Category Archives: News

Magaya completes equity recapitalization led by the Apax Digital Funds

Apax Digital

Investment follows a year characterized by record bookings growth and accelerating adoption of Magaya products by mid-market and enterprise profile international logistics provider (“ILP”) customers

Miami, FL – January 31, 2023 – Magaya Corporation (“Magaya” or the “Company”), a leading provider of supply chain automation and logistics software, today announced that funds advised by Apax Digital, the growth equity arm of global private equity advisory firm Apax, completed a recapitalization of the Company alongside existing investor LLR Partners and other shareholders. The investment will be used to support continued organic growth, platform enhancements, and strategic M&A.

Founded in 2001, Magaya’s comprehensive suite of solutions is proving to be more critical than ever as ILPs face an increasingly dynamic global trade environment with the recent global pandemic, geo-political uncertainty, and economic challenges compounding the everyday pressures faced by customers. Within this context, supply chain stakeholders are turning to digital and software solutions to become more adaptable, agile, and resilient to remain competitive.

“Magaya’s Digital Freight Platform enables logistics service providers to digitize manual processes, optimize operations and achieve real-time visibility through its highly configurable software suite, clear and transparent pricing model, and commitment to customer service and training. A key tenet of the Apax Funds’ thesis is to build upon Magaya’s momentum and expanding list of US and international enterprise profile customers by further increasing the company’s investments to satisfy their growing requirements,” said Dave Evans, Partner at Apax.

“Over the last 20 years, Magaya has created a stand-out product offering that is valued and relied upon by more than 2,300 customers across the globe. We are proud to have LLR’s continued support and look forward to leveraging Apax’s global footprint and operating resources. My team and I look forward to Apax and LLR’s combined experience helping software businesses scale as well as their commitment to continue to support Magaya’s geographic and product expansion through organic investment as well as strategic M&A,” added Gary Nemmers, CEO at Magaya.

“We want to thank Magaya’s founders Jesus, Jose and Gabriel for their commitment over the past twenty years, and for leading Magaya to this important milestone. Since investing in the business in 2019, we’ve made significant progress, investing in the team and product while expanding the platform’s capabilities through M&A. We look forward to building on this success to date alongside Apax Digital,” said David Reuter and Michael Pantilione, Partners at LLR Partners.

As part of the transaction, Dave Evans and Dave Eckley (Operating Advisor in Apax’s Operational Excellence team) will join David Reuter, Michael Pantillone, and Gary Nemmers on Magaya’s board. Magaya’s founders, Jesus Rodriguez, Jose Yoniel Garcia, and Gabriel Ruz Jr., whose “vision and expertise created the foundations of our success to date,” said Gary Nemmers, will remain minority shareholders.

For more information about Magaya’s solutions for freight forwarders, customs brokers, and other international logistics providers please visit www.magaya.com.

Harris Williams LLC served as financial advisor to Magaya in connection with this transaction.

 

About Magaya 

Magaya delivers a Digital Freight Platform that accelerates growth with flexible, interoperable, and modular cloud-based solutions designed to optimize and digitize the entire logistics operations and customer experience. Whether used together as an integrated digital freight platform or independently, Magaya solutions enable businesses of all sizes to streamline complex and redundant processes, enhance the customer experience, optimize productivity, reduce costs, and grow revenue. At Magaya, we are passionately devoted to ensuring our customers’ success through our innovative technology and comprehensive array of related professional services. We take great pride in our people, experts in the field of logistics automation, who are always willing to go the extra mile for our customers. There are no limits to your growth with Magaya.

 

About Apax and Apax Digital  

The Apax Digital Funds specialize in growth equity and growth buyout investments in high-growth enterprise software, consumer internet, and technology-enabled services companies worldwide. The Apax Digital team leverages Apax’s deep tech investing expertise, global platform, and specialized operating experts, to enable technology companies and their management teams to accelerate the achievement of their full potential. For further information, please visit www.apaxdigital.com.

Apax Partners LLP (“Apax”) is a leading global private equity advisory firm. For 50 years, Apax has worked to inspire growth and ideas that transform businesses. The firm has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of more than $60 billion. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For further information, please visit www.apax.com.

 

About LLR Partners 

LLR Partners is a private equity firm investing in technology and healthcare businesses. We collaborate with our portfolio companies to identify and execute on key growth initiatives and help create long-term value. Founded in 1999 and with more than $5 billion raised across six funds, LLR is a flexible provider of equity capital for growth, recapitalizations and buyouts. Learn more at www.llrpartners.com/.

