Category Archives: News

Industrifonden welcomes ShardSecure to the portfolio

Industriefonden

Today we are excited to announce that Industrifonden participates in ShardSecure’s Over-subscribed Seed Round.

ShardSecure™, the data protection company whose Microshard™ technology helps organizations accelerate cloud adoption by mitigating cloud misconfiguration and data security risks, announced today that Industrifonden has participated in the company’s oversubscribed seed round, joining lead investor SineWave Ventures, Tom Noonan, 500 Startups and others in the investment round originally announced late last year. The Stockholm-based Industrifonden is one of the largest and oldest early-stage venture capital firms in Northern Europe, with US $700 M under management.

“ShardSecure is thrilled to welcome Industrifonden as a significant investor in our growth journey,” said CEO & Co-founder, Bob Lam. “Industrifonden has a long and successful track record of backing early-stage startups. We look forward to working with Hadar and his team as we bring our data protection technology to market this year.”

Industrifonden Investment Director, Hadar Cars, also shared his enthusiasm about the announcement, adding, “Industrifonden is pleased to be adding ShardSecure™ to our portfolio as we see them filling an urgent need in the cloud data protection market. The prevalence of security incidents caused by cloud misconfigurations, and the resulting financial and reputational damages, present a significant hurdle for organizations looking to migrate more of their workloads to the cloud. ShardSecure’s Microshard™ technology tackles the problem at the source by reducing the sensitivity of data, providing a critical security solution that will help organizations accelerate cloud adoption with reduced risk and compliance burden.”

The oversubscribed funding round positions ShardSecure well for growth. Funds will be used to build an experienced sales and marketing team to bring the Microshard data protection technology to market this year as well as to continue strengthening an already robust development team.

Learn more about ShardSecure at www.shardsecure.com.

 

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Gimv invests in AME, specialised producer of smart electronics for tomorrow’s products, located in Eindhoven Brainport

GIMV

02/03/2020 – 07:30 | Portfolio

Gimv acquires a majority share in Applied Micro Electronics (“AME”), a developer and manufacturer of innovative, high-quality and smart electronic modules for international OEM customers. With Gimv’s support, the current management team will continue to pursue its growth ambitions.

Since its foundation in 1996, AME (Eindhoven Brainport – NL, www.ame.nu) has continuously invested in R&D, and developed in-depth knowledge and expertise in three technology areas: power conversion, sensing & actuating and internet of things. Example applications include power conversion systems, motion controllers, safety systems and human machine interfaces for a variety of end-markets, including electric vehicles, home appliances and industrial automation. AME currently employs a staff of about 250 – including 80 engineers – and realizes a turnover of ca. EUR 40 million.

Both Gimv’s Smart Industries team and the current management team strongly believe in further growth potential of the business based on clear underlying market trends, such as further electrification of society, increasing automation and connectivity of devices. AME is well positioned to benefit from the market growth due to its vertically integrated business model, its in-depth expertise in specific technology areas and its strong track record of serving blue chip customers. Gimv will support management to realize their ambition to grow the business and further professionalize the organization.

Gerrit van der Beek, CEO of AME, says: “Gimv is the right partner for AME to make our growth ambitions come true. They fully underline and support our business strategy and philosophy. With Gimv we will be able to invest further in our technical capabilities and our industrial facilities. Expanding our activities globally to support our customers locally can now be put on our management agenda. I fully believe that the partnership with Gimv is a major step forward for AME and will enable us to enhance the support and service to our valued customers.”

Boris Wirtz, principal in the Gimv Smart Industries team, adds: “AME is right at the heart of our Smart Industries investment focus, as it combines knowledge intensive engineering and software competences with highly automated manufacturing facilities to develop and produce innovative products. We are highly impressed by the outstanding capabilities of the company, as confirmed by longstanding partnerships with international OEMs who trust AME to supply crucial parts of their products. We look forward to partner with management and build on AME’s strong existing position to further grow the business.”

