Category Archives: News

Bridgepoint to sell Evac, a global market-leading provider of cleantech solutions for marine and land-based applications

Bridgepoint
Bridgepoint, one of the world’s leading mid-market investors, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to fully divest its investment in Evac, to Altor Equity Partners.

Evac is the global market leader in integrated water and waste management, corrosion protection, and marine growth prevention systems – mission-critical technologies that enable the world’s navies, cruise operators and commercial fleets to operate safely, sustainably and efficiently. Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Espoo, Finland, the company has a global installed base spanning tens of thousands of vessels and has a market-leading aftermarket offering. The company has delivered strong financial performance, with EBITDA set to reach c.€47 million in 2025 on the back of strong market activity and major naval spending programmes.

Under Bridgepoint’s ownership, Evac has broadened its product portfolio through a combination of in-house R&D and six strategic acquisitions, while significantly building out its aftermarket capabilities. This has reinforced its position as the industry’s most comprehensive full-suite provider and enabled a shift towards a more recurring revenue model, with aftermarket and services now representing over two-thirds of total revenue. Evac’s evolution has drawn on Bridgepoint’s extensive sector expertise in scaling advanced industrials companies, and specifically environmental and water management services, including previous investments such as Miya Water and Ponant.

Björn Ullbro, CEO of Evac, said: “We have transformed Evac into a strong, efficient and ambitious global player. This transaction marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Evac, and we look forward to working with Altor to accelerate our growth and deliver value to customers worldwide. The demand for sustainable solutions in our markets is accelerating at a pace we’ve never seen before. This momentum creates an exceptional opportunity for Evac to scale our innovations and deliver even greater value to customers worldwide.”

Patrick Fox, Senior Partner and Christopher Bley, Partner and Co-Head of Nordics at Bridgepoint, said: “During our ownership, Evac has developed into a truly global leader with a differentiated portfolio and a highly resilient aftermarket business. Our targeted M&A programme has expanded capabilities in core niches, strengthened Evac’s global footprint and created meaningful commercial synergies across the group. We are proud of the progress achieved together with the management team and believe the company is exceptionally well positioned for its next phase of growth.”

Over the past 30 years, Bridgepoint has been committed to the Nordic region having backed and supported nearly 30 platform investments. Evac marks the 4th successful exit in the last two years, having previously sold Diaverum in 2023 and partially exited Vitamin Well and Oris Dental in 2024.

The transaction is expected to close in 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Bridgepoint was advised by Citigroup Global Markets (M&A Advisor), EY (Financial, Tax, and Tech Due Diligence), Avance (Legal Advisor), and McKinsey (Commercial Due Diligence).

Bridgepoint Group is one of the world’s leading quoted private asset growth investors, specialising in private equity, infrastructure and private credit.

With over $86 billion of assets under management and a strong local presence in Europe, North America and Asia, we combine global scale with local market insight and sector expertise, consistently delivering strong returns through cycles.

Bridgepoint Advisers Limited, a subsidiary of Bridgepoint Group plc, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Categories: News

Tags:

Carlyle provides financing package to Mecachrome Group, a leading global supplier to the aerospace and defense industry

Carlyle

Paris, France – 08 December 2025 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) today announced that its Global Credit platform has provided a financing package of €290 million to support Mecachrome Group, a leading European designer and manufacturer of high-precision components serving the Aerospace and Defense sectors.

Founded in 1937, Mecachrome Group is a leading global tier-1 supplier of high-precision aerostructure and engine components, supporting mission-critical programs across commercial aerospace, defense and motor sports. The company combines deep engineering expertise with fully integrated machining and assembly capabilities, operating a diversified network of more than 20 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and North Africa. With long-standing, deeply embedded relationships with major aircraft and engine manufacturers, the company plays a critical role in helping the industry to scale production and meet accelerating global demand for new aircraft fueled by record backlogs. Tikehau Capital has been Mecachrome’s Group’s majority shareholder since 2020, having partnered with Bpifrance to drive growth. Since launching its aerospace, defense, and digital security investment platform in 2018, Tikehau Capital has formed partnerships with Airbus, Safran, Dassault Aviation, and Thales, which have invested in its sector-focused strategies.

This financing package will strengthen the company’s financial foundation by refinancing its existing indebtedness and providing additional capital to support Mecachrome Group through organic growth initiatives, including expanding its manufacturing capabilities, and strategic acquisitions. 

Mecachrome Group’s precision components are embedded across major commercial and defense programs in Europe. As aircraft production rises and defense spending grows, reliable suppliers capable of scaling have become essential. This financing highlights the role private credit plays in strengthening aerospace and defense supply chains and supporting companies like Mecachrome Group as demand accelerates. 

The transaction further highlights Carlyle Global Credit’s growing activity in the French market, building on recent financings, including Argon, Fitness Park and ADDEV. 

