Category Archives: News

ECI announces sale of Arkessa to Wireless Logic

ECI

We’re delighted to announce that we have completed the sale of IoT connectivity provider Arkessa to Wireless Logic, for a 2.1x return and 30%+ IRR.

Arkessa offers world-wide, world-class cellular connectivity services that make it easy to design, deploy and manage IoT devices securely, efficiently, and at scale, regardless of application or business model.

ECI first invested in Arkessa in July 2018 to help support its already strong growth in the IoT market. Since that time Arkessa has continued to demonstrate high resilience and consistent double-digit growth in subscription revenues.

 

 

During ECI’s involvement, Arkessa acquired Netherlands-based Sim Services in August 2020 to further support the firm’s international growth ambitions and cemented Arkessa’s position as one of the few independent businesses of scale in the IoT market.

ECI was invested in Arkessa’s buyer Wireless Logic from 2011 to 2015 and during that time, supported the firm’s expansion to become a leading player in the European IoT market.

In addition to Arkessa and Wireless Logic, ECI’s experience in the IoT space has also included Peoplesafe, the technology firm focused on lone worker protection, and most recently CSL, the M2M and IoT critical connectivity solutions provider. IA Global Capital acted as exclusive financial advisor to Arkessa and Squire Patton Boggs were legal advisor.

Andrew Orrock, CEO of Arkessa, said, “ECI’s exceptional track record and understanding of the IoT market was a real draw when we began our partnership in 2018. Thanks to their support, we were able to continue to fuel our international growth and focus on our goal to ‘future proof’ Enterprise connections to the Internet of Things. Wireless Logic is a natural choice for the next stage of our journey, and we look forward to working together to form the leading global player in the IoT market.”

Paul McCreadie, Partner at ECI Partners, comments, “We’re delighted to announce the sale of Arkessa to Wireless Logic. Andrew and the team have continued their strong growth trajectory this year whilst also acquiring Netherlands’ headquartered Sim Services. Arkessa has proved to be extremely resilient despite the challenging backdrop of 2020. Wireless Logic is a great fit for Arkessa and we would like to thank both teams for a successful partnership as we wish them all the best for their combined future.”

Oliver Tucker, CEO at Wireless Logic, adds, “This is a landmark acquisition for Wireless Logic, putting the group in a stronger position to serve the needs of the market as it continues to evolve. Arkessa will strengthen the group’s routes to market, bolster team expertise and boost eUICC capabilities, paving the way for further sustained business growth in the years ahead. We are looking forward to working with the talented team at Arkessa as we continue to develop solutions and services for the rapidly evolving M2M and IoT connectivity market”

Paul McCreadie
Paul McCreadie
Partner

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Andera Partners renames all its activities

Andera Partners

Andera Partners unveils today the new names of its four investment teams. Two years after becoming independent in 2018, the leading private equity management company is strengthening communication around all its activities, with a focus on the Andera brand.

BioDiscovery, which supports the development of innovative therapeutic products and medical technologies (amounts invested from €5 million to €35 million), has become ANDERA LIFE SCIENCES.

ActoMezz, the team dedicated to sponsorless mezzanine investments (amounts invested from €10 million to €100 million), has become ANDERA ACTO.

Cabestan Capital, dedicated to supporting growth SMEs (amounts invested of €7 million to €20 million), has become ANDERA EXPANSION, while Cabestan Croissance (amounts invested of €2 million to €7 million) has become ANDERA CROISSANCE.

Winch Capital, which helps growth mid-caps to upscale (amounts invested from €20 million to €100 million), has become ANDERA MIDCAP.

 

Andera Partners’ mission is to work alongside companies and their managers to support them towards strong and sustainable growth. Our performance relies on a strong partnership between the entrepreneurs in our portfolio companies and our teams, based on shared values. We therefore wanted to place this identity at the heart of our communication through a brand signature reflecting the power of collective commitment: “The Power of And”.

With the Andera brand now part of each of our business teams’ names, we are seeking to take our management company to the next level, growing it and extending its influence by highlighting the strength of our partnership.