This new investment will become part of Gimv’s Smart Industries platform, focusing on companies supplying B2B products and services, based on value creation through innovation and intelligent technology.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the competition authorities. No further financial details on the transaction are being published.

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Ardian Real Estate sells Konrad office complex after comprehensive repositioning

Ardian

Frankfurt / Munich, March 2, 2020: Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, has signed an agreement to sell the KONRAD office complex to a 50-50 joint venture between Union Investment and Hansainvest. The transaction takes place approximately three years after the acquisition of the Wappenhalle office complex in Munich-Riem as the first real estate investment in the German-speaking market by the Ardian Real Estate team. During the investment phase, Ardian and its real estate team completed comprehensive upgrade measures. In this context, the real estate complex was repositioned and renamed KONRAD in September 2017. The modern high-grade office complex, which comprises about 34,000 sqm of office space, consists of the Wappenhalle (“Coat of Arms Hall”), a listed building originally built in 1939, and nine further buildings connected by glass structures and situated around a courtyard garden. The parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details relating to the transaction.

Since the acquisition by Ardian in 2017, the quality and attractiveness of the areas has been significantly increased – among other things through the renovation and redesign of the two entrance areas, modernization of the façade and interior areas, and an upgrade of the garden and courtyard. A sum in the tens of millions of euros was invested for the upgrade measures and the rebranding. An important milestone occurred in 2019 with the achievement of a 100 percent occupancy rate by 30 tenants under long-term lease agreements. Most recently, a modern dining area was created on the property in September 2019 and is operated by Leonardi. The Wappenhalle is still used under its existing name as a high-quality venue for galas, trade fairs and exhibitions as well as for conferences. For the repositioning of KONRAD, in February 2020 Ardian Real Estate received the German immobilienmanager award in the “Investment” category.

Bernd Haggenmüller, Senior Managing Director and responsible for the DACH region for Ardian Real Estate, said: “We have fully achieved our goals for KONRAD. The building complex has been successfully repositioned and modernized. It has been significantly upgraded through targeted investments and has attractive unique selling points with the Wappenhalle and the associated combination of tradition and modernity. After reaching full long-term occupancy in 2019, this demonstrates that the measures have been very well received by both existing and prospective tenants.”

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$96bn managed or advised in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base.
Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardian’s activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world.
Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 680 employees working from fifteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul). It manages funds on behalf of around 1,000 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt.
www.ardian.com

COMPANIES AND PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE TRANSACTION

Ardian Team: Bernd Haggenmüller, Moritz Pohlmann, Nico Rheims, Benedict Rasche
Legal: Herbert Smith Freehills (Thomas Kessler)
Tax: Taxess (Boris Meissner)
Technical: REC Partners (Joachim Wahlich)

PRESS CONTACT

CHARLES BARKER CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
ardian@charlesbarker.de
TOBIAS EBERLE
Tel: +49 69 79409024
PETER STEINER
Tel: +49 69 79409027

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Francisco Partners to Acquire Pharmacy and Public Sector Software Firm Smith Technologies

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Franciso Partners

Francisco Partners, a leading technology-focused growth equity firm, has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Smith Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of J M Smith Corporation, one of the country’s oldest enterprises rooted in the community pharmacy industry. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Smith Technologies, a leader in community pharmacy technology, long-term care technology, and public sector software, will remain headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

“The acquisition of Smith Technologies by Francisco Partners provides the investment capital that the company has needed for some time,” said Paula Harper Bethea, Executive Chairman of the Board for J M Smith Corporation. “The sale will benefit employees, shareholders and customers alike through this pivotal investment.”

“The legacy of Smith Technologies is one of market creation. They have led the way over many decades in the pharmacy and public sector. We are committed to continuing its exceptional service to existing customers and excited to invest in expanding both their market share and geographic footprint as an independent entity,” said Chris Adams of Francisco Partners.

