Category Archives: News

Darwinbox Raises $140 Million Investment Co-led by Partners Group and KKR to Accelerate Global Expansion

KKR

HYDERABAD, India–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Darwinbox, a leading global human resource (“HR”) technology platform, today announced the signing of definitive agreements under which Partners Group, one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry (acting on behalf of its clients), and funds managed by KKR, a leading global investment firm, will co-lead an investment of $140 million in the company, with additional participation from Gravity Holdings. The addition of Partners Group and KKR to an already-solid cap-table underscores Darwinbox’s strong momentum over the recent years. The investment positions Darwinbox well to deepen its technology leadership and accelerate its international expansion plans.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250304817935/en/

Founded in 2015, Darwinbox is a mobile-first and AI-enabled human capital management platform that serves more than 1,000 enterprises around the world. In less than a decade, Darwinbox has expanded internationally across multiple markets, including Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In particular, since its entry into North America two years ago, the company has seen significant traction and is doubling down on its regional presence. Over the last two years, Darwinbox has built a robust and diversified global portfolio, having achieved a fivefold growth in revenue in international markets, with over 60% of new revenue coming from international markets.

In 2024, Darwinbox was recognized as a Challenger in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for enterprises with more than 1,000 employees, making it the youngest and only Asian company to receive the accolade.

“This investment is a testament to Darwinbox’s strong fundamentals and the trust we have earned from our 1,000+ global customer base,” said Jayant Paleti, Co‐founder of Darwinbox. “By placing the employee experience front and center — and ensuring our platform is deeply configurable to diverse local needs — we have helped transform HR for enterprises globally. With top-tier investors backing us, we’re poised to amplify our global momentum and deliver innovative AI‐powered solutions for thousands of enterprises worldwide.”

Cyrus Driver, Managing Director, Private Equity, Partners Group, comments, “Darwinbox operates in the rapidly growing HR tech market, which we have been tracking through our thematic research. The company is acting as a key disruptor to legacy platforms in this space, investing heavily in product innovation, generative AI, and global expansion, and is well positioned to take market share. We look forward to working with Darwinbox’s talented management team on driving future growth. The company represents another exciting addition to our private equity growth portfolio.”

Akshay Tanna, Partner and Head of India Private Equity, KKR, said, “Darwinbox has established itself as a leading player in the human capital management space in a short span of time through its focus on innovation and customer centricity. We are pleased to support Darwinbox on its next stage of growth and will look to draw from our global network and expertise to accelerate its international expansion ambitions.”

Globally, over 3 million employees from leading brands — including Starbucks, Nivea, AXA, Cigna, WeWork, Crisil (an S&P company), T-Systems, and more — rely on Darwinbox’s platform for modern HR management. Darwinbox’s recent wave of product rollouts — highlighted by a multi-country payroll solution and enhanced GenAI features — demonstrates its commitment to next-generation HR innovation.

Partners Group invests through its growth equity strategy, which applies a thematic approach to identify investment opportunities in growth-stage companies globally. Partners Group made its first growth investment in 2013 and has deployed around $2.5 billion in the space to-date. The firm’s recent growth investments include Lumin Digital, a leading cloud-native digital banking provider, and Neara, one of the first AI-powered predictive modeling software platforms for critical infrastructure.

KKR makes its investment from its Asia Next Generation Technology strategy, which seeks to support the growth of innovative, disruptive companies in Asia across consumer technology, software, and FinTech. This marks KKR’s latest growth equity investment in India and the region, including Rebel Foods, an internet restaurant company in India; Lenskart, an omni-channel eyewear retailer; Livspace, an omni-channel home interior and renovation platform; KiotViet, a SaaS platform for SMBs in Vietnam; and Privy, a digital trust provider in Indonesia.

Avendus Capital acted as the financial advisor and investment banker on this transaction.

About Darwinbox

Founded in 2015, Darwinbox is a global HR tech leader that empowers enterprises to better manage their talent with new-age employee experiences and disruptive AI-powered technology. Its cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) software caters to an organisation’s HR needs across the entire employee lifecycle. Darwinbox is trusted by over 3 million employees from more than 1000 enterprises across 130 countries. Darwinbox has been backed by global investors like TCV, Microsoft, Salesforce Ventures, Peak XV, Lightspeed and Endiya Partners among others.