Sylvain Charignon and Raphaël Wisniewski, managers of Andera Partners: “Andera Partners is now clearly recognized by our ecosystem as an original and attractive model, with a strong identity. More than two years after becoming independent, the Andera brand has acquired a firm footing in the market; it was therefore the appropriate time to turn the page on the historical brands associated with our teams – some of which were chosen 20 years ago, while others were adopted or created more recently. We are thus strengthening the parental links of each of our activities to the Andera brand. These new team names will raise our brand’s profile among all our stakeholders, investors, entrepreneurs, employees and advisers, by highlighting the strength of the Andera partnership, which now represents 70 employees and €2.5 billion in assets under management.”

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Wireless Logic acquires Arkessa, securing IoT leadership position

Montagu

Wireless Logic acquires Arkessa, securing IoT leadership position

Wireless Logic, a global leading IoT connectivity platform provider, today announces the acquisition of Arkessa Ltd to further strengthen its market position. This marks the latest step in Wireless Logic’s business expansion following the recent acquisition of European companies Datamobile AG and New Line Mobile BV.

Backed by Montagu, Wireless Logic has acquired Arkessa from growth-focused private equity firm, ECI Partners, with the sale completed on Wednesday 9th December.

Based in the United Kingdom, Arkessa is a leading global IoT cellular connectivity services provider, delivering a range of services and solutions through a multi-network capability spanning across the world. Its 50-person team is made up of IoT and M2M experts specialising in the integration of multiple networks and emerging wireless technologies through a single managed service. Arkessa’s growth to date can be attributed to the delivery of flexible, reliable and simplified services that empower enterprises to develop and optimise their business operations.

Bringing a customer base of over one million subscriptions, complementary services and alternative routes to market, the acquisition of Arkessa will drive incremental business growth for the Wireless Logic group. The Arkessa team also brings eUICC solutions that strongly complement Wireless Logic’s current capabilities – further emphasising the group’s solutions for the global market.

In the coming months, the Wireless Logic and Arkessa management teams will work closely to ensure the continued delivery of high quality service for customers, while also starting to leverage the benefits of increased reach, scale and capability.

Oliver Tucker, CEO at Wireless Logic, says: “This is a landmark acquisition for Wireless Logic, putting the group in a stronger position to serve the needs of its customers as it continues to evolve. Arkessa will strengthen the group’s routes to market, bolster team expertise and boost eUICC capabilities, paving the way for further sustained business growth in the years ahead. We are looking forward to working with the talented team at Arkessa as we continue to develop solutions and services for the rapidly evolving M2M and IoT connectivity market.”

Andrew Orrock, CEO at Arkessa, says: “We are delighted to be joining the Wireless Logic Group. This exciting new chapter brings together our complementary strengths and channels to market and enables us to continue to drive growth and deliver world-class service to our customers across the globe. The partnership is a natural fit and creates a formidable force to support the ever-expanding IoT market.’”

For more information, please visit Wireless Logic’s website: https://www.wirelesslogic.com/

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KeBeK Private Equity acquires a majority stake in BBC Bouwmanagement

Kebek

Etten-Leur, December 11th, 2020 – KeBeK Private Equity has acquired a majority stake in BBC
Bouwmanagement, based in Etten-Leur (the Netherlands). Founder Walther Coppens stays on
board with a minority stake and will, together with KeBeK, support the management team in
realizing the future growth plans.

BBC Bouwmanagement is active in project management, quality management and site
monitoring for large developers and investors in the Dutch real estate market. The company
assists its clients from the preparatory phases of a building project till the final completion and
handover. BBC Bouwmanagement focuses on large projects such as office buildings, hospitals,
universities and shopping centers. Furthermore, the company is also active in the earthquake area
in Groningen, focusing on damage inspections and advice on structural reinforcement projects of
buildings. The company employs over 100 people and has offices in Etten-Leur, Groningen and
Arnhem. The turnover of the company is in excess of € 10 million.

Under the leadership of Walther and Marianne Coppens, the company has grown over the recent
years into one of the leading players in the construction management industry in the Netherlands.
Earlier this year, the shareholders have transferred their operational activities to the experienced
management team under the leadership of Ronald Zilver.

KeBeK will support the management team in its further growth plans, which include the further
expansion of the services offered and the opening of one or more additional offices.
BBC Bouwmanagement is the fourth investment of KeBeK III, which has previously acquired a
controlling interest in Asbest Partners, Dekabo, and more recently, Borek.

