Category Archives: News

Renta Acquires Tunnelling Infrastructure Assets In Norway

IK Partners

Renta Group Oy (“Renta Group” or “Renta”) strengthens its position in the Norwegian infrastructure rental sector by acquiring W. Giertsen Services AS’s (“WGS”) and AGTunnel AS’s (“AGT”) tunnelling infrastructure assets in two business transfer deals comprising in total nine specialised machines for tunnelling infrastructure projects.

The acquisitions are aligned with Renta’s strategy to expand its specialised infrastructure machinery rental business. In connection to the transaction, Renta signed long-term cooperation agreements with both WGS and AGT on the rental of specialist tunnelling machinery and general rental equipment to WGS and AGT. The cooperation agreements are expected to further drive cross-selling synergies between Renta’s tunnelling specialty and general rental operations. The transferring fleet is compatible with Renta’s existing tunnelling fleet and consists of equipment from high-quality OEMs.

The acquisitions have been completed.

Leif-Martin Drange, Managing Director at Renta Norway, said: “The transactions mark another step forward in our pursuit to grow in the attractive tunnelling infrastructure rental market. In addition to growing our fleet, we are particularly excited about strengthening and formalising the cooperation with two reputable companies in the Norwegian market. We expect the cooperation with W. Giertsen Services and AGTunnel to be mutually beneficial and to help us drive sales synergies between our specialist tunnelling rental operations and our general rental business.”

Enquiries: ir@renta.com

About Renta Group

Renta Group is a Northern European full-service equipment rental company founded in 2015. The Company has operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland, and the Baltics, with 193 depots and more than 2,300 employees. Renta is a general rental company with a wide range of construction machines and equipment along with related services. In addition to operating a network of rental depots, Renta is a supplier of scaffolding and weather-protection services. For more information, visit www.renta.com

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Emerald Invests in Cajo Technologies, Sustainable Laser Marking Leader

Emerald

Kempele, Finland / Zurich, Switzerland – Cleantech venture capital pioneer Emerald Technology Ventures has announced an investment  in Cajo Technologies, a Finnish provider of advanced laser marking solutions. The round will accelerate Cajo’s growth and allow them to commercialize the groundbreaking  MakeBright™  marking technology for  packaging.

Advancing Sustainable Packaging Solutions

Cajo has developed and patented technologies that eliminate the need for consumables such as ink, labels, or adhesives, significantly lowering the environmental footprint of product marking. Their technology allows for the direct marking on a wide array of

Their MakeBright™  marking technology is a revolutionary new way to produce precise and permanent product markings on cardboard more sustainably, without additives like ink, glue, ribbons, or labels. This eases the recycling process and enables cost savings.

The Growing Need for Sustainable Packaging Marking

Cajo’s solutions cater to forward-thinking stakeholders in the industry looking to significantly improve production processes while lowering operational costs. Cajo’s solutions are already trusted by major industrial players across diverse sectors—including PepsiCo, SSAB, Fiskars, and Prysmian for applications ranging from primary and secondary packaging to metal, wire, and cable marking.

Capturing a High-Growth Market

The global laser marking market is forecasted to exceed EUR 4 billion by 2027, driven by increasing regulatory demands, anti-counterfeit measures, and the need for supply chain traceability. Cajo is well-positioned within this market with its scalable product portfolio—ranging from Integrable marking units to turnkey industrial systems—and its proprietary software platform.

Supporting Next-Stage Growth

With Emerald’s investment and strategic support, Cajo plans to scale commercial operations, expand internationally—particularly in Asia and North America—and advance its customer success, R&D, and production capabilities.

“We are thrilled to partner with Cajo to accelerate the transition to sustainable marking technology” said Fredric Petit, Partner at Emerald. “Cajo’s technology is not only a powerful enabler of traceability and eco-efficiency but also commercially validated by global industry leaders.”

Niko Karsikas, CEO of Cajo Technologies, added, “Emerald’s industrial network and deep expertise in scaling cleantech ventures make them an ideal partner for our next chapter. With their support, we are set to deliver impactful solutions to the global packaging and industrial sectors.”

More on sustainable packaging and materials at Emerald:

Emerald leads €6.2M investment in Vytal to fuel the reusable packaging revolution

Emerald client, SIG, invests into coating manufacturer Kalpana

How Innovation in the Field of Plastic Additives is Key for a Circular Economy

About Emerald Technology Ventures

Emerald is a globally recognized venture capital firm, founded in 2000, that manages and advises assets of over €1 billion from its offices in Zurich, Toronto and Singapore. The firm invests in start-ups that tackle big challenges in climate change and sustainability, with four current funds, hundreds of venture transactions and five third-party investment mandates, including loan guarantees to over 100 start-ups.

This is Emerald.

Bold Ideas. Bright Future.  www.emerald.vc

CONTACT FOR EMERALD:

info@emerald.vc

About Cajo Technologies

Cajo Technologies: Pioneering Sustainable Product Marking

In an era where sustainability is a key driver of industrial innovation, Finnish SME Cajo Technologies Ltd. is revolutionizing product marking with its patented laser solutions. By eliminating the need for ink, labels, and chemicals, Cajo provides an eco-friendly and cost-efficient alternative to traditional marking methods.

Headquartered in Kempele, Finland, with subsidiaries in India, Cajo Technologies is rapidly expanding its global presence. The company offers comprehensive, easy-to-use solutions for traceability and product marking, leveraging proprietary software and patented technology. Fully optimized for industrial production, Cajo’s marking solutions seamlessly integrate into existing manufacturing processes, significantly reducing maintenance and operational costs.

Beyond efficiency, Cajo’s technology ensures high-precision traceability markings, even in the harshest industrial environments, while reducing the carbon footprint by up to 90%. This sustainable alternative allows companies to eliminate consumables and harmful additives from their production, aligning with the growing demand for zero-waste manufacturing solutions.

With a trusted presence in over 80 countries and partnerships with global industry leaders, Cajo Technologies is setting a new benchmark in sustainable manufacturing. By combining innovation with environmental responsibility, the company demonstrates that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

Choose Cajo for intelligent product marking.

CONTACT FOR CAJO:

info@cajotechnologies.com

 

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Main Capital Partners Successfully Closes €520 aMillion Multi-Asset Continution Fund

Main Capital Partners
Main Capital Partners, a leading enterprise software investor operating in Europe and North America, announces the successful closing of its first continuation fund, with a total €520 million in commitments.

The transaction was fully capitalized by a group of new and existing limited partners, co-led by Lexington Partners and StepStone Group, with Trinity River Holdings, LP serving as sub-lead. The fundraise experienced significant demand from globally recognized leaders in secondary transactions.

The continuation fund was established to (partially) acquire a diversified group of three strong-performing portfolio companies across several Main Capital Partners funds. The assets in the fund include SDB, a leading Dutch healthcare software provider, MACH, a German GovTech powerhouse, and Björn Lundén, a prominent Sweden-based financial administration software company with activities throughout Europe. Main Capital Partners aims to continue growing these star assets into European leaders in their respective domains, both organically and through active buy-and-build strategies.

This transaction has provided existing investors with optionality, offering either liquidity or the opportunity to continue investing in the growth trajectories of the three high-performing companies involved. Additionally, the fund provides the portfolio companies with additional time and capital to pursue further value-accretive buy-and-build strategies under the continued stewardship of Main Capital Partners.

This transaction aligns perfectly with our strategy to build large and resilient software groups. We are fully dedicated to continue building large and international software groups in our core product markets HealthTech, GovTech and Financial Administrative software.”

– Charly Zwemstra, Managing Partner and CIO at Main Capital Partners

Charly Zwemstra, Managing Partner and CIO at Main Capital Partners: “For over 20 years, Main Capital Partners has proven itself a leader in enterprise software investing. This transaction aligns perfectly with our strategy to build large and resilient software groups. We are proud of what we have achieved in partnering with these companies and their management teams so far. We are fully dedicated to continue building large and international software groups in our core product markets HealthTech, GovTech and Financial Administrative software.”

Jorn de Ruijter, Head of Fund Structuring and Investor Relations at Main Capital Partners: “This transaction has provided our investors with optionality to take liquidity at a market-driven price or continue to stay invested and profit from future upside, while allowing the portfolio companies the opportunity to continue pursuing their growth ambitions, a great result for all parties involved. We look forward to partnering with Lexington Partners, StepStone Group and Trinity River Holdings, LP on this new fund and continuing to support our portfolio companies for the years to come.”

Proskauer Rose LLP acted as lead legal counsel and Main did not use a placement agent for the fundraising.

Nothing contained in this Press Release is intended to project, predict, guarantee, or forecast the future performance of any investment. This Press Release is for information purposes only and is not investment advice or an offer to buy or sell any securities or to invest in any funds or other investment vehicles managed by Main Capital Partners or any other person.

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EURAZEO TO INVEST IN 3P, A LEADING SOFTWARE PROVIDER OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND POST PROCUREMENT SOLUTIONS IN BELGIUM AND FRANCE

Eurazeo

Eurazeo, through its Small-mid buyout team, has entered into exclusive negotiations relating to an investment in 3P, a leading software publisher specialized in procurement and post-procurement as well as asset management solutions for public-sector institutions. The transaction marks the eleventh investment for Eurazeo PME IV, the third outside France, and demonstrates the expertise of the Small-mid buyout strategy in supporting fast-growing European technology and services mid-market champions in their international expansion.