About Partners Group

Partners Group is one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, with around 1’800 professionals and over USD 150 billion in assets under management. The firm has investment programs and custom mandates spanning private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, and royalties. With its heritage in Switzerland and primary presence in the Americas in Colorado, Partners Group is built differently from the rest of the industry. The firm leverages its differentiated culture and its operationally oriented approach to identify attractive investment themes and to build businesses and assets into market leaders. For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

About Gravity Holdings

Gravity Holdings is a technology growth equity firm. Gravity invests in technology businesses whose persistent competitive advantages support unusually high growth and cash generation over the long term. Gravity leverages its global network to unlock bespoke growth opportunities for the firm’s small handful of partnerships. For further information please visit www.gravityholdings.com.

Media Contacts

For more information, please contact:

For Darwinbox
Rishita Chiranewala
Rishita.Chiranewala@darwinbox.in

For Partners Group
Henry Weston
Henry.Weston@partnersgroup.com

For KKR Asia Pacific
Wei Jun Ong
WeiJun.Ong@kkr.com

Source: KKR & Co. Inc.

 

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Cottonwood Technology Fund announces a first close on its fourth fund

March 5, 2025. Santa Fe/Denver USA; Enschede The Netherlands. Cottonwood Technology Fund announces a first close on its fourth investment fund, Cottonwood Technology Fund IV. Fund IV continues Cottonwood’s commitment to the hard tech investment space, where it has established itself as uniquely willing to support disruptive hard tech innovation at the earliest stages. Fund IV, like Fund III, targets $80 million as the right size to target a diversified portfolio of early-stage, IP-driven Business-to-Business startups that specialize in hardware technologies across deep-tech industries that have the potential to establish a new industry standard.

Fund IV will continue Cottonwood’s strategic focus on innovation-driven regions lacking adequate capital at the early stages to support hard tech start-ups properly. Specifically, Cottonwood focuses on the Southwest United States and Northwest Europe, both of which are known for their strong hard tech ecosystems. With previous funds backing groundbreaking technologies in sectors like advanced materials, nanotechnology, micro- and nano-electronics, quantum, photonics, medical technology and clean energy; Cottonwood aims to seed and support startups that are tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Cottonwood Technology Fund, began making investments in 2010.  Dave Blivin, founder and managing partner, says: “The shift of traditional venture firms to software technologies over the last 15 years leaves a large gap for hard tech support, particularly at the earliest stages. Yet this is where the greatest opportunity lies for long-term disruptive impact. These companies take longer to grow and exit so we appreciate the patient support of our current investors.” These include Caterpillar Ventures, The Merrion Oil & Gas Family, Dutch regional investor NOM, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and over 20 other entrepreneurs and family offices who backed our first close of $25 million of our venture fund.

By providing crucial early-stage funding, Cottonwood Technology Fund is well-positioned to support the next wave of disruptive startups. “There is equally disruptive innovation in northwest Europe with an even greater need for seed stage capital than the US.” says Alain le Loux, a General Partner of the fund and leading the European activities. “More than 10 years after opening our office in the Netherlands, we see strong advantages of a venture capital fund active on two continents. We bring technologies from the United States to Europe and vice versa. All our investments have been focused on global growth from the start, creating an economic and sustainable impact and contributing to a better world.”

Cottonwood is recently joined by Lee Rand, a seasoned venture investor and successful entrepreneur. Lee Rand: “Having worked with the Cottonwood team for over more than a decade, it’s an honor to join their team and support Cottonwood’s vision to be a sustainable capital source for disruptive innovation well into the future.”

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About Cottonwood Technology Fund
Cottonwood Technology Fund is a top-decile performing early-stage venture capital fund. Its focus is on hard science and deep tech, providing (pre-)seed and early-stage funding to IP-driven companies. Cottonwood makes impact investments in Key Enabling Technologies such as Photonics, Micro- and nanoelectronics, Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology, Medical Technology, Climate Tech, Advanced Manufacturing, and Robotics. Cottonwood focuses on startups from Northwest Europe and Southwest USA, regions with numerous national laboratories, research universities, and research centers.

