Category Archives: News

Sociabble joins forces with Poppulo to accelerate the future of employee experience

Ardian

Ardian, a global private investment firm, announces that its portfolio company Sociabble will join Poppulo, a Vista Equity Partners backed global leader in software for employee experience and digital signage, with a presence in Europe and the US. Trusted by large global enterprises, it serves more than 10,000 customers reaching over 50 million employees worldwide, supported by communications and digital signage software that powers more than 600,000 screens, globally.

During its partnership with Ardian, Sociabble has confirmed itself as a leading employee communication and engagement SaaS platform, recognized for its strong product innovation and customer proximity. Its solution combines intranet, mobile-first frontline communication, knowledge management, employee engagement, advocacy, and advanced AI-powered capabilities, enabling organizations to better connect and engage their workforce.

The combination with Poppulo creates significant opportunities for Sociabble to accelerate its growth. Together, Sociabble and Poppulo will help organizations reach, inform, engage, and activate more than 50 million employees worldwide through a broader, AI-powered Employee Experience platform. This operation will also give Sociabble more visibility and more resources to continue investing in the areas that have always been central to its DNA: innovation, AI, customer success, enterprise-grade security, and measurable business value.

“This new chapter for Sociabble is a strong recognition of the excellence of our team and the quality of our platform. I would like to sincerely thank Ardian for their unwavering support and for consistently demonstrating a true entrepreneurial mindset alongside us throughout our growth journey. Their partnership has fully met our expectations, and their guidance and commitment have been instrumental in making this transaction a success.” Jean-Louis Benard, CEO, Sociabble

“I would like to thank Jean-Louis for the trust he has placed in Ardian, and to congratulate him and his team on this exceptional journey. It has been a true pleasure working alongside such an ambitious and talented team. Our collaboration is a strong illustration of Ardian’s commitment to supporting management teams in their development projects, helping transform European category champions into global leaders. I wish Sociabble and Poppulo continued success in this exciting new chapter. ” Geoffroy de la Grandière, Managing Director, Ardian

List of participants

  • Ardian

    • Growth investment team: Geoffroy de la Grandière, Léa Wolff, Michelle Stitz

  • Poppulo

    • Management: Ruth Fornell, Alejandro Wyszkowski, Caroline Daly, Nick Reising
    • Corporate lawyers: Vinson & Elkins (Tim Johnston, Hannah Thai, Milam Newby, Katie Holmes)
    • M&A advisor: District Capital Partners (Caitlin Currier, Steven Grillo, Tom Manning, Andy Wang)
    • French legal counsel: Archers (Moïra Boublil, Emily Pabot du Chatelard, Louise Martin, Aurélien Franco)

  • Sociabble

    • Management: Jean-Louis Benard, Laurent Gauthier, Christophe Berly
    • Corporate lawyers: Bird & Bird (Flavie Malval Le Roux, David Malcoiffe, Alban Pontari)
    • M&A advisor: AGC Partners (Sean Tucker, Fred Joseph, Duncan MacGillivray, Killian Campion)

About Ardian

In a world of constant evolution, Ardian stands out for its ability to anticipate, adapt, and turn challenges into opportunities. As a global, diversified private markets firm with 22 offices and more than 350 investment professionals worldwide, we provide investment and customized solutions that reflect new economic dynamics and help our clients remain resilient in a changing world.
We deliver multi-local expertise and long-term performance for our investors and partners as well as shared value for the broader society. Since Ardian’s inception in 1996, our pioneering approach to diversification and our ability to offer tailor-made solutions at scale have remained the heart of our strategy.
Through commitment, knowledge and technology, we bring lasting value to our companies and contribute positively to the whole industry.
Ardian currently manages or advises $200bn for more than 1,920 clients worldwide across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit.
Ardian. Mastering change for lasting value.

ardian.com

About Poppulo

Poppulo is a global leader in AI-powered employee experience and enterprise digital signage, helping organizations connect with their workforce and customers through intelligent, real-time messaging across every channel. The first company in its category to deploy agentic AI—and the first to achieve ISO/IEC 42001 certification, the world’s benchmark for secure, trustworthy AI—Poppulo has defined what it means to bring enterprise-grade artificial intelligence to communications.
Trusted by over 10,000 organizations—including more than 40 of the Fortune 100—Poppulo’s solutions reach more than 50 million employees worldwide. Its digital signage network spans over 600,000 screens globally. By combining certified agentic AI with scalable communications technology, Poppulo helps enterprises boost employee engagement, enhance customer experience, and improve operational efficiency.