Headquartered in Belgium and created in 2001, 3P offers a fully integrated platform with a subscription-driven revenue model designed to automate, secure and optimize tendering, procurement as well as post-procurement processes, while helping clients ensure compliance with the latest European, national and regional legislation and requirements. 3P’s products are used by 2,000+ public clients across Belgium and France and caters for the needs of diversified clients: municipalities, regional authorities, hospitals, universities, police forces, etc.

3P has showcased double-digit historical growth providing clients with mission-critical software enabling public entities to save time and optimize procurement processes while reducing administrative burden and ensuring compliance. Eurazeo will support and accelerate the company’s development by pursuing its European expansion strategy, which has been initiated in France by the historical shareholders: founders, 3d investors and ING who will all reinvest in the transaction alongside Eurazeo and the management team.

Clément Morin, Managing Director Small-mid buyout, at Eurazeo:

“We are thrilled to partner with 3P management team and historical shareholders on this next phase of growth. 3P is a perfect match to our ambition to support European software champions in both their organic and external growth. We now look forward to supporting the group by leveraging Eurazeo’s network, resources and experience, especially in cross-border M&A.“

Pascal Meyers, CEO of 3P:

“We are very enthusiastic about the arrival of Eurazeo as majority shareholder. We are convinced that their strong expertise, network and European DNA will help us to accelerate our strong growth ambitions to become Europe’s premier public-sector procurement technology partner, based on further broadening our European footprint as well as leveraging our major investments in a next-gen ai-empowered cloud solution.”

The reinvesting shareholders:

The founders, 3d investors, and ING are thrilled to welcome Eurazeo as 3P’s majority shareholder, reinforcing their confidence in 3P’s future through a significant reinvestment. There is a shared conviction that Eurazeo’s expertise as a leading IT investor will empower 3P to solidify its position in Belgium, and France and expand throughout Europe. They are fully committed to supporting 3P’s management team and Eurazeo in scaling 3P’s highly efficient GovTech public procurement platform throughout Europe.

Information – Individual investors

Eurazeo Investment Manager (EIM) and Eurazeo Mid Cap (EMC) are merging to form Eurazeo Global Investor (EGI)

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Advent enters into exclusive negotiations to acquire Kereis, a leading European insurance broker, from Bridgepoint

Bridgepoint

Advent, a leading global private equity investor, today announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Kereis, a European leader in multi-channel insurance brokerage, from Bridgepoint, a leading quoted private asset growth investor. Terms of the potential transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Paris, Kereis provides insurance broking services for insurers and banking partners, including the distribution of tailored solutions to a large network of retail brokers with over 1,700 dedicated employees across seven European countries.

Kereis is France’s largest insurance broker for housing protection insurance, managing over 17 million contracts in Western Europe. Under Bridgepoint’s ownership since 2020, Kereis has doubled its revenues, transformed its tech platform and diversified strategically into corporate risk, health and P&C. As a result, Kereis has become a top 5 wholesale broker in France with a strong and growing local broker network. With Bridgepoint’s support, the firm has accelerated its development and international expansion through a dynamic M&A strategy with significant transformational transactions in the last three years.

Philippe Gravier, Chief Executive Officer of Kereis, on behalf of the management team stated:

“This project opens a promising new chapter for Kereis, after five years of a successful partnership with Bridgepoint. Our unwavering commitment to provide excellent services to our business partners will remain unchanged. We look forward to working closely with Advent as we continue to invest for the long term in our digital capabilities, expand into new markets, and deliver innovative solutions to our partners and clients across Western Europe.”

Benjamin Buerstedde, Partner at Advent, said,

“We congratulate the management team on successfully building Kereis into a highly differentiated platform in the insurance brokerage space. We look forward to supporting the company’s journey to expanding its leadership position in wholesale broking and remaining the partner of choice for banking and insurance partners across an attractive product range.”

Hadrien de Bardies, Director at Advent, added,

“Our potential investment in Kereis builds on Advent’s long-standing track record in financial services. We will leverage our global network and operational resources to help Kereis scale further, broaden its product offering, and strengthen its leadership position in the European market.”

Vincent-Gael Baudet, Partner and Head of Bridgepoint Europe in France, said, “Since our initial investment in 2020, we’ve been dedicated to support Management in building enduring value – championing innovation, deepening client relationships, and building a European consolidating platform. The acquisition by Advent underscores the strength of long-term partnerships, the quality of the Management team led by Philippe Gravier, and reaffirms Bridgepoint’s proven track record of elevating French successes to leading positions on the world stage.”