Current and prior investments include Skorpios Technologies, Sarcos Robotics (NASDAQ: PDYN), BayoTech, Sencure, Infinitum Electric, Flexiramics, Armonica Technologies, SoundEnergy, Circular Genomics, Green Theme Technologies, Orange Quantum Systems and Q*Bird.
For more information, please visit our website: www.cottonwood.vc

Press contact USA
Dave Blivin
E-mail: dave@cottonwood.vc
Telephone: +1 505 412 8537

Categories: News

KKR to Sell Seiyu to Trial Holdings

KKR

Transaction marks significant outcome for KKR and poises Seiyu for further success

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Seiyu, a nationwide supermarket chain in Japan, today announced the signing of definitive agreements to sell Seiyu (the “Company”) to Trial Holdings, Inc. (TSE stock code 141A; “Trial”), a distribution and retail business operator in Japan that operates a network of stores offering “everyday essentials” in Kyushu. This transaction represents a significant outcome for KKR and follows transformational work that positions Seiyu strongly for continued success.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250304329234/en/

KKR first acquired a 65% majority stake in Seiyu from Walmart in 2021, before acquiring an additional 20% stake from Rakuten in 2023, taking KKR’s shareholding to 85%. As part of the transaction, Walmart will also sell its 15% stake to Trial.

As committed investors in Seiyu, KKR and Walmart have collaborated closely to support Seiyu’s growth by focusing on improving operational efficiency, product quality and selection, profitability, and productivity through technology adoption. Since 2021, Seiyu has benefited from a range of value creation efforts, such as:

  • Improving the quality and selection of products, especially for fresh produce, delicatessen, and Seiyu’s popular in-house brands, which are all major revenue drivers for Seiyu;
  • Developing standard operational processes and adopting technological solutions, such as self-checkout and automatic restocking systems, to aid workers, leading to solid man-hour productivity increases;
  • Transforming Seiyu from a traditional General Merchandise Store (GMS) into a “supermarket” by optimizing its product assortment and distribution strategies; and
  • Accelerating Seiyu’s digital transformation to enable superior customer experience, including through strengthening and modernizing its IT infrastructure.

Hiro Hirano, Deputy Executive Chairman of KKR Asia Pacific and CEO of KKR Japan, said, “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved with Seiyu and our strategic partners Walmart and Rakuten over the course of our ownership, and how this has delivered tremendously for Seiyu’s customers and our investors. Seiyu serves as an outstanding example of how global investors with deep local knowledge, global connectivity and know-how can help iconic Japanese brands and local champions unlock their full potential. We are confident that Seiyu is well-placed to build on its achievements and wish the company and Trial continued success.”

Tsuneo Okubo, CEO of Seiyu, said, “We would like to thank our longstanding shareholders, including KKR and Walmart, for their support, which has enabled us to create substantial value for our customers and business. Over the past few years, we have leveled up our merchandising strategies and in-store operational capabilities while reinvesting in our stores, employees, and IT capabilities as part of our transformation. We now look forward to building on this success with the support of our new shareholder Trial in Seiyu’s next chapter.”

KKR made its investments in Seiyu from its Asian Fund IV. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory and customary closing conditions.

About Seiyu
Established in 1963, Seiyu is a nationwide supermarket chain in Japan with more than 240 retail units. Through its supermarket and hypermarket formats and Seiyu Netsuper delivery service, Seiyu offers customers a broad assortment including fresh food, general merchandise, and apparel products across Japan.

About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

For more information, please contact:

Media Inquiries

For Seiyu
Corporate Communications, Corporate Planning
+81 4222 68 7102

For KKR
Wei Jun Ong
+65 6922 5813
WeiJun.Ong@kkr.com

For Walmart
Rachael Simmons
Rachael.simmons@walmart.com

Source: KKR & Co. Inc.

 

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ITE Management Announces Strategic Investment by Blackstone and Launch of Financing Partnership

Blackstone

NEW YORK – March 5, 2025 – ITE Management, L.P. (“ITE”), a leading alternative asset manager focused on transportation infrastructure, announced today a strategic minority investment from funds managed by Blackstone Credit & Insurance (“BXCI”). The investment and strategic partnership enable ITE and BXCI to collaborate and enhance ITE’s leadership position amidst a growing opportunity set within the transportation infrastructure sector.

BXCI and ITE also launched a strategic forward flow partnership, with BXCI targeting to provide ITE with up to $2 billion of capital for investments and financing over the initial phase of partnership. ITE, with over $10 billion in assets and over 70 investment and operating professionals, focuses on asset-backed investments, primarily in the transportation infrastructure sector, most notably: rail, intermodal, specialty aviation, port and infrastructure equipment, and electric vehicles.

