Category Archives: News

Polyventive Acquires Tri-Tex, Further Expanding its Specialty Chemicals Portfolio

Arsenal Capital Partners

December 13, 2021

Calhoun, GA- Polyventive LLC (“Polyventive”) has acquired the Surfactants and Dyes & Pigments businesses of Tri-TexCo Inc and Trichromatic-West, Inc (jointly, “Tri-Tex”) from SK Capital Partners.

Tri-Tex is a specialty manufacturer of surfactants, dyes, pigments, and water-based polymers used in Textile, Personal Care, Cleaning and Industrial applications. Tri-Tex backs their products with comprehensive technical, applications, supply chain and logistics expertise. Tri-Tex has manufacturing facilities in Quebec, Canada and Los Angeles, California.

“The addition of the Tri-Tex team, product portfolio, applications expertise, and manufacturing facilities advance Polyventive’s strategy to become the premier North American developer and supplier of cost effective, environmentally forward solutions in all of our targeted growth areas.” said Zay Risinger, President of Polyventive.

Concurrent with this transaction, Tri-Tex sold its adhesives business to Meridian Adhesives Group.

About Polyventive LLC
Polyventive is a leading North American manufacturer of specialty chemical solutions for the HI&I, Water Treatment, Personal Care, Construction, Soft Floor Covering, and Textile industries. Polyventive’s manufacturing, technical capabilities, applications expertise, and focus on solving customer problems has made it the first choice for industry leading solutions. With manufacturing and logistics facilities located in Northwest Georgia, USA, the company has best in industry service levels that underpin our commitment to meeting our customer’s needs.

Contact: info@polyventive.com

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Bridgepoint to realise investment in Miller Homes

Bridgepoint

NEW YORK and EDINBURGH, Scotland, Dec. 24, 2021 — Apollo (NYSE: APO) and Miller Homes Group Limited (“Miller Homes” or the “Company”), one of the U.K.’s leading homebuilders, today announced that funds managed by Apollo affiliates (the “Apollo Funds”) have, together with existing management, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Company from Bridgepoint Group plc (“Bridgepoint”). Financial terms were not disclosed.

Established in 1934, Miller Homes is a premier homebuilder in the U.K. with a focus on building high-quality family homes in regional markets in England and Scotland. On track for a record 2021, the Company builds approximately 4,000 homes a year across nine regions with ambitions to grow to 6,000 units annually in the medium-term.

Alex Humphreys, Partner at Apollo, said: “We are delighted that the Apollo Funds are acquiring Miller Homes. The Company’s reputation for exceptional customer service and high-quality homes has differentiated it as a respected leading homebuilder. Miller Homes has a strong presence in suburban locations that continue to see strong consumer demand, and we look forward to working alongside the talented management team to execute on their growth strategy.”

Christopher Hojlo, Partner at Apollo, said: “We continue to see opportunities to invest in the residential housing market as consumer demand for new homes accelerates. Today’s announcement further builds on Apollo’s continued commitment to the housing sector, most recently including current and pending investments by Apollo and its affiliates in U.S. homebuilder, The New Home Company, and leading U.K. specialist mortgage lender, Foundation Home Loans. We look forward to leveraging our industry knowledge and relationships to scale the business and to provide more customers with high-quality family homes.”

Chris Endsor, Chief Executive Officer of Miller Homes, said: “This is an exciting development for Miller Homes in continuing our recent strong momentum. Apollo has deep housing expertise, with a global platform, extensive resources and capital to create value for all stakeholders.

“I would like to thank the team at Bridgepoint for all the support they have provided during their ownership of the business. The past four years have witnessed a period of expansion and strong operational performance for Miller Homes, as well as having to adapt the business in exceptional circumstances. We have emerged stronger for it and are very well-placed to achieve our medium-term target of 6,000 units while maintaining the product quality and service for which we are known.”

Jamie Wyatt, partner and co-head of U.K. investment at Bridgepoint, said: “We are delighted to have supported Miller Homes and its management to grow the business over the last four years. Under our period of ownership, the number of houses sold per annum rose by a third, revenues exceeded £1 billion for the first time and profits increased by almost 50%. The business also expanded into new U.K. regions and completed two strategic acquisitions. We wish the whole team and their new investors every success in the exciting next phase of the Miller Homes journey.”