Carl de Vergie, Partner at Bridgepoint, said,

“It’s been a pleasure to work alongside the great management team at Kereis to drive accelerated growth – gaining new clients, modernising the tech platform, and doubling revenue through diversification in new products, distribution channels, and geographic expansion. All the means developed were oriented to serve the growth ambition of the group, and we’re excited to see what’s next for Kereis.”

Advent has developed significant expertise and an extensive track record investing in the business & financial services sector. In the insurance space, Advent most recently invested in CCC Intelligent Solutions, the car-insurance software provider, and Shift Technology, an AI-powered software business focused on the insurance industry. Advent has been investing in France for over 25 years having made 15 platform deals, with the most recent investments being in Parfums de Marly – INITIO in 2023 and Mangopay in 2022.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval and employee consultation.

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GRIN Therapeutics and Angelini Pharma Enter into Exclusive Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize Radiprodil Outside North America

Blackstone

GRIN also announces closing of $140 million Series D financing, including a $65 million strategic equity investment from Angelini Pharma and $75 million from existing investor Blackstone Life Sciences

Collaboration combines Angelini Pharma’s global reach and focus on complex neurological disorders with GRIN’s expertise and capabilities in developing and advancing precision therapeutics for neurodevelopmental disorders

Under terms of the collaboration, GRIN is to receive $50 million upfront, and is eligible to receive up to $520 million in milestones and tiered royalties in addition to shared development costs

GRIN will continue to lead global development and retains exclusive rights for radiprodil in the United States, Canada, and Mexico

Funding from both transactions will support ongoing operations including planned global pivotal Phase 3 trial for radiprodil in the treatment of GRIN-related neurodevelopmental disorder in 3Q 2025

NEW YORK, NY, and ROME, ITALY –  May 27, 2025 – GRIN Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in the development of therapies to treat serious neurodevelopmental disorders, and Angelini Pharma, part of the privately owned Angelini Industries, today announced a collaboration for the development and commercial rights outside of North America of GRIN Therapeutic’s investigational drug radiprodil, currently being studied in multiple rare genetic epilepsies and neurodevelopmental disorders.

GRIN Therapeutics also announced the closing of its $140 million Series D financing with investment by Angelini Pharma and Blackstone Life Sciences. Together, the two transactions highlight a significant total near-term commitment of $115 million from Angelini Pharma, which includes a $65 million strategic equity investment and a $50 million upfront payment related to the collaboration. Existing GRIN Therapeutics investor Blackstone Life Sciences contributed $75 million to the Series D financing round. Jacopo Andreose, PhD, CEO of Angelini Pharma, will join GRIN’s Board of Directors.

“We are very pleased to close this financing round and to welcome Angelini Pharma—an ideal partner whose engagement reflects the significant value we’ve built around the radiprodil program in a relatively short period,” said Bruce Leuchter, MD, President & CEO of Neurvati Neurosciences and GRIN Therapeutics. “This strategic collaboration marks an important point of validation for GRIN Therapeutics, the clinical data generated to date, and the potential of radiprodil as the first approved treatment for patients with GRIN-related neurodevelopmental disorder (GRIN-NDD)—a population with urgent unmet need. We are also deeply grateful for the continued support and commitment of Blackstone Life Sciences, whose partnership has been instrumental in advancing our efforts. With this momentum, we are well-positioned to move radiprodil into pivotal trials and take an important step toward delivering a novel therapeutic option to patients and families.”

“Our strategic collaboration with GRIN Therapeutics, including our participation in this Series D financing and in-licensing deal for radiprodil, reflects our dedication to advancing highly innovative treatments in brain health, building on our deep therapeutic expertise in neurology and psychiatry” said Jacopo Andreose, PhD, CEO of Angelini Pharma. “We see radiprodil as an opportunity to address the substantial unmet medical need of people living with GRIN-NDD and potentially other rare pediatric neurological diseases. We look forward to working closely with the team at GRIN Therapeutics to help bring this promising therapy to patients around the world.”

“Angelini Pharma is a leading international pharmaceutical company and we are thrilled to have their backing, partnership and commitment to the further growth of GRIN Therapeutics and development of radiprodil,” said Kiran Reddy, MD, Senior Managing Director, Blackstone Life Sciences. “The team’s rapid progress with radiprodil—achieving multiple regulatory designations and advancing toward a pivotal Phase 3 trial— is very promising and today’s milestone also validates the ability of Neurvati’s model to efficiently develop high-impact neuroscience therapies.”

Radiprodil is a targeted, selective, and potent negative allosteric modulator of the GluN2B subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. NMDA receptors are crucial for synaptic transmission, cognition and seizures. Several NDDs and epilepsy syndromes are associated with either genetic mutations or overactivation of NMDA receptors.

