust, and operational excellence.

About COVU

COVU is the AI-native operating system for insurance. Built for independent agencies, the platform provides licensed servicing staff, centralized operations, embedded AI workflows, and access to top carriers. Whether growing, operating, or exiting, agencies trust COVU to simplify insurance, protect their customer relationships, and power their future.
Media Contact:

Sumukh Lohani
press@covu.com
COVU, Inc.

548 Market St, PMB 24487, San Francisco, California 94104

covu.com/press

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Endeit Capital Leads €12.5M Investment in Deftpower to Accelerate Europe’s Smart Charging Future

Endeit

Deftpower

Investment round led by Endeit Capital with participation from Proeza Ventures, 4impact Capital, Rethink Mobility, and business angel Jan Fredriks.

Arnhem, Friday 29th 2025 — Deftpower, the fast-growing European provider of AI-powered electric vehicle charging solutions, has raised €12.5 million in a round led by Endeit Capital. Existing investors Proeza Ventures, 4impact Capital, Rethink Mobility, and business angel Jan Fredriks are participating in the round. The funding will accelerate Deftpower’s European expansion and further develop its AI-driven smart charging technology.

Smart charging for a cleaner, more stable grid

Deftpower’s mission is clear: make EV charging cheaper, cleaner, and smarter for EV drivers and charge point operators, while easing pressure on Europe’s congested power grids.

Unlike other EV charging platforms, its scalable infrastructure can handle millions of transactions transparently and efficiently, cutting operational costs and reducing customer frustration.

Deftpower’s AI-driven smart charging gives it a unique advantage: the platform can anticipate charging needs even before an EV is plugged in. By shifting charging to times when renewable energy is abundant and prices are low, customers save money while Co2 emissions and grid strains are reduced. Two-thirds of charging can potentially be moved from peak to off-peak hours, an essential step in building a resilient, renewable-based energy system. 

Strengthening the highly burdened grids

Europe’s grids face unprecedented congestion, costing society hundreds of billions in lost economic activity and forced grid upgrades. Building more grid infrastructure alone cannot keep pace with rising demand from electrification. Deftpower tackles the problem at its source: by adjusting demand to match renewable energy production instead of the outdated approach of ramping production to meet demand.

When using Deftpower’s platform, two-thirds of charging potentially shifts from peak to off-peak hours, easing strain on grid infrastructure and maximizing the use of clean, low-cost electricity. This is a win for consumers, energy providers, and grid operators alike.

Proven scale and growth

Deftpower’s white-label eMobility Service Provider (eMSP) already serves more than 40 clients across 10 European countries. Designed to handle millions of transactions with full transparency, it supports the industry’s next stage: seamless smart charging and readiness for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

Despite employing just 70 people, Deftpower has been growing fast since the start.

Collaboration between Endeit Capital and Deftpower

Endeit has been investing for more than 20 years in the best founding teams in Europe. Endeit recognises Deftpower as the most innovative and ambitious scale-up in the European EV market. 

Endeit Capital’s perspective: “As a lead investor, we see Deftpower as uniquely positioned to be the backbone of Europe’s EV charging future, one where cost savings, carbon reduction, and grid stability go hand in hand. Their AI-driven approach is exactly what the energy transition needs at scale.” – Sara Resvik, Partner Endeit Capital. 

“As a lead investor, we see Deftpower as uniquely positioned to be the backbone of Europe’s EV charging future.”

Sara Resvik, Partner
Partner Endeit Capital. 

“We know charging your EV is both too expensive and too complicated today and the aggregator role we foresee for the MSP will tie the room together as it should. All players, including EV drivers, charge point operators and grid operators benefit financially from Deftpower’s charging platform,” says Deftpower CEO Jacob van Zonneveld.

About Deftpower

Deftpower is an Arnhem and Berlin-based technology company, founded by Jacob van Zonneveld, Marc Diks, and Remco Tjeerdsma. Deftpower is building the most advanced AI-powered charging platform for electric vehicles in Europe. Through white-label solutions for eMobility Service Providers, Deftpower enables millions of EVs to charge at the best times for consumers, the environment, and the grid. www.deftpower.com.

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Doubling down on our investment in Framer: the best way for companies to design, publish and scale their websites

Atomico

Hillary Ball, Partner, Atomico

Over a decade ago, all personal websites were built in HTML, which meant it was a relatively time-consuming endeavour that required developer support. Then came visual website builders, like Wix and Squarespace, with easy-to-use and templated solutions which made it possible for anyone to build a website without knowing code. Now, almost all personal websites are built with these visual builders, which has opened up website building for mass consumers.

For the same shift from code to visual builders to take place for professional websites, it requires a visual builder that can handle the complexity of professional websites, while also still delivering the design-flexibility that the best designers demand. Framer has built this platform: a fully flexible visual design canvas, with all the product depth, high control, and features that a scaling company needs, from a powerful CMS, to A/B testing, to enterprise security and beyond. With Framer, a designer can ship a full-scale production website, with no developer resourcing required.

This is enabling Framer to usher in a market shift worth tens of billions of dollars where professional websites can now be built with a visual builder. This makes it easier, faster, and less expensive to ship & host your company’s beautifully designed website. Global leading companies today, such as Miro, Perplexity, Mollie, and Bird, are customers who use Framer as the fastest way for them to design, publish and scale their entire website presence.

Building a platform with this level of capability has been made possible by remarkable product velocity at Framer. The team is always shipping – new features, higher performance, and new ways for creators on Framer to earn, which also let users build faster.

