Category Archives: News

PNO Group and Bencis Capital Partners join hands to speed up international growth strategy

Bencis

Grants consultancy PNO Group and Bencis Capital Partners join hands to further develop PNO Group’s international growth path together. Both through acquisitions and organically, PNO has set a healthy growth curve over the years, which has resulted in a solid European foundation for further development. Understanding the specialist industry in which PNO operates makes Bencis the ideal strategic partner to help grow PNO Group into a leading European grants and innovation consultancy in the coming years.

 

Synergistic growth remains imperative

 

With roots dating back to 1985, PNO is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the most solid grants and innovation consultancies in Europe. As market leader and with success rates in European grants well above average for years in a row, PNO managed to develop a unique client portfolio. PNO Group CEO Peter Zwart: “We have worked hard in recent years to further strengthen our business. In doing so, we gratefully drew on the vast expertise and enthusiasm of the people who make PNO what it is today: a dynamic club of committed professionals who wish only the best for their clients and through them for our society. Over the years, we have become increasingly involved in innovation projects, both on a national and European scale, addressing key issues in areas such as climate, health and safety. The fact that we are so successful in this, apart from our passionate people, is due to our scale: like no other, we are able to bring parties together across borders and achieve great results together. Looking at growing international demand, the scaling-up of European projects and the legitimate demands for excellence in our profession, synergistic growth remains imperative to meet this increasing need for quality. PNO has everything in place to provide this quality, and with Bencis’ help we can continue to do so as we grow”.

 

Great faith in PNO’s future

 

Jacob Versteeg of Bencis: “Extraordinary things are happening in the market in which PNO Group operates. Whether their clients work on a regional, national or European scale, they always contribute in one way or another to the larger goals of our time. Think energy transition and climate, care and health, innovation, economic development. For this reason alone, as well as the enormous professionalism PNO takes on new challenges, we have great faith in PNO’s future, and are delighted to help them achieve their ambitions.”

 

About PNO Group

 

PNO Group is a grants and innovation consultancy with a strong foothold in Europe’s most innovative economies. With over 400 highly skilled staff, the group contributes to the missions formulated by national governments as well as the EU by supporting SMEs, large industries, academic organisations and research institutions in their innovation projects. PNO offers a wide spectrum of services in the field of grants, strategic innovation advisory, compliance, IT-tooling, legal and communication.

 

About Bencis Capital Partners

Bencis is an independent investment company that supports business owners and management teams in achieving their growth ambitions. Working out of offices in Amsterdam and Brussels, and more recently in Düsseldorf, Bencis has been investing in strong and successful businesses in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany since 1999.

 

 

For questions please refer to Bernard van Leeuwen, press@pnoconsultants.com, +31 (0)6 12 58 19 84

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New brand Cerios brings together Salves, Valori, De Agile Testers, and Quality Accelerators under one holding

Avedon

The new brand Cerios brings together leading companies Salves, Valori, De Agile Testers, and Quality Accelerators in a ‘House of Brands,’ and herewith acquires a leading position in the consolidating market of quality and software testing. Through this collaboration, the companies are creating more opportunities for their consultants and a broader proposition for their customers while maintaining their own identity and autonomy.

Leading position in consolidating market

The new brand Cerios brings together over 400 consultants with the shared goal of supporting clients in increasing the quality of their IT through a wide range of innovative (testing) services and automated testing solutions. By bringing together the four companies, accompanied by the recently acquired test management software tool Supportbook, Cerios is building an overarching brand with a leading position in a consolidating market. The collaboration is an important step in the growth ambitions of Salves, in which Avedon Capital Partners (‘Avedon’) invested mid last year.

Christ Coppens, CEO of Cerios and founder of Salves: “Within Cerios, the companies operate in a partnership, each retaining their own name, culture, and specializations. They work closely together and strengthen each other wherever possible. The focus on employees enables us to support clients in all aspects of quality and software testing. Always.”

Focus on consultants

In the current tight labor market, focus on consultants is crucial. Consultants make the company. Those who retain personnel for long periods can constantly provide quality to customers and are seen by (potential) employees as stable employers who take good care of their professionals. To safeguard the unique, personal culture of the companies, they will continue to operate independently. At the same time, consultants can benefit from more opportunities within the larger group.