Radiprodil has received multiple regulatory designations, including Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of seizures associated with GRIN-NDD with gain-of-function (GoF) variants. Additionally, radiprodil has been granted FDA Orphan Drug designation, rare pediatric disease designation, European Medicines Agency (EMA) Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation, and a positive opinion for orphan designation from the EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for the treatment of GRIN-NDD. The company remains on track to initiate a global, pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for radiprodil in GRIN-NDD in the third quarter of 2025. Additionally, an ongoing open-label Phase 1b/2a study, known as the Astroscape trial, is evaluating radiprodil in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II.

Under the terms of the agreement, GRIN Therapeutics will continue to lead global development and retain exclusive rights for radiprodil in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Angelini Pharma will receive exclusive rights to commercialize radiprodil in the rest of the world. GRIN Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment of $50 million, and the parties will share certain clinical development costs for radiprodil. Additionally, GRIN Therapeutics may receive up to an additional $520 million based on achieving certain development, regulatory and sales milestones.  GRIN Therapeutics is also eligible to receive tiered royalties based on global sales as well as payments from any future sublicense transactions outside of Europe.

“Our strategic collaboration with Angelini Pharma shows how global partnerships can play an important role in advancing our business strategy at Neurvati, which is purpose-built to identify, advance, and unlock the potential of promising neuroscience assets through focused, mid-to-late stage development,” said Dr. Leuchter, adding, “We are also very pleased to welcome Jacopo Andreose to our Board of Directors. His deep expertise in global drug development and commercialization will be a significant advantage for us as we progress radiprodil through Phase 3 development and prepare for potential regulatory approvals worldwide.”

About Radiprodil
Radiprodil is an investigational, potent negative allosteric modulator selectively targeting the GluN2B subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, for the treatment of GRIN-related neurodevelopmental disorder (GRIN-NDD).  It has been awarded Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as well as Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and a positive opinion for orphan designation from the EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). The planned global Phase 3 trial for radiprodil for GRIN-NDD will aim to evaluate the impact of a targeted treatment on core aspects of the disease, including seizures, behavioral abnormalities and functional outcomes. Radiprodil is also being developed for the treatment of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II. The Astroscape trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06392009) is an ongoing, open-label Phase 1b/2a clinical trial assessing the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and potential efficacy of radiprodil in patients with TSC or FCD type II.

About GRIN Therapeutics
GRIN Therapeutics is dedicated to the research and development of precision therapeutics for pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders with the goal of bringing hope to patients and caregivers. Late last year, GRIN Therapeutics reported promising topline data from a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial (the Honeycomb Trial, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT identifier: NCT05818943) evaluating radiprodil in GRIN-related neurodevelopmental disorder (GRIN-NDD) in patients with gain-of-function (GoF) variants, leading to the decision to advance to a global Phase 3 trial. The company has an additional ongoing clinical trial to evaluate radiprodil for the potential treatment of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II. GRIN Therapeutics is an affiliate of Neurvati Neurosciences, a portfolio company of Blackstone Life Sciences. For more information, please visit www.grintherapeutics.com

About Neurvati Neurosciences
Neurvati Neurosciences, a portfolio company of Blackstone Life Sciences, identifies and advances the development of high-potential drug candidates across the neuroscience landscape. Neurvati employs a collaborative model that establishes fit-for-purpose affiliate companies, aligning dedicated resources with long-term strategic capital to catalyze innovative treatment options in areas of unmet need. Neurvati’s team of experienced operators and drug developers seeks opportunities to challenge current treatment paradigms and make a difference for patients suffering from a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. For more information, please visit www.neurvati.com

About Angelini Pharma
Angelini Pharma is an international pharmaceutical company, part of the privately owned multi-business Angelini Industries. The Company researches, develops and commercializes health solutions with a focus on the areas of Brain Health, including Mental Health and Epilepsy, and Consumer Health. Founded in Italy at the beginning of the 20th century, Angelini Pharma operates directly in 20 countries, employing more than 3,000 people. Its products are marketed in over 70 countries through strategic alliances with leading international pharmaceutical groups. For more information about Angelini Pharma please visit https://www.angelinipharma.com.

About Angelini Industries
Angelini Industries is a multinational industrial group founded in Ancona in 1919 by Francesco Angelini. Today, Angelini Industries represents a solid and diversified industrial reality that employs approximately 5,800 employees and operates in 21 countries around the world with revenues of over 2 billion euros, generated in the health, industrial technology, and consumer goods sectors. A targeted investment strategy for growth; constant commitment to research and development; deep knowledge of markets and business sectors, make Angelini Industries one of the Italian companies of excellence in the sectors in which it operates. To learn more visit www.angeliniindustries.