Otto Alaoui, Managing Director in Carlyle Global Credit, said: “As aircraft production and defense investment accelerate globally, the industry relies on trusted partners like Mecachrome to expand capacity and maintain delivery performance. This transaction supports that growth, strengthening Mecachrome Group’s ability to meet higher volumes, invest in its operations, and continue its role as a key contributor to Europe’s aerospace and defense ecosystem.”

Christian Cornille, President and CEO of Mecachrome Group, said: “We are delighted to partner with Carlyle. This transaction enables us to advance the next stage of Mecachrome’s industrial transformation and will be critical as we look to scale capacity, drive operational excellence, and meet the growing needs of our customers across major aerospace and defense programs.”

—

 

 

About Carlyle

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across its business and operates through three segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest. With $474 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2025, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,400 people in 27 offices across four continents. Further information is available at carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group and on X at @OneCarlyle.

 

 

About Mecachrome Group

Mecachrome Group is a High Precision Mechanics world leader. For more than 80 years, Mecachrome has been a key player in the design, engineering, machining and assembly of high-precision parts and assemblies for the Aerospace, Premium automotive, Motor sport, Defence and Energy industries. Thanks to its industrial expertise and cutting-edge technology, Mecachrome has earned an international reputation as a first-rate integrator for its customers, which include Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault, Safran, Stelia, Porsche, Rolls Royce. Mecachrome employs 5 000 people worldwide.

 

 

Media Contacts 

Carlyle:

Charlie Bristow

Tel: +44 (0) 7384 513568

Email: charlie.bristow@carlyle.com

 

Mecachrome Group:

Anne-annabelle Begey

Tel : +33 646505224

Email: anne-annabelle.begey@mecachrome.com

Categories: News

Tags:

IK Partners to acquire Rhétorès Group

IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK X Fund has signed an agreement to acquire Rhétorès Group (“Rhétorès” or “the Group”), a fast-growing French independent financial advisor (“IFA”) focused on high-net-worth individuals (“HNWIs”). IK is acquiring its stake from the founders, the management team and Activa who will be significantly reinvesting. Financial details of the transaction are not disclosed and completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Founded in 2010 by Stéphane Rudzinski and Grégory Soudjoukdjian, Rhétorès provides a comprehensive range of financial savings and investment products, including life-insurance wrappers and access to premium asset classes including private equity, real estate and structured products. Headquartered in Paris, the Group serves a high-end, diversified base of more than 6,200 clients and by the end of the year, is expected to have approximately €2.7 billion in assets under management.

Rhétorès combines personalised advisory expertise with a robust operational platform, enabling consistent service quality and a high standard of client care. The Group employs 55 individuals across five offices in France, including 20 client-facing advisors supported by well-developed support and compliance functions.

Since inception, Rhétorès has achieved strong organic growth and following Activa’s investment in 2022 has accelerated its inorganic growth, executing 20 add-on acquisitions to date. The Group’s acquisition of Dauphine AM in 2023 saw it enter into the direct asset management space.

With the support of IK and Activa, Rhétorès will look to grow its existing business, continuing to leverage commercial excellence and drive operational improvements. In addition, it will look to execute further buy-and-build activity to drive consolidation in the IFA market and diversify its offering.

Stéphane Rudzinski and Grégory Soudjoukdjian, Co-Founders of Rhétorès, said: “Over the past 15 years we have focused on building a high-quality advisory platform for our clients and we are extremely proud of the progress the team has made. IK’s experience in the French IFA and asset management space, including Valoria Capital and Eres, makes it an ideal partner for this next phase of growth. The team’s understanding of the sector and support for our long-term ambitions will be invaluable as we continue to scale Rhétorès. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Activa for their support so far and look forward to having IK on board.”

Rémi Buttiaux and Diki Korniloff, Partners at IK and Advisors to the IK X Fund, added: “The French financial savings market is both large and resilient, supported by strong underlying trends and a favourable regulatory environment. Under Stéphane and Grégory’s leadership, Rhétorès has achieved remarkable success and earned a strong reputation within the French IFA landscape. We look forward to working closely with the team to support their ambitious growth strategy, including further consolidation and diversification of their service offering.”

Christophe Parier and Alexandre Masson, Managing Partners at Activa, added: “We are proud to have supported Rhétorès since 2022 and to have worked closely with Stéphane, Grégory and the entire team during a period of strong development. Over the past few years, the Group has not only strengthened its advisory platform but also executed a successful programme of targeted acquisitions that has expanded its reach and capabilities. We are pleased to reinvest as part of this new partnership and look forward to continuing to support the business as it enters its next stage of growth alongside IK.”