Hillary Ball, Partner, Atomico

Building a platform with this level of capability has been made possible by remarkable product velocity at Framer. The team is always shipping – new features, higher performance, and new ways for creators on Framer to earn, which also let users build faster. This has made it stand apart in the broader competitive landscape as the website builder that is truly loved by designers, while being capable of supporting complex enterprise use cases.

Today, Framer is powerful enough to support websites and companies of any size. Framer is also uniquely positioned to continue to capitalise on the AI opportunity for professional use cases – making professional generated sites work, with brand guidelines, enterprise-grade collaboration and continuous optimisation.

Atomico first partnered with Framer in 2018, when we led the company’s Series B round. Co-founders Koen and Jorn have deep backgrounds in product design, sold their first company to Facebook in 2011, and have worked together for the past two decades. Seeing Koen and Jorn work for the past 7 years has been a remarkable example of a founding team that is able to combine vision with relentless execution. There are a number of exceptional qualities about this team, but there are a few that have continued to stand out to us over the years:

  1. Talent magnets: Koen & Jorn have attracted ambitious talent into the team and built a culture of high agency that has enabled them to achieve remarkable scale with high efficiency. People who work at Framer have high standards and they get things done. The majority of the executive team at Framer has been there for over 6 years, growing with the company through a pivot journey. Everyone in the team deeply understands their product and customer.
  2. Product velocity: The team is always shipping. This is fueled by a deeply ingrained designer community they have fostered and built feedback loops with, which informs the product direction. They have maintained an unparalleled pace of product velocity that keeps the product always at the cutting-edge, and makes Framer the platform that designers are proud to bring to their teams.
  3. A team that skates where the puck is going: Based on their own deep experiences in product design, and the close engagement that they have built with the design community, the team knows how to build for the future of design. They see a few moves ahead of everyone else in terms of how a new technology or feature will shift designers’ needs or create new workflows, and they build for that, and they have a product velocity that enables them to do it successfully.

All of these qualities have enabled the Framer team to reach their incredible scale today and are the qualities that are going to continue to propel them into this next phase as the category winner for companies to design and run their websites.

We could not be more thrilled to be doubling down on our partnership with Framer by co-leading the company’s $100m Series D round at a $2 billion valuation alongside Meritech, and for all that’s still ahead for Framer.

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Eptura Appoints Raj Batra CEO

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Veteran Siemens executive to lead Eptura’s next chapter of growth and innovation

ATLANTA—Eptura, the global worktech leader, today announced the appointment of Raj Batra as CEO, effective September 2.

Batra brings distinguished leadership experience in the automation and digital transformation sectors. He previously spent over 30 years at Siemens in increasingly senior leadership roles, culminating in a highly successful tenure as CEO of Digital Industries Automation (USA). He also served as a member of Siemens’ U.S. Managing Board.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Eptura team and contributing to the company’s mission to harness the power of AI and continue pushing the boundaries of automation in corporate offices and manufacturing facilities,” said Raj Batra, CEO of Eptura. “As we embark on this next wave of innovation, I’m excited to help customers unify their employee experience, physical office space, and assets to gain a holistic view of and greater control over their built environments. Together, we’re poised to create a smarter, more connected workplace experience.”

Batra succeeds Brandon Holden, who will remain with Eptura as a strategic advisor focused on opportunities with the U.S. federal government. His leadership will accelerate Eptura’s growth with a sharper focus on advanced automation and digitization, and advance the company’s long-standing commitment to innovation and customer success. With a robust platform already trusted by more than half of the Fortune 500, Eptura is well-positioned to expand its market leadership and continue meeting the evolving needs of its global client base.

“Raj combines deep industry expertise with a history of transforming bold strategies into market-leading results,” said A.J. Rohde, a Senior Partner at Thoma Bravo. “Eptura has built an exceptional foundation as a pioneer in its space and is entering a period of tremendous opportunity as demand for integrated workplace technology surges worldwide. With Raj at the helm, we see extraordinary potential for Eptura to accelerate its growth, extend its leadership, and deliver even greater success for its customers.”

Batra’s appointment as CEO follows several significant recent milestones achieved by Eptura, reflecting its strong market momentum, commitment to innovation, and expanding leadership in the global workplace technology sector. These include:

  • Launching AI-powered innovations to enhance technician mobility, optimize real estate, and create frictionless in-office experiences
  • Achieving authorization through the U.S. Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) for its Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS)
  • Securing leader quadrant ranking within the IWMS category with the highest score for workplace management
  • Being recognized as a leader within the enterprise asset management (EAM) market

About Raj Batra

Raj Batra is a distinguished and seasoned leader in the automation and digital transformation sectors. Batra most recently served as Chairman and Co-Founder of a firm advising the world’s foremost wealth funds, corporations, and management consulting firms on automation, digital transformation, and Industry 4.0 strategies. Over a three-decade career with Siemens, Batra held various senior leadership roles including serving as CEO of Digital Industries Automation (USA), President of Industry Automation, and President of Digital Industries. He also served on the Managing Board of Siemens U.S. and on the Board of the Siemens Foundation. Before his tenure at Siemens, Batra managed technical sales and automation solutions for discrete manufacturing and process industries at Allen Bradley, a subsidiary of Rockwell Automation. A sought-after Board Member and Director, Batra previously served as the first Siemens-appointed Chairman of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and as Chairman of the Manufacturers Alliance. He currently serves on the Boards of MKS Instruments, Amsted Industries, Advanced Technology Services, and Q-mation, and is an Executive Advisor to Kearney.

About Eptura

Eptura is a global worktech company that digitally connects people, places, and assets through an intelligent platform, enabling organizations to drive more value. Trusted by leading companies worldwide, including 50% of Fortune 500 brands, Eptura serves 25 million users across 115 countries. For more information, visit eptura.com.

Read the release on PR Newswire here.

Categories: People