About Blackstone Life Sciences
Blackstone Life Sciences is an industry-leading private investment platform with capabilities to invest across the life cycle of companies and products within key life science sectors. By combining scale investments and hands-on operational leadership, Blackstone Life Sciences helps bring to market promising new medicines and medical technologies that improve patients’ lives and currently has more than $12 billion in assets under management.

Corporate Contacts
GRIN Therapeutics
Elliott Ruiz, MBA
Senior Vice President, Finance & Operations
+1 201.674.5417
elliott.ruiz@neurvati.com

Angelini Pharma
Chiara Antoniucci
Global Head of Brand and Media Communications
+39 3477133926
Chiara.antoniucci@angelinipharma.com

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Gimv sells Joolz to Bugaboo, creating the foundations for a global house of high-quality stroller brands

GIMV

Gimv together with founding partner Emile Kuenen and his business partner Stan Vermeulen sell their stake in the fast-growing Dutch high-quality stroller brand Joolz to Bugaboo, the global market-leader in strollers and high-quality juvenile consumer products. Both strong and complementary Dutch brands Joolz and Bugaboo have agreed to join forces to accelerate their international growth in the fragmented worldwide stroller market.

Gimv Consumer invested in Joolz in 2016, alongside founding partner Emile Kuenen and his business partner Stan Vermeulen, to support its further geographical expansion in Europe and beyond. The joint ambition was to develop Joolz into a true next-gen high-quality stroller brand: a brand that stands for beautiful design and top-quality products developed for kids, parents and the planet. The conscious strollers are designed for real life and made to last. Today, Joolz sells premium strollers in more than 60 countries with well-established presence across Europe, APAC and the United States.

Both Joolz (www.joolz.com) and Bugaboo (www.bugaboo.com) are pioneers in the market for high-quality baby strollers and innovative juvenile consumer durables with leading performances in quality, sustainability and design. Founded by Dutch entrepreneurs, both companies have excelled at realizing international growth with Bugaboo being one of the leading brands, while Joolz has quickly scaled and holds a strong position in Europe and other international markets. Their combined portfolios will span everything from award-winning strollers to innovative parenting accessories.

The brands Bugaboo and Joolz will continue to operate separately in the market, as both will further benefit from existing and new market opportunities in the global stroller market. The combined company will have a total of 1,200 employees, with its headquarters located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Patrick Franken, Partner and Jelle Assink, Principal at Gimv Consumer, declare: “At Gimv Consumer, we are very proud of Joolz’s strong growth and the journey we have realized together. By building on their core philosophy of design, innovation, and sustainability, Joolz has developed into a truly recognized global high-quality stroller brand. The Joolz and Bugaboo brands are highly complementary and together will create an unrivalled platform in the juvenile category, allowing both companies to accelerate growth and unlock their full potential.”

Richard den Hollander, CEO Joolz, declares: “By joining forces with Bugaboo, we will be able to accelerate the exciting growth journey we have been on for the last five years, as Bugaboo is the strongest strategic partner who can and is willing to make smart and healthy investments in our brand. Our combined commercial strength, together with our mutual strong belief in consumer-centric innovation, superior design, engineering and ESG, will enable us to build a global house of brands and drive strong growth in the high-quality stroller market across the globe. While we both consider ourselves international companies, our mutual Dutch roots and our commitment to quality, sustainability and our brands offer a solid foundation for our continued journey together.”

Adriaan Thierry, CEO Bugaboo, declares: “The global stroller market is highly fragmented and offers enormous opportunities for high-quality brands. Us teaming up with Joolz is exemplary for our strategy of organic growth and growth by acquisition. Bugaboo and Joolz are distinct, yet complementary brands. But the quality of both brands is exceptional. Together, we will be able to innovate even better and faster. And we will be able to offer more choice in high-quality strollers to our customers in Europe, as well as the Americas, Asia and the Middle East, through our current and new distribution channels in those markets.”

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Maven leads investment alongside Northstar Ventures in contract research organisation (CRO) Magnitude Biosciences to drive development of next-generation drug screening platform.

Maven

Magnitude Biosciences, a specialist contract research organisation based in County Durham, has secured over £700,000 to scale its high-throughput screening platform for in vivo discovery of treatments for age-related conditions and other diseases using C. elegans, a species of nematode worms.

The investment was led by NPIF II – Maven Equity Finance, which is managed by Maven as part of the British Business Bank’s Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, and the Finance Durham Fund, established by Durham County Council and overseen by Business Durham, as well as continued support from existing investors NorthStar Ventures. The investment was matched with grant funding from Innovate UK through the Investor Partnerships: Digital Technologies North East programme.