For further questions, please contact:

IK Partners
Vidya Verlkumar
Phone: +44 (0) 7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com

About Rhétorès Group

Established in 2010, Rhétorès Groupe is a leading independent wealth and asset manager in France, providing clients with integrated advisory, investment and structuring solutions. The firm combines portfolio management, private equity opportunities, real-estate investments and tailored insurance products to help clients protect and grow their assets over the long term. For more information, visit www.rhetores.fr

Read More 

About IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is a European private equity firm focused on investments in the Benelux, DACH, France, Nordics and the UK. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €20 billion of capital and invested in over 200 European companies. IK supports companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit ikpartners.com

Read More 

About Activa

Activa is an independent private equity company, owned by its partners, focused on tech services and tech-enabled services platforms. It currently manages more than €400 million on behalf of institutional investors investing in French service SMEs with high growth potential and an enterprise value ranging between €30 million and €100 million. Activa supports them in accelerating their development and their international presence. To learn more about Activa, visit www.activa.fr

Read More 

Categories: News

Tags:

Bain Capital and SMBC Launch €1.5 billion Joint Lending Platform Backing European Corporate Credit

Partnership to Deliver Flexible Credit Solutions to European Sponsors

London — December 4, 2025 — Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm, today announced a joint venture with top-tier bookrunner SMBC to establish a new European loan platform providing up to € 1.5 billion in senior secured credit to corporate borrowers across Europe and the UK.

The platform is structured as a co-governed credit vehicle, combining SMBC’s pan-European leveraged finance origination and structuring expertise with Bain Capital’s underwriting and asset management capabilities. Leveraging SMBC’s position as a leading arranger of leveraged finance transactions, the platform benefits from access to primary deal flow in the syndicated loan market. The initiative brings together Bain Capital’s Special Situations and Credit businesses and reflects the firm’s focus on scalable, cycle-aware capital solutions.

“This partnership with SMBC represents a pivotal moment for our Special Situations business in Europe,” said Angelo Rufino, a Partner and Head of Bain Capital Corporate Special Situations in Europe. “It highlights our ability to engineer large-scale and innovative platforms with leading global partners and to underwrite complex capital structures that perform across market cycles.”

“This structure gives us direct access to primary origination through a globally respected bank, while maintaining full underwriting control,” said Gauthier Reymondier, a Partner and Head of Bain Capital’s Credit business in Europe. “It also positions both institutions as solution providers to financial sponsors seeking capital across market environments.”

“The JV is a strong validation of our European team’s sourcing, structuring and asset management capabilities,” added Elena Lieskovska, a Partner in Bain Capital’s European Special Situations Corporate Investing team. “We believe this platform is well positioned to support sponsor-led transactions at scale and across cycles,” concluded Ray Colleran, a Managing Director on Bain Capital’s Liquid & Structured Credit team.

The platform will target financing for sponsor-backed European companies across a diversified set of industries, with a focus on opportunities in the broadly syndicated loan (BSL) market. Designed to offer flexibility, strong governance, and institutional-grade underwriting discipline, the joint venture reflects the evolving landscape of private credit in Europe.

About Bain Capital

Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms. We are committed to creating lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a culture of collaboration, advantages that enable us to innovate investment approaches, unlock opportunities, and create exceptional outcomes. Our global platform invests across five focus areas: Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. In these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and wide-ranging capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $205 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com. Follow @BainCapital on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

About SMBC

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) is a leading global financial institution headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. With a presence in over 40 countries, SMBC provides a comprehensive suite of financial services, including corporate banking, investment banking, and asset management.

SMBC has one of the largest Leverage Finance platforms in the European market with over 100 investment professionals across 4 offices and a strong presence across the broadly syndicated and private credit markets. SMBC acted as Bookrunner on over 60 leveraged loan transactions in 2024 and rank #8 in Dealogic’s European Sponsor Leveraged Loan Bookrunner league table.

Categories: News

Tags:

Valcon acquires Bricobomba Consultancy to expand Nordic footprint

Rivean

Utrecht/ Stockholm: Valcon, a leading European consultancy specialising in AI and data-driven business transformation, is pleased to announce it has signed a binding agreement to acquire Bricobomba, a Stockholm-based Swedish firm specialising in data and AI. The acquisition will significantly strengthen Valcon’s capabilities in the Nordics, enhancing its ability to deliver end-to-end data and AI-enabled transformation services across Europe.

Bricobomba, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Stockholm, brings deep expertise in data infrastructure, cloud-based platforms, business intelligence, data analytics and machine learning. Its ‘data platform framework’ supports cloud native architecture, spanning Azure, AWS and GCP and enables clients to build scalable, cost efficient and future proof data foundations.

With an established consulting base in Sweden, the integration of the Bricobomba team, technology and frameworks into Valcon’s broader data and AI capabilities will significantly expand the company’s offering in the Nordic region and bolster its pan European reach, to support its goal of accelerating growth across Europe.