“This investment and partnership with Blackstone is recognition of ITE’s leading position in transportation infrastructure finance and the growing opportunity set within the sector,” said Jason Koenig, Co-Founder of ITE. “Our firm will benefit from Blackstone’s debt and equity financing as well as its expansive global network.”

“ITE is a respected leader in the transportation infrastructure space, where they own, operate, and finance critical assets that support key segments of the U.S. economy,” said Robert Horn, Global Head of Infrastructure & Asset Based Credit at BXCI. “We are excited to partner with ITE on large scale transportation infrastructure investment opportunities across the capital structure and return spectrum.”

BXCI’s Infrastructure and Asset Based Credit platform manages over $90 billion and has over 70 investment professionals, among the largest in the asset-backed marketplace. The platform is focused on providing investment grade credit, non-investment grade credit, and structured investments across the real economy in sectors such as digital infrastructure, energy transition infrastructure, consumer finance, commercial finance, and residential real estate.

Transaction proceeds will be directed towards growing existing ITE products and funding growth initiatives, including new products and platforms. ITE will continue to operate independently under the ongoing leadership of Co-Founders Jason Koenig and David Smilow.

Advisors
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to ITE and Weil, Gotshal & Manges is acting as legal advisor to ITE. Guggenheim Securities, LLC is acting as financial advisor and Kirland & Ellis is acting as legal advisor to Blackstone.

Blackstone Credit & Insurance
Blackstone Credit & Insurance (“BXCI”) is one of the world’s leading credit investors. Our investments span the credit markets, including private investment grade, asset-based lending, public investment grade and high yield, sustainable resources, infrastructure debt, collateralized loan obligations, direct lending and opportunistic credit. We seek to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for institutional and individual investors by offering companies capital needed to strengthen and grow their businesses. BXCI is also a leading provider of investment management services for insurers, helping those companies better deliver for policyholders through our world-class capabilities in investment grade private credit.

About ITE Management L.P.
ITE Management L.P. (“ITE”) is a privately held, SEC-registered, alternative investment firm focused on transportation infrastructure. We seek to generate stable risk-adjusted returns for investors through a highly diversified portfolio of critical, income-generating transportation assets. ITE’s investment process is built on its deep operational expertise within the industry, access to extensive data, and focus on portfolio construction.  Founded in 2012, ITE is headquartered in New York and manages over $10B in asset value.

Blackstone
Thomas Clements
Thomas.Clements@blackstone.com
(646) 482-6088

ITE Management
Matt Liszt
mliszt@itemgmt.com
(212) 220-5802, extension #4

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First Intuition acquires three more franchises

We are pleased to announce that First Intuition has acquired it’s Cambridge, Leeds and Chelmsford franchises, bringing the number of franchises acquired to six and increasing its learner base by c.3,800 students.

 

First Intuition is an award-winning professional education provider with expert tutors and exceptional pass rates. It offers a full range of accountancy training pathways leading to qualifications and membership of the four main accounting bodies: AAT, CIMA, ACCA and ICAEW.

 

“First Intuition has been steadily consolidating its position as a market leader in professional education,” said Jess French, Apiary Investment Director. “We look forward to supporting the management team as they continue to deliver impressive growth in their business.”

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CoAdvantage and PrimePay Announce Merger

Aquiline
Joining the two human capital management (HCM) tech innovators creates a differentiated suite of solutions designed to support small- and mid-sized businesses throughout their lifecycles
New York, March 5, 2025 – Aquiline, a private investment firm specializing in financial services and technology, announces a strategic merger between two of its portfolio companies: CoAdvantage, a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) that provides a comprehensive suite of bundled, fully outsourced human resources services, insurance, and benefits offerings to small- and mid-sized businesses, and PrimePay, a payroll and human resources software business that helps small- and mid-sized businesses and franchises automate payroll, tax filings, workforce management, and compliance.Given the highly complementary nature of both brands, the joint offering will provide customers greater flexibility and choice in the type of payroll and HR services they can access. From standalone payroll to fully outsourced human resources solutions in complex regulatory environments, CoAdvantage and PrimePay together will be able to meet and evolve with the needs of their customers. This also includes competitive benefits programs to attract and retain talent, and a robust proprietary back-end technology stack that can support mid-sized businesses and franchises as they scale and grow.