The Apollo Funds have committed financing to complete the acquisition and expect to redeem the existing financing prior to close. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

Rothschild and Co. (Lead) and Moelis & Company LLC are serving as financial advisors to Bridgepoint, and Travers Smith is serving as legal counsel. Barclays (Lead) and HSBC are serving as financial advisors to Apollo, and Sidley Austin LLP is serving as legal counsel. Miller Homes received legal advice from DLA Piper.

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Apollo Funds to Acquire Miller Homes

Leading U.K. Homebuilder Poised for Continued Growth

NEW YORK and EDINBURGH, Scotland, Dec. 24, 2021 — Apollo (NYSE: APO) and Miller Homes Group Limited (“Miller Homes” or the “Company”), one of the U.K.’s leading homebuilders, today announced that funds managed by Apollo affiliates (the “Apollo Funds”) have, together with existing management, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Company from Bridgepoint Group plc (“Bridgepoint”). Financial terms were not disclosed.

Established in 1934, Miller Homes is a premier homebuilder in the U.K. with a focus on building high-quality family homes in regional markets in England and Scotland. On track for a record 2021, the Company builds approximately 4,000 homes a year across nine regions with ambitions to grow to 6,000 units annually in the medium-term.

Alex Humphreys, Partner at Apollo, said: “We are delighted that the Apollo Funds are acquiring Miller Homes. The Company’s reputation for exceptional customer service and high-quality homes has differentiated it as a respected leading homebuilder. Miller Homes has a strong presence in suburban locations that continue to see strong consumer demand, and we look forward to working alongside the talented management team to execute on their growth strategy.”

Christopher Hojlo, Partner at Apollo, said: “We continue to see opportunities to invest in the residential housing market as consumer demand for new homes accelerates. Today’s announcement further builds on Apollo’s continued commitment to the housing sector, most recently including current and pending investments by Apollo and its affiliates in U.S. homebuilder, The New Home Company, and leading U.K. specialist mortgage lender, Foundation Home Loans. We look forward to leveraging our industry knowledge and relationships to scale the business and to provide more customers with high-quality family homes.”

Chris Endsor, Chief Executive Officer of Miller Homes, said: “This is an exciting development for Miller Homes in continuing our recent strong momentum. Apollo has deep housing expertise, with a global platform, extensive resources and capital to create value for all stakeholders.

“I would like to thank the team at Bridgepoint for all the support they have provided during their ownership of the business. The past four years have witnessed a period of expansion and strong operational performance for Miller Homes, as well as having to adapt the business in exceptional circumstances. We have emerged stronger for it and are very well-placed to achieve our medium- term target of 6,000 units while maintaining the product quality and service for which we are known.”

Jamie Wyatt, partner and co-head of U.K. investment at Bridgepoint, said: “We are delighted to have supported Miller Homes and its management to grow the business over the last four years. Under our period of ownership, the number of houses sold per annum rose by a third, revenues exceeded £1 billion for the first time and profits increased by almost 50%. The business also expanded into new U.K. regions and completed two strategic acquisitions. We wish the whole team and their new investors every success in the exciting next phase of the Miller Homes journey.”

The Apollo Funds have committed financing to complete the acquisition and expect to redeem the existing financing prior to close. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

Rothschild and Co. and Moelis & Company LLC are serving as financial advisors to Bridgepoint, and Travers Smith is serving as legal counsel. Barclays (Lead) and HSBC are serving as financial advisors to Apollo, and Sidley Austin LLP is serving as legal counsel. Miller Homes received legal advice from DLA Piper.

About Apollo

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. We seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade to private equity with a focus on three business strategies: yield, hybrid and opportunistic. Through our investment activity across our fully integrated platform, we serve the retirement income and financial return needs of our clients, and we offer innovative capital solutions to businesses. Our patient, creative, knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of September 30, 2021, Apollo had approximately $481 billion assets under management. To learn more, visit www.apollo.com.

About Miller Homes

For over 85 years, Miller Homes has established a reputation for building outstanding quality family homes and providing forward thinking customer service. The company is committed to building homes safely, in a way which is considerate to the environment. The company has achieved 5-star status in the HBF National New Home Customer Satisfaction Survey for nine of the last 10 years. Further information is available by visiting www.millerhomes.co.uk.

About Bridgepoint

Bridgepoint Group plc is the world’s leading quoted private assets growth investor focused on the middle-market with over €30 billion AUM and a local presence in the U.S., Europe and China. We specialize in private equity and private credit and invest internationally in six principal sectors – business services, consumer, financial services, healthcare, advanced industrials and technology. For more information visit www.bridgepoint.eu.

