Category Archives: News

Iconic Apparel Brands Ann Taylor, LOFT and Talbots Come Together as KnitWell Group

Sycamore
August 30, 2023

NEW YORK, NY (August 30, 2023) Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm specializing in consumer, distribution, and retail-related investments, today announced the formation of KnitWell Group (“KnitWell”), a new holding company comprising industry-leading apparel brands Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Talbots. Together, these brands generate more than $3 billion in annual sales. The Company will also continue to provide oversight and shared services to Lane Bryant, a leading plus-size women’s apparel brand. Together, these brands position KnitWell as one of the largest specialty apparel companies in the United States.

KnitWell’s name reflects the Company’s core belief that each strong brand is distinctive, but when put together they are a powerhouse retail organization dedicated to meeting customers where they are in their journey.

Lizanne Kindler, current Chief Executive Officer of Talbots, will lead KnitWell Group as Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer. She is joined in the Office of the Executive Chair by a seasoned team of retail executives, and further supported by senior leaders at each of the brands – all of whom are dedicated to the unique needs of their customers.

“KnitWell is a collection of powerful brands that, in aggregate, have been providing customers with the fashions they want for nearly 300 years,” said Ms. Kindler. “Brands are propelled by a deep and meaningful connection with the customers they serve, and that is where we start and end each day. With that as our North Star, we know that this new structure will support our efforts to unite brands and people by providing greater resources and capabilities, economies of scale, and enhanced value. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and grateful for our more than 30,000 associates for being part of this next chapter.”

Stefan Kaluzny, Managing Director of Sycamore Partners, added, “Lizanne and the team have done an incredible job over the last decade reviving and growing these iconic American brands, first Talbots and most recently Ann Taylor and LOFT. The consistent and focused approach, which  leverages the replicable playbook this team has developed, is laying the foundation of success not only for the brands currently part of the KnitWell portfolio, but also for potential future brands. We look forward to our continued partnership with Lizanne and the entire team.”

Contacts

Sycamore Partners

Michael Freitag or Arielle Rothstein
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449
media@sycamorepartners.com

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Gresham House Ventures has completed a £5mn investment into Branchspace, a leading technology consultancy and software provider working with airlines to enhance and transform their digital retailing capabilities.

Gresham House

Set against a backdrop of strongly rebounding air travel post-pandemic, Branchspace addresses a growing demand from airlines to create a modern retail offering and meet evolving customer needs for relevant, personalised shopping and self-service experiences.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in London, Branchspace allows clients to create and manage personalised, data-driven digital commerce experiences to increase direct distribution and take greater ownership of the end-to-end customer journey.

Branchspace provides solutions across the entire tech stack including solutions architecture, digital performance reviews and UX/UI experience design, alongside a proprietary booking and conversion engine and dynamic retailing software platform, Triplake, which has gained significant traction since launching in 2021.

The investment will be used primarily to accelerate the growth of Branchspace’s comprehensive and best-in-class suite of software components to ensure travellers experience effortless website and mobile app navigation, booking, ancillary offerings, check-in, servicing and payments.

The deal, led by Benjamin Faulkner and Tom Makey, marks the first institutional investment into the company and continues a busy period of dealmaking for Gresham House Ventures. Recent deals this year include a £3mn investment into speech therapy platform Mable Therapy, a £3.5mn investment in sustainability software business Dayrize, a £4mn investment in neuro-inclusion solutions leader Cognassist and leading a £4.65mn investment round into climate impact data company Connect Earth.

Benjamin Faulkner, Associate Director at Gresham House Ventures said:

“As we witness a strong resurgence in air travel post-pandemic, airlines are determined to meet the ever-changing demands of their customers. Branchspace’s solutions align perfectly with this industry-wide need and, with the successful launch of their Triplake product, have brought a step change in the technology tools available for retailing travel across the globe.”

“Our investment in Branchspace underscores our commitment to supporting innovative businesses that empower industries through technology-driven solutions. The management team’s deep industry experience further bolsters our confidence in the company’s potential to revolutionise the airline sector’s online retail capabilities and we look forward to working with them to achieve this.”

Michael Huynh, Founder and Managing Director at Branchspace said:

“With Gresham House Ventures’ support, we will accelerate the development and deployment of our modular Triplake dynamic retailing platform, delivering the best possible end to end experience for travellers. We will also enhance our leading Triplake Control Hub further for airline teams to drive one-to-one propositions and experiment and optimise performance in real time. This investment marks a significant milestone in our growth journey, and we remain steadfast in our mission to break down barriers of legacy technology and thinking to bring innovation to the forefront of the industry.”