J M Smith Corporation will remain one of the South Carolina upstate’s largest corporations and will continue to operate as the parent company for Smith Drug Company, RX Medic and SMS. Upon closing of the transaction, the J M Smith Corporation’s board will consider whether to use the sale proceeds for reinvestment in the company, reduction of indebtedness, share repurchases, shareholder dividends or a combination thereof.

About J M Smith

J M Smith Corporation was founded in 1925 as a single community pharmacy in Asheville, North Carolina. In the decades since, the company has grown to operate business units that supply healthcare and distribution services and technology to pharmacies, institutions, government agencies and businesses across the U.S.

About Francisco Partners

Francisco Partners is a leading global private equity firm that specializes in investments in technology and technology-enabled businesses. Since its launch 20 years ago, Francisco Partners has raised over $14 billion in committed capital and invested in more than 275 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. The firm invests in opportunities where its deep sectoral knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential. For more information on Francisco Partners, please visit: www.franciscopartners.com

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NPM CAPITAL acquires a majority stake in Greenspread and Solaris Industria

NPM Capital

Investment company NPM Capital acquires a majority stake in Greenspread and Solaris Industria. Both companies develop and operate sustainable energy projects, including solar PV systems. The acquisitions are part of the investment strategy employed by NPM Capital in this sector and follow the majority stake that the investment company acquired in Rooftop Energy in June 2019. Jeroen de Haas, former head of Eneco and member of the Supervisory Board and active adviser at Rooftop Energy, will take on the role of president of the new business combination.

“We are delighted that we have made our first, concrete step in line with our acquisition agenda which focuses on accelerating the energy transition in the Netherlands”, explains De Haas. “Greenspread and Solaris Industria both have an excellent track record and each contribute, in their own way, to the group which is gradually taking shape. The acquisitions also mean strong and ambitious energy professionals will be joining. In the coming period, we will maintain our focus on acquiring small and large companies to create rapid scale expansion in large solar power stations. Alongside the growth in solar energy, we are currently also working on several investment opportunities which target the expansion of the proposition for making our customers completely sustainable.

Leendert Florusse, CEO of Rooftop Energy, adds: “Both Greenspread and Solaris Industria offer an impressive portfolio of solar PV projects that have already been realised or which are still in the pipeline. Together, we can take an even better stand and create an important place for solar energy in the sustainable energy system of the future.”

About Greenspread
Greenspread develops and operates sustainable energy projects and is one of the most well-known sustainable energy advisers in the Netherlands. It takes on the entire process for all forms of sustainable energy (e.g. solar PV, renewable heat, charging points, storage and hydrogen), from technical feasibility, to design, financing, preparation, installation and management. In many cases, Greenspread also invests, with the customer, in the final energy solution. The company, which is headquartered in Woudenberg and began in 2010, has now realised hundreds of projects. When it comes to increasing the sustainability of existing property, Greenspread is the market leader in the public domain (municipalities, hospitals, water boards). Over the past ten years, almost 200 municipalities have used Greenspread’s services. At the start of 2020, Greenspread was generating 24 MW in solar PV installations and also had a pipeline of 140 MW in solar PV projects which increasingly involves businesses. Greenspread currently employs 15 employees. This number is expected to increase in the coming years. The directors of Greenspread, Jan Willem Zwang and Gerhard van de Lagemaat, will remain active in the group as shareholders. Ivo Priem, investor in Greenspread through his investment company Livermore TC, will sell his share.

Jan Willem Zwang, founder and general director of Greenspread: ”As a result of Gerhard’s involvement since the end of 2015 and the investments from Ivo in mid-2017, Greenspread has been able to realise enormous growth. The acquisition strategy applied by NPM Capital in our sector has given us the opportunity to accommodate the realisation and operation of our own solar PV projects within Rooftop Energy. As a result, we can work with Greenspread as an independent adviser to further focus on increasing sustainability among our customers. We are very excited about this acquisition and the active involvement of Jeroen de Haas. Greenspread will not only enable us to realise our own ambitions more quickly, but also help us really get things moving!”