“Providing sufficient career opportunities is important for retaining consultants in the long term,” Coppens says. “This, in combination with variation in the content of the work and the possibility for consultants to work in different sectors.”

According to Jaap Merkus, CEO of Valori, the proposition of Cerios is interesting for consultants: “The different profiles of the individual companies ensure that every professional can get the most out of their career.”

Broadening of proposition with specialized knowledge

Through the collaboration, Cerios can offer its clients a broader service portfolio with specialized knowledge. In addition, the cluster of 400 professionals will be able to guarantee the quality and continuity required for larger projects and tenders. Especially because the different companies are each fully focused on quality and software testing.

Marcel van Eekeren, Managing Director of Salves, is convinced that collaboration within the ‘House of Brands’ strengthens the group of companies: “Customers can benefit from even more certainty in terms of continuity.”

Furthermore, customers benefit from the diversity of the companies that work together within Cerios, Merkus: “Clients can choose the specialization and way of working of one of the four companies that are able to jointly offer a wide range of services.”

James Johnsen, founder and Managing Director of De Agile Testers and Quality Accelerators, adds: “Innovation runs through our veins. Therefore, we have set ourselves the goal of setting the market standard in the field of agile testing. The connection with like-minded companies within the ‘House of Brands’ offers each partner the opportunity to profile themselves even more as a specialist in the field of quality and software testing.”

Collaboration within ‘House of Brands’

Cerios is a cluster of powerful independent companies that will maintain their own authenticity and identity but can benefit from the larger group.

Michel Verhoog, Partner at Avedon: “Cerios operates in a fragmented and rapidly growing market driven by, amongst others, the increasing importance of software for mission-critical business processes. We see Cerios as a strong platform for further autonomous and acquisitive (international) growth where the independent companies can benefit from economies of scale. We are convinced that Cerios will have a distinctive position in the market for quality and software testing due to its unique setup.”

About Salves

Salves supports organizations in the field of quality. With audits, project management, coaching, and testing, Salves elevates the quality of IT. Salves maps risks, determines the strategy to improve quality, and provides customized training. Salves uses test automation where possible and where it contributes to business goals. Salves’ consultants often work in Agile and DevOps teams.

About Valori

Valori believes that building integral quality into information systems is crucial to enable seamless innovation. Valori’s QA- and test consultants help with the quality of IT systems in all phases of the software development lifecycle. We call this ‘Building IT Quality.’ Valori has been doing this for more than 30 years through technology solutions, advice, and expert services. The ultimate goal is to ensure that software can be developed faster with higher quality and afterwards maintains its quality.

About De Agile Testers

De Agile Testers is deeply rooted in agile principles, with innovation at its core. The company has set the goal of establishing the market standard for agile testing, not just in the Netherlands and Belgium, but across the globe. This led to the book FAST (Flexible Approach to Software Testing) and accompanying certified training modules which are used worldwide.

About Quality Accelerators

Agile transformations have yielded many benefits for organizations, but after a while the acceleration and improvement of software delivery reaches a standstill. This is the moment when customers approach Quality Accelerators. Quality Accelerators helps organizations to reignite the process of acceleration and improvement and even implement it sustainably in the existing organization.

About Avedon Capital Partners

Avedon Capital Partners is a private equity firm with offices in Amsterdam and Düsseldorf, which focuses on growing mid-market companies in the Benelux and DACH regions. Avedon supports ambitious entrepreneurs and management teams in accelerating organic growth, international expansion and/or buy-and-build strategies. Avedon focuses on companies in four sectors: i) business services, ii) software & technology, iii) smart industries and iv) consumer & health.