Branchspace was advised on the transaction by Strata Technology Partners LLP, an independent corporate finance partnership headquartered in London that provides capital raising services and mergers & acquisitions advice to ambitious technology and technology-enabled businesses.

 

 

Media enquiries

KL Communications

gh@kl-communications.com

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Trustly, backed by Nordic Capital, joins forces with SlimPay to revolutionise the recurring payments experience

Nordic Capital

Trustly, a global payment method, announces that it is joining forces with SlimPay, a European leader in recurring payments, to set a new standard in recurring payments for merchants and consumers across Europe and the UK. SlimPay’s platform combined with Trustly’s proprietary technology will together bring a new, exceptional payment experience to the region.

Trustly’s acquisition of SlimPay will facilitate error-free payment registration, better conversion and flexibility, enabling consumers to pay bills, subscribe to a service or opt for flexible payment plans. The product synergy will create an intuitive payment process for consumers leveraging the best of Trustly’s Account-to-Account (A2A) technology and SlimPay SEPA direct-debit capabilities.

In 2022, Direct Debits totaling over EUR 10 trillion were collected across Europe, with 80% of these transactions occurring in markets where Trustly and SlimPay have combined operations. The combination will add to Trustly’s existing modern Direct Debit capability in the UK and Sweden and provide a comprehensive pan-European recurring payment service. Trustly and SlimPay will together improve the payments process for merchants and consumers in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), including Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

The acquisition of SlimPay comes shortly after the successful launch of Trustly Azura, a revolutionary new technology and data engine that will improve the payments experience for merchants and consumers through personalisation and data optimisation. By adding SlimPay’s recurring payments and sophisticated data interface to its offering, Trustly expects to further accelerate the roll-out of Azura.

Johan Tjärnberg, Group CEO of Trustly, comments: “We are thrilled that SlimPay is joining Trustly. SlimPay’s SEPA solution for modern Direct Debit in combination with the optimised experience of Trustly Azura will together be able to revolutionise the recurring payment experience and create a new industry standard. The addition of SlimPay is fully in-line with Trustly’s strategy to offer a unique 360 degrees embedded experience across all types of digital payments.“

Jerome Traisnel, CEO of SlimPay, adds: “Together with Trustly, we will bring a new, streamlined payment experience to the European recurring payments space, creating an unrivalled network of merchants and consumers across the entire repeat payment economy. We look forward to working with Trustly to build an innovative and comprehensive platform across Europe.”

SlimPay, founded in 2010, is a European leader in recurring payments, offering digital payment solutions through innovative technologies to merchants and consumers across utility, financial services, and retail sectors. SlimPay is an authorised payment institution under ACPR supervision.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. The parties have agreed to not disclose any financial details.

For more information, please contact:
Carlos Cancino
Communications Director, Trustly
tel: +46 70-216 77 85
e-mail: press@trustly.com

About Trustly
Founded in 2008, Trustly is a global leader in Open Banking Payments. Our digital account-to-account platform redefines the speed, simplicity and security of payments, linking some of the world’s most prominent merchants with consumers directly from their online banking accounts. Trustly can handle the entire payment journey, setting us apart from the competition and enabling us to offer an attractive alternative to the traditional card networks at a lower cost. Read more at www.trustly.com

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Vornado Realty Trust, Hudson Pacific, Blackstone, and New York City Economic Development Corporation to Create Public-Private Partnership and First Purpose-Built Studio Campus in Manhattan at Pier 94

Blackstone
  • Approximately $350 million investment expected to create more than 1,300 jobs during construction period, 400 permanent jobs and contribute $6.4 billion to the local economy over the next 30 years
  • Project to add several public amenities, including new public restrooms for Hudson River Park, an 1,850 square foot community amenity space, 25,000 square feet of waterfront open space and pier access, and safety improvements to the bikeway

New York & Los Angeles – August 29, 2023 – Today, Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO), Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP), Blackstone (NYSE: BX), the City of New York, and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced they have entered into Manhattan’s first public-private partnership venture to build a purpose-built studio campus at Pier 94. Vornado, who contributed its long-term leasehold for Pier 94 to the venture, will own 49.9%; Hudson Pacific will own 25.6%; and Blackstone’s institutional Core+ Real Estate strategy will own 24.5%. Vornado will be responsible for development and Hudson Pacific will provide design oversight and manage the facility’s leasing and operations.