About Solaris Industria
The Utrecht-based Solaris Industria operates large-scale solar PV installations, particularly on commercial roofs in the Netherlands. Via a business model that concentrates on partnerships, Solaris has currently developed around 30 MWp in projects, divided across more than 50 locations.

Co-founders Robin Koek and Jöbke Janssen shall continue as shareholders and remain active in the group. Solaris will work from its base in Utrecht to further strengthen its position as a reliable partner for financing solar PV projects.

Robin Koek: “We feel very positive about the fact that NPM Capital is part of family business SHV, which has a flexible and long investment horizon, and has a clear vision of the further expansion of sustainable energy in the Netherlands. We are sure that our partners, installers and customers will benefit from this move.”

Jöbke Janssen adds: “This takeover has come at a good moment for us. As a result of our rapid growth, we were at the point of investing in further professionalisation, including specific software systems. Within the group,  Rooftop Energy is its next phase, and has already raised the bar in terms of professionalism. We can neatly connect into this. It means we don’t need to reinvent the wheel and can focus on what we really love doing: realising sustainable projects for our customers.”

Read also NPM Capital acquires majority stake in Rooftop Energy

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Advent International, Cinven and RAG-Stiftung to acquire thyssenkrupp’s Elevator Technology business

Cinven

International private equity firms Advent International (“Advent”) and Cinven together with the RAG-Stiftung (“the foundation”) (“the consortium”), today announced that they have signed definitive agreements with thyssenkrupp AG to acquire thyssenkrupp’s Elevator Technology business (“thyssenkrupp Elevator” or “the Group”).

As part of the transaction, thyssenkrupp AG will reinvest in thyssenkrupp Elevator and will acquire a substantial minority stake, underlining the attractive value creation potential of the business as well as a commitment to Germany and the Group’s employees.

thyssenkrupp Elevator is a leading international provider of elevator technology with operations in more than 1,000 locations worldwide. Headquartered in Germany, the Group generated revenues of €8.0bn in the financial year 2018/2019. thyssenkrupp Elevator provides innovative solutions to customers in more than 100 countries. Its product portfolio includes passenger and freight elevators, escalators and moving walkways, passenger boarding bridges, stair and platform lifts as well as a customised service business including maintenance of its entire product portfolio. The business operates a global sales and service network to ensure optimum proximity to its customers.

The consortium identified thyssenkrupp Elevator as an attractive investment opportunity given:

  • Its strong market position in the US, Europe and Asia;
  • The market growth opportunity supported by structural trends such as urbanisation and increased urban mobility with greater demands for access and convenience;
  • Significant buy and build and consolidation opportunities given the fragmented industry;
  • Planned investment in R&D, product and geography market expansion to drive both organic and inorganic growth; particularly in high growth markets such as Asia and for new energy-efficient product development;
  • Its plans to further expand the Group’s service business for its own and third-party elevators.

“Cinven is delighted to invest in and accelerate the growth of thyssenkrupp Elevator both organically and through further acquisitions. Further investment in product development, R&D and international expansion will enable us to grow the business sustainably over the long-term,” said Bruno Schick, Partner and Head of DACH and Emerging Europe at Cinven. “Alongside Advent and RAG-Stiftung, we look forward to partnering with management to shape the next phase of this outstanding business.”

“thyssenkrupp Elevator has established itself as an international market leader, with a strong and innovative product portfolio. We look forward to working alongside Cinven and RAG-Stiftung to leverage our collective expertise and capital resources and to build on this excellent platform for further growth, thereby creating a strong, independent industrial company”, said Ranjan Sen, Managing Partner and Head of Germany at Advent International.

“We value thyssenkrupp Elevator’s long heritage. The consortium is committed to maintaining its headquarters and its strong roots in Germany. This asset fits into the foundation´s portfolio extremely well because we expect it to provide stable returns,” said Bernd Tönjes, Chairman of the Executive Board at RAG-Stiftung. “For an innovative company with high quality standards like thyssenkrupp Elevator, its employees are the most important asset. We will operate at all times as responsible investors.”