For more information:

KeBeK – www.kebek.be
Contact Floris Vansina: floris.vansina@kebek.be or +32 2 66 99 023
KeBeK is an independent Belgian private equity fund, that invests in solid, medium-sized
companies with a demonstrable potential for further value enhancement. KeBeK actively
supports the management teams of its portfolio companies with the implementation of a jointly
defined corporate strategy. KeBeK generally acquires controlling stakes, without, however,
interfering with the daily operations. KeBeK generally acquires controlling stakes, without,
however, interfering with the daily operations. The fund is managed by 4 partners, who have
been working together for many years and who have a proven track record in the private equity
industry. KeBeK’s capital is provided by renowned institutional investors, family offices, and
successful entrepreneurs.
For more information about BBC Bouwmanagement, please visit www.bbcbouwmanagement.nl.

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Eurazeo invests in Tink, leading open banking platform

Eurazeo

Paris, 11 December 2020 – Through Eurazeo Growth, Eurazeo invests €33 million in Tink, Europe’s leading open banking platform. This round of €85million of additional funding, led by Eurazeo Growth brings the total investment in Tink during 2020 to €175 million.

After Younited Credit, Wefox and Thought Machine, Tink is Eurazeo Growth’s fourth investment in the Fintech sector and the first in the Nordics.
Tink, a Swedish company founded in 2012, has more than 350 employees and is currently serving its clients out of 13 local offices across Europe. The company offers tools to build the future of financial services across Europe. Tink connects with more than 3,400 banks reaching over 250 million banking customers across Europe.

Through one API, Tink allows customers to access aggregated financial data, initiate payments, enrich transactions and build personal finance management tools. Tink’s technology and connectivity powers digital services for over 300 world-leading banks and fintechs, including PayPal, NatWest, ABN AMRO, BNP Paribas, Nordea and SEB. Tink’s open banking platform is also used by more than 8,000 developers.
Tink is currently live in Sweden, UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands. During 2020, the company made three major acquisitions, Eurobits in Spain, Instantor in Sweden and Openwrks in the UK. These acquisitions enabled Tink to further strengthen its positioning in Spain and in the UK and to complement Tink’s product offering.

The funding will fuel Tink’s continued expansion and support the further development of its technology with a particular focus on payments. The company processes close to 1 million payment transactions per month in 5 markets, for clients including the payment fintech Lydia, used by more than 5 million customers in France. Tink aims to make its payment initiation services live in 10 markets in 2021.

Yann du Rusquec, Partner at Eurazeo Growth, states:

The open banking movement continues to pick up pace, with 2021 showing every sign that it will bring increased collaboration between fintechs and large enterprises, who want to take digitally enabled services to their customers with a tried and trusted partner. Since its inception eight years ago, Tink has proven itself to be the leading open banking platform in Europe, and our investment underlines the confidence we and the industry have in Tink and open banking. We look forward to supporting them on their continued journey.”

Daniel Kjellén, co-founder and CEO of Tink, comments:

“2020 has seen payments powered by open banking take-off, and in 2021 we expect to see this scale – most prominently in the UK, followed by Europe. This funding extension and the partnership with Eurazeo Growth, Dawn Capital and our existing investors will further facilitate the development of our payment initiation services across Europe, while continuing to deliver new data-products built on open banking technology to our customers.”

About Eurazeo
• Eurazeo is a leading global investment company, with a diversified portfolio of €18.8 billion in assets under management, including €13.3 billion from third parties, invested in over 430 companies. With its considerable private equity, real estate and private debt expertise, Eurazeo accompanies companies of all sizes, supporting their development through the commitment of its nearly 300 professionals and by offering in-depth sector expertise, a gateway to global markets, and a responsible and stable foothold for transformational growth. Its solid institutional and family shareholder base, robust financial structure free of structural debt, and flexible investment horizon enable Eurazeo to support its companies over the long term.

• Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, London, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Berlin and Madrid.
• Eurazeo is listed on Euronext Paris.
• ISIN: FR0000121121 – Bloomberg: RF FP – Reuters: EURA.PA

The open banking movement continues to pick up pace, with 2021 showing every sign that it will bring increased collaboration between fintechs and large enterprises, who want to take digitally enabled services to their customers with a tried and trusted partner. Since its inception eight years ago, Tink has proven itself to be the leading open banking platform in Europe, and our investment underlines the confidence we and the industry have in Tink and open banking. We look forward to supporting them on their continued journey.”
“2020 has seen payments powered by open banking take-off, and in 2021 we expect to see this scale – most prominently in the UK, followed by Europe. This funding extension and the partnership with Eurazeo Growth, Dawn Capital and our existing investors will further facilitate the development of our payment initiation services across Europe, while continuing to deliver new data-products built on open banking technology to our customers.”