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3i announces the sale of Q Holding’s Precision Components Division for proceeds of c.$172m

3I

3i Group plc (“3i”) today announces that it has agreed the sale of Q Holding’s Precision Components Division, a leading provider of silicone and elastomeric molding and extrusion capabilities to the medical device and biopharma markets, to Cirtec Medical and SaniSure. Proceeds to 3i are expected to be c.$172m.

Cirtec Medical is acquiring Precision Components’ Rock Hill and Sturtevant operations and medical extrusion capabilities, which will provide Cirtec with additional high-value capabilities, such as silicone molding, silicone extrusion and polyisoprene molding, and exposure to complementary highgrowth end-markets including robotic surgery. This transaction enhances Cirtec’s ability to deliver vertically integrated capabilities, including engineering, tooling, and the manufacturing of critical components, sub-assemblies and fully-assembled complex devices.

SaniSure, a leader in single-use bioprocessing solutions, has acquired Precision Components’ Twinsburg operations, which produce industry leading silicone tubing. The addition of the Twinsburg facility will complement SaniSure’s existing portfolio of silicone and thermoplastic tubing products, further vertically integrating the business and enabling it to provide its customers with the highest quality components and assemblies in the industry.

3i invested in Precision Components’ parent Q Holding in 2014 and during its ownership has supported the acquisitions of Degania Medical and Silicone Altimex, and invested to expand its global manufacturing footprint with new facilities in Mexico, supporting investments in Europe, China and India. In April 2022, Q Holding’s QSR division, a leading developer and manufacturer of electrical connector seals, was sold to Datwyler.

Following this transaction, Q Holding will consist of its Catheter Technologies segment, which comprises the Degania, Arthesys and Biometrix brands that serve the medical device market with a wide range of catheter products. Catheter Technologies serves leading global OEMs with catheter solutions for the cardiovascular, vascular, enteral feeding, urology and general surgery markets. The segment has facilities in Israel, France, India and Slovakia.

Richard Relyea, Partner, 3i, commented: “We are proud to have partnered with Q’s leadership team to grow Precision Components into a leading global manufacturer of highly-engineered medical device components. These transactions will enable the continued strong growth of the Precision Components operations, aligning them with highly complementary companies and teams that bring additional capabilities and enhanced solutions that will benefit their customers and patients. We look forward to continuing to work with Catheter Technologies to achieve its growth initiatives.”The transaction is expected to complete in the quarter, subject to customary antitrust approvals.

-Ends-

Download this press release  

3i Group plc
Kathryn van der Kroft
Media enquiries		 Tel: +44 20 7975 3021
Email: kathryn.vanderkroft@3i.com
Silvia Santoro
Shareholder enquiries		 Tel: +44 20 7975 3285
Email: silvia.santoro@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

About Precision Components

Precision Components is a leading elastomeric solutions provider serving the medical device market. The company has decades of experience providing silicone, polyisoprene and other elastomersbased seals, valves, stoppers, duckbills, and other solutions created to customer specifications.

Regulatory information

This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Corporation, a US wholly owned subsidiary of 3i Group.

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Convertus wins 20-yr and C$ 490m contract to build a bio-fuel facility for the Region of York (CA)

Convent Capital

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30
Jan

Convertus Group was recently awarded a 20-year, C$490m contract by the York Region (The Regional Municipality of York) to process the Region’s curbside household green bin waste. Convertus plans to design and build a state-of-the-art biofuel facility in York Region by March 2027 that will convert York Region’s green bin waste into fertilizer and renewable natural gas. This is amazing news and is a key step towards Convertus becoming the largest and most advanced organic waste operator in North America.

https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/york-region-awards-490m-contract-for-organic-waste-facility-6369665

https://www.york.ca/newsroom/campaigns-projects/biofuel-facility

 

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BizzMine and VARIO join forces in the digitization of Quality, Safety and Environment (QMS – QHSE)

Fortino Capital

Kortrijk and Zottegem, January 30, 2023 – BizzMine and VARIO (Incerta) today announce their collaboration. Investment company Fortino Capital acquired a significant stake in BizzMine early last year and now supports this merger. The 3 parties have big plans and strongly believe in the synergy of quality management software and safety software. With 900 customers in more than 40 countries, Flanders has gained an ambitious digital player that plays a leading role in the QHSE market.