“At the heart of this combination is recognition that the needs of our customers across both companies regularly change as they grow and meet new challenges. Joining forces better enables the delivery of an outstanding experience to all our customers as they evolve in size and preference across the full range of self- to full-service solutions. This combined capability in the payroll and HR technology market will further strengthen CoAdvantage’s and PrimePay’s positions of industry leadership.”

Joe Pappalardo,

Partner at Aquiline, commented

“We are thrilled to work with the PrimePay team and excited for the opportunities this merger will create for our customers and their employees. Leveraging the deep industry expertise of both organizations and our complementary technology strategies will allow us to offer a more seamless and comprehensive set of HR and payroll solutions, driving consistent, long-term growth. By combining CoAdvantage’s cutting-edge CoAdQuantum technology platform with PrimePay’s robust platform, integrations, and AI capabilities, we are positioned to deliver a unified, best-in-class HCM experience for the SMBs, mid-sized firms and franchises we support.”

John Cumbee,

CEO of CoAdvantage, commented

Overview of Merger Rationale

  • While the businesses will continue to operate independently in the foreseeable future, the merger creates a full-spectrum combined offering and value proposition that will give CoAdvantage and PrimePay the ability to better meet the needs of new and existing customers
  • Merger significantly expands CoAdvantage’s go-to-market and adds new growth opportunities through PrimePay’s partnerships and embedded customer base
  • Reflects a shared commitment to technology innovation and advisory services
  • Provides opportunity to combine and maximize investment in product development and innovation, including integrations and AI

Additional details can be found on both companies’ websites:
CoAdvantage FAQs
PrimePay FAQs

The merger is expected to close mid calendar year 2025.

About Aquiline
Aquiline Capital Partners LP (“Aquiline”) is a private investment firm based in New York, London and Philadelphia that is dedicated to financial services and technology. As of December 31, 2024, Aquiline has approximately $11 billion of assets under management and has deployed approximately $7.3 billion of capital across the firm’s three strategies in private equity, venture, and credit.
For more information about Aquiline, its investment professionals, and its portfolio companies, visit www.aquiline.com.

About CoAdvantage
CoAdvantage is a leading professional employer organization (PEO) that partners with small and mid-sized businesses nationwide to provide comprehensive HR solutions. By outsourcing key HR functions — such as payroll, benefits, risk management, and compliance — businesses can reduce administrative burden and focus on growth and profitability. For more information, visit www.CoAdvantage.com.

About PrimePay
PrimePay makes payroll and HR complexity disappear. We’ve packaged 37 years of experience and an unrelenting commitment to service into an all-in-one HCM platform to empower financial and people outcomes. More than 14,000 clients rely on the PrimePay Platform to replace manual work, replace compliance worries, and stop wasting time on things that should just work, so they can get back to work. To learn more, visit primepay.com.

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Charlesbank Completes Acquisition of EMCORE to Form Velocity One

Charlesbank

Transaction solidifies the formation of a new industry leader providing highly engineered products to the aerospace and defense markets

BOSTON, MA & FAIRFIELD, NJ, March 5, 2025 – Charlesbank Capital Partners (“Charlesbank”), a middle-market private investment firm, today announced that it has, through new aerospace manufacturing holding company Velocity One, successfully closed on its acquisition of EMCORE Corporation (formerly Nasdaq: EMKR) (“EMCORE”), a provider of specialized inertial navigation solutions to the aerospace and defense (“A&D”) industry. The transaction was first announced on November 8, 2024, following unanimous approval by the EMCORE board of directors.

Headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, Velocity One (or the “Company”) brings together EMCORE with Cartridge Actuated Devices, Inc. (“CAD”) and Aerosphere Power, positioning itself as an industry leader with operating units capable of designing, manufacturing, and supporting a wide range of critical products including navigational solutions, energetic devices, and power system solutions for the aerospace and defense end-markets. Together, these leading businesses comprise approximately 250 employees across five facilities. Building on these capabilities, the Company will focus on partnering with leading component manufacturers as part of a strategy to build a market-leading aerospace and defense platform.

John Borduin, an industry veteran with 20 years’ experience in senior leadership positions at prominent aerospace and defense companies including CAD, Avionic Instruments, Safran, and GE Aviation, will lead Velocity One as Chief Executive Officer. Brandon White, Managing Director and Co-Head – Flagship, at Charlesbank, has joined the Board of Directors of the combined company, along with Senior Vice President Samuel Bekenstein and Vice President Karan Talreja.