More information

Christ Coppens (CEO Cerios & founder Salves)

christ.coppens@cerios.nl
www.cerios.nl

Lotte Verhoeve (Investment Manager Avedon)

lotte.verhoeve@avedoncapital.com
+31 6 20 822 133

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Action ranked favourite retailer in France 2023

3I

Action, 3i’s largest portfolio company, was ranked first in EY-Parthenon’s annual study of France’s retail landscape.
The study was carried out in January 2023 in partnership with Dynata, an opinion polling organisation, and involved the interview of a panel of over 9,300 consumers in France aged 18 and over. It measures the percentage of fans among customers that made a purchase in the relevant category over the last 12 months.
Experts from EY-Parthenon explained the success of Action, which achieved third place in the rankings in 2022, as its “offer focused on very low prices, but also – and above all! – on a shopping experience considered among the most efficient and pleasant (small pleasures, treasure hunt)’.
Action had the strongest ‘fan rate’ of all retailers at 46%. The company also saw the best growth in fan rate over the year, with an increase of 8.4 points. This measurement has increased by 19 points in three years.
–ends–
For further information, please contact:
Kathryn van der Kroft Communications Director Tel: 020 7975 3021
About 3i Group
3i is a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity and Infrastructure. Our core investment markets are northern Europe and North America. For further information, please visit: www.3i.com.

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INTERSTELLAR transfers DataExpert shares to Bridgepoint

Delft, 5 April 2023 – Quadrum Capital is pleased to announce that DataExpert, one of Interstellar’s labels, has been sold to Bridgepoint. DataExpert has attracted Bridgepoint as a new partner to accelerate its international growth and ambition. This divestment is in line with Interstellar’s renewed strategy. This is a win-win situation for both Quadrum Capital and Interstellar. Interstellar is an associate of Quadrum Capital Investment Funds.

IT services provider INTERSTELLAR is transferring its shares in DataExpert to UK-based Bridgepoint Development Capital IV (BDC IV), a fund focused on investing in mid-sized growth companies. As a leading provider of products and services to combat cybercrime, fraud and incident response, DataExpert was part of INTERSTELLAR’s collection.

image

Interstellar

__Forensics, analysis and cyber security __

DataExpert, founded in 1990, helps clients reduce and solve cybercrime and fraud through a customised package of software, hardware, training, consultancy and support. The company employs over 60 people. In recent years, DataExpert has experienced strong growth in its three main divisions: forensics, analytics and cyber security. From its base in Benelux, DataExpert has also grown in Scandinavia through mergers and acquisitions. Through its unique positioning, DataExpert successfully responds to industry developments, including continuously evolving cyber threats, increased IT infrastructure complexity and an increasing need to investigate the origins of cyber events.

Infinigate

The partnership between DataExpert and Bridgepoint builds on Bridgepoint’s growing track record and expertise in cyber security, including its strategic investment in Infinigate, a leading distributor of enterprise cyber security solutions for SMEs in Europe.

Robbert Bakker, CEO of DataExpert, said, “In a world of rapidly evolving cyber threats and IT challenges, we continue to see strong demand for our cyber security solutions and services. DataExpert’s mission is to provide maximum support to our customers in fighting cybercrime and advancing cybersecurity, both nationally and internationally. Bridgepoint has extensive experience investing in and growing first-class companies in this sector, and we look forward to continuing our mission as we further develop our offering, expand our geographical presence and enter our next growth phase.”

Maarten van Montfoort, CEO of INTERSTELLAR, adds: “DataExpert has performed exceptionally well in recent years as we have worked closely together to realise growth ambitions and develop the offering. After a strategic review, we agreed that now is the right time for a new owner. We are very pleased that DataExpert continues its successful and international journey with Bridgepoint, a team with strong expertise and capabilities in supporting industry-leading companies. We wish them and the management team all the best for the future. Of course, INTERSTELLAR and DataExpert will continue their cooperation for Incident Response Services for joint customers.”

About DataExpert

DataExpert is a managed service provider of cyber security solutions focused on helping customers combat cybercrime and fraud. It specialises in providing and supporting complex post-incident forensic and analytical tools. DataExpert works closely with supranational agencies, large national public sector organisations including police forces and corporate clients to improve safety and security, supporting them with expertise, innovative software, training and services.

About INTERSTELLAR

The IT service providers Solimas, Exite ICT, DataByte, Datamex and CSN Group operate under the INTERSTELLAR umbrella. The other companies in the collection, namely Ask Roger!, Q-Conferencing, Fundaments, SCCTand Pinewood, are specialists in collaboration, cloud and security. Founded in January 2021, INTERSTELLAR’s collection has grown over the past year to 11 participations, more than 650 employees, 170 million in revenue and 15 offices. INTERSTELLAR’s companies collectively serve more than 11,000 customers. For more information, visit www.thisisinterstellar.com.