Germany is a key market for Advent and Cinven, who have both had a presence in Frankfurt for more than 20 years and successfully invested in more than 39 companies in Germany. Having invested in 130 companies in the industrial and business services sectors, Advent and Cinven have considerable experience in these markets. In addition, the RAG-Stiftung has strong ties to the Rhine-Ruhr region and is committed to contributing to the sustainable transformation of the area. The foundation is a long-term focused investor responsible for financing the obligations of the German coal mining industry in the Ruhr and Saar regions and in Ibbenbüren.

The consortium has a shared investment philosophy of responsibly growing leading businesses and is committed to a long-term value creation plan for thyssenkrupp Elevator. The consortium is strongly committed to being a fair and responsible owner. The investors have extensive experience of working with German industrial companies that are co-determined, and attach great importance to collaborating with employee representative bodies. In addition, the consortium will continue to invest in the training and the ongoing education of employees, as well as the sustainable maintenance of the Group’s operations across all geographies.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

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ARDIAN REAL ESTATE AND BANCA MPS SIGNED AGREEMENT FOR A TRANSACTION ON A REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO

Ardian

The portfolio consists of 28 buildings, mainly offices, with most located between Milan, Rome, Florence and Padua. The acquisition includes five significant historical buildings.

Milan, February 28, 2020 – Ardian, a world leading private investment house, has signed an agreement with Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena for the acquisition of a portfolio composed of 28 properties, owned by the MPS Group. The agreement concludes a competitive process started in July 2019. This follows a period of exclusivity granted to Ardian on February 10.

The portfolio consists of 28 buildings primarily intended for office use mostly located across Milan, Rome, Florence and Padua. The total commercial area spans across approximately 90,000m².

Notably, the portfolio includes five historical buildings which carry unique historical value and are considered artistically and architecturally significant. Between them they represent most of the value of the entire portfolio. Among these buildings is the Bank’s historic headquarters in Milan in Via Santa Margherita, a few steps from Piazza della Scala. The façade on Piazza Ferrari was designed by prominent architect, designer and urban planner Luigi Caccia Dominioni. Palazzo Alinari in the historical centre of Florence and late 19th century building in the famous Via del Corso in Rome that connects Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo.

According with Ardian’s strategy, these five prestigious buildings will be the subject of redevelopment which will aim to create office and retail space.

In the coming weeks, Banca MPS and Ardian will enter into a Preliminary Sale and Purchase Agreement. The completion of the planned acquisition, for most properties, will be complete by the second half of 2020.

Rodolfo Petrosino, Senior Managing Director Southern Europe of Ardian Real Estate, commented: “We are very pleased about the acquisition of this significant real estate portfolio, boasting some unique trophy assets. Our investments in Italy, in the real estate sector, now rise to around €1 billion and positions us among the most active players in the Italian market. This is largely due to the skills and experience of our local team and Ardian’s international platform. We have already made significant investments in Italy and we will continue to select promising opportunities in the core-plus and value-added real estate segment”.

Advisors for Ardian were NCTM for the legal, fiscal and administrative part, Studio Gattai, Minoli, Agostinelli Partners and Studio Legale Gattamelata e Associati for the administrative due diligence and REAAS for the technical and environmental due diligence.

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$96bn managed or advised in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base. Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardian’s activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world.
Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 640 employees working from fifteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul). It manages funds on behalf of around 1,000 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt

Follow Ardian on Twitter @Ardian

www.ardian.com

PRESS CONTACTS

ARDIAN – UK
Gregor Riemann
Headland Consultancy
griemann@headlandconsultancy.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 3435 7483
ARDIAN – Italy
Image Building
ardian@imagebuilding.it
Tel: +390289011300

 

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KKR, IGIS and SK D&D Acquire Namsan Square in Seoul

KKR

SEOUL, South Korea–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Global investment firm KKR, Korea’s largest real estate fund manager IGIS Asset Management (“IGIS”), and leading Korean real estate developer SK D&D today announced their acquisition of Namsan Square, an office tower located in the central business district of Seoul, from a real estate investment trust operated by KOREIT, a domestic asset manager in Korea.