EURAZEO CONTACTS
PRESS CONTACT
PIERRE BERNARDIN
HEAD OF INVESTOR RELATIONS
email: pbernardin@eurazeo.com
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 15 16 76

VIRGINIE CHRISTNACHT
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
mail: vchristnacht@eurazeo.com
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 15 76 44

MAITLAND/amo
DAVID STURKEN
mail: dsturken@maitland.co.uk
Tel: +4444 (0)(0) 7990 5957990 595 913913

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CapMan Real Estate acquires highly visible office building in northern Stockholm area in renovation and lease-up scheme

Capman

CapMan Real Estate press release 11 December 2020 at 3.15 p.m. EET

CapMan Real Estate acquires highly visible office building in northern Stockholm area in renovation and lease-up scheme

CapMan Nordic Real Estate III Fund has agreed to acquire Sadelplatsen 1, a vacant office building in Järva Krog, Solna, from Fabege in an off-market transaction.

The 6,360 sqm property consists mainly of office and showroom space as well as a parking facility and is currently 94% vacant. CapMan is evaluating various plans for the development of the property, which, due to its flexibility, could suit many different types of tenants. Solna is one of the strongest office locations in the Stockholm region due to its supply of modern offices, proximity to central Stockholm as well as the northern Stockholm suburbs. Järva Krog has excellent access to public transport as well as the E4 motorway and is currently undergoing strong commercial and residential development, which will further improve the attractiveness of the area.

“We are very pleased with the acquisition and with the prospect of tailoring the asset to fit today’s requirements and expectations for office space. Our team has a lot of experience from similar renovation and lease-up cases in Solna. We have already initiated lease discussions and gained strong interest from several potential tenants,” says Anna Reuterskiöld, Partner and Head of CapMan Real Estate Sweden.

CapMan’s Real Estate team comprises over 40 real estate professionals in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. CapMan Real Estate currently manages a total of EUR 2.8 billion in real estate assets. The team was awarded UK & European Opportunistic Property Manager of the Year at the 2020 Professional Pensions Investment Awards.

CapMan Nordic Real Estate III Fund, the team’s third Nordic value-add fund, was established in September 2020 and has raised EUR 449 million to date with a target size of EUR 500 million. The acquisition is the fund’s fifth transaction.

For further information, please contact:
Anna Reuterskiöld, Partner, Head of CapMan Real Estate Sweden, tel. +46 731 54 22 31

About CapMan

CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value creation. We offer a wide selection of investment products and services. As one of the Nordic private equity pioneers, we have developed hundreds of companies and real estate assets and created substantial value in these businesses and assets over the past 30 years. Our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors. We have a broad presence in the unlisted market through our local and specialised teams. Our investment strategies cover Private Equity, Real Estate and Infra. We also have a growing service business that includes procurement services, wealth management, and analysis, reporting and back office services. Altogether, CapMan employs around 150 people in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, London and Luxembourg. We are a public company listed on Nasdaq Helsinki since 2001 and a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) since 2012. Read more at www.capman.com.

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Actis acquires Fibre business in South Africa for US$140m

Actis

Actis announced today that it has entered into agreements to acquire a controlling interest in Octotel, a fibre-to-the-home operator in South Africa for an enterprise value of ZAR2.3bn (cUS$140 million). At the same time Actis signed agreements to acquire a non-controlling interest in RSAWEB, a leading Internet Service Provider in South Africa. The transactions are subject to regulatory approval.

Octotel is a leading fibre network operator in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Founded in 2016, its open access fibre network has passed more than 175,000 premises. Through this network, Octotel provides line rental services to Internet Service Providers on a fully vendor neutral basis allowing high speed data connectivity in homes and businesses across the region.

The businesses, both founded by Rob Gilmour and Mark Slingsby who will remain as shareholders, will continue to be run by the existing management teams. Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers Limited and the Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund will fully exit their respective positions in the two entities.

Last month Actis announced a 75% stake in a new joint venture with GS E&C, the construction arm of GS Group, to build and operate a 21MW internet data centre in Greater Seoul with a development cost of US$315 million. The firm has created a Chinese data centre platform, Chayora Holdings, to develop hyperscale data centre facilities to serve China’s tier 1 markets. In early 2020, Actis also established a US$250m pan-African data centre platform, starting with an investment in Rack Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

Commenting on the transaction, David Cooke Actis partner based in Johannesburg, said “Octotel and RSAWEB are the latest Actis investments into the high growth Digital Infrastructure sector. We have a growing portfolio of data centre investments and are delighted to now be making our first investment in the fibre sector. Rob and Mark are industry pioneers in South Africa and together with their institutional backers have created highly successful businesses in Octotel and RSAWEB. The investment opportunity is driven by the demand for reliable, high quality, high speed digital access in the home. We see first-hand the impact that affordable connectivity has in communities in South Africa for work, entertainment and education.”

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Fortino Capital invests in Cenosco to accelerate the growth of this Asset Integrity Management software player

Fortino Capital

Antwerp / The Hague, 10 December 2020 – Fortino Capital Partners, a leading European software investor, announces its investment in Cenosco, a Dutch specialist in Asset Integrity Management. Cenosco is headquartered in The Hague, with local presence in Croatia. The Company employs 75 people and is active in 30 countries, with its solution deployed in about 100 plants worldwide.

Cenosco’s software operates at the heart of asset heavy industry plants in the oil & gas, chemicals, energy, and utilities space. It is a web-based tool for Asset Integrity Management, supporting users to make smart inspection and maintenance decisions to increase safety, asset availability and lower asset management costs.

After 20 years of organic growth, the Cenosco founders decided the time was right to attract an external partner, in order to support the Company in its next growth phase and help it unlock the full potential of its solution. Cenosco will continue to invest in product development in close collaboration with its partners. Further professionalization of the organization will be a priority too, as evidenced by the significant number of planned hires for 2021 on general management, domain expertise and throughout the rest of the organization.

Mischa Simonis, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Cenosco: “We are excited with Fortino Capital as a new shareholder in Cenosco. Fortino will bring important B2B software expertise and a solid network that will enable Cenosco to grow further and stronger. With our 20+ years of experience and our strong partnerships in the oil and gas industry, we are well positioned to benefit from the opportunities this market will bring, with aging plants and a new focus on digitalization.”

Fortino Capital invests in Cenosco alongside current management (i.e. the founders), which stays operationally active to realize this next growth phase. Cenosco is the 22nd B2B software investment by Fortino Capital, and the 7th platform investment of its Growth Private Equity Fund.

Wouter Van de Bunt, Partner at Fortino Capital: “We are truly impressed by Cenosco’s achievements over the past 20 years. The Company built a top-notch product with potential to become the market standard for Asset Integrity Management. Cenosco also perfectly fits within the investment criteria of our Growth Equity Fund: mission-critical software, strong and profitable growth, global presence, and massive opportunities for future growth. We are delighted to support Cenosco, together with the founders, in its next, accelerated growth phase.”

 

About Cenosco

Cenosco, founded in 2000, is a global software company in Asset Integrity Management. The Company has a global presence, with its software deployed in 30 countries in about 100 plants. Cenosco employs 75 people and is headquartered in The Hague, with local office in Croatia.
For more information, see www.cenosco.com.

 

About Fortino Capital Partners

Fortino Capital Partners is a European enterprise software investor, managing a €240 million growth private equity fund and two venture capital funds for earlier stage software opportunities. The firm has offices in Antwerp and Amsterdam. Fortino Capital’s investment portfolio includes MobileXpense, Efficy CRM, Odin Groep, Tenzinger, Maxxton and Teamleader, among others.
For more information, see www.fortinocapital.com.

Press contact
VADEMECOM
Vincent Morrens
M: +32 (0)475.93.25.16
vm@vademecom.be

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Cinven portfolio company Bioclinica to merge with ERT

Cinven

Combination of Bioclinica and ERT to create a leading independent provider of data and technology for use in clinical trials

International private equity firm Cinven announces that it has agreed to merge Bioclinica (‘the Company’), a leading integrated solutions provider of clinical life science and technology expertise, with ERT, a global leader in clinical end-point data solutions. As part of the transaction, Cinven will become a significant minority shareholder of ERT working in partnership with Nordic Capital, Astorg and Novo Holdings A/S. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Established in 1990, Bioclinica supports the development of new medications globally through its medical expertise, service experience and technology platform that improve the efficiency of clinical trials. Headquartered in the US, Bioclinica employs c. 2,600 people globally, with operations across the US, Europe and Asia.