About Quadrum Capital

Independent investment company Quadrum Capital helps mid-market companies realise their growth ambitions in a structured and responsible manner. Entrepreneurship, strong commitment and the contribution of high-quality management experience, network and financial strength form the basis for this. Quadrum Capital has offices in Woerden and Almelo and is characterised by strong regional roots and a no-nonsense approach. Quadrum Capital is mainly funded by entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial families and has a clear (international) growth ambition. Interstellar is one of Quadrum Capital’s platform companies.

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DIF Capital Partners invests in leading UK district heating company Pinnacle Power

DIF

DIF Capital Partners (“DIF”) is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to invest in Pinnacle Power Limited, a leading UK district heating platform, to accelerate its growth and fund the development and ownership of city-scale district heating networks across the UK. The transaction will see DIF owning a significant majority in the company, with the management team retaining a minority stake. This is following an agreement with Pinnacle Power’s previous shareholder, Pinnacle Group Limited. DIF’s investment will be executed through its DIF Infrastructure VII fund.

Pinnacle Power is a leading developer and turn-key contractor in the UK district heating market. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in London, the company has a successful track record, having delivered over 100 projects since its inception. Notably, it has developed and is the operator of the £87m Greenwich Peninsula network. With 87MW of heat capacity and servicing 15,700 residential units, this is one of the largest city scale networks in the country.

District heating networks are widely expected to play a crucial role in the UK’s journey to net zero. Today, heat-related activities are the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the country, representing 37% of total emissions. District heating networks are a cost effective, low-carbon solution to traditional gas boilers in urban locations. As a result, the country’s district heating market is widely expected to undergo a sustained period of high growth, with substantial capital investment required to meet these net zero ambitions.

Gijs Voskuyl, Partner and Head of Infrastructure at DIF Capital Partners, said: “We share Pinnacle Power’s view that district heating networks will play a pivotal role in the energy transition story of the UK. We are impressed with what the Pinnacle Power management team has achieved to date and firmly believe in their ability to grow the business, backed by strong regulatory tailwinds. Pinnacle Power represents a compelling investment proposition for DIF, with an opportunity to invest in a build-to-core sustainable energy platform operating in a rapidly growing market.”

Commenting on the transaction, Toby Heysham, CEO of Pinnacle Power, said: “As recognised in the Government’s Energy Security Plan, heat networks will play a critical role in delivering affordable, low-carbon heating, and help hit the UK Government’s legally binding carbon targets. We are excited to be working with DIF to deploy the scale of investment this market needs. We know that the industry needs to deploy at least £60-80bn into low-carbon heat networks to unlock the vast amount of local, wasted heat and deliver that heat into homes and businesses. Many towns and cities have declared climate emergencies but very few have credible solutions to the ‘heat challenge’. This investment offers a clear pathway to achieving decarbonisation, through local investment in locally generated, low-carbon heat.”

Peregrine Lloyd, Group CEO of Pinnacle Group, said: “This agreement is the culmination of a ten-year journey since founding Pinnacle Power. I am incredibly proud of the work our management team has done to grow and nurture Pinnacle Power to see it become one of the country’s leading heat network platforms. The time is now right to hand over the reins to DIF, who will take Pinnacle Power to the next level and enable the scale of investment needed in the energy market. I look forward to following this exciting next phase in Pinnacle Power’s development.”

DIF was advised by AFRY, Deloitte, Evolution Infrastructure and Travers Smith. Pinnacle Power and Pinnacle Group were advised by Eversheds Sutherland and Opus Corporate Finance.

 

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF Capital Partners is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with more than EUR 15 billion of AUM. DIF was founded in 2005 and has built a leading position in managing mid-market investments, primarily in Europe, North America and Australia.

DIF follows two strategies: its traditional DIF funds invest in lower risk mid-sized infrastructure projects and companies in the energy transition (incl. renewables) and utilities sector, as well as PPPs and concessions. The firm’s CIF funds invest in small to mid-sized companies that will thrive in the new economy. These companies are typically active in the digital, energy transition and sustainable transportation sector.