poppulo.com

About Sociabble

Founded in 2014, Sociabble is a French SaaS company specialized in Employee Experience. Its unified platform helps organizations inform, engage, and mobilize their employees through a digital experience combining internal communication, modern intranet, knowledge management, employee engagement, and employee advocacy, with AI at the heart of its use cases. With an international presence and teams in Paris, Lyon, Boston, and Mumbai, Sociabble supports major organizations such as AXA, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, and Primark.

sociabble.com

Press contacts

Ardian

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com 

POPPULO

tvaughan@poppulo.com 

SOCIABBLE

Barbara Marzari Wibaux

barbara.marzani@sociabble.com 

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KKR Sells CIRCOR Aerospace to Parker Hannifin for $2.55 Billion

KKR

NEW YORK & BURLINGTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– KKR and CIRCOR International (“CIRCOR” or the “Company”), a global manufacturer of flow control products for industrial, naval, and aerospace markets, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell CIRCOR Aerospace, the Company’s aerospace division, to Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH), the global leader in motion and control technologies, for $2.55 billion. Funds managed by KKR first acquired CIRCOR for $1.8 billion in 2023 and will maintain ownership of CIRCOR’s Naval and Industrial businesses.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260520542910/en/

With more than 75 years of heritage in fluid control, pneumatic, electromechanical, and actuation components and subsystems, CIRCOR Aerospace has established a leading position across commercial aerospace and defense end markets through its highly engineered, mission-critical products, long-standing customer relationships, and continued investment in innovation and manufacturing capabilities. This combination of Parker Hannifin and CIRCOR Aerospace brings together complementary capabilities, product portfolios, and platform exposures to create a stronger, more diversified aerospace and defense supplier with enhanced scale.

KKR acquired CIRCOR through its North America Fund XIII. The transaction reflects KKR’s long-standing conviction in themes that are increasingly important in today’s geopolitical environment, including defense modernization and supply chain resilience. CIRCOR’s Naval business, amongst other KKR private equity investments, will continue to provide KKR with exposure to these strategically important end markets.

“Today’s announcement marks an exciting chapter for CIRCOR and reflects the tremendous work and dedication of the entire CIRCOR Aerospace team,” said Saif Siddiqui, Chief Executive Officer of CIRCOR. “With KKR’s support, the business strengthened its culture of ownership and execution, accelerating performance, and further establishing CIRCOR Aerospace as a world-class solution provider for our customers. We are pleased with the strong foundation the team has established and look forward to watching the business continue to grow as part of Parker Hannifin. In our next phase, we at CIRCOR remain dedicated to strengthening the Company’s Industrial and Naval businesses through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.”

“CIRCOR Aerospace has created a highly differentiated business with proprietary solutions and deep customer relationships across critical aerospace and defense programs, and we are grateful for everything they have achieved under our ownership,” said Josh Weisenbeck, Partner at KKR that leads KKR’s Industrials industry team within KKR’s North American Private Equity platform. “This latest transaction underscores continued momentum across our industrials portfolio, marking our fourth realization in the sector this year.”

In early 2024, CIRCOR launched its broad-based employee ownership program, making all CIRCOR employees owners of the Company. At transaction close, all CIRCOR employees will receive a dividend distribution funded by a portion of the sale proceeds and in recognition of the continued strong performance of CIRCOR’s Industrial and Naval businesses. KKR sees meaningful opportunity to further scale both businesses going forward.

KKR and CIRCOR were advised by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Evercore as financial advisors, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal advisor on the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

About CIRCOR International, Inc.

Founded in 1999, CIRCOR International, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets differentiated flow control products and sub-systems for Aerospace & Defense and Industrial customers. The Company has a diversified product portfolio of recognized, market-leading brands (Allweiler®, Houttuin™, Imo®, Hale Hamilton, Aerodyne Controls, Circle Seal Controls, CIRCOR Aerospace, RTK®, CIRCOR Industria, CIRCOR Bodet, Schroedahl®, Tushaco®, Warren® and Zenith®) that fulfill its customers’ mission critical needs.

CIRCOR markets its solutions directly and through various sales partners to more than 14,000 customers in approximately 100 countries. The Company has a global presence with approximately 3,500 employees and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts. For more information, visit the Company’s website at http://circor.com.

About KKR

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

Media
KKR
Sarah Moon
media@kkr.com

CIRCOR
Jennifer Edwards
Jennifer.edwards@circor.com

Source: KKR

 

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KKR Invests in Fresha, the Leading AI-Powered Platform for Beauty and Wellness, at $1bn Valuation

KKR

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Fresha, the leading AI-powered marketplace and business management platform for the beauty and wellness industry, today announced an $80 million primary growth investment from funds managed by KKR, a leading global investment firm. The transaction values Fresha at over $1 billion, marking a defining milestone in its mission to transform how self-care businesses operate globally.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260521291161/en/

From left to right: Marcin Dąbrowski (Deputy Chief Product Officer); Nick Miller (Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer); William Zeqiri (Founder and CEO); and Paweł Iwanów, (Chief Payments Officer).From left to right: Marcin Dąbrowski (Deputy Chief Product Officer); Nick Miller (Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer); William Zeqiri (Founder and CEO); and Paweł Iwanów, (Chief Payments Officer).