The need is high

In times of uncertainty, the demand for QHSE (Quality Health Safety Environment) software is high. Proper tracking of complaints, monitoring quality in the transportation of medicines, reducing industrial accidents, correctly complying with environmental legislation, or obtaining ISO certificates… These are just some of the applications that BizzMine and VARIO bring to the market. Users of BizzMine and VARIO users are not only covering risks better, but also strongly increasing transparency and efficiency of their organization.

 

Perfect synergy

Together, the two Flemish companies form an ideal software tandem. BizzMine is a digital platform for quality management (QMS) that enables organizations to centralize and manage all data related to complaints, audits, documents, training, etc. VARIO is a trendsetter in software for the management of safety, prevention and well-being in the workplace and facilitates the acquisition and maintenance of a VCA or ISO certificate. With their combined knowledge and experience, they can now address a wide range of sectors and respond to the growing demand for a SaaS solution for Quality and Safety Management.

 

Strong together, 1+1+1=5

Since Fortino Capital joined BizzMine less than a year ago, the team has experienced the positive dynamics of this collaboration. The growth acceleration immediately became concrete and international, the enthusiasm and confidence of the employees are increasing, and great progress is being made in sales, marketing, HR, corporate structure, reporting, etc.

As of today, Fortino’s experience and know-how will be further applied to actively support the expansion of the united team. To continue the growth, the current team of 60 employees will be significantly increased.

Chris Heyndrickx, Managing Director VARIO: “By joining forces with BizzMine, a complementary QMS company, and partnering with Fortino as a strategic investment company, we are positioning ourselves for unprecedented international growth in the QHSE market. This powerful combination will enable us to offer a broader range of innovative solutions, expand our reach into new markets, and provide unparalleled customer support. In this way, we will not only grow our QHSE business, but also revolutionize the industry and seek to shape the future of QHSE together.”

Chris Heyndrickx, Managing Director VARIO

Peter De Brabandere, Founder BizzMine: “With VARIO joining BizzMine, our solid growth story gets a big boost. The market is increasingly demanding solutions for integrated management systems, which we can now offer perfectly together. We also complement each other very well in terms of solutions for specific industries. We want to use our experience in international expansion to open up new markets at home and abroad with a broader product portfolio. Our goal is to become a leading European player in the coming years.”

Peter De Brabandere, Founder BizzMine

Jeroen Van Godtsenhoven, Partner at Fortino Capital: “The merger of BizzMine and VARIO is a step that supports our goal of becoming a leader in the QHSE market. The focus on Quality, Safety and Environment is increasing, and we are taking that opportunity. BizzMine and VARIO are leaders in their fields and Fortino is excited to put its shoulders to the wheel.”

Jeroen Van Godtsenhoven, Partner at Fortino Capital

About VARIO (Incerta)

Since 2008, Incerta BV has been operating as an IT and consulting firm focused on enterprise security policy consulting and software support. In a unique way, the team has translated its knowledge and experience with healthcare systems into a standard QHSE software package VARIO that evolves with the needs of the market. Today, more than 500 companies are already working with VARIO, including government institutions, multinationals, and SMEs. Some examples are Alheembouw, Vandersanden or the Flemish Government. For more information www.variosoftware.be

 

About BizzMine

Founded in 1995 as Vivaldi Software, BizzMine develops Cloud and web-based quality management and workflow software. The platform helps customers to better track complaints, incidents, risks, documentation, audits, calibrations, improvement actions, training, etc. BizzMine has a global presence through its diversified customer base in 40 countries and local offices in Europe, the U.S., the U.K., and Asia. Companies using BizzMine software include H.Essers, Oatly, Carbogen Amcis, Kloeckner. For more information please visit www.bizzmine.com

 

About Fortino Capital

Fortino Capital is an investment company focused on B2B software and ICT. Our mission is to help ambitious management teams realize their growth plans. We invest in young companies (venture capital) and established companies (growth capital) where growth is an essential part of the strategy. Fortino has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany and invests in Northwest Europe. Fortino’s previous investments include People Intouch, VanRoey, Odin Group, Teamleader, Efficy CRM, SigmaConso, Cenosco, MobileXpense, iObeya, etc.

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Pauwels Consulting acquires Dutch company 4People

3D Investors

Pauwels Consulting, the Belgian project sourcing specialist in life sciences, engineering and IT, is acquiring its Dutch competitor 4People.

The Dutch company 4People is specialized in secondment and placing of executives in construction, infrastructure & environment and engineering and employs over 200 people nationwide. Its vision is to help their clients build a livable future through knowledge-sharing of cutting-edge technologies.