Sunset Pier 94 Studios will be a first-of-its-kind space, home to both state-of-the-art film and production technology that will make New York City even more competitive with other comparable markets, as well as impressive amenities for all New Yorkers including new public restrooms for Hudson River Park, an 1,850-square-foot community amenity space, 25,000 square feet of waterfront open space and pier access, and safety improvements to the bikeway. There will also be a program to support workforce development and training programs to connect local residents to opportunities in film, television, commercial and other media production.

The project represents a total investment of approximately $350 million from Vornado, Hudson Pacific and Blackstone, and is expected to create more than 1,300 construction jobs, 400 permanent jobs and contribute $6.4 billion to the local economy over the next 30 years. Construction will begin in third quarter 2023, utilizing $183 million in construction financing led by RBC, and delivery of the project is expected by year-end 2025.

“Our partnership with Blackstone, Hudson Pacific, and the City of New York will solidify New York as a leading market for content production and studio space, create jobs, drive economic momentum, and deliver a host of amenities to the surrounding community,” said Michael Franco, President and Chief Financial Officer at Vornado Realty Trust. “Together we’ll raise the bar for one of New York City’s signature industries and breathe new life into a key waterfront site.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the City of New York, Vornado, and Blackstone to bring this unparalleled, ideally located production experience to New York. The city has an extensive, well-established production infrastructure yet is highly supply constrained in terms of stages,” said Victor Coleman, Chairman and CEO of Hudson Pacific. “Once again we are leveraging our industry relationships and unique expertise in building and operating premier facilities for leading content creators in the highest-barrier-to-entry global media markets to create long-term value for our shareholders.”

“Content creation is one of our key global investment themes, and we are thrilled to be part of this one-of-a-kind, public-private partnership that delivers for our investors while aiming to create more than 1,300 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs, and contribute $6.4 billion over the next 30 years to the local New York City economy. I want to thank the City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation for helping make this project possible,” said Nadeem Meghji, Blackstone’s Head of Real Estate Americas.

“With our administration’s leadership, New York City is back – we have recovered 99 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic, and visitors from across the world are returning to Broadway and Times Square,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “At the same time, from Willets Points in Queens to Kips Bay in Manhattan to Kingsbridge Heights in the Bronx, we are advancing bold economic development projects across the entire city that will create tens of thousands of family-sustaining jobs in our communities, and the activation of Pier 94 will produce the same kinds of economic opportunities on the West Side of Manhattan. This project will bring critical, long-awaited investment to this public asset, turn an underutilized space into an economic driver, and improve public space and quality of life for New Yorkers.”

“Transforming Pier 94 into a world-class film and television production studio delivers multiple goals that are key to our continued recovery: economic development, local job creation, and public realm improvements,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “This partnership between NYCEDC, Vornado, Hudson Pacific, and Blackstone will quickly revitalize this key waterfront asset and fortify our position as the capital of film and media.”

“Sunset Pier 94 Studios demonstrates a monumental public-private partnership that will have a lasting impact on our city by creating 400 film and TV jobs, over 1,300 construction jobs, along with an estimated economic impact of $6.4 billion over the next 30 years,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “NYCEDC and our partners in this project look forward to the development and completion of the pier space – including significant improvements to the public realm and waterfront access on the west side of Manhattan that all New Yorkers will be able to enjoy. This project further advances NYCEDC’s mission of transforming New York City into a great place to live, work, do business, and play.”

Pier 94 will cement New York City as one of the preeminent places for the film and television industry to film while also contributing to the needs of the local community. Plans for the 266,000-square-foot Sunset Pier 94 Studios include six purpose-built soundstages with production control room facilities and 145,000 square feet of production support space and offices, with stunning Hudson River views and ample on-site parking. Several stages will have technological infrastructure for adaptation to virtual production. The facility’s location, design, size and technological capabilities will provide world-class convenience and flexibility for episodic television, live audience television and feature films. In alignment with the broader Sunset Studios portfolio, Sunset Pier 94 Studios will prioritize sustainability, targeting LEED Gold and Fitwel certification, with plans for operations to be powered by 100% renewable energy.

The new facility will be the first New York location for Hudson Pacific and Blackstone’s growing studio platform and synergistic with its existing Los Angeles operations. With the addition of Sunset Pier 94 Studios, Sunset Studios will comprise 69 existing and planned stages globally across six purpose-built facilities, all in top-tier locations within the well-established and supply constrained production epicenters of Los Angeles, London and New York. Hudson Pacific’s Quixote brand operates an additional 26 stages in Los Angeles and New Orleans and services productions in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, New Orleans and Albuquerque.