The investment brings Fresha’s total capital raised to date to $285 million. Already profitable, Fresha will deploy the new funding to accelerate global expansion and fuel next-generation product and AI innovation.

Headquartered in London and founded in 2015 by William Zeqiri and Nicholas Miller, Fresha is one of the fastest-growing beauty and wellness platforms in the world, with leading market positions in the United Kingdom, Australasia, and the GCC, and a rapidly growing presence across North America, Continental Europe, and South East Asia.

Fresha is used by over 130,000 beauty and wellness businesses globally across key verticals including hair, beauty, barbering, nails, aesthetics, wellness, fitness, and spa. The platform facilitates more than 35 million appointments per month and over $15 billion in annual GMV, positioning Fresha as one of the largest and most scalable platforms in the global beauty and wellness economy.

Patrick Devine, Partner and member of KKR’s Tech Growth team, said: “Fresha has built a differentiated platform, combining software, financial services, and marketplace capabilities with embedded AI, in a way that is deeply integrated into daily operations of beauty and wellness businesses. We believe the company is well positioned to continue scaling globally as demand grows for modern, vertical-specific technology solutions.”

Marta Szczerba, Director in KKR’s Tech Growth team, added: “We have followed William and the broader management team over the years, and have been highly impressed with the consistent performance they have been driving at Fresha. The team have been on the front-foot in implementing AI in a way that drives meaningful business outcomes, and we are thrilled to be embarking with them on the next chapter of Fresha’s journey.”

William Zeqiri, Founder and CEO of Fresha, said: “Reaching unicorn status is a proud milestone, but more importantly, this investment is a strong testament to the trust our partners place in Fresha every day. KKR brings deep experience scaling category-defining technology companies, and their conviction in our vision gives us tremendous confidence as we enter this next chapter. With KKR’s support, we will be able to further accelerate our global expansion and invest heavily in AI to transform how beauty and wellness businesses operate worldwide.“

Nicholas Miller, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Fresha, said: “From day one, our obsession has been building software that beauty and wellness professionals genuinely love using. Every feature we ship is shaped by the people running these businesses — the salon owners, the stylists, the spa operators. This round reinforces what our customers have been telling us for years: Fresha delivers one of the most complete, intuitive, and valuable platforms in the industry. KKR’s investment gives us the resources to push that even further, particularly in AI, where we see enormous potential to remove operational friction and unlock new revenue for our partners.“

KKR is making the investment in Fresha through its Next Generation Technology Growth strategy, building on the firm’s established track record in technology investing, including recently announced investments Reserv, Coder and Premialab.

About KKR

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

About Fresha

Fresha is the world’s leading and top-rated AI-powered booking platform for the beauty, wellness, and self-care industry, trusted by millions of consumers and businesses worldwide. For consumers, Fresha offers a seamless way to discover, book, and pay for beauty and wellness services with top local professionals. For businesses, Fresha provides an all-in-one platform that streamlines operations, from appointment management to client engagement, helping businesses grow effortlessly with powerful software, integrated payments, financial services and advanced technology solutions. For more information, please visit Fresha’s website at www.fresha.com

Media contacts
KKR
Julia Leeger / Eleanor Coppock
Media@kkr.com

Fresha
James Hayward-Browne
james.haywardbrowne@fresha.com

Source: KKR

 

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The AI-Native Enterprise Services Firm Backed by Anthropic, Blackstone, and Hellman & Friedman Announces Acquisition of Fractional AI

Blackstone

San Francisco, CA – May 21, 2026 – The recently announced AI-native enterprise services firm led by Anthropic, Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, and others to help mid-size companies bring Claude into their core operations, today announced the acquisition of Fractional AI, a leading applied AI services company based in San Francisco. Fractional AI’s team and delivery capabilities will serve as the founding operational centerpiece of the new company.

Fractional AI was founded in 2024 by Chris Taylor, Eddie Siegel, and Travis May, and has quickly become a top destination for the industry’s best applied AI engineers. Built by a team with deep entrepreneurial and technical experience, Fractional AI has evolved into one of the go-to end-to-end AI implementation partners for enterprises. The team is world class at helping businesses across industries understand where AI fits, and how to choose and implement the right technologies for specific teams and functions. Fractional AI’s engineering team will work with Anthropic’s Applied AI organization from day one, enabling collaboration and close technical alignment to guide clients’ AI transformation.