Together with 3d investors, Pauwels Consulting has already made 12 acquisitions in 7 years and the turnover has increased sixfold from €25 million to €149 million. After this acquisition, the Pauwels Consulting team has more than 1,500 experts in the fields of life sciences, engineering and IT.

Pauwels Consulting successfully built a solid organization in the Netherlands in less than three years. Following four acquisitions of specialised ICT and engineering consulting companies in the Netherlands, 4People now brings significant engineering knowledge to the group.

Read more about the partnership between 3d investors and Pauwels Consulting.

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AgTech leader Kind Technologies attracts growth capital from Avedon to further develop its innovative offering. Avedon additionally acquires Gimv’s majority stake in the group.

GIMV

Topic: Divestment

Kind Technologies, a specialist in horticulture automation, makes an important step in its further development and welcomes Avedon Capital Partners as new investor providing further growth capital while also acquiring Gimv’s stake. The founders continue in their current roles and reinvest in the new structure that will enable the group to continue its organic growth journey complemented with further buy-and-build initiatives in horticulture automation.

In 2018, Gimv invested via its Smart Industries platform in Kind Technologies alongside the founders Alex Kind and Richard Vialle who previously acquired two machine vision companies. At the time the company was catering for a broad a range of customers and applications. Accompanied by Gimv, strategic choices combined with focused acquisitions led to a further positioning of Kind Technologies as automation expert in the AgTech domain.

In 2021, Kind Technologies completed this process by selling its activities in pharmaceutical glass inspection systems. From that moment on, Kind Technologies was able to fully focus on innovative automation within the greenhouse horticulture, an area with strong growth drivers centered around a safer and sustainable food supply chain.

Kind Technologies is leveraging its knowhow in robotics, computer vision, data and AI to scale-up its SortiPack® product family. The SortiPack® is developed in Eindhoven under the Crux Agribotics umbrella. Through Westland-based Martin Stolze, the Group offers a complete portfolio for internal logistics solutions. Kind Technologies really is where Brainport meets Greenport.

Avedon will supply Kind Technologies with growth capital to follow through with the ambition to automate the complete process from crop harvest to packed product. The group will also continue to further strengthen its position through buy-and-build.

Nick Medaer, Partner within the Gimv Smart industries team says “We proudly look back at the journey together with Alex and Richard repositioning and building Kind Technologies to where it stands today, a leading innovator in the horticulture market. Alex and Richard have demonstrated that they are true entrepreneurs, believing in their dreams and going more than the extra mile to achieve them. We wish them and Avedon a fruitful partnership.”

Alex Kind and Richard Vialle, the Founders add “We are grateful for the support and trust gained from Gimv during the past five years and the pivot and progress we have made jointly. Kind Technologies is now well positioned to address the increasing demand for automation within the greenhouse horticulture market. We look forward to addressing this momentum together with Avedon in the next phase of growth and to contribute to a more safe and efficient process for growing plants, fruits and vegetables, with our cutting edge technology.”

Emily Jeffries, Partner at Avedon shares: “We are honored and excited to support Alex, Richard and the strong teams at Crux and Martin Stolze on the promising growth journey ahead. Kind Technologies’ engineering talent, innovative culture and unmatched product and service portfolio give Kind a great position to accelerate their meaningful impact for growers worldwide.”

The transaction has no significant impact on the Net Asset Value of Gimv as of 30 September 2022. Over the entire holding period Gimv realizes a return in excess of the long-term portfolio return target. No further financial details will be disclosed.

 

Read the full document
 

Gimv

Karel Oomsstraat 37, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium

www.gimv.com

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Glass Pharms announces partners in UK cultivation facility: KUBO to build a state-of-the-art greenhouse

NPM Capital

Having secured up to £26.7M of funding from a FTSE-250 listed investment fund, Glass Pharms, the UK-based medical cannabis cultivation company, are delighted to announce a team of best-of-breed partners to complete their cultivation facility.

KUBO have been selected to deliver a state-of-the-art greenhouse for the Glass Pharms facility to ensure sophisticated control of climatic conditions and low energy consumption using its patented Ultra-Clima® system. The carbon negative facility will be powered entirely by renewable energy generated from food waste fed into an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant. Waste hot water from the AD plant will also be used for both heating and cooling.