The acquisition marks the first add-on since Rivean completed its controlling investment in Valcon in February 2025. Completion of the transaction is still subject to approval by competent authorities.

Geert van den Goor, CEO of Valcon commented: “This agreement marks an important milestone in Valcon’s strategic growth journey. By joining forces with Bricobomba, we are combining their sharp technical expertise and innovative cloud-native data platforms with Valcon’s proven track record in delivering enterprise-scale transformation. This union strengthens our ability to help organisations across Europe to build future proof, AI-ready data foundations and derive real business impact and value.”

Björn Leufstedt, CEO of Bricobomba commented: “We are very excited to become part of Valcon’s European organisation. Our team believes in delivering value add to clients, giving them the tools and knowledge they need to transform how they use data. Valcon’s scale, resources and ambition make it the right moment for us to take the next step, and we look forward to combining nimble Nordic innovation with pan-European delivery capability.”

—

About Valcon
Valcon is a leading European consultancy specialising in AI and data-driven business transformation. A trusted partner for multiple European enterprises, Valcon’s 1700 skilled consultants are experts at connecting the critical links between strategy and operations, helping organisations create value in their transformation programmes. Valcon’s four core capabilities are data, AI, technology and consulting. Valcon’s clients include large organisations across multiple sectors, including financial services, retail, public sector, industrials and infrastructure. Valcon is backed by private equity firm, Rivean Capital. For more information, please visit: www.valcon.com

About Bricobomba
Bricobomba is a Stockholm-based AI and data consultancy, founded in 2019. With a growing team of 35 data professionals, Bricobomba specialises in data engineering, cloud data platform architecture, business intelligence, analytics and machine learning. Building end to end data solutions, Bricoboma focuses on helping clients unlock actionable insights and create value from their data. For more information please visit: https://www.bricobomba.se/en

Categories: News

Tags:

EQT to invest in PropertyMe, a leading Australian cloud-based PropTech company

eqt

PropertyMe

  • PropertyMe is a leading cloud-native PropTech platform, used by more than 6,000 real estate agencies managing approximately 1.9 million rental properties across Australia and New Zealand and collectively transacting almost $40 billion per year including $2.4 billion directly through its own MePay payments platform
  • The PropTech sector is undergoing rapid digitalisation as agencies migrate from legacy systems to modern cloud solutions and seek a single view of the customer
  • Brian Donn appointed CEO, as PropertyMe founders transition into non-executive Board roles
  • EQT, through its MMG fund, will support PropertyMe’s continued growth by investing in product innovation, talent and geographic expansion, while aiming to leverage EQT’s software and AI expertise to accelerate the Company’s development

SYDNEY – 4 December 2025 –  EQT is pleased to announce that the BPEA Mid-Market Growth Partnership (or “the MMG fund”) has agreed to invest in PropertyMe (the “Company”), a leading cloud-based PropTech company in Australia and New Zealand. The transaction will see EQT become the majority investor in PropertyMe, partnering with the Company’s founders who will retain a significant minority stake.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Sydney, PropertyMe offers an all-in-one, cloud-based platform that helps property managers and real estate agencies streamline their workflows, from trust accounting and compliance to maintenance tracking and tenant communications. PropertyMe’s platform is used by more than 6,000 agencies to manage approximately 1.9 million rental properties, making it the largest property management software provider in Australia and New Zealand by number of properties managed. Agencies collectively transact almost $40 billion through PropertyMe each year, including $2.4 billion directly through PropertyMe’s own MePay payments platform.

Property management software has become a key enabler in the real estate industry, with demand supported by the steady growth of rental housing. Agencies are increasingly modernizing their property management systems, replacing manual processes with cloud-based platforms that offer greater efficiency, scalability and remote accessibility. Against this backdrop, PropertyMe stands out with leading AI and Automation functionality, including AiMe, its integrated AI assistant, as well as MePay, its fully integrated payments platform, and its just launched next generation CRM, making it well-positioned to continue its strong growth trajectory as more agencies embrace digital transformation in their daily operations.

EQT will support the Company’s next phase of growth by leveraging its in-house digital expertise and network of industry advisors with the aim of strengthening PropertyMe’s innovation and product development. This will include introducing new features such as advanced automation, analytics, and integrated payment solutions, as well as exploring expansion into adjacent growth markets that may benefit from PropertyMe’s all-in-one platform.

Nicholas Macksey, Partner in the EQT Private Capital Asia advisory team and Head of the Mid-Market Growth strategy, said: “PropertyMe is a standout company in the PropTech space, and we have been consistently impressed by its innovative platform and strong market position. The Company’s mission-critical software has become vital for thousands of property managers, and it aligns perfectly with EQT’s thematic focus on supporting technology-driven solutions for essential industries. We see significant opportunities to help PropertyMe scale its platform, introduce new services, and expand into additional markets.”