About Vornado Realty Trust
Vornado is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) with a portfolio of premier New York City office and retail assets and the developer of the new PENN DISTRICT. While concentrated in New York, Vornado also owns the premier assets in both Chicago and San Francisco. Vornado is a real estate industry leader in sustainability, with over 27 million square feet of LEED-certified buildings and over 23 million square feet at LEED Gold or Platinum.

About Hudson Pacific Properties
Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP) is a real estate investment trust serving dynamic tech and media tenants in global epicenters for these synergistic, converging and secular growth industries. Hudson Pacific’s unique and high-barrier tech and media focus leverages a full-service, end-to-end value creation platform forged through deep strategic relationships and niche expertise across identifying, acquiring, transforming and developing properties into world-class amenitized, collaborative and sustainable office and studio space. For more information visit HudsonPacificProperties.com.

About Blackstone Real Estate
Blackstone is a global leader in real estate investing. Blackstone’s real estate business was founded in 1991 and has US $333 billion of investor capital under management. Blackstone is the largest owner of commercial real estate globally, owning and operating assets across every major geography and sector, including logistics, residential, office, hospitality and retail. Our opportunistic funds seek to acquire undermanaged, well-located assets across the world. Blackstone’s Core+ business invests in substantially stabilized real estate assets globally, through both institutional strategies and strategies tailored for income-focused individual investors including Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (BREIT), a U.S. non-listed REIT, and Blackstone’s European yield-oriented strategy. Blackstone Real Estate also operates one of the leading global real estate debt businesses, providing comprehensive financing solutions across the capital structure and risk spectrum, including management of Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE: BXMT).

About New York City Economic Development Corporation
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city’s future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statements for Vornado Realty Trust
Certain statements contained herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They represent Vornado’s intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Vornado’s future results, financial condition and business may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “would,” “may” or other similar expressions in this press release. For a discussion of factors that could materially affect the outcome of our forward-looking statements and Vornado’s future results and financial condition, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A, of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Currently, some of the factors are the increase in interest rates and inflation and the continuing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, operating performance and the effect that these factors have had and may continue to have on Vornado’s tenants, the global, national, regional and local economies and financial markets and the real estate market in general.

Forward-Looking Statements for Hudson Pacific Properties
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or “potential” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond Hudson Pacific’s control, which may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. All forward-looking statements reflect Hudson Pacific’s good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance. Furthermore, Hudson Pacific disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause Hudson Pacific’s future results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Hudson Pacific’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by Hudson Pacific from time to time with the SEC.

Contacts

Vornado
Tom Sanelli
(212) 894-7433
tsanelli@vno.com

Hudson Pacific Properties
Investor Contact: Laura Campbell
(310) 622-1702
lcampbell@hudsonppi.com

Media Contact: Laura Murray
(310) 622-1702
lmurray@hudsonppi.com

Blackstone
Jillian Kary
(212) 583-5379
Jillian.Kary@Blackstone.com

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Novatron Fusion Group closes seed round of EUR 5 million – accelerating the transformation to commercial fusion power

Industriefonden

Novatron Fusion Group closes seed round of EUR 5 million – accelerating the transformation to commercial fusion power

Novatron Fusion Group, a Swedish company that aims to revolutionize the field of fusion energy production, announced today the successful closure of its seed round, raising EUR 5 million. The round was led by Climentum Capital, in syndication with Industrifonden, Santander InnoEnergy Climate Fund, and with renewed investments by KTH Holding and EIT InnoEnergy.

The world’s energy demand is growing rapidly, and we need to meet it without reliance on fossil fuels. Fusion power has the potential to provide a limitless supply of emissions-free, reliable, safe, and affordable energy for all. Fusion power would provide a much-needed solution to some of humanity’s greatest challenges: the growing need for energy and accelerating climate change.

Today, stabilizing superheated plasma is a significant roadblock to commercializing fusion reactors. The NOVATRON concept is an innovative reactor solution for stable magnetic plasma confinement that aims to overcome this hurdle. The NOVATRON concept is based on the original idea by the Swedish inventor and entrepreneur, Jan Jäderberg. It’s being developed by world-leading physicists, engineers, and academics at the new Novatron Lab, housed within the former Alfvén Laboratory at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.

Peter Roos, CEO of Novatron Fusion Group, commented: “We are thrilled to receive such strong support from our investors. This will enable us to further deliver on our mission of transforming the energy landscape and accelerating the transition to a more sustainable future. We are now one step closer to enabling fusion energy at scale.”