Contacts

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

For media:
Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0491
communications@apollo.com

Miller Homes
TB Cardew
Miller@tbcardew.com
Ed Orlebar – +44 7738 724630
Shan Shan Willenbrock – +44 7775 848537

Bridgepoint
James Murray – +44 7802 259861
james.murray@bridgepoint.eu
Christian Jones – christian.jones@bridgepoint.eu

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DIF Capital Partners reaches financial close on Goldsmiths, UK student accommodation PPP

DIF

DIF Capital Partners (“DIF”) is pleased to announce that it has closed the acquisition of a 90% stake in the Goldsmiths, University of London, student accommodation PPP. This project was acquired from a fund advised by Arlington Advisors, a UK based investment manager and student housing specialist. The investment will be made by DIF Infrastructure V. The remaining 10% stake is owned by Campus Living Villages, one of the world’s leading on-campus student accommodation owner operators which will continue operating and maintaining the asset.

The project is an operational availability-based PPP that has been operational in its current form since 2017. It comprises 469 beds across three buildings, communal spaces and an orangery. The project is operated under a 50 year concession signed in 2015. The buildings are all located within ca. 1 mile of the Goldsmiths’ campus in south-east London.

Gijs Voskuyl, Partner and Head of Investments for the DIF V and VI strategy, says: “Further to the recent financial close on LSE student accommodation PPP, DIF is excited to add another student accommodation asset to its portfolio. We look forward to partnering with a high profile higher education institution and working alongside a global leader in on-campus student accommodation”.

DIF was advised by Addleshaw Goddard (legal), AECOM (technical) and JLL (commercial), Grant Thornton (tax & accounting) and EY (financial).

About DIF Capital Partners

DIF Capital Partners is a leading global independent investment manager, with more than €9.0 billion in assets under management across nine closed-end infrastructure funds and several co-investment vehicles. DIF invests in infrastructure companies and assets located primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Australasia through two complementary strategies:

  • Traditional DIF funds target equity investments with long-term contracted or regulated income streams including public-private partnerships, concessions, utilities, and (renewable) energy projects.
  • DIF CIF funds target equity investments in small to mid-sized economic infrastructure assets in the telecom, energy transition, and transportation sectors.

DIF Capital Partners has a team of over 170 professionals, based in ten offices located in Amsterdam (Schiphol), Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, New York, Paris, Santiago, Sydney, and Toronto. For more information please visit www.dif.eu.

 

More information:

Jorda Zuurendonk, Marketing & Communication Manager

j.zuurendonk@dif.eu

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Audax Private Equity Completes the Sale of RelaDyne, Inc. to American Industrial Partners

Audax Group

Audax Private Equity (“Audax”) today announced that it has completed the sale of RelaDyne, Inc (“RelaDyne” or the “Company”) to American Industrial Partners (“AIP”). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

RelaDyne is a leading provider of lubricants and distributor of less-than-truckload fuel, diesel exhaust fluid, chemicals, and other related products in the United States. RelaDyne is also an international provider of sustainability and reliability services to the commercial and industrial end-markets. The Company focuses on preventive maintenance, lowering total cost of ownership, decarbonization, and enhancing the sustainability and reliability of customers’ critical equipment and assets, and serves over 25,000 customers throughout the broad industrial, commercial, and automotive end-markets.

Don Bramley, Managing Director at Audax, said, “We are proud to have partnered with Larry and the rest of the RelaDyne team to help build the Company into a leading provider of lubricants and related services. Through organic growth and strategic acquisitions, the Company significantly expanded its product portfolio, service capabilities, and geographic presence over the last five years. We are thankful to the team for all their efforts and wish them well.”

Larry Stoddard, Chief Executive Officer of RelaDyne, said, “This is another great step in the continued evolution and strategy for RelaDyne since our formation in 2010. We thank Audax for their leadership over the past five years and look forward to partnering with AIP.”

Baird served as lead M&A advisor and Stephens served as co-advisor to RelaDyne. Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor to RelaDyne and Audax Private Equity.