The new AI-native enterprise services company is backed by a consortium of leading alternative asset managers including Goldman Sachs, General Atlantic, Leonard Green & Partners, Apollo Global Management, GIC, and Sequoia Capital.

“Bringing frontier AI into a business takes more than a great model,” said Garvan Doyle, a leader in Anthropic’s Applied AI organization. “It takes the engineering judgment to rebuild real systems around what’s now possible, and Fractional has assembled a team with exactly that capability. We’re excited to be working alongside this team as they help enterprises put Claude to work.”

Chris Taylor, CEO, and Eddie Siegel, CTO, at Fractional AI, said: “Rewiring the economy for AI is going to be one of the biggest value creators of the coming decades, but most businesses need help realizing this opportunity. Our team of AI engineers and former founders thrives on building transformative end-to-end solutions. We’re excited to team up with Anthropic, Blackstone, and Hellman & Friedman to close the multi-trillion-dollar gap we see between where businesses operate today and where they can be.”

Rodney Zemmel, Global Head of the Operating Team at Blackstone, said: “We have built a strong relationship with Fractional AI through their work across the Blackstone portfolio, and it’s clear they are a magnet for elite, applied AI engineers. Blackstone has spent years studying where AI creates durable value, and we believe the answer hinges on execution capability – the caliber of the team, the depth of their technical judgment, and their ability to change how a business operates. The opportunity ahead is one of the largest we have seen – and we believe there is no better team to serve as our nucleus for growth than Fractional.”

Tarim Wasim, Partner at Hellman & Friedman, said: “Anthropic’s frontier models are genuinely unmatched in the enterprise. Unlocking their full potential takes expertise and judgment to redesign systems around what’s newly possible. H&F has scaled some of the world’s leading services businesses, and it was clear from Fractional AI’s success in our portfolio that they are the right foundation for building a category-defining AI services firm.”

Terms of the Fractional AI acquisition were not disclosed.

About Anthropic
Anthropic is a frontier AI company whose mission is to steer the trajectory of AI to advance human progress. We are best known for building Claude, the intelligence platform trusted by millions of people and businesses worldwide. Anthropic is a public benefit corporation—a for-profit committed to operating in service of social and public good—and controlled by a Long-Term Benefit Trust, a group of independent experts in AI safety, national security, public policy, and social enterprise.

About Blackstone
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests. Blackstone’s over $1.3 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

About Hellman & Friedman
Hellman & Friedman is a preeminent global private equity firm with a distinctive investment approach focused on a limited number of large-scale equity investments in high-quality growth businesses. H&F seeks to partner with world-class management teams where its deep sector expertise, long-term orientation, and collaborative partnership approach enable companies to flourish. H&F targets outstanding businesses in select sectors, including technology, financial services, healthcare, consumer services & retail, and information, content & business services. H&F was founded in 1984 and has over $115 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025. Learn more about H&F’s defining investment philosophy and approach to sustainable outcomes at www.hf.com.

Contacts
Anthropic
press@anthropic.com

Blackstone
Matt Anderson
Matthew.Anderson@Blackstone.com

Hallie Dewey
Hallie.Dewey@Blackstone.com

Hellman & Friedman
FGS Global
H&F-US@fgsglobal.com

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Ardian and Lamar Development acquire 10,000 sqm building on Calle Alcalá 38-40, Madrid

Ardian

Ardian, a global private investment firm, and Lamar Development, a real estate developer with presence in the Gulf and Europe, announced today the joint acquisition of a prominent office building located on Calle Alcalá 38-40, in the heart of Madrid’s city centre.

The asset dates back to 1880 and features a total area of ca. 10,000 sqm distributed across seven floors with a private courtyard garden on the ground floor and a rooftop terrace. The property occupies a prime location on Calle Alcalá 38-40, located at the intersection with Gran Vía, directly opposite the iconic Metropolis Building and within walking distance of the Four Seasons Hotel and Galería Canalejas, Plaza de Cibeles and the Banco de España.

The partnership intends to undertake a comprehensive redevelopment of the property, transforming it into a high-end residential complex. The renovation will be carried out to the highest standards, with the project aiming for a high-level environmental certification. Lamar Development will manage the project, drawing on their experience in high-end residential projects and collaborations with internationally recognised architects and designers including David Chipperfield, Studio MK27, Jacobsen Arquitetura, Sordo Madaleno and Patricia Urquiola.

The vision for the project is aligned with Ardian’s real estate strategy, which focuses on high-quality assets in strategic locations and based on value creation through active asset management, with the aim of improving facilities, asset performance and, ultimately, realizing their full potential.