Novatron Fusion Group aims to develop economically viable fusion energy in the 2030s. The new capital will be used to build pre-commercial prototypes. The company’s unique solution aims to increase reliability and reduce the current capital and operational cost profiles of its fusion reactors, relative to alternative solutions.

Mala Valroy, Investment Manager at Industrifonden, commented: “At Industrifonden, we believe in making science-backed, scalable investments that can shift the needle for society, and Novatron Fusion Groups technology has the potential to do just that. We are impressed by their innovative approach and confident in their ability to revolutionize energy production together with renewables. We are excited to support Novatron Fusion Group on their journey and look forward to witnessing the transformative effects of their technology.”

Read more at novatronfusion.com ↗

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Nordic Capital-backed Max Matthiessen acquires two companies – and expands to Denmark

Nordic Capital

Max Matthiessen continues to future-proof its business as it expands its footprint outside of Sweden. With the acquisitions of the two Danish companies, PensionsSelskabet and StockRate Asset Management, Max Matthiessen will have a significant presence on the Danish market.

“We’ve ambitious growth targets and are in the process of taking Max Matthiessen to the next level. With us, the customer is always at the centre. The entry into the Danish market is very positive. For future growth, the ambition is to establish a presence in Denmark both organically and through acquisitions,” said Jacob Schlawitz, CEO at Max Matthiessen.

PensionsSelskabet pension & health care services has an attractive business model, based on solid partnerships, and has demonstrated a solid track-record of growth and expansion. Its business strategy focuses on ensuring high quality and putting customers’ best interest first.

PensionsSelskabet and its employees look forward to joining Max Matthiessen, as it expands its Life & Pension offering and footprint in Denmark. The acquisition will widen the selection of products and services accessible to customers in Denmark.

“It’s very promising that this is becoming a reality, and we’re all looking forward to joining. With Max Matthiessen’s strength and experience, we can improve and develop our services and range of innovative products in Denmark,” said Stig Wetterstrom, CEO at PensionsSelskabet.

Max Matthiessen also acquires StockRate Asset Management, a leading provider of personal wealth management services, and by that increases its market shares within the segment. With the ambition to expand further internationally, the StockRate acquisition is a perfect match. It brings a presence on the Danish market and is an excellent addition to Max Matthiessen’s product assortment. Furthermore, it will give StockRate employees the opportunity to benefit from Max Matthiessen’s established collaborations and access to Max Matthiessen Group’s business solutions.

The strengthened investment solutions will be beneficial for the customers. StockRate has a solid business model based on flourishing partnerships and a very strong Private Banking branch.

“StockRate is a customer-oriented organisation where the customers’ needs, wishes and satisfaction are at the centre of our decision-making, strategies, and activities. We always strive to create value to our customers through customised products, attentive customer service and continuous improvement in our performance. With Max Matthiessen, we’ll be stronger and able to offer additional investment solutions that earlier haven’t been available in Denmark,” said Kristian Kjer, Administrative Director at StockRate Asset Management.

 

Press contact:
Hanna Ericsson
Press Officer, Max Matthiessen
Tel: +46 73 463 66 31
e-mail: hanna.ericsson@maxm.se

About PensionsSelskabet pension & health care services
PensionsSelskabet mediates pension- and healthcare systems for companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals, as well as advises on everything from the composition of the company’s pension system to an individual employee’s own solution. The company has more than 25,000 customers, 35 passionate pension specialists and offices in Aalborg, Aarhus, Esbjerg, Herning, Sonderborg, Odense and Copenhagen. The company offers both traditional and innovative pension solutions for companies and their employees.

About StockRate Asset Management
StockRate aims to have a positive impact on the investment industry and to be a responsible and decent asset manager for its clients. It puts the customer at the centre and prioritises personal and independent advice based on its customers’ financial wishes and individual situation. StockRate has extensive expertise in the areas of global equities, bonds, rental housing and alternative and sustainable investing. The company manages more than DKK 8 bn for Danish private professional investors. StockRate strives to deliver value to clients through personal, transparent, and independent advice that makes a real difference.