“The creation of Velocity One follows a multi-year thematic pursuit in the aerospace sector for Charlesbank. We are thrilled to complete this transformative acquisition, which we believe will solidify the formation of a new industry leader providing proprietary, highly engineered products to the aerospace and defense sectors,” said Mr. White. “The three companies under the wing of Velocity One share a reputation for delivering high-quality products and a clear vision to create value organically and through M&A. We are excited to partner with this driven, highly skilled management team to propel future growth.”

“The addition of EMCORE to our portfolio represents an exciting opportunity for us to accelerate our growth together as Velocity One,” said CEO Mr. Borduin. “With the support of Charlesbank, we look forward to continuing to scale our business, capitalize on an attractive M&A pipeline and unlock new opportunities in the aerospace and defense sectors.”

As part of the transaction, Launch Point Partners LLC (“Launch Point”), a private investment firm specializing in the A&D industry, will become a strategic co-investor in Velocity One alongside Charlesbank.

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Tikehau Capital and Forte acquire two residential properties in Cologne

Tikehau

Tikehau Capital, the global alternative asset management group, together with residential real estate company Forte, have acquired two residential properties in Cologne and the greater Cologne area. The two properties offer approximately 25,000 square metres of rental space and around 300 residential units.

The properties are located in attractive, central areas with good transport connections and high demand for affordable housing. Tikehau Capital and Forte plan to sustainably modernise the two properties and improve their energy efficiency. This should meet advanced sustainability standards and increase the long-term value of the properties.

The investment is being made through Tikehau Capital’s pan-European value-add real estate strategy and marks the second transaction of the second vintage of the strategy in Germany. The investment vehicle is an Article 9 fund under the EU Disclosure Regulation that invests specifically in sustainable projects and anchors ESG criteria as an integral part of its strategy. The joint venture plans to invest in further residential properties in A and B cities in the coming years to meet the growing demand for sustainable residential real estate.

“This acquisition is an important milestone for our German real estate business and underscores our commitment to long-term urban development. The project is part of our panEuropean value-add real estate strategy, through which we sustainably develop buildings and living space. With Forte, we have a competent partner by our side who has a strong track record in developing existing properties,” said Steffen Meinshausen, Head of Real Estate Germany at Tikehau Capital.

Nico Meibert at Forte added: “We are very pleased to develop the properties through targeted modernisation measures and orient them towards the future in our first joint-venture deal with Tikehau Capital. This addresses the growing need for affordable housing and contributes to urban development.” Tikehau Capital and Forte were legally advised by Goodwin and Baker Tilly, respectively, during the transaction. Colliers International advised both companies on the commercial due diligence, while Cushman Wakefield provided technical and ESG advice. The seller was legally advised by Heuking, and Lübke Kelber brokered the transaction.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Tikehau Capital: Valérie Sueur – +33 1 40 06 39 30

UK – Prosek Partners: Philip Walters – +44 (0)7773331589

USA – Prosek Partners: Trevor Gibbons – +1 646 818 9238 press@tikehaucapital.com

SHAREHOLDER AND INVESTOR CONTACTS:

Louis Igonet – +33 1 40 06 11 11

Théodora Xu – +33 1 40 06 18 56

Julie Tomasi – +33 1 40 06 58 44 shareholders@tikehaucapital.com

ABOUT TIKEHAU CAPITAL

Tikehau Capital is a global alternative asset management Group with €49.6 billion of assets under management (at 31 December 2024). Tikehau Capital has developed a wide range of expertise across four asset classes (credit, real assets, private equity and capital markets strategies) as well as multi-asset and special opportunities strategies. Tikehau Capital is a founder-led team with a differentiated business model, a strong balance sheet, proprietary global deal flow and a track record of backing high quality companies and executives. Deeply rooted in the real economy, Tikehau Capital provides bespoke and innovative alternative financing solutions to companies it invests in and seeks to create long-term value for its investors, while generating positive impacts on society. Leveraging its strong equity base (€3.2 billion of shareholders’ equity at 31 December 2024), the Group invests its own capital alongside its investor-clients within each of its strategies. Controlled by its managers alongside leading institutional partners, Tikehau Capital is guided by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and DNA, shared by its 747 employees (at 31 December 2024) across its 17 offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. Tikehau Capital is listed in compartment A of the regulated Euronext Paris market (ISIN code: FR0013230612; Ticker: TKO.FP). For more information, please visit: www.tikehaucapital.com.