This funding will enable Magnitude Biosciences to enhance its proprietary WormGazer® technology, integrating robotics, machine learning, and liquid culture systems to create a novel HTS platform capable of screening thousands of compounds per week. By rapidly analysing whole-organism data with advanced machine learning technology, this platform enables pharmaceutical, nutrition, and health supplement companies to quickly identify compounds that may support healthier aging, accelerating discovery, lowering costs, and reducing reliance on traditional testing models.

The expansion will create high skilled jobs in robotics, software engineering, and biological sciences at the company’s base in NETPark (Sedgefield) strengthening the North East’s reputation as a growing hub for digital and life science innovation

Fozia-Saleem-Magnitude-BiosciencesPictured: Dr Fozia Saleem

Fozia featured on Maven’s Invested Podcast mini-series ‘Scaling for Success.’

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support from Innovate UK, Maven and Northstar as we scale our HTS platform. This funding accelerates our mission to revolutionise drug discovery bringing life-changing therapies to patients faster, cutting costs and timelines, and transforming how we tackle the world’s toughest-to-treat diseases while reducing dependence on traditional animal models.”

Dr Fozia Saleem, CEO of Magnitude Biosciences

“Magnitude Biosciences is building the kind of scalable, high-impact technology we look for at Maven. Their HTS platform meets a clear need in early-stage drug discovery. Fozia is also an excellent role model for the region, through her work at Magnitude and as the Vice Chair of the Lifted Project Newcastle Board, where she is helping drive greater investment into female led businesses. We are delighted to support Fozia and her team on their exciting journey.”

Michael Dickens, Investment Manager at Maven

“The North East is increasingly becoming an epicentre for innovation in the UK and Magnitude Biosciences is a good example of the technology-enabled businesses that NPIF II is able to champion. Empowering female leaders in the science and technology space is also crucial to enabling a more diverse and prosperous economy. We’re excited to see the impact the business will achieve, creating jobs in the region and furthering the important work they are committed to.”

Sarah Newbould, Senior Investment Manager at British Business Bank

“Magnitude Biosciences is a fantastic example of the type of innovative, high-growth business that Finance Durham was established to support. We’re proud to back their continued development at NETPark, where they are not only scaling cutting-edge drug discovery technologies but also playing a vital role in the strength and vibrancy of the science park community.”

Kerry Walker, Business Growth Director at Business Durham

This investment is the latest deal backed by Maven’s client funds in the North East, highlighting our strong track record in supporting high-potential businesses and the region’s growing opportunities to drive innovation and growth. Across the region, Maven has backed plant-based food business, Tiba Tempeh, FinTech specialist, Kani Payments, food and beverage canning business, CRL Foods, solar film technology specialist, Power Roll, and Radio-frequency identification (RFID) innovator, PervasID.

NPIF II – Maven Equity Finance can provide investment of up to £5 million to support ambitious earlier and later stage businesses across the North East of England. If your business, or the business you advise, is looking for an equity investment as a solution to fund future growth, get in touch here >

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back to newsCharterhouse Capital Partners announces agreement to sell Casa Optima to Terlos LLP and co-investors

Charterhouse

May 27, 2025

Charterhouse Capital Partners (“Charterhouse”), one of the longest-established private equity firms operating in Europe, today announces that it has entered into an agreement to sell Casa Optima, a leading global player in the artisanal gelato and pastry ingredients market, to a group of investors led by Terlos LLP (“Terlos”). Terlos is a private investment firm with a focus on European consumer brands, which has Javier Ferrán, the company’s current chairman, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (“ADIA”) as exclusive limited partners.

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Rimini, Northern Italy, Casa Optima serves over 30,000 gelato shops and 6,000 pastry shops in over 150 countries worldwide. The company has a comprehensive portfolio of premium ingredients for artisanal gelato, pastry and beverages, developed in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Italy and Brazil.

In partnership with Charterhouse since 2016, Casa Optima has pursued a transformational growth journey to expand and professionalise its offering, moving from a local leader to a global market leading business.  This has included widening its product offering through organic and inorganic growth opportunities, notably the strategic acquisitions of Modecor, Giuso, Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani and Blend, and accelerating innovation through investment in R&D.  During that time, Casa Optima has also significantly strengthened its management team, with the appointments of Francesco Fattori as CEO and Javier Ferrán as Chairman.

Today’s announcement caps an active period of transactions for Charterhouse having recently announced the sale of minority stakes in Novétude Group, a new European healthcare education platform, to Peugeot Invest and Hayfin Capital, and the acquisition of a majority stake in ESTYA, a leading French services provider specialising in electronic fire safety and security systems, from Chequers Capital.