About Max Matthiessen
Max Matthiessen, founded in 1889, is a leading Swedish advisor within pensions, insurance and investment, offering advice, analysis, administration and procurement of pension and insurance solutions to employers, entrepreneurs and individual customers. The Company also offers advice within savings, investment advisory and asset management. Max Matthiessen has 560 employees at 36 locations throughout Sweden. In 2022, revenues were EUR 190 m. For further information, please see https://www.maxm.se/

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Nordic Capital-backed Max Matthiessen acquires two companies – and expands to Denmark

Nordic Capital

Max Matthiessen continues to future-proof its business as it expands its footprint outside of Sweden. With the acquisitions of the two Danish companies, PensionsSelskabet and StockRate Asset Management, Max Matthiessen will have a significant presence on the Danish market.

“We’ve ambitious growth targets and are in the process of taking Max Matthiessen to the next level. With us, the customer is always at the centre. The entry into the Danish market is very positive. For future growth, the ambition is to establish a presence in Denmark both organically and through acquisitions,” said Jacob Schlawitz, CEO at Max Matthiessen.

PensionsSelskabet pension & health care services has an attractive business model, based on solid partnerships, and has demonstrated a solid track-record of growth and expansion. Its business strategy focuses on ensuring high quality and putting customers’ best interest first.

PensionsSelskabet and its employees look forward to joining Max Matthiessen, as it expands its Life & Pension offering and footprint in Denmark. The acquisition will widen the selection of products and services accessible to customers in Denmark.

“It’s very promising that this is becoming a reality, and we’re all looking forward to joining. With Max Matthiessen’s strength and experience, we can improve and develop our services and range of innovative products in Denmark,” said Stig Wetterstrom, CEO at PensionsSelskabet.

Max Matthiessen also acquires StockRate Asset Management, a leading provider of personal wealth management services, and by that increases its market shares within the segment. With the ambition to expand further internationally, the StockRate acquisition is a perfect match. It brings a presence on the Danish market and is an excellent addition to Max Matthiessen’s product assortment. Furthermore, it will give StockRate employees the opportunity to benefit from Max Matthiessen’s established collaborations and access to Max Matthiessen Group’s business solutions.

The strengthened investment solutions will be beneficial for the customers. StockRate has a solid business model based on flourishing partnerships and a very strong Private Banking branch.

“StockRate is a customer-oriented organisation where the customers’ needs, wishes and satisfaction are at the centre of our decision-making, strategies, and activities. We always strive to create value to our customers through customised products, attentive customer service and continuous improvement in our performance. With Max Matthiessen, we’ll be stronger and able to offer additional investment solutions that earlier haven’t been available in Denmark,” said Kristian Kjer, Administrative Director at StockRate Asset Management.

 

Press contact:
Hanna Ericsson
Press Officer, Max Matthiessen
Tel: +46 73 463 66 31
e-mail: hanna.ericsson@maxm.se

About PensionsSelskabet pension & health care services
PensionsSelskabet mediates pension- and healthcare systems for companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals, as well as advises on everything from the composition of the company’s pension system to an individual employee’s own solution. The company has more than 25,000 customers, 35 passionate pension specialists and offices in Aalborg, Aarhus, Esbjerg, Herning, Sonderborg, Odense and Copenhagen. The company offers both traditional and innovative pension solutions for companies and their employees.

About StockRate Asset Management
StockRate aims to have a positive impact on the investment industry and to be a responsible and decent asset manager for its clients. It puts the customer at the centre and prioritises personal and independent advice based on its customers’ financial wishes and individual situation. StockRate has extensive expertise in the areas of global equities, bonds, rental housing and alternative and sustainable investing. The company manages more than DKK 8 bn for Danish private professional investors. StockRate strives to deliver value to clients through personal, transparent, and independent advice that makes a real difference.

About Max Matthiessen
Max Matthiessen, founded in 1889, is a leading Swedish advisor within pensions, insurance and investment, offering advice, analysis, administration and procurement of pension and insurance solutions to employers, entrepreneurs and individual customers. The Company also offers advice within savings, investment advisory and asset management. Max Matthiessen has 560 employees at 36 locations throughout Sweden. In 2022, revenues were EUR 190 m. For further information, please see https://www.maxm.se/

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Holland Capital Fuels Conversational Commerce Advancements and Invests in Conversation24

Holland Capital

Rotterdam, 24 August – Investment company Holland Capital announces an investment in Conversation24, the trailblazing omnichannel communication provider focussing on lead conversion, conversational commerce and live chat. The funding round, led by Holland Capital, marks a significant milestone for Conversation24, which is poised to leverage this infusion of capital to expand its global footprint.