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Carlyle Aviation Partners Affiliate to Buy AMCK Aviation’s Portfolio of Aircraft

Carlyle

NEW YORK and DUBLIN – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) announced today that Maverick Aviation Partnership LP (“Maverick”), an investment vehicle managed by Carlyle Aviation Partners, has signed an agreement to acquire AMCK Aviation’s (“AMCK”) portfolio of aircraft. Through the transaction, Maverick will acquire 125 primarily narrowbody aircraft and an order book of 20 A320/321 neo aircraft. The total appraised value of the existing fleet is in excess of $4 billion, not including the order book.

William Hoffman, Chairman of Carlyle Aviation Partners, said, “We are pleased to acquire AMCK’s attractive portfolio, comprised of primarily narrowbody aircraft whose lessee counterparties have performed well in the COVID operating environment. This transaction will help us enhance our capabilities for airline customers and all of our investors across the Carlyle Aviation platform.”

AMCK is a global aircraft leasing company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with regional offices in Tokyo, Japan and Irvine, California. It is owned by CK Asset Holdings Limited, the majority shareholder of AMCK, and Li Ka Shing (Global) Foundation.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022 and is conditioned upon the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Maverick’s primary investor is an affiliate of CPPIB Credit Investments Inc. (“CPPIB Credit Investments”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, an institution with a proven track record in aircraft leasing having previously owned a significant stake in AWAS, a Dublin-based aircraft lessor. Carlyle Aviation Partners will be the asset servicer for the vehicle.

Carlyle Aviation Partners is the commercial aviation investment and servicing arm of Carlyle’s $66 billion Global Credit platform. It is a multi-strategy aviation investment manager that seeks to capitalize on its extensive technical knowledge, in-depth industry expertise and long-standing presence in the aviation sector. As of September 30, 2021, and excluding the planned acquisition of AMCK’s portfolio, it has total assets under management of $8.3 billion, owns, manages or is committed to purchase 311 aircraft with 106 airline lessees in 56 countries, and employs a team of more than 95 in the US, Ireland and Singapore.

Goldman Sachs is leading the acquisition financing for the transaction. Milbank is acting as legal counsel to the Carlyle Aviation Partners managed investment vehicle with Kirkland & Ellis advising on the formation of Maverick.

* * * * *

About Carlyle
Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Global Investment Solutions. With $293 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2021, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 1,800 people in 26 offices across five continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on Twitter @OneCarlyle.

About CK Asset Holdings

CK Asset Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1113) is a leading multinational corporation and has diverse capabilities with activities encompassing property development and investment, hotel and serviced suite operation, property and project management, aircraft leasing, pub operation and investment in infrastructure and utility asset operation.

Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. These statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.

Media contacts

Christa Zipf
Carlyle
Christa.zipf@carlyle.com
347-621-8967

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Carlyle Aviation Partners Affiliate to Buy AMCK Aviation’s Portfolio of Aircraft

Carlyle

NEW YORK and DUBLIN – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) announced today that Maverick Aviation Partnership LP (“Maverick”), an investment vehicle managed by Carlyle Aviation Partners, has signed an agreement to acquire AMCK Aviation’s (“AMCK”) portfolio of aircraft. Through the transaction, Maverick will acquire 125 primarily narrowbody aircraft and an order book of 20 A320/321 neo aircraft. The total appraised value of the existing fleet is in excess of $4 billion, not including the order book.

William Hoffman, Chairman of Carlyle Aviation Partners, said, “We are pleased to acquire AMCK’s attractive portfolio, comprised of primarily narrowbody aircraft whose lessee counterparties have performed well in the COVID operating environment. This transaction will help us enhance our capabilities for airline customers and all of our investors across the Carlyle Aviation platform.”

AMCK is a global aircraft leasing company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with regional offices in Tokyo, Japan and Irvine, California. It is owned by CK Asset Holdings Limited, the majority shareholder of AMCK, and Li Ka Shing (Global) Foundation.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022 and is conditioned upon the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Maverick’s primary investor is an affiliate of CPPIB Credit Investments Inc. (“CPPIB Credit Investments”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, an institution with a proven track record in aircraft leasing having previously owned a significant stake in AWAS, a Dublin-based aircraft lessor. Carlyle Aviation Partners will be the asset servicer for the vehicle.

Carlyle Aviation Partners is the commercial aviation investment and servicing arm of Carlyle’s $66 billion Global Credit platform. It is a multi-strategy aviation investment manager that seeks to capitalize on its extensive technical knowledge, in-depth industry expertise and long-standing presence in the aviation sector. As of September 30, 2021, and excluding the planned acquisition of AMCK’s portfolio, it has total assets under management of $8.3 billion, owns, manages or is committed to purchase 311 aircraft with 106 airline lessees in 56 countries, and employs a team of more than 95 in the US, Ireland and Singapore.

Goldman Sachs is leading the acquisition financing for the transaction. Milbank is acting as legal counsel to the Carlyle Aviation Partners managed investment vehicle with Kirkland & Ellis advising on the formation of Maverick.

* * * * *

About Carlyle
Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Global Investment Solutions. With $293 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2021, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 1,800 people in 26 offices across five continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on Twitter @OneCarlyle.

About CK Asset Holdings

CK Asset Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1113) is a leading multinational corporation and has diverse capabilities with activities encompassing property development and investment, hotel and serviced suite operation, property and project management, aircraft leasing, pub operation and investment in infrastructure and utility asset operation.

Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. These statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.

Media contacts

Christa Zipf
Carlyle
Christa.zipf@carlyle.com
347-621-8967

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Maritime technology company Seaber.io to secure new growth funding

Seaber.io, the Finnish maritime technology company has raised EUR 1.5 million from Counterview Capital, Lifeline Ventures and Tesi to further develop the business.

Seaber is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact, inefficiencies and costs of bulk and break bulk shipping. Seaber’s cloud-based schedule planning, optimisation and communication solution helps charterers and shipowners to reduce emissions by improving asset utilisation.

“Seaber is set to modernize a traditional industry and bring new digital capabilities to maritime operators, driving significant environmental impact. As such it is a great fit with our Venture Bridge investment program. We are delighted to join a high-caliber investment syndicate supporting the company’s growth ambitions,” comments Juha Lehtola, Director of Tesi’s Venture Capital team.

Read more:

Press release by Seaber.io 21.12.2021

Additional information:

Juha Lehtola, Director, Venture Capital, Tesi
+358 400 647 671
juha.lehtola@tesi.fi

 

Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd) is a state-owned investment company that wants to raise Finland to the front ranks of transformative economic growth by investing in funds and directly in companies. We invest profitably and responsibly, hand-in-hand with co-investors, to create the world’s new success stories. Our investments under management total 2.1 billion euros. www.tesi.fi | @TesiFII

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CVC Fund VI to sell Mooney to Intesa Sanpaolo and Enel

CVC Capital Partners

Schumann Investments S.A., a company controlled by CVC Capital Partners Fund VI (“CVC”), signed an agreement with Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. (“Intesa Sanpaolo”) and Enel S.p.A. (“Enel”) to sell its 70% stake in Mooney Group valuing the business €1,385m on an EV basis. At closing, expected by mid 2022, Intesa Sanpaolo, which already owns 30% of Mooney, and Enel will each hold 50% in the company.

Headquartered in Milan, Mooney is a leading payment services operator with an extensive proximity network. In 2020, Mooney registered revenues of €153m and an EBITDA of €82m. The company has 20 million customers and has issued almost 1 million proprietary prepaid credit cards. Furthermore, through its stake in MyCicero, Mooney manages a digital platform that provides over 2 million customers with mobility services.

Giampiero Mazza, Managing Partner at CVC, said: “Mooney has come a long way since our acquisition of Sisal Group in 2016. We are proud that our strategy has found its ultimate validation in the acquisition by Intesa Sanpaolo and Enel. We want to thank the management team led by Emilio Petrone in leading the journey from a captive B2B partner to the proximity channel to an independent omni-channel B2B and B2C payment platform. We also want to thank Stefano Barrese at Intesa Sanpaolo for joining our vision in the creation of Mooney. Intesa Sanpaolo and Enel are the perfect partners for Mooney and its customers, providing both continuity and the infrastructure to continue to grow the business’ services and footprint going forward.”

Andrea Ferrante, Senior Managing Director at CVC, added: “Separating Sisal’s gaming and payments businesses was at the core of our value creation strategy since inception. Over the last few years, under Emilio’s stewardship, Mooney has improved its offering to both consumers and merchants becoming the partner of choice of a 46k-strong network of points of sale and a reference point for over 20 million customers. Intesa Sanpaolo have proved to be formidable partners and we wish them all the success in the future.”

CVC was advised by Rothschild & Co., Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Latham & Watkins, Roland Berger, PWC, Studio Legale Tributario Facchini, Rossi, Michelutti.

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Flutter Entertainment to acquire Sisal Gaming

CVC Capital Partners

Acquires Italy’s leading online gaming operator from CVC Capital Partners Fund VI for €1.913bn/£1.62bn

Flutter Entertainment plc (“Flutter” or “the Group”) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Sisal (“Sisal”), Italy’s leading online gaming operator, from CVC Capital Partners Fund VI for a consideration of €1.913bn/£1.62bn. This acquisition fully aligns with the Group’s strategy of investing to build leadership positions in regulated markets globally. The transaction is likely to complete during Q2 2022 and is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings in the first 12 months post-completion.

Sisal is a leading betting, gaming and lottery operator headquartered in Milan. In the 12 months to December 20211, Sisal expects to generate EBITDA of €248m/£211m, with 58% coming from its online offering and the remainder coming from a combination of retail and lottery operations. Approximately 90% of Sisal’s 2021 EBITDA is generated in Italy with the balance coming from regulated lottery operations in Turkey and Morocco. The business employs circa 2,500 people today.

The addition of Sisal to Flutter delivers several key strategic outcomes:

  • Secures a gold medal position in Italy by bringing the leading online brand into the Flutter portfolio. The combination of Sisal with Flutter’s existing online Italian presence through PokerStars and Betfair will result in a combined online share of 20%2
  • Increases the Group’s exposure to an attractive, fast-growing, regulated online market: Italy is Europe’s second-largest regulated gambling market and one that has seen online penetration grow from 10% in 2019 to approximately 20% today. Sisal’s online revenues have grown by a compound annual rate of 34% since 2016
  • Sisal’s omni-channel offering will deliver a competitive advantage to Flutter’s business, particularly given Italy’s advertising restrictions and the prevalence of cash deposits and withdrawals through retail
  • Increases Flutter’s recreational customer base with the addition of 300,0003 highly engaged online average monthly players and over 9.5m retail customers
  • Further diversifies Flutter’s product and geographical footprint and increases the proportion of Flutter’s revenue from regulated markets which in Q3 2021 was over 91%
  • Bolsters Flutter’s existing talent pool by adding a proven management team that will continue to lead the business and who have sought to take a leadership position in the promotion of safer gambling in Italy

Peter Jackson, Flutter Chief Executive, commented: “I am delighted to add Sisal, Italy’s leading gaming brand, to the Group as we look to attain a gold medal position in the Italian market. For some time we have wanted to pursue this market opportunity via an omni-channel strategy and this acquisition will ideally position us to do so. Sisal has grown its online presence significantly in recent years, aided by its proprietary platform and commitment to innovation. I’m excited to see how Flutter can complement these capabilities through our scale, differentiated products and operational capabilities. We look forward to welcoming Francesco and the rest of the Sisal team to Flutter in 2022.”

Francesco Durante, Sisal Chief Executive, commented: “Over the last five years, thanks to CVC’s support, we have successfully transformed Sisal into a leading digital and international gaming company. Through our commitment to digital innovation, international expansion and safer gambling, we have achieved a leadership position in Italy’s online gaming market and developed our global footprint by winning lottery tenders in Morocco and Turkey. We are delighted to join Flutter and are convinced that through its scale and operational capabilities, we will be able to further strengthen our leadership in the markets we operate in. I look forward to working with Peter and the team on the next chapter of Sisal history.”

Giampiero Mazza, Managing Partner at CVC Italy commented: “We are very proud of the success achieved by Sisal and its transformation since our acquisition in 2016. Through heavy investment in its digital competencies, Sisal has become Italy’s leader in online gaming while also growing its international operations. Furthermore, the Company is leading the Italian industry in ensuring responsible and safe gaming. We want to thank Francesco and the whole management team for their incredible dedication, focus and ambition, and for leading this successful journey in spite of regulatory challenges and the pandemic. Flutter is a fantastic new partner for Sisal and we wish them the very best.”

The full RNS announcement is available here.

1 Financial projections for FY 2021 have been provided by Sisal management and are consistent with 10 months of actual EBITDA performance (£163m) and 2 months of projected performance (£48m). FY 2021 has been used in this release as we believe it is a better reflection of the ongoing earnings power of the business; 2020 performance was materially impacted by Covid-19 related retail restrictions
2 Online market share of gross gaming revenue in October 2021
3 Average number of players in the 12 months to 30 June 2021

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