“We are very excited about this latest acquisition in Spain. This project reflects our trust in the local real estate market and our dedication to developing best-in-class real estate in major European cities. We are firm believers in Madrid’s potential as a dynamic and growing city and look forward to contributing to the development of the city with innovative and sustainable projects.” Edmund Eggins, Head of Real Estate Spain & Managing Director, Ardian

“This acquisition marks our second investment in the immediate area and reflects our conviction in both Madrid and the continued evolution of this area as one of Europe’s most compelling luxury residential destinations. With Casa Lamar in Cedaceros 9 (www.casalamar.com), we began building our vision for this part of the city, and Alcalá 38-40 represents a natural continuation of that commitment.” Henri Hottinger, European Partner, Lamar Development

List of participants

  • Ardian

    • Uría Menéndez
    • Ashurst

  • Lamar Development

    • Cuatrecasas
    • Linklaters
    • Knight frank

ABOUT ARDIAN

In a world of constant evolution, Ardian stands out for its ability to anticipate, adapt, and turn challenges into opportunities. As a global, diversified private markets firm with 22 offices and more than 350 investment professionals worldwide, we provide investment and customized solutions that reflect new economic dynamics and help our clients remain resilient in a changing world.
We deliver multi-local expertise and long-term performance for our investors and partners as well as shared value for the broader society. Since Ardian’s inception in 1996, our pioneering approach to diversification and our ability to offer tailor-made solutions at scale have remained the heart of our strategy.
Through commitment, knowledge and technology, we bring lasting value to our companies and contribute positively to the whole industry.
Ardian currently manages or advises $200bn for more than 1,920 clients worldwide across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit.
Ardian. Mastering change for lasting value.

ardian.com

ABOUT LAMAR DEVELOPMENT

Lamar Development is a real estate developer focused on ultra luxury residential, hospitality and mixed use projects across the Gulf and Europe. The group combines international development experience with a design led approach, working with globally recognised architects and designers to create projects defined by quality, craftsmanship and long term value.
With €450 million in GDV to date in Spain and US$5 billion in GDV in Dubai, Lamar Development is expanding its European presence through prime opportunities in high barrier to entry markets, including Madrid, Athens and Lisbon.

lamareurope.com

Media Contacts

Ardian

LLYC

ardian@llyc.global 

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Ennov Announces Strategic Growth Investment from Bregal Sagemount and Ardian

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Ardian

Ennov (the “Company”), a global provider of end-to-end regulatory, quality, and clinical software solutions for life sciences and healthcare companies, today announced a strategic growth investment led by Bregal Sagemount (“Sagemount”), a leading growth-focused private equity firm, with participation from Ardian, a global private investment firm. The investment will support the Company’s continued expansion, with a focus on AI innovation, global go-to-market acceleration, and scaling its product offering.

Founded and headquartered in Paris, Ennov provides a unified compliance platform that serves as a centralized system of record for global life sciences organizations. The platform supports the management of content and data across key domains, including Regulatory, Quality, Commercial, Clinical, and Pharmacovigilance. Its integrated architecture and unified data model enable faster deployment, improved user adoption, consistent compliance, and AI-driven efficiency across global operations.

Developed over more than 25 years, Ennov’s software replaces fragmented point solutions and legacy infrastructure, enabling customers to manage complex regulatory requirements across global authorities such as the FDA and EMA within a single system. Today, the Company serves approximately 650 customers and over 500,000 users across 30 countries.

“We were looking for partners who understand the complexity of our customers’ environments and the opportunity ahead for integrated and AI-enabled software in life sciences. Sagemount and Ardian bring that perspective, and we look forward to continuing to build innovative solutions that support our customers’ most critical processes.” Olivier Pâris, Founder and CEO of Ennov

“Regulatory and quality workflows in life sciences are becoming increasingly complex, while the cost of managing them across disconnected systems continues to rise. Olivier and his team have spent more than two decades building a mission-critical solution that enables customers to not only manage but optimize their processes to achieve better business outcomes. We believe this opportunity is only accelerating with Ennov’s new AI products and we’re excited to support the Company in its next phase of growth.” Gene Yoon, Managing Partners at Sagemount

“Ennov represents exactly the kind of technology company we seek to support at Ardian Growth. We are excited to join forces with Bregal Sagemount, bringing together two leading US and European investment firms behind an exceptional management team. With its strong international footprint and rapidly expanding AI capabilities, Ennov is uniquely positioned to shape the future of regulatory, quality, and clinical software in life sciences worldwide.” Alexis Saada, Head of Growth at Ardian

With this growth investment, Gene Yoon, Curt Witte, and Harrison Brunelli from Sagemount and Alexis Saada from Ardian will be joining Ennov’s board of directors.

Ennov was advised by Veil Jourde. Sagemount was advised by Goodwin Procter LLP. Ardian was advised by Proskauer Rose LLP.