Antonio di Lorenzo, Partner at Charterhouse Capital Partners, said: “We are proud to have supported the talented management team, including Francesco and Javier, through Casa Optima’s transformational growth journey into an international market leader. The company is exceptionally positioned for future growth, and we have no doubt that Javier and his team, with their consumer expertise and existing knowledge of Casa Optima, will do an excellent job supporting the company going forward.”

Javier Ferrán, Managing Partner of Terlos LLP and Chairman of Casa Optima, commented: “Since joining the Board, I have been greatly impressed by the strength of Casa Optima and the caliber of its management team, as well as the scale and quality of the strategic opportunities that lie ahead for the business. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Francesco and the wider team to further build on the leadership position and strong foundations the business has established in recent years under the stewardship of Charterhouse.”

Francesco Fattori, CEO of Casa Optima, added: “Thanks to Charterhouse’s continuous support, over the last few years Casa Optima has been able to consistently deliver solid top and bottom-line growth on the back of strong internationalisation plans, the completion of multiple strategic acquisitions and the development of successful brands and products. We are very excited to continue to work with Javier, alongside Terlos, as we continue to pursue our strategic organic and inorganic growth plans.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and would be expected to close by Q1 2026.

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Charterhouse achieves B Corp certification19.05.2025Charterhouse welcomes minority investors into Novétude Group09.05.2025

Information on Casa Optima

www.casaoptima.com/en

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Stirling Square completes the sale of Verescence to Movendo Capital and Draycott

Stirling Square

Exit follows transformational partnership that established the Company as the global glass packaging market leader to the luxury beauty industry

France, 26th May 2025 – Stirling Square Capital Partners (“Stirling Square”), a leading pan-European mid-market private equity firm, today announces the completion of the sale of Verescence, the market leader in luxury glass packaging for the perfumery and cosmetics industry, to a consortium comprised of Movendo Capital, an investment holding company and family office, and Draycott, an asset manager.

Verescence is a specialist manufacturer of glass bottles for the perfumery and cosmetics industry and the partner of choice to the world’s largest luxury beauty market players, including Hermès, LVMH and L’Oréal. Founded in 1896, Verescence has 2,500 employees across three continents and brings 130 years of glassmaking expertise globally. It operates seven glass manufacturing factories around the world in France, Spain, North America, and South Korea with an annual production capacity of 600 million bottles.

Stirling Square acquired Verescence in 2019 as the first investment of its Fourth Fund. Over the past six years, it has worked alongside the Company’s leadership team to transform it into the market-leading sustainable glassmaker for the global luxury beauty industry. Stirling Square spearheaded transformational M&A, most notably through the strategic acquisition of a manufacturing facility in South Korea in 2021 that enabled the business to expand into the high-growth, premium beauty segment in Asia. Under Stirling Square stewardship, the Company invested €100 million into additional capacity and automation to increase productivity, through the development of proprietary IP underpinned by AI and machine learning. Stirling Square also supported significant sustainability initiatives – today, bottles can be made from 100% recycled glass, compared with a 2% rate when it assumed ownership. The Company also now upholds industry-leading ESG ratings, notably EcoVadis Platinum and CDP AA- for climate and water action.

As a result of Stirling Square’s investment and strategic transformation, during the ownership period, Verescence’s revenues increased by 40% to €421m and EBITDA trebled to more than €80 million.

Thomas Riou, CEO of Verescence, said: “Stirling Square have been a phenomenal partner, providing investment and expertise that enabled our global expansion, strategic shift to expand our skincare offering to meet the growing needs of our customers. They have also encouraged us to embed innovation across our industrial processes and accelerated our digital transformation that has resulted in us adopting a more data-driven approach across the organisation.”

Julien Horreard, Partner at Stirling Square, added: “We are delighted to have had the privilege of collaborating with Thomas and the brilliant Verescence team over the last six years, during a transformational period linked to our strategic investment in digitalisation, innovation, sustainability and international expansion into the Asian market. We are incredibly proud of what Thomas and the management team achieved during this time as today, Verescence is the market leading specialty glass packaging player with a strong global footprint across France, Spain, the US and South Korea. We wish the team all the best in its next chapter.”

João Coelho Borges, Draycott’s Founding Partner, and Pedro Pereira Gonçalves, Movendo’s CEO, concluded: “We are excited about the opportunity to acquire a global leader with a strong and experienced management team fully aligned with our value creation strategy. Verescence’s leadership position in the industry aligns with our investment criteria across multiple key dimensions. By combining management’s expertise with our own, we aim to drive sustainable growth and maximize value for all stakeholders.”

Stirling Square has a strong track record in France, having been investing locally for over 15 years, with its current and prior portfolio comprising Médisup, Vernet, Siblu, AD Industries, Citec Environnement (ESE) and Permaswage (GDT).

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