With a team of over 210 professionals in 11 offices, DIF Capital Partners offers a unique market approach combining global presence with the benefits of strong local networks and investment capabilities. DIF is located in Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, Helsinki, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, New York, Paris, Santiago, Sydney and Toronto.

For more information, please visit www.dif.eu

About Pinnacle Power

Pinnacle Power is a heat network provider in the UK. We provide, build, own and operate services for a large number of heat networks around the country. Pinnacle Power was started in 2012 by Pinnacle Group and management. Since then, it has grown to be one of the leading heat network providers in the country. Pinnacle Power is currently designing and building a number of schemes for local authorities across the UK as well as operating networks and running a heat utility. Pinnacle Power have offices in London, Carlisle, Sheffield and Copenhagen.

For more information, please visit www.pinnaclepower.co.uk

About Pinnacle Group

Pinnacle Group is a community-facing, people-first business that delivers, manages, and maintains communities and places where people live, work, learn and play including a portfolio of 75,000+ mixed tenure homes and, 200+ schools as well as open spaces, public and private buildings, retail, distribution centres and manufacturing.

Formed in 1994, Pinnacle is a trusted service provider to both public and private sectors; employing 3,700+ people and operates across the UK from over 200 delivery locations.

For more information, please visit www.pinnaclegroup.co.uk

 

Contacts:

DIF Capital Partners:

Diederik Heinink, d.heinink@dif.eu

Pinnacle Power:

enquires@pinnaclepower.co.uk

Pinnacle Group:

Aisling Jamieson-Ewers, +44 (0)75 5281 0514 / Mia Dexter, M: +44 (0)73 1137 0065

PinnaclePress@headlandconsultancy.com

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Action ranked favourite retailer in France 2023

3I

Action, 3i’s largest portfolio company, was ranked first in EY-Parthenon’s annual study of France’s retail landscape.

The study was carried out in January 2023 in partnership with Dynata, an opinion polling organisation, and involved the interview of a panel of over 9,300 consumers in France aged 18 and over. It measures the percentage of fans among customers that made a purchase in the relevant category over the last 12 months.

Experts from EY-Parthenon explained the success of Action, which achieved third place in the rankings in 2022, as its “offer focused on very low prices, but also – and above all! – on a shopping experience considered among the most efficient and pleasant (small pleasures, treasure hunt)’.

Action had the strongest ‘fan rate’ of all retailers at 46%. The company also saw the best growth in fan rate over the year, with an increase of 8.4 points. This measurement has increased by 19 points in three years.

-Ends-

Download this press release  

3i Group plc
Kathryn van der Kroft
Media enquiries		 Tel: +44 20 7975 3021
Email: kathryn.vanderkroft@3i.com

Notes to editors:

About 3i Group

3i is a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity and Infrastructure. Its core investment markets are northern Europe and North America. For further information, please visit: www.3i.com

Regulatory information

This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc, advised by 3i Benelux.

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KKR Closes Sixth European Private Equity Fund at $8.0 Billion

KKR

NEW YORK & LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the final closing of European Fund VI (“the Fund”). At $8.0 billion, it is KKR’s largest European Private Equity fund to date, following the $6.6 billion fund in 2019, inclusive of the GP commitment. The new Fund will be focused on private equity investments primarily in the developed economies of Western Europe.

Philipp Freise, Co-Head of KKR European Private Equity, said, “KKR has been investing in Europe for nearly twenty-five years and we believe the opportunity today has never been greater. We see enormous potential for transformational investment behind structural trends that are reshaping the European economy, including digitalization, healthcare and sustainability.”

Co-Head of KKR European Private Equity Mattia Caprioli added, “We look forward to supporting founders, family businesses, and companies looking for the right strategic partner to help take their business to the next level.”

KKR’s successful track record in Europe is based on a combination of a strong on-the-ground presence and expertise with additional access to the global network and resources that the firm offers. Over 100 professionals, including 57 European Private Equity executives, 25 KKR Capstone Europe members, and additional professionals across KKR Capital Markets, Public Affairs and KKR’s EMEA Macro team, work across eight European offices and comprise over 15 European nationalities, providing deep local market knowledge to portfolio companies. This expertise is supplemented by KKR’s global network drawing on the knowledge and skills of additional members across the firm, including the KKR Global Institute and KKR’s Senior Advisors.