The greenhouse will harvest and recycle rainwater and will represent a new benchmark for sustainable enclosed agriculture in the UK. Askam Civil Engineering, with specific sector expertise, will be providing the required civils and headhouse fitout for the facility. Glass Pharms have the first UK commercial licence granted by the Home Office to supply High-THC cannabis flower to lawful pharmaceutical companies, granted in 2021. Earlier this year it announced Richard Lewis, one of the UK’s most experienced glasshouse growers, as its managing director and will shortly announce its plant specific expert. “We will underpin a secure supply chain of affordable medical cannabis to UK patients without them having to compromise on freshness or quality, whilst at the same time making a real contribution towards the UK’s Net Zero targets,” said James Duckenfield, CEO of Glass Pharms.

UK Medical Cannabis Market 
Medical Cannabis was legalised in the UK in November 2018 with an amendment of The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, allowing the prescription of cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) to UK patients.

KUBO has been active in the greenhouse industry for over 75 years. The company serves growers of fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers with high-tech greenhouses, including software support and services including training, data analysis, management and operational support. The company, with approximately 150 employees, has branches in Monster (the Netherlands), Montreal (Canada) and Shanghai (China). With a turnover of roughly €200 million and projects realised in 45 countries, including Canada, United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Oman, KUBO is a pioneer in its industry. The family owned company, founded in 1945, was awarded the number one position in the Hillenraad100: an annual ranking of the hundred most prominent businesses in the knowledge- and capital-intensive Dutch (greenhouse) horticultural industry cluster.

For more information on KUBO, contact NPM Capital, Stijn Jonker (jonker@npm-capital.com)

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UC Investments to Invest Additional $500 Million in BREIT Common Shares

Blackstone

Oakland, CA, and New York, January 25, 2023 – The Office of the Chief Investment Officer of the Regents of the University of California (“UC Investments”) and Blackstone (NYSE: BX) today announced an expansion of their long-term strategic venture. UC Investments will acquire an additional $500 million in Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (“BREIT”) Class I common shares with fees and terms consistent with existing BREIT shareholders. This follows the $4 billion investment by UC Investments into BREIT announced on January 3, 2023, bringing its total investment in BREIT to $4.5 billion.

This new investment, which is expected to close March 1, 2023 at BREIT’s public offering price on that date, will have the same structure, terms, and fees as UC Investments’ initial $4 billion investment, including an effective 6-year minimum hold period, and Blackstone will contribute an incremental $125 million of its current BREIT holdings into the strategic venture.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as BREIT’s legal counsel and Goodwin Procter LLP is acting as UC Investments’ legal counsel.

About Blackstone
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $951 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking” statements and “safe harbor statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in Blackstone’s and BREIT’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Blackstone and BREIT have based forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, any benefits expected to be achieved as a result of the transaction and statements regarding future performance. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include the risks and other factors described in Blackstone and BREIT’s annual reports for the most recent fiscal year and any such updated factors included in their periodic filings with the SEC, as well as those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in BREIT’s prospectus, each of which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In providing forward-looking statements, neither Blackstone nor BREIT is undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If Blackstone or BREIT updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those other forward-looking statements.

CONTACT

Jeffrey Kauth
Jeffrey.Kauth@Blackstone.com
(212) 583-5395

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Ratos company Vestia signs contract for approximately SEK 700m with City of Mölndal to build new school

Ratos

Vestia Construction Group (Vestia) has signed a contract with the City of Mölndal for the new construction of Västerberg School and Bifrost Preschool in Mölndal. Västerberg School will accommodate 570 pupils from the age of six to 12 (Year F–6) in 9,500-square-metre premises including a full-size sports hall and is scheduled to be completed in March 2025. Bifrost Preschool will be the largest preschool in northern Europe with 14 classes housed in 4,200 square metres. Two classes will be specifically tailored for children with functional diversity and two will be open preschool classes offering activities for children who are not yet enrolled in preschool. The preschool will be completed in December 2024.

Västerberg School and Bifrost Preschool are part of the Lyftet programme, a strategic partnership between the City of Mölndal as the developer and Vestia as the general contractor. The programme includes eight projects: preschools, schools, and education centres. The ground was broken in December 2022 for the extensive refurbishment and extension of Building C at Almås School in Lindome, which is also part of the programme.

 

“Ratos’s construction companies are building a sustainable society by constructing sustainable commercial real estate and providing the state and municipalities with buildings that are important for society. We are very proud that we have been entrusted to build these schools in Mölndal. It is important to help provide a good environment for children and young people,” says Christian Johansson Gebauer, Chairman of the board of SSEA Group, which includes Vestia, and President, Business Area Construction & Services, Ratos.

 

In total, Västerberg School, Bifrost Preschool and Almås Building C entail a contract cost/order intake of SEK 669m for Vestia.