Jacob Van der Wiel, Director in the EQT Private Capital Asia advisory team, added: “We’ve been fortunate to get to know the PropertyMe story and to see firsthand the founders’ deep commitment to PropertyMe’s customers. This focus has been key to establishing PropertyMe as a leading property management solution in Australia. We’re excited to partner with the founders and the wider team to accelerate growth and build on this strong foundation in the years ahead.”

As part of this transaction, PropertyMe’s founders will move into Board roles in early 2026, continuing to support the company as long-term shareholders and strategic advisors. PropertyMe is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Donn as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 2026.

Brian is a highly accomplished technology executive with more than 25 years of experience leading high-growth software and services businesses across the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions. He most recently served as SVP & Managing Director of Dayforce Asia Pacific and Japan, where he led a 3,000-person organisation through a period of record growth for a global SaaS leader in human capital management and payroll. Brian brings deep expertise in SaaS go-to-market execution, customer experience, high-performing cultures and scaling global software operations.

Jason Tait, Founder of PropertyMe, said: “Our mission at PropertyMe has always been to modernise property management and empower real estate professionals with best-in-class software. We’re excited to embark on this next chapter with EQT as our partner. EQT brings deep experience in supporting high-growth technology companies globally, and their investment and expertise will help us fast-track product development and enter new markets. After 12 years leading the business and as we look to the next chapter, the founders felt this was the right moment to transition into Board and advisory roles while remaining deeply committed as long-term shareholders. We’re excited to welcome Brian as CEO, he brings significant experience in scaling SaaS businesses, and I’m confident he will lead PropertyMe into a new era of growth and innovation.”

Brian Donn, incoming PropertyMe CEO, added: “The founders have built a leading platform with a best-in-class product that is deeply valued by a diverse customer community. I see significant potential to build on this strong foundation & drive growth in both local and global markets. With EQT’s backing and the highly talented team at PropertyMe, we are ready to accelerate our innovation roadmap, further elevate the customer experience, and set a new benchmark for the PropTech industry. The opportunity ahead for the company is substantial, and I look forward to building a workplace that attracts, develops and retains exceptional talent.”

EQT’s investment in PropertyMe builds on its experience identifying and supporting the success of companies that lead within specific vertical market systems, including software that powers sectors such as real estate, corporate services and education. This approach reflects EQT’s ability to apply deep sector insights and proven value-creation strategies across adjacent industries, supporting businesses that deliver mission-critical technology solutions and drive the digital transformation of essential services.

This transaction marks EQT Private Capital Asia’s third platform software investment in Australia and the second Australian investment under the MMG fund. The transaction further reinforces EQT’s position as a leading technology buyout investor in Asia Pacific, having invested in the success of 10 companies since 2022, representing a combined enterprise value of over USD 7 billion. EQT’s MMG fund – whose strategy is a natural extension of EQT’s established large-cap buyout platform in Asia Pacific – has previously invested in companies such as Compass Education in Australia, HRBrain in Japan, and WSO2, which operates in global markets.

Corrs and Deloitte advised EQT, and Pier Capital, Jones Day and Alvarez & Marsal advised PropertyMe on the transaction.

Contact:
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

 

Categories: News

Tags:

Ardian on course to finish another record year with more than $20bn raised

Ardian

Ardian to raise more than $20bn for the third consecutive year demonstrating resilient fundraising through market cycles as well as global investor interest in Europe.
• Three flagship funds close with increased hard caps, showcasing Ardian’s focus on innovation and European market leadership.
• The private wealth sector plays a pivotal role, with Ardian Access expanding offerings to individual investors and family offices globally.

Ardian, a world-leading private investment firm, announces it is on course to finish another year with more than $20bn raised across its activities, particularly from investors in the US, Asia and the Middle East. This marks a third consecutive year of record fundraising of over $20bn, reflecting strong global investor demand for European assets.

Throughout 2025, Ardian has notably successfully closed three major flagship funds, each with increased caps, underscoring investor confidence in their strategic focus on European growth and innovation:

The Ardian Secondaries Fund IX with $30bn raised, the largest secondaries platform ever raised globally, with already over 50% deployed.
The Ardian Infrastructure Fund VI platform with $20bn is 90% larger than its predecessor, focused on European energy, transport, and digital infrastructure.
The Ardian Expansion Fund VI with €3.2bn, investing in high-growth European SMEs to create international champions.

Additional fundraising milestones included over $6bn for the secondary infrastructure strategy, close to €5bn for the private credit strategy, €300m for Ardian’s Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) strategy from CBRE Investment Management and a €100m first close for the NBS platform at COP30, backed by leading Development Finance Institutions and the European Investment Bank.