Alisa Amarosa Wood, Partner and Head of the Global Private Markets and Real Assets Strategies Group at KKR, said, “We’re delighted that our European team’s deep conviction in the investment opportunity ahead is shared by our investors, many of whom are not only choosing to reinvest but also to increase their commitment to our European franchise. Raising this fund in the current market environment demonstrates the strong investor confidence in our European team and platform, and our long track record of delivering value and outstanding results.”

Through the Fund, KKR will continue to invest alongside family owners, founders, entrepreneurs and corporates, providing flexible capital for strategic partnership transactions, platforms for expansion and corporate carve-outs. KKR will be making a significant commitment to the Fund, investing over $1.0 billion alongside investors from the Firm’s balance sheet and employee commitments.

KKR’s European private equity platform, which is part of the firm’s $165 billion global private equity business, is currently managing a combined $28.31 billion in assets under management. The current portfolio includes investments in over 45 companies across Western Europe.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP represented KKR as primary fund counsel for this fundraise.

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.

1 Europe Private Equity, Core and Growth AUM as of 31st December 2022

 

Media Enquiries

KKR
Julia Leeger
+44 7827 200016
media@kkr.com

FGS Global
Alastair Elwen / Sophia Johnston
+44 20 7251 3801
KKR-Lon@FGSGlobal.com

Source: KKR

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DIF Capital Partners agrees to acquire majority interest in US-based solar platform Green Street Power Partners

DIF

DIF Capital Partners is pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire a majority equity interest in US-based Green Street Power Partners (“Green Street”), a leading developer, financier, owner, and operator of distributed generation solar projects for various private and public clients across the US. DIF’s investment will be executed through its DIF Infrastructure VII fund.

Since its inception in 2014, Green Street has experienced rapid year-over-year growth driven by its experienced executive management team and extensive network of industry relationships. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Green Street has developed a 300+ MW portfolio of operational and under-construction projects throughout the country.

Green Street has over 2 GW of solar projects in its pipeline in both existing and new markets, which it will look to execute over the near-to medium-term. Green Street is well positioned to accomplish its development goals, utilizing its vertically integrated capabilities across development, legal, project financing, engineering, and project and asset management functions.

In addition to existing and upcoming renewable energy goals, execution of the growing development pipeline is further supported by the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, providing a long-term runway of supportive renewable energy legislation long awaited by developers, sponsors, and market participants alike.

In 2023, Green Street’s projects nationwide will produce over 275 million kWh of energy, displacing over 200 thousand tons of CO2.

The transaction is subject to customary conditions and approvals and is expected to close in early Q2 2023.

“Green Street is very excited to be partnering with DIF. As a leader in distributed generation in the US, the partnership will enable Green Street to continue its growth efforts and execute on its 2 gigawatts and growing of pipeline,” said Jason Kuflik, President of Green Street. “We are excited about what we will be able to accomplish together. As a leading global infrastructure fund, we could not have picked a better partner.”

Green Street was advised by Scotiabank and its legal counsel Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in connection with this transaction.

“The partnership with Green Street will further grow DIF’s North American renewable portfolio and marks our first distributed solar generation platform in the North American market”, said Gijs Voskuyl, Partner and Head of Infrastructure at DIF Capital Partners . “DIF is excited to work with the Green Street team to continue developing and operating distributed solar projects across the US to further advance the global clean energy transition, one of DIF’s responsibilities as a leading infrastructure investor. Supported by strong thematic tailwinds in the US, we see this as an excellent opportunity to support a strong team in their goals to become a leading distributed generation developer and asset owner.”

DIF was advised by Macquarie Capital and its legal counsel Stoel Rives LLP in connection with this transaction.

 

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF Capital Partners is an independent infrastructure fund manager, with more than EUR 15 billion of AUM. DIF was founded in 2005 and has built a leading position in managing mid-market investments, primarily in Europe, North America and Australia.

DIF follows two strategies: its traditional DIF funds invest in lower risk mid-sized infrastructure projects and companies in the energy transition (incl. renewables) and utilities sector, as well as PPPs and concessions. The firm’s CIF funds invest in small to mid-sized companies that will thrive in the new economy. These companies are typically active in the digital, energy transition and sustainable transportation sectors.