“The strategic partnership between the City of Mölndal and Vestia means that we are now initiating three additional school projects. It is incredibly gratifying to see how our strong partnership in 2022 has now resulted in the start of production for future school premises in the municipality,” says Christian Wieland, CEO of SSEA Group, which includes Vestia.

 

As part of the Lyftet programme, the refurbishment of Building H and Building L at Fässberg School has been completed, and at Stretered School one building is being refurbished and planning of another is in progress. Future projects will be carried out at Hålsten Preschool, Östergård School and Rävekärr School.

 

About the school projects

–          Developer: City of Mölndal

–          General contractor: Vestia Construction Group

–          Architect: Liljewall

–          Size: Västerberg School, gross area 9,500 square metres; Bifrost Preschool, gross area 4,200 square metres; Almås Building C, gross area 4,100 square metres

–          Contract cost: SEK 669m

 

About SSEA Group

SSEA Group is a Swedish construction group with operations throughout the country. The Group contributes to building sustainable communities. The focus for the operations is projects with implementation in collaboration/partnering where the customer’s most important priorities are high on the agenda. The group has the two subsidiaries: Vestia and SSEA AB.

För mer information, vänligen kontakta:
Josefine Uppling, VP, Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21, josefine.uppling@ratos.com
 

About Ratos

Ratos is a business group consisting of 16 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 30 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

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Sustainable soap brand Seepje receives capital injection from ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund and Fair Capital Impact Fund

Abn Amro Ventures

Seepje Handzeep met navulling 840x472

Sustainable detergent and soap brand Seepje from the Netherlands has raised 4.2 million euros from the ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund (ABN AMRO SIF) and Fair Capital Impact Fund. The rapidly growing company, based in The Hague, will use this capital to strengthen its position in the Netherlands and Belgium by expanding its range of sustainable soap products. Seepje also has plans to continue its international expansion and increase its social impact by marketing more innovative and truly sustainable products.

Over the past five years, Seepje has grown by a staggering factor of ten. This latest investment is aimed at recording a sustained annual growth of fifty percent or better. The company hopes that its mission of sustainability will be the deciding factor. “A clean future: that’s what we want, but it will be impossible unless we all work together now to become more sustainable. We want to get rid of pollution from housekeeping and personal care products, which are crammed full of unnecessary fossil ingredients. This capital injection will help us to become the world’s most impactful soap brand,” explains Seepje co-founder Jasper Gabriëlse. “Besides money, our investors will also provide input to make our supply chain more transparent, by increasing the professionalism of our impact measurements and reports, which will help us to make an even greater impact. We want to have a positive impact on everyone involved, for example by paying fair prices at the start of the supply chain. We’re challenging other operators to follow our example.”

Sustainable investments

Seepje’s track record shows how capable the company is of attracting leading impact investors, such as social investment company DOEN Participaties (founded by the Dutch National Postcode Lottery) and Muiden-based Fair Capital Impact Fund. The ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund is the latest to follow, at the same time as a new investment by Fair Capital Impact Fund. “For almost a decade now, Seepje’s founders, with their detergents and cleaning products, have been making a positive difference in the struggle to stop the planet’s natural resources from being exhausted,” comments Michelle de Rijk on behalf of Fair Capital Impact Fund. “We’re proud to help further boost the organisation and make a vital contribution to the company’s mission.”

Investment Director Erick Buckens of ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund adds, “Seepje is a real gamechanger, capable of substantially influencing the sustainability transition in the housekeeping and personal care market. The radical shift towards adopting natural ingredients and fair pay in the supply chain not only benefits the planet, it also fills the surging demand from increasing numbers of conscious and sustainability-minded buyers. This slots in perfectly with ABN AMRO SIF’s vision, which is to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable and inclusive society. Our goal is to achieve both sustainable impact and financial returns.”

Consolidation and growth

Already Social Enterprise of the Year in the Netherlands, Seepje will now use this capital injection from leading impact investors to expand its position in its existing markets in the Netherlands and Belgium, and to further explore new markets. Following the company’s successful launch in Switzerland, for example, Gabriëlse foresees rapid growth there. “Our impactful innovations, such as the recent introduction of hand soap refills, will help reduce carbon emissions along the entire supply chain, for example, as well as reducing the volume of plastic waste. Coupled with the fact that 99.8% of the ingredients that we use are organic, this makes us the most sustainable product in the market. We’re going to make sure that even more people start moving towards a clean future with Seepje, in the Netherlands and beyond!”

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