Built in 1978, Namsan Square is strategically located at the gateway to Seoul’s central business district. It occupies more than 75,000 square meters across 23 floors of premium office and retail space and includes tenants such as multinational and South Korean corporations, as well as government organizations. Formally known as Kukdong Building, Namsan Square has been renovated through the years and today holds a LEED Gold green building certificate.

The consortium plans to enhance the workspace environment by upgrading the building façade, restrooms and the retail arcade without disruption to existing tenants.

David Cheong, a Director on KKR’s Asia Real Estate team, said, “South Korea holds terrific potential for real estate investment, and the market is a core part of KKR’s regional real estate strategy. Namsan Square is particularly compelling as one of Seoul’s preeminent commercial buildings, and we are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with IGIS and SK D&D to significantly improve existing tenants’ overall experience and work-life balance by executing various refurbishment and value-add works.”

Junho Pok, Head of Real Estate Development at IGIS, said, “We are excited to extend our relationship with a world-class investor like KKR to invest in this high-quality property at the gateway of Seoul’s business district. The IGIS team looks forward to bringing our extensive experience renovating real estate projects to Namsan Square and enhancing this property for tenants in the years to come.”

Sun-Pyo Hwang, Head of Real Estate Development Division at SK D&D, said, “This is a compelling investment made alongside strong local and global partners. Through proactive management and our ability to enact key improvements, we look forward to adding value to Namsan Square and enhance the working experience for tenants.”

KKR takes a flexible approach to real estate investment in Asia Pacific across traditional value-add real estate opportunities, corporate and platform investments, and special situations. KKR pairs the capabilities of its local teams in Asia Pacific with the Firm’s global industry and operational expertise to add value. KKR has committed more than US$1.4 billion of equity in its pan-regional real estate strategy, as of December 31, 2019.

South Korea is a key part of KKR’s Asia real estate strategy, and Namsan Square is the Firm’s fourth real estate investment in the country. Previous investments include The-K Twin Towers, a prime office complex located in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun district, Renaissance Parc, a mixed-use real estate development project in Seoul’s Gangnam business district, and the BLK Pyeongtaek Logistics Center development in Pyeongtaek.

KKR makes its investment from its real estate fund. Further details of the transaction are not disclosed.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

Media Contacts:
KKR Asia Pacific
Anita Davis
+852 3602 7335
Anita.Davis@kkr.com

The Signature (for KKR Korea)
Nuri Hwang
+82 2 6951 3557
Nuri@thesignature.co.kr

Source: KKR

 

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EQT Credit completes unitranche financing to support Mayfair Equity Partners’ acquisition of atHome Group

eqt

EQT Credit, through its Direct Lending investment strategy, is pleased to provide committed senior debt facilities to support Mayfair Equity Partners (“Mayfair”), a buyout and growth capital investor providing capital to dynamic businesses in the TMT and Consumer sectors, in its acquisition of a majority stake in atHome Group (“atHome” or the “Company”). Oakley Capital (“Oakley”) will retain a minority stake in the Company.

atHome is a leading online classifieds platform in Luxembourg, with the number one position in its core property classifieds market, as well as a growing presence across the automotive and mortgage broking verticals.

Vivian Ngan, Director at EQT Partners’ Credit team, Investment Advisor to EQT Credit, commented: “We were particularly attracted by atHome’s strong competitive position and impressive track record of growth achieved by its first-rate management team. We would like to thank our sector experts who, as senior executives in the classifieds sector, provided key support and insight to the deal team throughout the due diligence process.”