Conversation24 is leveraging a state-of-the-art omnichannel communication platform and conversational AI to revolutionise the way businesses engage with their customers. The company empowers clients to engage in more meaningful customer interactions, to boost customer satisfaction, to increase conversions and share of wallets, and to unlock unprecedented insights based on vast troves of conversational data. On top of that, it offers consumers shopping experiences in WhatsApp where it also connects payments to WhatsApp. Their suite of solutions has already garnered acclaim from prominent global industry players, establishing Conversation24 as a frontrunner in the burgeoning lead conversion and conversational commerce domains.

Lead conversion and conversational commerce

The decision of Holland Capital to invest in Conversation24 reflects a well-grounded belief in the immense potential of lead conversion and conversational commerce. As customer expectations continue to evolve, businesses across the globe seek innovative ways to provide personalised, seamless, and real-time interactions. Conversation24’s state-of-the-art platform not only addresses these demands but also empowers enterprises to achieve unparalleled conversion rates combined with higher customer satisfaction scores.

International growth

The investment will fuel Conversation24’s further international growth. “We are delighted to partner with Conversation24 in this exciting phase of their journey,” said Jorg van der Heijden, Partner at Holland Capital. “Their breakthrough lead conversion and conversational commerce technology has already demonstrated significant impact across diverse sectors, and we are confident that this investment will help Conversation24 reach new heights. As pioneers in fostering innovative technologies, Holland Capital recognises the transformative potential of Conversation24 and its vital role in shaping the future of customer engagement.”

Nick Blom, CEO and founder of Conversation24, “As Conversation24 propels its growth trajectory with the backing of Holland Capital, businesses worldwide can anticipate a new era of customer interactions characterised by unmatched personalisation and enhanced user experiences. This funding round will help us to bring the capabilities of our platform towards all consumer facing enterprises.”

About Conversation24

Conversation24 is a pioneering omnichannel communication platform with a focus on Lead Conversion, Conversational Commerce and Live Chat. Through this cutting-edge platform, Conversation24 empowers businesses to interact with consumers in a better, faster and more qualitative way in the channel of the consumer’s choice.

About Holland Capital

Over the past 40 years, Holland Capital has responsibly and successfully invested in more than 160 promising companies that are reshaping industries and driving global innovation. With a clear investment strategy, it is active in the attractive growth markets of technology, healthcare, and food & agri. The experienced and committed investment team understands what entrepreneurship entails. They strive for an open, sustainable, and professional relationship with the management teams of the companies in which they invest, with the common goal of achieving growth. Holland Capital is supported by a broad network of successful entrepreneurs.

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PAG to Acquire Australian Venue Co from KKR

KKR

SYDNEY–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Global investment firm KKR and PAG, a leading alternative investment firm focused on Asia Pacific, today announced the signing of definitive agreements under which PAG will acquire KKR’s controlling interest in Australian Venue Co (“AVC”). Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230824361787/en/

AVC is an established food and beverage hospitality business that owns and operates a portfolio of more than 210 unique pubs, bars and restaurants in metro, suburban and regional locations across Australia and New Zealand.

KKR invested in AVC in 2017 with a portfolio of 50 leasehold venues with the objective of partnering and supporting the growth ambitions of its management team. This successful collaboration has resulted in venue growth of more than 300%.

PAG’s acquisition of AVC marks the firm’s latest investment in Australia’s growing consumer sector. Previous control investments include Craveable Brands, owner of iconic restaurant brands Red Rooster, Oporto, Chargrill Charlie’s and Chicken Treat; The Cheesecake Shop; and Cordina Farms. More recently PAG acquired and integrated together Patties Foods and Vesco Foods, leading manufacturers of some of Australia’s best-loved food brands including Four’N Twenty, Patties and Nanna’s.

David Lang, Partner and Co-Head of KKR Australia and New Zealand, said, “AVC has established itself as a leader in Australia and New Zealand’s dynamic and constantly evolving hospitality sector. We are excited to have worked alongside Paul and AVC’s dedicated team to invest in the company’s expansion and believe that AVC is well positioned for the future. We wish the entire AVC team continued success with PAG.”

Lincoln Pan, Partner and Co-Head of PAG Private Equity, said, “We are very pleased to partner with AVC, a proven market leader with an exceptional management team and great potential. Our goal is to work with strong businesses and help them become even stronger in Australia. AVC has created some of the most unique and iconic venues across Australia and New Zealand, and we are looking forward to supporting them on their next stage of growth.”