Building on its experience in the global clinical trials industry through its February 2014 investment in Medpace, a leading contract research organisation (“CRO”), that Cinven successfully listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in August 2016, Cinven’s Healthcare team identified Bioclinica as a compelling investment opportunity and acquired the business in October 2016. During Cinven’s ownership, Cinven has worked closely with Euan Menzies, the CEO, and the rest of the management team to enhance Bioclinica’s operations and position Bioclinica for growth, particularly in its core medical imaging business, where there has been significant investment in team expansion and technology capabilities to respond to the increase in clinical trial activity globally.

The combination of Bioclinica and ERT will create a leading independent provider of data and technology for use in clinical trials globally. The combined organisation will be involved in approximately 4,000 clinical trials each year, serving the world’s major pharma and biotech companies and working in partnership with the major global CROs. The combination of Bioclinica’s technology and medical expertise in imaging, together with ERT’s expertise in collecting endpoint data, will ensure better and faster outcomes from clinical trials and will bring increased efficiency and innovation into the clinical trials industry, for the benefit of patients worldwide.

Commenting on the transaction, Alex Leslie, Partner at Cinven, said:

“We have worked hard with Euan and the excellent management team at Bioclinica to lay strong foundations for the future. We have invested in technology, new services and strengthening the team, which has resulted in strong growth momentum in the business.

“The combination of Bioclinica with ERT will bring immense benefits to the combined group’s customers and to patients across the world. We look forward to being able to continue contributing to, and investing into, the growth and development of the combined business through our ongoing shareholding.”

Executive Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Bioclinica, Euan Menzies, added:

“Working alongside the Cinven team at Bioclinica, first as Chairman and more recently as Chief Executive, has given me a real appreciation for the strong market perspective regarding the clinical trials sector possessed by Alex and his colleagues. This strategic insight and focus has been invaluable as we have worked to prioritize new investment opportunities and accelerate growth.”

Completion of the transaction is expected in 2021 and is subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.

Jefferies LLC served as lead financial advisor to Bioclinica and Rothschild & Co served as co- advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Cinven and Bioclinica.

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Votorantim Cimentos and McInnis Cement to Combine Cement Operations in North America

Cdpq

Joint venture between St. Marys Cement (Canada) and McInnis Cement to focus on expanding operations to supply cement across the Great Lakes region, Eastern Canada and the Northeastern Coast of the United States

  • Commitment to maintain facilities and jobs at the Port-Daniel–Gascons plant until at least 2029
  • Combined entity to deploy initiatives at Port-Daniel–Gascons plant to support carbon footprint reduction in the cement industry
St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada), a wholly owned subsidiary of Votorantim Cimentos, and McInnis Cement Inc. today announced that they will combine their assets to create a combined entity to manufacture, distribute and sell cement in Canada and the United States. The joint venture will be owned by Votorantim Cimentos International (VCI), the international investments platform and wholly owned subsidiary of Votorantim Cimentos S.A., the sixth largest cement producer in the world, and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), a long-term institutional investor, through its investment in McInnis Holding Limited Partnership (McInnis Holding).

The business combination is expected to significantly strengthen the strategic positioning of the combined operations through increased cement production capacity, operational efficiencies and an enhanced distribution network.

Votorantim Cimentos International will hold 83% and CDPQ will hold 17% of the shares in the joint venture. Both parties will transfer North American assets to the combined entity. The Votorantim Cimentos assets are primarily cement plants located in Bowmanville and St. Marys, in Canada, and in Detroit and Charlevoix, Michigan, and Dixon, Illinois, in the United States, along with its extensive distribution network concentrated in the Great Lakes region. The McInnis Cement assets include the Port-Daniel–Gascons plant with all of its terminals located in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Northeastern region of the United States, as well as its maritime operations.

“The creation of this combined entity allows us to partner with a world-class player with an established presence – and strong track record of profitability – in North America to operate the McInnis Cement plant in Port-Daniel–Gascons, one of the most modern and efficient facilities in the region. This partnership will enable the Port-Daniel–Gascons plant to benefit from Votorantim Cimentos’ production, distribution and operational expertise to develop important markets, particularly in Eastern Canada, the Great Lakes region and the Northeastern Coast of the United States to meet the growing demand for cement”, said Kim Thomassin, CDPQ’s Executive Vice-President and Head of Investments in Quebec and Stewardship Investing.