Andrew Cleland-Bogle, Partner at EQT Partners’ Credit team, Investment Advisor to EQT Credit, added: “atHome is a well-established player with strong brand awareness in the Luxembourg classifieds market. This transaction represents another example of the Credit platform’s ability to provide long-term capital as a committed partner to sponsors and management teams as they continue to grow their businesses. The Credit platform is delighted to be backing Mayfair, Oakley and the management team on this deal and look forward to supporting them in their continued development of the Company.”

Contact
Andrew Cleland-Bogle, Partner at EQT Partners, +44 20 7430 5510
EQT Press Office, +46 8 506 55 334, press@eqtpartners.com

About EQT
EQT is a differentiated global investment organization with more than EUR 62 billion in raised capital and around EUR 40 billion in assets under management across 19 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 21 billion and approximately 127,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com
Follow EQT on Twitter and LinkedIn

About EQT Credit
EQT Credit invests through three complementary strategies: Senior Debt, Direct Lending, and Special Situations. Since inception, EQT Credit has raised over EUR 7 billion of capital and invested in over 160 companies. EQT Credit’s Direct Lending strategy seeks to provide flexible, long-term debt solutions to support European businesses, across a wide range of sectors. These businesses include privately-owned companies seeking growth capital as well as those that are the subject of private equity-led acquisitions or refinancings.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com/business-segments/credit/strategies/

About Mayfair Equity Partners
Mayfair Equity Partners is a buyout and growth capital investor providing capital to dynamic businesses in the TMT and Consumer sectors. Its primary focus is on building strong partnerships with exceptional management teams. Mayfair is an investor in OVO Energy, a high-growth tech-enabled challenger brand in the energy space, YO!, a multi-brand multi-channel sushi platform with operations across the UK, Canada and the US, SuperAwesome, a global high-growth digital marketing business whose technology platform enables brands and agencies to deliver kid-safe digital advertising to under-thirteen audiences and Pixomondo, the VFX house behind the Emmy-winning HBO series Game of Thrones and the Oscar-winning 2011 film Hugo, as well as seven other promising growth businesses.

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EQT Credit completes financing to support growth of Dukes Education

eqt

EQT Credit, through its Direct Lending investment strategy, is pleased to announce that it has provided incremental committed credit facilities to support the continued growth of Dukes Education Group (“Dukes” or the “Company”).

Founded in 2015 by Aatif Hassan, Dukes is a leading UK-based provider of private premium nurseries, K-12 schools, colleges and summer schools, as well as university consultancy services.

Andrew Cleland-Bogle, Partner at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT Credit, commented: “Dukes comprises a portfolio of schools with outstanding quality and strong academic results. We have been impressed by the high calibre of Aatif and his management team, as well as the track record of growth achieved during our continued partnership. This transaction marks one of several made by the Credit platform in the education sector and is another example of the platform’s ongoing ability to provide long-term support to founder-led companies as they expand.”

Aatif Hassan, Founder and Chairman of Dukes, commented: “EQT Credit’s support has been unwavering. We are pleased to have them as a committed long-term partner as we continue to grow our family of best in class schools and educators.”

Contact
Andrew Cleland-Bogle, Partner at EQT Partners, +44 20 7430 5510
EQT Press Office, +46 8 506 55 334, press@eqtpartners.com

About EQT
EQT is a differentiated global investment organization with more than EUR 62 billion in raised capital and around EUR 41 billion in assets under management across 19 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 21 billion and approximately 127,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com

About EQT Credit
EQT Credit invests through three complementary strategies: Senior Debt, Direct Lending, and Special Situations. Since inception, EQT Credit has raised over EUR 7 billion of capital and invested in over 160 companies. EQT Credit’s Direct Lending strategy seeks to provide flexible, long-term debt solutions to support European businesses, across a wide range of sectors. These businesses include privately-owned companies seeking growth capital as well as those that are the subject of private equity-led acquisitions or refinancings.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com/business-segments/credit/strategies/

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