ABOUT FORTE

Forte is a residential property company operating throughout Germany. In close cooperation with its strategic partners, the company owns around 9,000 residential units in major cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne and Leipzig. Sustainable and responsible growth is at the core of its business. This includes, in particular, the renovation of existing buildings to optimise their energy efficiency. With 95 highly qualified employees at four locations, Forte has been making a significant contribution to increasing the value of affordable housing for over 15 years. 2 PRESS RELEASE  FRANKFURT, 5 March 2025

DISCLAIMER

The strategy mentioned in this press release is reserved for professional investors and is managed by Tikehau Investment Management SAS, a portfolio management company approved by the AMF since 19/01/ 2007 under the number GP-07000006. Non-contractual document intended exclusively for journalists and media professionals. The information is provided for the sole purpose of enabling them to have an overview of the transactions, whatever the use they make of it, which is exclusively a matter of their editorial independence, for which Tikehau Capital declines all responsibility. This document does not constitute an offer to sell securities or investment advisory services. This document contains only general information and is not intended to represent general or specific investment advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results and targets are not guaranteed. Certain statements and forecasted data are based on current forecasts, prevailing market and economic conditions, estimates, projections and opinions of Tikehau Capital and/or its affiliates. Owing to various risks and uncertainties actual results may differ materially from those reflected or expected in such forward-looking statements or in any of the case studies or forecasts. Tikehau Capital accepts no liability, direct or indirect, arising from the information contained in this document. Tikehau Capital shall not be liable for any decision taken on the basis of any information contained in this document. All references to Tikehau Capital’s advisory activities in the US or with respect to US persons relate to Tikehau Capital North America.

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Francisco Partners to Acquire Quorum Software from Thoma Bravo

Thomabravo

SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK, LONDON, HOUSTON, & MIAMI—Francisco Partners today announced that it has agreed to acquire Quorum Software (“Quorum” or the “Company”), a leading provider of energy software worldwide, from Thoma Bravo.

For over 20 years, Quorum has been a leading software provider for digital transformation in the energy industry, powering growth and profitability for energy operators by connecting people, workflows, and systems with decision-ready data. The Company serves as a trusted partner to energy customers who rely on its expertise and applications to successfully navigate the energy transition and deliver value across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. Quorum today serves over 1,500 customers, ranging from emerging operators to global supermajors and NOCs, across 50 energy producing countries. This transaction will position Quorum to capitalize on the momentum in global energy markets and increased demand for its platform.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Francisco Partners at this time of great opportunity for our platform, our customers, and our sector,” said Paul Langenbahn, CEO of Quorum. “We have undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years and, with Thoma Bravo’s support, successfully navigated a changing global market with a laser focus on delivering for our valued customers while driving long-term profitable growth. We look forward to working alongside Francisco Partners to further strengthen our platform and to continue providing our customers with world-class software and services for years to come.”

“Quorum plays a critical role in the global energy industry, serving as a trusted strategic partner to over a thousand customers across the world,” said Mac Fountain, Principal and Petri Oksanen, Partner at Francisco Partners. “We are excited to welcome them to our portfolio, and we are eager to support their continued growth and success with our technology expertise and resources. Together, we intend to build on Quorum’s strong foundation and grow their platform and customer base through both organic investment and strategic acquisitions.”

Quorum grew exponentially under Thoma Bravo’s ownership, completing several strategic deals, including a merger with Aucerna and a carve-out of Energy Components, to cement its position as the largest global energy software provider with the broadest portfolio of solutions across the energy value chain.

“It has been a pleasure working with the Quorum team to build an industry-leading platform,” said Scott Crabill, a Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo. “Together, we executed several truly transformative operating and strategic initiatives to advance their vision and achieve their potential, and we have been extremely impressed by their team’s tenacity and ambition. We look forward to following Quorum’s continued success during its next stage of growth.”

Lincoln International and Jefferies LLC are serving as financial advisors to Francisco Partners. Citi is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Quorum and Thoma Bravo.