With a team of over 210 professionals in 11 offices, DIF Capital Partners offers a unique market approach combining global presence with the benefits of strong local networks and investment capabilities. DIF is located in Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, Helsinki, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, New York, Paris, Santiago, Sydney and Toronto.

For more information, please visit www.dif.eu.

About Green Street Power Partners

Founded in 2014, Green Street is a national developer, financier, owner, and operator of solar energy systems benefiting businesses and communities across the country. Green Street specializes in structured finance for solar assets, securing sponsor and tax equity alongside project-level debt financing to realize the highest value for its clients.

Green Street’s proven dependability, experience within the industry, and established portfolio of 300+ MW of operational and under-construction projects, underpin its success as one of the leading solar developers and owners in the country.

Green Street strives to continue this growth while staying committed to corporate social and environmental responsibility, as we sustain our environment for future generations through solar power. We view this responsibility as a fundamental part of our business, and we consistently work to inspire these values in our employees, partners, and customers. Green Street currently has 58 employees and is headquartered in Stamford, CT with a legal office in Tallahassee, FL.

For more information, please visit www.gspp.com.

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Conecta RC and Amber Marketing join forces with Marktest

Ufenau

Dear Investors, Pfaeffikon SZ, March 2023

Partners and Friends of Ufenau Capital Partners,
We are delighted to announce that the group supported by the Fund Ufenau VII Asset Light (“Group”), which acquired a majority stake in Marktest in January, has incorporated Conecta RC and Amber Marketing in March with the aim to lead the market research space in Iberia.
Marktest, the leading independent market research and marketing analytics player in Portugal, is joining forces with Conecta RC and Amber Marketing. The new partnership will further expand the Group’s capacities in Spain, by incorporating highly professional local complementary teams in Madrid and Barcelona, with the aim to continue their successful development and accelerate growth.

Conecta RC, a market research specialist based in Madrid with +20 years experience, has developed a solid relationship with its clients, large international groups and leaders in sectors such as consumer, finance, insurance, healthcare and education. Through a client-oriented and innovation-driven approach, its multidisciplinary team is a market reference for their systematic and methodological approach to market research.
Amber Marketing, a market research and consulting specialist based in Barcelona and Madrid with +20 years experience, is a sector reference in the healthcare, consumer and services space, leveraging a deep market understanding and an unrivalled panel of healthcare professionals. Striving to provide high-value for its clients, Amber Marketing’s team turns complexity into simpler and actionable insights.

The founders of Conecta RC and Amber Marketing will significantly co-invest, joining Ufenau and Marktest’s founders as partners, and driving the Group into its next growth phase. In addition to the benefits of the leading presence across Spain, the combined team will ensure the continuation of the Group’s successful growth strategy, providing room for joint knowledge and product development that will expand the combined service proposition in a highly technical and constantly evolving market.

José Manuel Oliveira, CEO of the Group, said “I am very glad to see Conecta RC and Amber Marketing professionals join our Group, adding highly professional and commited teams that bring many years of experience and relationships. I am convinced that all our clients will benefit from our strong combined capacity”.
Miguel Muñoz, Esther Fernández-Mayoralas, and Óscar Chicharro, founder and partners of Conecta RC, said “We are delighted to be part of the Group. It’s a fundamental step in our growth path that will ensure continuity of our business model while providing the benefits of the combined strengths, helping us grow as a team and offer an enhanced value proposition for our demanding clients.”

Antonio Bermejo and Ángel Amat, founders of Amber Marketing, added “We are convinced about the benefits of the Group’s strategy for our team’s development. They will enable us to accelerate and complement our growth plans, while ensuring we continue to provide unique actionable insights.”
Ralf Flore, Managing Partner at Ufenau, considers that “We are pleased to see Conecta RC and Amber Marketing join the Group as partners. The combination of complementary highly professional teams provides significant room for collaboration and value creation, ensuring our Group continues to be at the forefront of market research and data analytics in Iberia. ”