Ardian deployed c. $23.8bn in 2025*, with a significant focus on Europe’s major economies, solidifying its presence through key transactions. Ardian reinforced its presence in key sectors such as aviation, energy, semiconductors, and real estate, while expanding its student accommodation portfolio throughout Europe.

Ardian also successfully returned $c.8.8bn to investors*, demonstrating robust exit strategies.

Throughout the year, growing commitments from private wealth have played a crucial role in Ardian’s success, constituting c.14% of fundraising*. This confirms the growing interest from individual investors and family offices, keen on pursuing sophisticated investment opportunities.

In 2025, Ardian launched three new evergreen products and continues to roll out its Ardian Access series, a suite of evergreen funds giving professional private investors access to the same Ardian deals as the world’s largest institutions. With four Ardian Access products now available, professional investors are well-positioned to access Ardian’s investment strategies and outcomes.

Important notice: This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or investment advice. Investments in private equity involve risks, including the risk of partial or total loss of capital and illiquidity. Any investment decision should be made solely on the basis of the relevant fund’s official offering documentation.

Any funds referenced herein are intended exclusively for professional investors within the meaning of Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II) or equivalent investor categories under the laws and regulations of the relevant jurisdictions, and only in jurisdictions where such funds are registered or otherwise lawfully permitted to be offered. Some of the funds mentioned in this press release are closed to new subscriptions and are not available to investors. Past performance and historical data are not a reliable indicator of future results.

“Another consecutive year of fundraising success demonstrates the growing attractiveness of European businesses and assets, particularly among investors from outside of Europe. They are seeking diversification and resilient returns in a changing world. At Ardian, we have continued to deliver access to the best opportunities in Europe and beyond, creating value for our investors, portfolio companies and wider communities. Our global footprint, local approach and commitment to client service remain critical to our success, and the strength of our fundraising this year reinforces our position as the partner of choice for global investors.” Mark Benedetti, Executive President of Ardian

“In 2025, we have continued to earn the trust of our investors, who see the strength of our investment strategies and expertise of our teams. Ardian’s scale, diversification and leading global position in both secondaries and direct investments are essential. This has enabled us to push forward in new ways this year, with the development of our private wealth products and opening new offices around the world. We expect that fundraising and deployment momentum will continue to accelerate in 2026 and beyond.” Jan Philipp Schmitz, Executive Vice-President and Heaf od Investor Relations, Ardian

*As of Q3 2025

ABOUT ARDIAN

In a world of constant evolution, Ardian stands out for its ability to anticipate, adapt, and turn challenges into opportunities. As a global, diversified private markets firm with 22 offices and more than 350 investment professionals worldwide, we provide investment and customized solutions that reflect new economic dynamics and help our clients remain resilient in a changing world.
We deliver multi-local expertise and long-term performance for our investors and partners as well as shared value for the broader society. Since Ardian’s inception in 1996, our pioneering approach to diversification and our ability to offer tailor-made solutions at scale have remained the heart of our strategy.
Through commitment, knowledge and technology, we bring lasting value to our companies and contribute positively to the whole industry.
Ardian currently manages or advises $196bn for more than 1,890 clients worldwide across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit.
Ardian. Mastering change for lasting value.

ardian.com

Media contact

Ardian

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com

Categories: News

Tags:

Capital Group and KKR to Advance Strategic Partnership, with Innovation Across Retirement Solutions and Model Portfolios

KKR

Firms will also partner on Insurance Asset Management

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Capital Group and KKR today announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to deliver new, integrated retirement and wealth solutions. The collaboration builds on their successful launch of public-private investment strategies in 2025.

The firms will exclusively partner to develop two new offerings that broaden private market access for retirement savers:

  • A Target Date Fund Solution for defined contribution plans that is uniquely constructed as a holistic portfolio featuring public market strategies managed by Capital Group and private market strategies managed by KKR.
  • Public-Private Model Portfolios that integrate public market strategies managed by Capital Group and private market strategies managed by KKR within diversified wealth portfolios.

“Our goal is to redefine what’s possible for investors through best-in-class strategies that combine the strengths of both public and private markets,” said Mike Gitlin, President and CEO of Capital Group and Scott Nuttall, Co-CEO of KKR. “Solving the challenges investors and their advisors face when incorporating private markets into their portfolios requires true collaborative partnership. By expanding this partnership, we’re building a platform that brings the diversification benefits of private markets to more investors — from wealth portfolios to defined contribution plans — in ways neither firm could achieve alone.”

Capital Group and KKR have already partnered on a series of public-private funds, including Capital Group KKR Core Plus+ and Capital Group KKR Multi-Sector+ credit strategies. The first public-private equity fund, Capital Group KKR U.S. Equity+, has been filed and is expected to launch in early 2026 pending regulatory approval. There is also a public-private real asset strategy in development, targeted for late 2026.