Paul Waterson, Australian Venue Co CEO, said, “This is an exciting time for AVC. We are grateful for KKR’s strong support in scaling the business over the years, growing our employee base from 780 to 8,500 people, and creating jobs through growth and investment in our venues. We look forward to working with our new partners in PAG, their investment affirms the strength of the platform and our future growth potential in Australia and New Zealand.”

The transaction is expected to close late 2023, subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Jefferies and Allens advised KKR and AVC, and BofA Securities and Ashurst advised PAG, with acquisition financing arranged by KKR Capital Markets.

About Australian Venue Co
Australian Venue Co (AVC) is a food and beverage-led hospitality group that owns and operates more than 210 pubs, bars and event venues across Australia and New Zealand. AVC takes pride in delivering exceptional customer experiences, creating exciting career pathways in hospitality and tailoring every venue to its local community. www.ausvenueco.com.au

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 and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

About PAG
PAG is a leading alternative investment firm focused on Asia Pacific with three core businesses: Credit & Markets, Private Equity, and Real Assets. PAG Private Equity is an active investor in Australian food and consumer businesses and is the owner of Patties Foods, Cordina Farms and Craveable Brands, which includes the brands Red Rooster, Oporto, Chargrill Charlie’s and Chicken Treat. For more information, please visit www.pag.com.

Media Contacts:

Citadel-MAGNUS (for Australian Venue Co and KKR Australia)
James Strong
+61 (0)448 881 174
jstrong@citadelmagnus.com

KKR
Anita Davis
+852 3602 7335
Anita.Davis@kkr.com

PAG
Tim Morrison
+852 9630 2383
tmorrison@pag.com

FTI (for PAG)
Shane Murphy
+61 420 945 291
shane.murphy@fticonsulting.com

Source: KKR

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Pollen Street agrees acquisition of majority stake in Assessio, Nordics’s leading talent assesment software platform

Pollenstreet

Pollen Street today announces the acquisition of a majority stake in Assessio International Holdings 2 AB (“Assessio”), a leading talent assessment software platform in the Nordics.

Founded in 1954 as a psychology research institute, the business has transformed over the years into a scalable technology platform to deliver standardised data-driven insights for recruitment and talent development to enterprises and SMEs across a wide range of sectors, including many financial services and professional services businesses.

Assessio is focused on high volume hiring and post hire development. The business has a deep scientific heritage which allows it to support customers in hiring talent based on potential (attitude, personality, cultural fit, capacity for learning, etc). Assessio’s proprietary technology and Saas offering has allowed it to win market share in core markets of Sweden, Norway, Netherlands and Denmark, competing with the more traditional providers of tests and talent management consulting services. The business has grown organically and through acquisitions in recent years, while enhancing its product capability.

The investment in Assessio is the latest in a series of recent Pollen Street investments into high growth software businesses targeting the financial services sector, including Aryza, Proactis and Pacific Fund Systems, in its tech-enabled services vertical.

Pollen Street’s investment and value creation strategy will build on Assessio’s reputation as the Nordic’s leading talent assessment software platform, and help build a leading pan-European talent management player. The investment will be deployed to accelerate M&A and organic growth and to support ongoing development of Assessio’s proprietary technology. The group will continue to be led by Assessio’s current management team, Johan Masironi, Evelien Schram, Peter Tjernstrom and Staffan Landberg, leveraging Pollen Street’s deep expertise in effective growth acceleration and internationalisation.

The closing is expected to happen in the coming weeks.

Commenting on the announcement, Johan Masironi and CEO at Assessio, said: “We are delighted to announce our investment from Pollen Street and are excited to have their support as we accelerate the growth of Assessio. We have chosen to partner with Pollen Street as they have unrivaled expertise and experience in supporting high growth software business’ scale and internationalise. The substantial growth capital and ongoing professional and financial support from Pollen Street will allow us to further develop our tech-platform to accelerate the deployment of services, while providing funding and expertise to expand our strategic growth programme to fulfill our ambition to become Europe’s leading talent assessment partner.”

Anastasia Kovaleva, Investment Director at Pollen Street, said: “Assessio has developed an exciting and highly differentiated proposition which makes it uniquely positioned in the HCM software market. Pollen Street is proud of its track record of supporting high growth software businesses and believe that Assessio has the potential to become a European leader in innovative talent assement and development solutions, an exciting and growing market solving current challenges such as talent shortages and supporting diversity and inclusion. Assessio is led by a dynamic and highly regarded team, we are impressed by what they have achieved to date, and we look forward to working with Johan, Evelien, Peter and Staffan in the next stage of growth for the business.”

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