About Ufenau Capital Partners
Ufenau Capital Partners is a privately-owned Swiss Investor Group headquartered at Lake Zurich which advises private and institutional investors with their investments in private equity. Ufenau Capital Partners is focused on investments in service companies in German-speaking Europe, Iberia and the Benelux region and invests in Education & Lifestyle, Business Services, Healthcare, IT Services and Financial Services sectors. Since 2011, Ufenau invested in +280 service companies in Europe. Through a renowned group of experienced Industry Partners (owners, CEOs, CFOs), Ufenau has an active value-adding investment approach at eye-level with entrepreneurs and managers. Ufenau raised its seventh flagship fund and its third Continuation Vehicle in 2022 with a volume of EUR 1.6bn and advises capital of EUR 2.5bn.
Conecta RC and Amber Marketing join forces with Marktest

Ufenau Capital Partners AG
Huobstrasse 3
CH 8808 Pfäffikon, Schwyz
www.
ucp .ch
Tel: + 41 44 482 66 66
Fax: + 41 44 482 66 63
info@ucp.ch
The Group supported by
Ufenau VII which acquired
as new partners
March, 2023
has incorporated
&

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Adams Street Raises Over $3.2 Billion for Secondary Investment Program

Adams Street

Strong investor demand globally leads to 50% increase from prior program

CHICAGO, IL – May 31, 2023 – Adams Street Partners, LLC, a leading private markets investment management firm with more than $54 billion of assets under management globally, announced today it has secured more than $3.2 billion in capital commitments for its Secondaries Investment Program,* including the successful close of Global Secondary Fund 7.

The latest Secondaries Investment Program is 50% larger than the firm’s previous fundraise, which included the close of Global Secondary Fund 6. Adams Street’s Global Secondary Fund 6 has consistently outperformed its peers, ranking in the top quartile since closing in 2019.**

Adams Street’s Secondaries Investment Program enjoyed strong demand from new and existing institutional investors globally. The successful close raises total secondaries strategy assets at Adams Street to $8.2 billion.

“Demand for our Global Secondaries Investment Program demonstrates the trust that investors have in Adams Street’s secondaries investment strategy,” said Jeff Akers, Partner and Head of Secondary Investments. “The aggregate fundraise exceeded our expectations and leaves the team well positioned to capitalize on our strategy in today’s evolving market.”

“Adams Street’s diversified platform and deep relationships globally generate a secondaries deal pipeline that enables our team to move quickly and with conviction during periods of uncertainty,” said Jeff Diehl, Managing Partner and Head of Investments. “We continue to find attractive secondary investment opportunities as volatility leads to change and dislocation in several sectors globally.”

About Adams Street Partners

Adams Street Partners is a global private markets investment manager with investments in more than 30 countries across five continents. The firm is 100% employee-owned and manages $54 billion in assets under management. Adams Street strives to generate actionable investment insights across market cycles by drawing on over 50 years of private markets experience, proprietary intelligence, and trusted relationships. Adams Street has offices in Austin, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, London, Menlo Park, Munich, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo. Visit www.adamsstreetpartners.com

This information is not investment advice or an offer or sale of any security or investment product or investment advice. Offerings are made only pursuant to a private offering memorandum containing important information. This press release contains certain statements that may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are “forward-looking statements” and are subject to change. There can be no guarantee with respect to the attractiveness or ability to execute on any pipeline investment opportunities. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Media Inquiries:
Rich Myers / Rachel Goun
Profile Advisors
+1 347 343 2999
adamsstreet@profileadvisors.com

* The Secondaries Investment Program consists of all amounts that have been or are expected to be invested in Adams Street managed entities — including separately managed accounts and commingled vehicles— in secondary transactions alongside the flagship Global Secondary Fund 7 and that have been committed since the closing of the last flagship fund, Global Secondary Fund 6.

** Ranking based on Net IRR of a global set of secondary funds from the relevant vintage year. Performance is as of December 31, 2022; data and calculations by Burgiss and are subject to update. Adams Street has a relationship with Burgiss regarding data access, but did not directly or indirectly provide compensation for inclusion in this ranking. Selection methodologies of rankings will often vary and additional information on the ranking methodologies is available from the sponsor. The ranking may not represent investor experience with Adams Street or Adams Street’s funds or services, nor does it constitute a recommendation of Adams Street or its services. Such ranking is not necessarily indicative of Adams Street’s past or future performance.

Categories: News