Driving Industry Change

The collaboration extends beyond investments to education and advisor enablement. Both firms are committed to equipping financial advisors with the knowledge and tools needed to integrate private market exposures into client portfolios responsibly and confidently.

“At a pivotal moment for wealth management and retirement markets, investors are seeking more holistic solutions and greater choice. Capital Group and KKR are committed to leading this transformation, passionately focusing on education, transparency, and innovative products that empower financial advisors and their clients,” said Matt O’Connor, CEO of Capital Group’s Client Group.

Eric Mogelof, KKR’s Global Head of Client Solutions added, “Our expanded partnership reflects a shared belief that more investors deserve access to high-quality private investments. By combining Capital Group’s public markets investment rigor with KKR’s private market depth, we’re redefining what’s possible for financial professionals and their clients. Defined contribution plans and IRAs can benefit from the diversification of private markets, just like defined benefit plans do today.”

Extending Partnership into Insurance

The firms also plan to collaborate more broadly on insurance asset management, with Global Atlantic — KKR’s insurance subsidiary — by leveraging Capital Group’s fixed income experience to manage portions of its assets.

About Capital Group
As Capital Group approaches its 100th anniversary in 2031, its long-term strategy remains firmly rooted in its mission to improve people’s lives through successful investing. With over 9,000 associates and 33 offices around the world, Capital Group manages $3.2 trillion in assets for millions of wealth management and institutional clients around the world*.

*As of September 30, 2025.

For more information, visit capitalgroup.com.

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 https://kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at https://www.globalatlantic.com/.

KKR is not a sponsor, promoter, investment adviser, sub-adviser, underwriter or affiliate of Capital Group KKR U.S. Equity+.

The registration statement of Capital Group KKR U.S. Equity+ has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is available from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). The information in the registration statement is not complete and may be changed. The securities of the fund may not be sold until its registration statement is effective. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the fund carefully before investing. This and other information about the fund will be contained in the fund’s final prospectus, which investors should read carefully when available from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). This communication is not an offer to sell the shares of the fund and is not soliciting an offer to buy the shares of the fund in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

All Capital Group trademarks mentioned are owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., an affiliated company or fund. All KKR trademarks mentioned are owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.

KKR Credit Advisors (US) LLC serves as the sub-adviser of Capital Group KKR Core Plus+ and Capital Group KKR Multi-Sector+ with respect to the management of each fund’s private credit assets. Capital Group (the “Adviser”) and KKR are not affiliated. The two firms maintain an exclusive partnership to deliver public-private investment solutions to investors.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements pertaining to KKR, including with respect to accounts advised by KKR. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts and which can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to KKR or within its control, and, as a result, may vary materially.

Capital Client Group, Inc.

Media Contacts

Capital Group
Lizzie Lowe

KKR
Global Communications

SOURCE Capital Group Companies

 

Download PDF

Categories: News

Tags:

CVC announces the acquisition of Smiths Detection for £2bn

CVC Capital Partners

CVC, one of the world’s leading private markets investment firms, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat-detection and security-screening technologies for airports and critical infrastructure, from Smiths Group plc. Leveraging CVC’s extensive experience in executing corporate carve-outs and history of scaling newly independent companies, Smiths Detection is well placed to build on its strong market positions and unlock substantial long-term value.

Headquartered in the UK, Smiths Detection employs 3,400 people, including over 1,100 field service engineers and over 500 R&D professionals and operates from facilities across Europe, the US and Asia. The business has a global #1 position in aviation security – i.e. screening technology for carry-on bags, hold luggage, and air cargo at airports – where it serves 47 of the world’s top 50 airports, with both industry-leading hardware and sector-leading digital capabilities, including automated detection algorithms. Smiths Detection also serves other critical infrastructure end markets such as urban security (screening systems for government and commercial buildings, public venues and spaces ) and ports and borders (cargo and vehicle inspection) and the business has a leading niche chemical threat identification capability for defense end markets.

Dominic Murphy, a Managing Partner and Co-Head of the UK private equity team at CVC and Conor Keogh, Managing Director at CVC, said: “Smiths Detection’s industry-leading threat detection and security screening technologies play a crucial role in helping protect people and critical infrastructure worldwide. We look forward to supporting the business during the next phase of its growth and development through continued investment in technology innovation, high-quality engineering and best-in-class aftermarket service.”

James Mahoney, Partner and Head of CVC’s private equity activities in the Aviation, Defence & Space sectors added: “We are excited to partner with Jérôme de Chassey and his team. Smiths Detection’s strong market positions, anchored by its global leadership in aviation, create a compelling platform for long-term value creation.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Barclays acted as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins acted as legal counsel to CVC.