The transaction is expected to close in late Q2 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Ardian investment team: Alexis Saada, Olivier Roy, Alexandra Da Silva, Michelle Stitz

 

ABOUT ENNOV

Ennov provides a comprehensive software platform to manage the most demanding processes of life sciences organizations in a compliant and efficient way. With over 25 years of experience, Ennov’s cloud-based solutions cover Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, Quality, Clinical, and Commercial. Dedicated to innovation and excellence, Ennov’s solutions are used by more than 650 companies and 500,000 users worldwide, helping them to bring their products to market faster while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. For more information, visit en.ennov.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

ennov.com

ABOUT BREGAL SAGEMOUNT

Bregal Sagemount is a leading growth-focused private capital firm with $11 billion of cumulative capital raised. The firm provides flexible capital and strategic assistance to market-leading companies in high-growth sectors across a wide variety of transaction situations. Bregal Sagemount has invested in over 90 companies in a variety of sectors, including software, data & information services, financial technology & services, digital infrastructure, healthcare IT, and business & consumer services. The firm has offices in New York and Palo Alto. For more information, visit www.sagemount.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

sagemount.com

ABOUT ARDIAN

In a world of constant evolution, Ardian stands out for its ability to anticipate, adapt, and turn challenges into opportunities. As a global, diversified private markets firm with 22 offices and more than 350 investment professionals worldwide, we provide investment and customized solutions that reflect new economic dynamics and help our clients remain resilient in a changing world.
We deliver multi-local expertise and long-term performance for our investors and partners as well as shared value for the broader society. Since Ardian’s inception in 1996, our pioneering approach to diversification and our ability to offer tailor-made solutions at scale have remained the heart of our strategy.
Through commitment, knowledge and technology, we bring lasting value to our companies and contribute positively to the whole industry.
Ardian currently manages or advises $200bn for more than 1,920 clients worldwide across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit.
Ardian. Mastering change for lasting value.

ardian.com

Media contacts

Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Ennov

Laure Bros

lbros@ennov.com 

Marketing & Communications Manager at Bregal Sagemount

Siqi Wu

siqi.wu@bregal.com 

ARDIAN

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com 

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TINC – Trading update over the 1Q 2026

GIMV

In addition to the reporting over the half-year and annual results, TINC will also provide a summary update on the (non-audited) figures and developments for the intervening quarters. This trading update relates to the first quarter of the financial year 2026 (non-audited figures as at 31 March 2026).

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La Caisse partners with Novisto to help organizations prepare for their sustainability transition

LaCaisse

Novisto, a leading corporate sustainability management platform, and La Caisse, a global investment group, announce the conclusion of an agreement and an investment by La Caisse in Novisto. This transaction aims to accelerate the company’s growth and strengthen organizations’ access to technological solutions that facilitate the management of sustainability-related information within the context of the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Over the past few years, Novisto has established itself as a key player in its sector by helping companies better manage the quality, traceability, and comparability of sustainability data amid rapidly evolving global disclosure requirements.

La Caisse’s entry into Novisto’s capital occurs during a phase of strong international growth and is based on a shared vision: data technologies are essential for integrating climate and extra-financial issues into business and investment practices. This collaboration will support the continued evolution of Novisto’s platform and its offerings.

The transaction aligns with La Caisse’s 2025‑2030 climate strategy, which focuses on supporting companies through the energy transition. Several of La Caisse’s portfolio companies—including CAE, Boralex et Couche‑Tard—already utilize the Novisto platform.

“Our commitment to Novisto, a Québec-based company with a strong presence both locally and abroad, reflects our desire to support companies offering concrete solutions to the major challenges of our time and to turn them into champions of their sector. By helping organizations better structure their sustainability data, Novisto contributes to accelerating the transition to a greener economy. This investment also enhances our portfolio while fostering greater synergies and the sharing of expertise,” said Kim Thomassin, Executive Vice-President and Head of Québec, La Caisse.

This partnership comes at a time when companies face increasing pressure from regulations, such as the European CSRD and climate disclosure laws in California. Novisto has become a benchmark solution for organizations that view sustainability not merely as a compliance exercise, but as a central element of corporate governance.

“The management and reporting of sustainability data have become a pillar of corporate resilience,” said Charles Assaf, CEO and co-founder of Novisto. “La Caisse is a global leader in sustainable investment, and this partnership confirms Novisto’s role in the transition. Together, we provide the world’s largest organizations with the auditable data necessary to move from climate commitments to verifiable climate action.”

ABOUT LA CAISSE

For more than 60 years, La Caisse has invested with a dual mandate: generate optimal long-term returns for its 48 depositors, who represent over six million Quebecers, while contributing to Québec’s economic development.

As a global investment group, La Caisse is active in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private credit. As at December 31, 2025, its net assets totalled CAD 517 billion. Learn more at lacaisse.com, LinkedIn and Instagram.

La Caisse is a registered trademark of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec that is protected in Canada and other jurisdictions and licensed for use by its subsidiaries.

ABOUT NOVISTO

Novisto is the enterprise system of intelligence for sustainability management. By integrating ESG, carbon, and risk data into a single, audit-ready architecture, Novisto provides global organizations with the transparency required for modern regulatory environments. The platform serves a premier list of Global 2000 companies including Sanofi, Alimentation Couche‑Tard (Circle K), and Synopsys. Across 12+ critical industry segments—from Finance and Energy to Mining and Deep Tech—Novisto powers the ESG excellence of the world’s most complex enterprises. To learn more visit www.novisto.com, LinkedIn.

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AllianceBernstein, Brookfield, and Carlyle Unveil Turnkey Private-Markets Solution for Defined Contribution Plans

Carlyle

NASHVILLE and NEW YORK, NY – May 20, 2026 – AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE: AB), Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM), and Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) today announced a collaboration to deliver an innovative, turnkey private markets solution for Defined Contribution (DC) plans providing broader asset class diversification to retirement savers. Designed for implementation alongside an existing target-date fund or managed-account solution, “ABC [ONE]” is intended to be a single source of private-markets exposure for a DC plan’s Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA). The solution will dynamically adjust private asset allocations across private credit, private real assets and private equity, depending on a participant’s stage in their retirement-savings journey.

AB, a leader in glide path design and asset allocation with $105 billion* in AUM in custom target date solutions, will manage the allocation to the three private market asset components alongside the plan’s existing QDIA, based on participants’ ages and preferences.

Global alternative investment firm Brookfield will manage the private real assets component, global investment firm Carlyle will manage the private equity component, and AB will manage the private credit component.

ABC [ONE] is built to address changing market dynamics, with inflation-adjusted returns expected to be lower in the decade ahead and public markets offering less diversification. By incorporating private market assets with professionally managed DC retirement solutions – such as target-date funds – ABC [ONE] seeks to offer the potential to enhance returns and improve diversification alongside public market exposures.

“We’re pleased to bring together Brookfield, Carlyle and AB to provide a turnkey private markets solution to DC plans that gives retirement savers an allocation to private markets that dynamically adjusts by age,” said Onur Erzan, President of AllianceBernstein. “For more than a decade, AB has been incorporating private assets in custom target-date funds, in both the US and the UK. Based on our investment research and hands-on experience, we believe that when a plan decides to include them, it’s critical to optimize the deployment of these assets for DC participants.”

“We are excited to bring the breadth of Brookfield’s private strategies to the defined contribution space, alongside a market-leading target-date manager,” said Connor Teskey, CEO of Brookfield Asset Management. “With more than 125 years of experience owning, operating and investing in the infrastructure, energy and real estate assets that underpin the global economy, we believe private real assets offer compelling diversification benefits and differentiated return drivers that can support more stable, resilient long-term outcomes for DC participants.”

“We believe private equity can play a meaningful role in enhancing retirement outcomes over time,” said John Redett, Co-President and Head of Global Private Equity at Carlyle. “Our global private equity platform draws on decades of deep experience investing across cycles, sectors, and regions. By combining expertise with a diversified investment approach, we aim to help investors access opportunities aligned with long-term retirement needs. We’re pleased to collaborate to deliver a thoughtfully designed solution that brings together complementary strengths for DC plans.”

ABC [ONE] will use AB’s proprietary DC technology platform, which enables the firm to deliver highly customized default solutions to clients and effectively operationalize them with key business partners such as recordkeepers.

*AUM as of Q1 2026

About AllianceBernstein

AllianceBernstein (AB) is a leading global investment management firm that offers diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals and private wealth clients in major world markets. As of April 30, 2026, AB had $881 billion in assets under management. AB is a subsidiary of Equitable Holdings, Inc., (EQH), a leading financial services holding company comprised of well-established and complementary businesses. Equitable Holdings, Inc., directly and through various subsidiaries, owns an approximate 68% economic interest in AB as of March 31, 2026. For more information about AB, visit www.alliancebernstein.com.

About Brookfield Asset Management 

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world — including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield’s heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles. For more information, please visit brookfield.com.

About Carlyle

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest. With $475 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2026, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,500 people in 28 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on X @OneCarlyle and LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group.

CONTACTS:

AllianceBernstein Media Contact 

Carly Symington, (615) 417-5701

Carly.Symington@alliancebernstein.com

Brookfield Media Contact 

Rachel Wood, (980) 428-3539

rachel.wood@brookfield.com

Brookfield Investor Relations Contact

Jason Fooks, 866.989.0311

jason.fooks@brookfield.com

Carlyle Media Contact 

Isabelle Jeffrey, (212) 332-6394

Isabelle.Jeffrey@carlyle.com

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Verdane partners with ETERNO to scale its AI-native operating system across Germany’s outpatient care

Verdane Capital

ETERNO, a Berlin-based healthcare technology company, has secured a significant investment from Verdane for the expansion of its AI-native platform for outpatient care. The investment underscores the increasing importance of modernising one of Europe’s most fragmented and under-digitalised sectors.

Across Europe, healthcare systems remain heavily constrained by administrative inefficiencies. Doctors spend up to one full day per week on documentation, billing and other non-clinical tasks which reduces the time available for patient care.

At the same time, artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping outpatient healthcare and exposing the structural limitations of legacy software systems built for documentation and billing. As physicians operate in increasingly complex, data-rich environments, the next generation of healthcare infrastructure must evolve into open, interoperable and AI-native platforms capable of automating workflows, supporting clinical decision-making and orchestrating care operations in real time across the entire outpatient ecosystem.

Yet the underlying technology stack in practices remains fundamentally outdated. In Germany alone, more than 170,000 outpatient physicians still rely on fragmented legacy systems, with an estimated 97% of practice management software running on premise rather than in the cloud. Across Europe, around 2 million doctors work in outpatient care yet digital infrastructure remains highly fragmented and outdated.

“We believe outpatient care is undergoing one of the largest infrastructure shifts in decades – moving from fragmented legacy software toward open, AI-native operating systems that will redefine how care is delivered,” said Maximilian Waldmann, Founder and CEO of ETERNO.

ETERNO offers its AI-native operating system for doctors, ETERNO Cloud. The system is an open, fully integrated, cloud-based platform that automates administrative workflows end-to-end, from patient access and clinical documentation to billing and analytics.

With a team of more than 150 employees, the partnership with Verdane will allow ETERNO to scale its platform and to expand technological leadership, accelerate commercial rollout and pursue selective strategic acquisitions.

With Verdane, ETERNO has partnered with one of Europe’s leading growth investors, known for its strong track record in building and scaling category-leading platforms. Verdane brings deep operational expertise and a data-driven approach to value creation, supporting high-growth companies through their next phase of expansion.

Dominik Schwarz, Partner at Verdane, said: “Eterno is exactly in the sweet spot of Verdane’s investment focus. The company addresses a structural inefficiency in one of Germany’s most important and undersupplied markets, and has developed a product that resonates strongly with physicians. The combination of zero churn, a rapidly growing enterprise pipeline and a market that is still at the very beginning of cloud adoption underpins our conviction in the opportunity ahead. We look forward to supporting Max, Fredo and their team as they build a leading practice management platform in Germany.”

Maximilian Waldmann, Founder and CEO of ETERNO added: “For decades, outpatient care has been dominated by fragmented and closed legacy systems that were never designed for artificial intelligence. At the same time, healthcare generates vast amounts of valuable data that remain trapped across disconnected systems – limiting patient outcomes. At ETERNO, we believe the future of healthcare will be built on open and sovereign AI-native platforms that can securely connect workflows, medical records, devices and third-party apps across the ecosystem. Our ambition is to become the foundational infrastructure layer for outpatient care – enabling providers and AI builders to operate within one of Europe’s most complex and highly regulated markets. With Verdane, we have found a strong partner who combines long-term thinking with deep experience in scaling category-defining technology platforms.”

About Verdane

Verdane is a specialist growth buyout investment firm that partners with tech-enabled and sustainable businesses that help to digitalise and decarbonise the European economy. The flexible mandates of Verdane funds allow it to invest as a majority or minority control investor, replacement or growth capital, in single companies or in portfolios of companies.

Verdane has raised €10 billion in capital and its funds have made more than 200 investments in fast-growing businesses since 2003. Verdane’s team of over 180 investment professionals and operating experts is based out of Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Helsinki, Munich, Oslo and Stockholm and combines deep sector expertise with long-standing local networks and presence in core European markets.

Verdane is also a certified B Corporation, the most ambitious sustainability accreditation globally. The firm only backs businesses that pass its 2040 test, which indicates whether the company can thrive in a more sustainable future economy.

Verdane is partly owned by the Verdane Foundation, which is focused on two areas: climate change and more equitable and inclusive local communities.

About ETERNO

ETERNO was founded in 2019 by Maximilian Waldmann and Frederic Haitz and is a German healthcare technology company headquartered in Berlin. The company builds an AI-native operating system for doctors and therapists – a fully integrated, cloud-based platform that manages the entire patient journey, from patient access and clinical documentation to billing and analytics. By embedding artificial intelligence and deep system integration, ETERNO enables healthcare providers to significantly reduce administrative workload and improve care delivery. Today, more than 2,000 doctors across Germany rely on ETERNO Cloud in their daily practice operations.

Further information: http://www.eterno.group

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