About Quorum Software

Quorum Software is a leading provider of energy software worldwide, serving more than 1,500 customers across the entire energy value chain in 50 countries. Quorum’s solutions power growth and profitability for energy businesses by connecting people, workflows, and systems with decision-ready data. Twenty-five years ago, we delivered the industry’s first software for gas plant accountants, and today our solutions streamline business operations with industry forward data standards and integrations. The global energy industry trusts Quorum’s experts and applications to successfully navigate the energy transition while delivering value today and into the future. For more information, visit quorumsoftware.com.

About Francisco Partners

Francisco Partners is a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. Since its launch over 25 years ago, Francisco Partners has invested in more than 450 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. With more than $50 billion in capital raised, 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.

About Thoma Bravo

Thoma Bravo is one of the largest software-focused investors in the world, with over US$166 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2024. Through its private equity, growth equity and credit strategies, the firm invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors. Leveraging Thoma Bravo’s deep sector knowledge and strategic and operational expertise, the firm collaborates with its portfolio companies to implement operating best practices and drive growth initiatives. Over the past 20+ years, the firm has acquired or invested in more than 500 companies representing approximately US$265 billion in enterprise value (including control and non-control investments). The firm has offices in Chicago, Dallas, London, Miami, New York and San Francisco. For more information, visit Thoma Bravo’s website at thomabravo.com.

Read the release on Business Wire here.

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VIE Technologies Secures $15 Million Series A Led by Energy Impact Partners

Energy Impact Partners

VIE Technologies is revolutionizing transformer monitoring with the industry’s first AI-driven predictive maintenance solution

PRESS RELEASE FROM VIE TECHNOLOGIES
SAN DIEGO — VIE Technologies, a leader in advanced energy monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions, announced today the successful closure of its $15 million Series A funding round. The round was exclusively led by Energy Impact Partners (EIP), a global technology investor innovating the energy industry.

 

VIE Technologies is revolutionizing transformer monitoring with the industry’s first non-invasive, AI-powered predictive maintenance solution. Using advanced IoT sensors and predictive analytics, VIE can detect equipment issues early and recommend repairs well before human operators or traditional methods can, enabling energy companies, data center operators, and industrial facilities to increase the reliability of their power systems. This innovative approach replaces guesswork with real-time intelligence, making maintenance proactive rather than reactive. The company plans to use its funding for product development, market expansion, and talent acquisition.

 

“Securing this funding from Energy Impact Partners is a monumental step forward for VIE Technologies,” said Rahul Chaturvedi, CEO of VIE Technologies. “EIP’s strategic expertise and commitment to fostering transformative energy solutions perfectly align with our mission to revolutionize the way energy systems are monitored and maintained. Together, we’re poised to set a new standard in operational reliability and efficiency.”

 

With electricity demand rising due to the growth of data centers, new manufacturing, and widespread electrification, transformers and other electrical infrastructure are under increasing strain. To address this problem, VIE Technologies is providing real-time insights that enhance operational reliability, reduce downtime, and set a new standard for efficiency and safety while driving OpEx efficiencies.

 

Deployed on 450 transformers, monitoring over 1.2 GW+ of capacity, VIE Technologies has rapidly gained traction across data centers, electric utilities, and industrial sectors.

 

“VIE Technologies is tackling one of the most pressing challenges in the energy sector: maintaining the reliability and efficiency of critical infrastructure in the face of growing complexity and demand,” said Cassie Bowe, Partner at Energy Impact Partners. “We’re thrilled to support VIE Technologies as they scale their transformative solutions, which align with our vision for a better, more resilient energy future.”

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About

About VIE Technologies
VIE Technologies is a leading provider of advanced energy monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions, empowering industries to maximize operational efficiency and reliability. Through cutting-edge IoT and AI technologies, VIE Technologies delivers actionable insights that drive smarter decision-making and sustainable operations. For more information visit www.vietechnologies.com.

 

About Energy Impact Partners (EIP) 

Energy Impact Partners LP (EIP) is a global technology investor innovating the energy industry. EIP brings together exceptional entrepreneurs and some of the world’s most forward-thinking energy and industrial companies to advance innovation for a better energy future. With over $4.5 billion in assets under management, EIP invests globally across venture, growth and credit, with over 100 professionals based in its offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Palm Beach, London, Cologne and Oslo. For more information on EIP, please visit www.energyimpactpartners.com.

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