“This transaction is aligned with Votorantim Cimentos’ portfolio management strategy, prioritizing investments in markets in which we already operate and enabling geographic expansion in locations with attractive growth prospects. McInnis Cement’s state-of-the-art plant and distribution network enable an efficient cost position in an attractive region, with access to new markets and lots of opportunities”, said Marcelo Castelli, Global CEO of Votorantim Cimentos.

“We are excited about the prospects for Votorantim Cimentos in North America through this joint venture, and very much welcome the partnership with CDPQ, a leading institutional investor that shares our long-term approach to investing and our commitment to sustainable and best-in-class business practices”, said João Schmidt, CEO of Votorantim S.A., the controlling shareholder of Votorantim Cimentos.

With a growing demand for the development of critical infrastructure throughout North America – and an emphasis on new large-scale projects to drive the economic recovery– the market outlook for cement remains positive. McInnis Cement’s 2.2-million-tonne annual capacity plant in Port-Daniel–Gascons, Canada is the first new plant built to serve Eastern Canada, the Northeastern U.S. and the Great Lakes region in more than 50 years – complementing St. Marys Cement’s longstanding presence in the region. McInnis Cement has constructed a deep-water marine terminal, adjacent to the plant, and operates three marine vessels and a distribution network consisting of 10 terminals (marine, rail and truck) strategically located in the U.S. and Canada.

Commitment to Sustainability and the Port-Daniel–Gascons region

Votorantim Cimentos and McInnis Cement both bring a deep commitment to employing the latest technology to drive sustainable business practices and support the local communities where they have operations. As part of the agreement on this joint venture, the parties have committed to maintaining jobs and facilities at the Port-Daniel–Gascons plant until at least 2029. Additionally, the combined entity will deploy initiatives at the Port-Daniel–Gascons plant to support carbon footprint reduction in the cement industry and will work closely with leading experts and local stakeholders to ensure that these activities benefit the region.

Votorantim Cimentos manages the impacts of its operations and works to make them increasingly sustainable. From 1990 to 2019, Votorantim Cimentos reduced its CO2 emissions per tonne of cement by 23%. Recently, the company approved its Sustainability Commitments for 2030 with clear targets in seven areas: to reduce its environmental footprint, promote a more circular economy, co-create sustainable solutions, operate with integrity and transparency, promote a diverse and inclusive environment, share value with its communities, and promote safety, health and well-being. Votorantim Cimentos’ vision is to achieve carbon neutrality in concrete by 2050.

Established Presence in North America with Market Leading Position

Founded in 1933, Votorantim Cimentos is a global company operating in building materials, mining, agricultural lime, co-processing and waste management. With 256 industrial sites worldwide, the company has an installed cement capacity of 52.8 million tonnes. Votorantim Cimentos’ presence in North America began in 2001 with the acquisition of St. Marys Cement, a Canadian company founded in 1912 in the Town of St. Marys, Ontario. Through its integrated cement plants in St. Marys and Bowmanville, Ontario, and Detroit and Charlevoix, Michigan, St. Marys Cement currently serves Canadian and U.S. customers in the Great Lakes region. With a production capacity of 5.2 million tonnes, St. Marys Cement participated in such landmark projects as the CN Tower, Roy Thompson Hall, Maple Leaf Gardens and the Darlington Nuclear Station, as well as countless other engineering, civic and residential projects that significantly contributed to the growth and prosperity of Canada.

The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by regulatory authorities in Brazil, Canada and the United States. The two companies will continue to operate as separate businesses pending the closing of the transaction.

Moelis & Company LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor for Votorantim Cimentos. HSBC served as lead financial advisor to CDPQ on the transaction, in collaboration with National Bank Financial and BMO Capital Markets.

About Votorantim Cimentos

Votorantim Cimentos is one of the largest global companies in the industry. Its building materials portfolio includes not only cement but also concrete, mortars and aggregates. The Company also has businesses in the areas of agricultural lime, waste management and co-processing. In addition to Brazil, Votorantim Cimentos’ administrative and operations locations are strategically located in proximity to the most important growing consumer markets in ten countries including, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Luxembourg, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Spain, the United States, and Uruguay. More information at www.votorantimcimentos.com.

ABOUT CAISSE DE DÉPÔT ET PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at June 30, 2020, it held CA$333.0 billion in net assets. As one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers, CDPQ invests globally in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter @LaCDPQ or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

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