The investment will be made through CVC Capital Partners IX.

Categories: News

Tags:

Orq.ai Closes €5M in Seed Funding to Help Enterprises Deploy AI Agents at Scale

Curiosity VC

Our portfolio company Orq.ai, a generative AI collaboration startup built for companies to model, deploy, and manage enterprise-grade AI applications, has raised €5 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round led by seed + speed Ventures and Galion.exe, with continued backing from Curiosity and other existing investors Spacetime, XO Ventures, xdeck ventures, Waves Capital, and GoldenEggCheck. The round brings Orq.ai’s total funding to €7.3 million.

The investment marks a strong vote of confidence in Orq.ai’s mission to help enterprises build and deploy AI agents efficiently, maintain control over workflows and data, and scale across any infrastructure. With the launch of its new Agent Studio, Orq.ai now enables businesses to design agents in their own way, configuring behaviors, workflows, and decision rules while the platform handles the entire execution layer. Orq.ai already supports forward-thinking organizations across Europe and the US, including Afas, Moneybird Keyrus, and Helloprint, as they move from isolated experiments to operational AI systems running at scale.

With the new capital, Orq.ai will expand its 25-person team across engineering, enterprise sales, and customer success, while deepening its presence in key European markets and accelerating its North American growth.  The round also introduces new strategic angels and advisors such as  Sam Bourton, co-founder of QuantumBlack/McKinsey, Adriaan Mol, founder of Mollie, and Daniel Gebler, CTO of Picnic, who will support Orq.ai’s expansion into more advanced enterprise and data governance capabilities.

“Enterprises are no longer experimenting with AI for curiosity. They want to implement it fast, but most of them are stuck passing real systems into production. We believe Orq.ai is the solution for their needs, as it for us. it accelerates our development process daily and is even used by non-technical profiles. Orq.ai’s unified agent lifecycle platform shortens iteration time, reduces friction and brings stability to deploy agents at scale.” says Kevin Kuipers, Founding Partner of Galion.exe.

“AI agents are becoming a foundational layer of enterprise and B2B software, much like cloud infrastructure in the last technology cycle. Companies will need a reliable way to orchestrate, govern, and scale these agents across operations, and Orq.ai is building the platform that will enable that shift.“ says Alexander Kölpin, Managing Director, seed + speed Ventures.

The investment comes at a pivotal moment for enterprise AI.  Despite growing interest, many companies remain stuck at the prototype stage due to fragmented tools and the lack of governance needed to operate AI reliably in production, a gap Orq.ai directly addresses. “Most companies can build a great demo. The real challenge is getting that demo into production without losing control over quality, compliance, or costs,” said Sohrab Hosseini, Co-founder of Orq.ai. “Orq.ai exists to close that gap.”

Once AI systems encounter real-world data, regulatory obligations, and operational complexity, performance and control often break down. Orq.ai provides a full enterprise control layer to manage, secure, and scale AI systems across teams and environments. It is the only platform that combines experimentation, evaluation, observability, AI gateway, governance, and agent runtime into a single environment.

“Leading enterprises have moved past AI experimentation. Their focus now is production,” said Herman Kienhuis from early investor Curiosity VC. “Orq.ai supports that transition by reducing iteration time, cutting operational friction, and giving engineering teams a stable foundation for scaling agents.”

With stricter requirements under the EU AI Act, GDPR, and broader data governance rules, European companies increasingly need AI systems that can run securely within their own infrastructure. Orq.ai’s infrastructure-agnostic design, spanning cloud, hybrid, and fully on-prem deployments, provides a practical path to meeting sovereignty and residency needs. US organizations benefit from the same flexibility, allowing easier integration with existing architectures and compliance frameworks.

Orq.ai’s unified platform includes an AI gateway with access to more than 300 models, built-in evaluation and monitoring, knowledge-base integration, and collaboration tools that reduce agent development time by 67% and free more than 10% of engineering capacity.

The funding coincides with a full rebrand and redesigned platform experience, reflecting Orq.ai’s evolution from a developer-focused tool into a comprehensive enterprise solution trusted across industries. More than 100 organizations now rely on Orq.ai as they operationalize AI at scale.

About Orq.ai
‍Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Orq.ai is the enterprise control platform for the full AI agent lifecycle. The company’s Platform 4.0 enables organizations to experiment, evaluate, deploy, observe, and optimize AI agents through a unified interface that prioritizes safety, collaboration, and scalability. Orq.ai supports over 300+ LLM models and offers flexible deployment options, including cloud, hybrid, and on-premises configurations, to meet enterprise data sovereignty requirements. The company serves forward-thinking enterprises and AI-native startups across Europe and the United States. For more information, visit orq.ai.

Categories: News

Tags: