Category Archives: News

Stonepeak-led Consortium to Acquire Estia Health

Stonepeak

 

SYDNEY – 27 May 2026 – Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Estia Health, one of Australia’s leading residential aged care operators, from Bain Capital. The transaction marks a second investment for Volarae Living, Stonepeak’s social infrastructure platform in Australia and New Zealand, following its February 2026 investment in Aura Holdings.

Headquartered in Sydney, Estia Health is the second largest residential aged care operator in Australia, operating more than 90 homes across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria, and caring for approximately 9,000 residents. Since its founding in 2014, Estia Health has thoughtfully expanded its footprint while continuing to invest in its employees, residents, and their families as part of its commitment to person-centered care.

“Residential aged care is, and will continue to be, an essential service and important component of Australia’s overall healthcare system, especially against the backdrop of an aging population,” said Darren Keogh, Senior Managing Director at Stonepeak. “We are thrilled to support Estia Health, a high-quality provider, build on its positive momentum, and even better serve older Australians.”

“I welcome the commitment to continuity for our residents, families and teams, and to ongoing investment in the capability of our people and systems so we can continue delivering high-quality care,” said Sean Bilton, CEO of Estia Health. “We look forward to working with Stonepeak, whose complementary experience and long-term investment approach support our strategy and build on our strong foundations. It remains our privilege to care for older Australians and support residents and their families at an extremely important time in their lives — and that will not change with our ownership.”

Stonepeak’s consortium partner in the transaction is Axight Capital Limited (Axight). The minority stake in Estia Health represents Axight’s second investment in Australia, further deepening its focus in the Asia Pacific Region.

“Estia Health has established itself as one of Australia’s leading residential aged care operators, underpinned by a strong reputation for quality care, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to residents, families and employees. We are delighted to be partnering with Stonepeak, whose significant expertise and proven experience across aged care and retirement living will be highly valuable as we support Estia Health’s continued growth,” said Jerry He and Mujtaba Hussain, Co-Managing Partners at Axight.

The transaction is expected to close in late 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Stonepeak
Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately A$125 billion (US$88 billion) of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, with a focus on downside protection and strong risk-adjusted returns. Stonepeak, as sponsor of private equity and credit investment vehicles, provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to grow investments in its target sectors, which include digital infrastructure, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics, and real estate. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Houston, Washington, D.C., London, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com.

Media Contacts

For Stonepeak:
Kate Beers / Maya Brounstein
corporatecomms@stonepeak.com
+1 (646) 540-5225

Jack Gordon
jack.gordon@sodali.com
+61 478 060 362

 

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Oakley Capital invests in enterprise software platform XTEL

BainCapital

LONDON – May 26, 2026: Oakley Capital, a leading mid-market, pan-European private equity investor, is pleased to announce it is acquiring a majority stake in XTEL, a leading provider of revenue management and trade promotion software for consumer packaged goods companies, from existing shareholders Bain Capital and SilverTree Equity.

XTEL’s software platform enables consumer packaged goods companies, including food, beverage and household brands, to plan, manage and optimise the trade promotions they run with retailers. The platform analyses large amounts of sales, pricing, customer and financial data to help businesses manage and optimise promotions in order to improve
profitability and drive revenue growth.

The Company serves more than 400 global mega-brands, including Unilever, PepsiCo and Johnson & Johnson, and supports over €350 billion in annual trade spend.

XTEL operates in an $11 billion CPG software market underpinned by structural tailwinds, including sustained pressure on CPG margins, retailer consolidation, improved access to consumer data, and growing omni-channel complexity. At the same time, rapid adoption of AI and data-driven decision-making is accelerating demand for best-in-class platforms such as XTEL.

XTEL’s software brings together large amounts of complex sales and commercial data into one system that customers rely on as a core system of record. Combined with the Company’s deep industry expertise, this creates a highly embedded and mission-critical solution. AI is expected to further enhance the platform’s capabilities, enabling customers to make faster and better decisions using the data already managed within XTEL.

XTEL has consistently generated strong, profitable growth including ARR growth of c.40% CAGR over the last three years. Oakley Capital will leverage its extensive track record of supporting European software businesses to drive growth through international expansion and M&A. This investment will support XTEL in accelerating its presence in key growth markets such as Latin America and Asia-Pacific, while also expanding into adjacent geographies, brands and product categories, and further strengthening its AI tech stack, sales capabilities and go-to-market strategy.

XTEL will continue to be led by Rob Mullen, a highly experienced enterprise software CEO who has transitioned XTEL to a system-of-records SaaS platform, while successfully pursuing organic and M&A growth.

Oakley Capital co-Founder and Managing Partner Peter Dubens said: “XTEL’s software is trusted by the world’s leading consumer brands to power essential workflows, while its deep expertise in complex data underpins its role as a critical system of record. We believe the Company is well-positioned to harness AI to enhance its product offering and further strengthen its market position. We look forward to working with CEO Rob Mullen to support the next stage of XTEL’s growth.”

Bain Capital’s Giovanni Camera, Alberto De Antoni and Paolo Vismara said: “From the outset of our investment in Kantar, we identified XTEL as a high-potential software business with the ability to become a focused, independent leader in its market. Since then, we have supported the Company’s carve-out and invested behind its growth, and it has been exciting to see XTEL evolve into a leading high growth global software platform for revenue growth management in the CPG industry. We are proud of what Rob and the entire XTEL team have achieved, and confident the business is well placed to continue its growth journey with Oakley Capital.”

SilverTree Equity Partners John Messamore and Nicholas Theuerkauf, added: “We are proud to have backed XTEL through its separation from Kantar. In the past four years XTEL has tripled its ARR and has been transformed into the leading independent AI-enabled revenue growth management platform serving global CPG companies. It has been a pleasure working with Rob and the team and we are delighted to be remaining invested to support XTEL’s next phase of growth.”

XTEL CEO Rob Mullen said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Oakley Capital as our new investor after a successful partnership with Bain Capital and SilverTree Equity.  Their combined expertise in building European technology champions is highly relevant for XTEL as we look to accelerate our growth by expanding into new regions, products and industry verticals.”

Evercore served as exclusive financial advisor to XTEL, Bain Capital and SilverTree Equity.

ENDS

About Oakley Capital 
Founded over 20 years ago, Oakley Capital was established to be the partner of choice for exceptional founders and entrepreneurs. We invest in private, pan-European businesses with enterprise values ranging from €100 million to over €1 billion. Our team comprises more than 250 professionals across our offices in London, Munich, Milan, Madrid, and Luxembourg, providing genuine European reach combined with deep local expertise and cultural insight. Through our differentiated origination capabilities, we uncover attractive investment opportunities across four core sectors: Technology, Consumer, Education, and Business Services. We prioritise long-term, repeat partnerships with outstanding founders, many of whom choose to reinvest in our funds. To date, we have raised nine funds, including Fund VI, which closed at its €4.5 billion hard cap in 2025. Across the Group, Oakley manages in excess of c.€16 billion on behalf of our investors, generating consistently strong returns for all our stakeholders. www.oakleycapital.com

About Bain Capital
Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms. We create lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a collaborative culture that enables us to innovate, unlock opportunity, and deliver strong outcomes. Our global platform invests across Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. Across these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and broad capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $225 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com. Follow @BainCapital on LinkedIn and X.

About SilverTree Equity
SilverTree Equity is a private equity firm, with ~$1bn AUM, focused on control buyouts of middle market software and tech-enabled services companies run by an experienced team of investment and operating professionals with backgrounds at leading global private equity firms including Hg Capital, Marlin Equity Partners and Advent International. SilverTree has completed 30 transactions since late 2019. For more information, please visit www.silvertree-equity.com.

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Bain Capital to Exit Estia Health

BainCapital

SYDNEY – May 26, 2026 – Bain Capital, a leading global private investing firm, today announced it has entered into an agreement to sell Australian aged care provider Estia Health to alternative investment firm Stonepeak. Financial details were not disclosed.

Bain Capital acquired Estia Health in December 2023. The company is one of Australia’s leading residential aged care providers, operating homes across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. It is driven by its purpose to enrich and celebrate life together, delivered through the provision of high-quality residential aged care services to older Australians.

During Bain Capital’s investment period, Estia Health has grown from 73 homes with approximately 6,720 residents to 93 homes and approximately 9,250 residents. More than 14,000 people are now employed across the business.
The firm’s investment in Estia Health has been led by Australian-based Partners Mike Murphy, Charles Lawson, and Grace Mollard.

“Bain Capital is proud of the partnership we have built with Estia Health and its outstanding management team. We are deeply appreciative of the trust that families place in the company to care for their loved ones. We wish the entire team every success as they continue their important work,” Murphy said.

“During our ownership, we have supported Estia Health to deliver high quality of care and have invested heavily to grow its footprint and expand access to care. The significant increase in both the number of homes and residents served reflects our conviction in the company’s mission and our commitment to making a genuine difference in the lives of older Australians and their families,” Lawson added.

“We are proud to leave Estia Health an even stronger and more resilient business than when we first partnered together. The company is exceptionally well positioned to continue to play a leadership role in a critical sector. We have great confidence in the team and in Estia Health’s ability to continue delivering for residents, families, and the communities it serves,” Mollard concluded.

The transaction is expected to complete in late 2026, subject to standard regulatory approvals.

Barrenjoey and Gresham acted as financial advisors to Bain Capital. Allens acted as legal advisors.

ENDS

About Bain Capital

Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms. We create lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live. As a private partnership, we lead with conviction and a collaborative culture that enables us to innovate, unlock opportunity, and deliver strong outcomes. Our global platform invests across Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. Across these focus areas, we bring deep sector expertise and broad capabilities. We have 24 offices on four continents, more than 1,850 employees, and approximately $225 billion in assets under management. To learn more, visit www.baincapital.com. Follow @BainCapital on LinkedIn and X.

 

Media Contacts

Communications Director, Asia

 Australia

 Stuart Carson

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Sociabble joins forces with Poppulo to accelerate the future of employee experience

Ardian

Ardian, a global private investment firm, announces that its portfolio company Sociabble will join Poppulo, a Vista Equity Partners backed global leader in software for employee experience and digital signage, with a presence in Europe and the US. Trusted by large global enterprises, it serves more than 10,000 customers reaching over 50 million employees worldwide, supported by communications and digital signage software that powers more than 600,000 screens, globally.

During its partnership with Ardian, Sociabble has confirmed itself as a leading employee communication and engagement SaaS platform, recognized for its strong product innovation and customer proximity. Its solution combines intranet, mobile-first frontline communication, knowledge management, employee engagement, advocacy, and advanced AI-powered capabilities, enabling organizations to better connect and engage their workforce.

The combination with Poppulo creates significant opportunities for Sociabble to accelerate its growth. Together, Sociabble and Poppulo will help organizations reach, inform, engage, and activate more than 50 million employees worldwide through a broader, AI-powered Employee Experience platform. This operation will also give Sociabble more visibility and more resources to continue investing in the areas that have always been central to its DNA: innovation, AI, customer success, enterprise-grade security, and measurable business value.

“This new chapter for Sociabble is a strong recognition of the excellence of our team and the quality of our platform. I would like to sincerely thank Ardian for their unwavering support and for consistently demonstrating a true entrepreneurial mindset alongside us throughout our growth journey. Their partnership has fully met our expectations, and their guidance and commitment have been instrumental in making this transaction a success.” Jean-Louis Benard, CEO, Sociabble

“I would like to thank Jean-Louis for the trust he has placed in Ardian, and to congratulate him and his team on this exceptional journey. It has been a true pleasure working alongside such an ambitious and talented team. Our collaboration is a strong illustration of Ardian’s commitment to supporting management teams in their development projects, helping transform European category champions into global leaders. I wish Sociabble and Poppulo continued success in this exciting new chapter. ” Geoffroy de la Grandière, Managing Director, Ardian

List of participants

  • Ardian

    • Growth investment team: Geoffroy de la Grandière, Léa Wolff, Michelle Stitz

  • Poppulo

    • Management: Ruth Fornell, Alejandro Wyszkowski, Caroline Daly, Nick Reising
    • Corporate lawyers: Vinson & Elkins (Tim Johnston, Hannah Thai, Milam Newby, Katie Holmes)
    • M&A advisor: District Capital Partners (Caitlin Currier, Steven Grillo, Tom Manning, Andy Wang)
    • French legal counsel: Archers (Moïra Boublil, Emily Pabot du Chatelard, Louise Martin, Aurélien Franco)

  • Sociabble

    • Management: Jean-Louis Benard, Laurent Gauthier, Christophe Berly
    • Corporate lawyers: Bird & Bird (Flavie Malval Le Roux, David Malcoiffe, Alban Pontari)
    • M&A advisor: AGC Partners (Sean Tucker, Fred Joseph, Duncan MacGillivray, Killian Campion)

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 $200bn for more than 1,920 clients worldwide across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit.
Ardian. Mastering change for lasting value.

ardian.com

About Poppulo

Poppulo is a global leader in AI-powered employee experience and enterprise digital signage, helping organizations connect with their workforce and customers through intelligent, real-time messaging across every channel. The first company in its category to deploy agentic AI—and the first to achieve ISO/IEC 42001 certification, the world’s benchmark for secure, trustworthy AI—Poppulo has defined what it means to bring enterprise-grade artificial intelligence to communications.
Trusted by over 10,000 organizations—including more than 40 of the Fortune 100—Poppulo’s solutions reach more than 50 million employees worldwide. Its digital signage network spans over 600,000 screens globally. By combining certified agentic AI with scalable communications technology, Poppulo helps enterprises boost employee engagement, enhance customer experience, and improve operational efficiency.

poppulo.com

About Sociabble

Founded in 2014, Sociabble is a French SaaS company specialized in Employee Experience. Its unified platform helps organizations inform, engage, and mobilize their employees through a digital experience combining internal communication, modern intranet, knowledge management, employee engagement, and employee advocacy, with AI at the heart of its use cases. With an international presence and teams in Paris, Lyon, Boston, and Mumbai, Sociabble supports major organizations such as AXA, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, and Primark.

sociabble.com

Press contacts

Ardian

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com 

POPPULO

tvaughan@poppulo.com 

SOCIABBLE

Barbara Marzari Wibaux

barbara.marzani@sociabble.com 

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KKR Sells CIRCOR Aerospace to Parker Hannifin for $2.55 Billion

KKR

NEW YORK & BURLINGTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– KKR and CIRCOR International (“CIRCOR” or the “Company”), a global manufacturer of flow control products for industrial, naval, and aerospace markets, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to sell CIRCOR Aerospace, the Company’s aerospace division, to Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH), the global leader in motion and control technologies, for $2.55 billion. Funds managed by KKR first acquired CIRCOR for $1.8 billion in 2023 and will maintain ownership of CIRCOR’s Naval and Industrial businesses.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260520542910/en/

With more than 75 years of heritage in fluid control, pneumatic, electromechanical, and actuation components and subsystems, CIRCOR Aerospace has established a leading position across commercial aerospace and defense end markets through its highly engineered, mission-critical products, long-standing customer relationships, and continued investment in innovation and manufacturing capabilities. This combination of Parker Hannifin and CIRCOR Aerospace brings together complementary capabilities, product portfolios, and platform exposures to create a stronger, more diversified aerospace and defense supplier with enhanced scale.

KKR acquired CIRCOR through its North America Fund XIII. The transaction reflects KKR’s long-standing conviction in themes that are increasingly important in today’s geopolitical environment, including defense modernization and supply chain resilience. CIRCOR’s Naval business, amongst other KKR private equity investments, will continue to provide KKR with exposure to these strategically important end markets.

“Today’s announcement marks an exciting chapter for CIRCOR and reflects the tremendous work and dedication of the entire CIRCOR Aerospace team,” said Saif Siddiqui, Chief Executive Officer of CIRCOR. “With KKR’s support, the business strengthened its culture of ownership and execution, accelerating performance, and further establishing CIRCOR Aerospace as a world-class solution provider for our customers. We are pleased with the strong foundation the team has established and look forward to watching the business continue to grow as part of Parker Hannifin. In our next phase, we at CIRCOR remain dedicated to strengthening the Company’s Industrial and Naval businesses through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.”

“CIRCOR Aerospace has created a highly differentiated business with proprietary solutions and deep customer relationships across critical aerospace and defense programs, and we are grateful for everything they have achieved under our ownership,” said Josh Weisenbeck, Partner at KKR that leads KKR’s Industrials industry team within KKR’s North American Private Equity platform. “This latest transaction underscores continued momentum across our industrials portfolio, marking our fourth realization in the sector this year.”

In early 2024, CIRCOR launched its broad-based employee ownership program, making all CIRCOR employees owners of the Company. At transaction close, all CIRCOR employees will receive a dividend distribution funded by a portion of the sale proceeds and in recognition of the continued strong performance of CIRCOR’s Industrial and Naval businesses. KKR sees meaningful opportunity to further scale both businesses going forward.

KKR and CIRCOR were advised by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Evercore as financial advisors, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal advisor on the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

About CIRCOR International, Inc.

Founded in 1999, CIRCOR International, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets differentiated flow control products and sub-systems for Aerospace & Defense and Industrial customers. The Company has a diversified product portfolio of recognized, market-leading brands (Allweiler®, Houttuin™, Imo®, Hale Hamilton, Aerodyne Controls, Circle Seal Controls, CIRCOR Aerospace, RTK®, CIRCOR Industria, CIRCOR Bodet, Schroedahl®, Tushaco®, Warren® and Zenith®) that fulfill its customers’ mission critical needs.

CIRCOR markets its solutions directly and through various sales partners to more than 14,000 customers in approximately 100 countries. The Company has a global presence with approximately 3,500 employees and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts. For more information, visit the Company’s website at http://circor.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 www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

Media
KKR
Sarah Moon
media@kkr.com

CIRCOR
Jennifer Edwards
Jennifer.edwards@circor.com

Source: KKR

 

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KKR Invests in Fresha, the Leading AI-Powered Platform for Beauty and Wellness, at $1bn Valuation

KKR

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Fresha, the leading AI-powered marketplace and business management platform for the beauty and wellness industry, today announced an $80 million primary growth investment from funds managed by KKR, a leading global investment firm. The transaction values Fresha at over $1 billion, marking a defining milestone in its mission to transform how self-care businesses operate globally.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260521291161/en/

From left to right: Marcin Dąbrowski (Deputy Chief Product Officer); Nick Miller (Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer); William Zeqiri (Founder and CEO); and Paweł Iwanów, (Chief Payments Officer).From left to right: Marcin Dąbrowski (Deputy Chief Product Officer); Nick Miller (Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer); William Zeqiri (Founder and CEO); and Paweł Iwanów, (Chief Payments Officer).

The investment brings Fresha’s total capital raised to date to $285 million. Already profitable, Fresha will deploy the new funding to accelerate global expansion and fuel next-generation product and AI innovation.

Headquartered in London and founded in 2015 by William Zeqiri and Nicholas Miller, Fresha is one of the fastest-growing beauty and wellness platforms in the world, with leading market positions in the United Kingdom, Australasia, and the GCC, and a rapidly growing presence across North America, Continental Europe, and South East Asia.

Fresha is used by over 130,000 beauty and wellness businesses globally across key verticals including hair, beauty, barbering, nails, aesthetics, wellness, fitness, and spa. The platform facilitates more than 35 million appointments per month and over $15 billion in annual GMV, positioning Fresha as one of the largest and most scalable platforms in the global beauty and wellness economy.

Patrick Devine, Partner and member of KKR’s Tech Growth team, said: “Fresha has built a differentiated platform, combining software, financial services, and marketplace capabilities with embedded AI, in a way that is deeply integrated into daily operations of beauty and wellness businesses. We believe the company is well positioned to continue scaling globally as demand grows for modern, vertical-specific technology solutions.”

Marta Szczerba, Director in KKR’s Tech Growth team, added: “We have followed William and the broader management team over the years, and have been highly impressed with the consistent performance they have been driving at Fresha. The team have been on the front-foot in implementing AI in a way that drives meaningful business outcomes, and we are thrilled to be embarking with them on the next chapter of Fresha’s journey.”

William Zeqiri, Founder and CEO of Fresha, said: “Reaching unicorn status is a proud milestone, but more importantly, this investment is a strong testament to the trust our partners place in Fresha every day. KKR brings deep experience scaling category-defining technology companies, and their conviction in our vision gives us tremendous confidence as we enter this next chapter. With KKR’s support, we will be able to further accelerate our global expansion and invest heavily in AI to transform how beauty and wellness businesses operate worldwide.“

Nicholas Miller, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Fresha, said: “From day one, our obsession has been building software that beauty and wellness professionals genuinely love using. Every feature we ship is shaped by the people running these businesses — the salon owners, the stylists, the spa operators. This round reinforces what our customers have been telling us for years: Fresha delivers one of the most complete, intuitive, and valuable platforms in the industry. KKR’s investment gives us the resources to push that even further, particularly in AI, where we see enormous potential to remove operational friction and unlock new revenue for our partners.“

KKR is making the investment in Fresha through its Next Generation Technology Growth strategy, building on the firm’s established track record in technology investing, including recently announced investments Reserv, Coder and Premialab.

About KKR

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

About Fresha

Fresha is the world’s leading and top-rated AI-powered booking platform for the beauty, wellness, and self-care industry, trusted by millions of consumers and businesses worldwide. For consumers, Fresha offers a seamless way to discover, book, and pay for beauty and wellness services with top local professionals. For businesses, Fresha provides an all-in-one platform that streamlines operations, from appointment management to client engagement, helping businesses grow effortlessly with powerful software, integrated payments, financial services and advanced technology solutions. For more information, please visit Fresha’s website at www.fresha.com

Media contacts
KKR
Julia Leeger / Eleanor Coppock
Media@kkr.com

Fresha
James Hayward-Browne
james.haywardbrowne@fresha.com

Source: KKR

 

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The AI-Native Enterprise Services Firm Backed by Anthropic, Blackstone, and Hellman & Friedman Announces Acquisition of Fractional AI

Blackstone

San Francisco, CA – May 21, 2026 – The recently announced AI-native enterprise services firm led by Anthropic, Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, and others to help mid-size companies bring Claude into their core operations, today announced the acquisition of Fractional AI, a leading applied AI services company based in San Francisco. Fractional AI’s team and delivery capabilities will serve as the founding operational centerpiece of the new company.

Fractional AI was founded in 2024 by Chris Taylor, Eddie Siegel, and Travis May, and has quickly become a top destination for the industry’s best applied AI engineers. Built by a team with deep entrepreneurial and technical experience, Fractional AI has evolved into one of the go-to end-to-end AI implementation partners for enterprises. The team is world class at helping businesses across industries understand where AI fits, and how to choose and implement the right technologies for specific teams and functions. Fractional AI’s engineering team will work with Anthropic’s Applied AI organization from day one, enabling collaboration and close technical alignment to guide clients’ AI transformation.

The new AI-native enterprise services company is backed by a consortium of leading alternative asset managers including Goldman Sachs, General Atlantic, Leonard Green & Partners, Apollo Global Management, GIC, and Sequoia Capital.

“Bringing frontier AI into a business takes more than a great model,” said Garvan Doyle, a leader in Anthropic’s Applied AI organization. “It takes the engineering judgment to rebuild real systems around what’s now possible, and Fractional has assembled a team with exactly that capability. We’re excited to be working alongside this team as they help enterprises put Claude to work.”

Chris Taylor, CEO, and Eddie Siegel, CTO, at Fractional AI, said: “Rewiring the economy for AI is going to be one of the biggest value creators of the coming decades, but most businesses need help realizing this opportunity. Our team of AI engineers and former founders thrives on building transformative end-to-end solutions. We’re excited to team up with Anthropic, Blackstone, and Hellman & Friedman to close the multi-trillion-dollar gap we see between where businesses operate today and where they can be.”

Rodney Zemmel, Global Head of the Operating Team at Blackstone, said: “We have built a strong relationship with Fractional AI through their work across the Blackstone portfolio, and it’s clear they are a magnet for elite, applied AI engineers. Blackstone has spent years studying where AI creates durable value, and we believe the answer hinges on execution capability – the caliber of the team, the depth of their technical judgment, and their ability to change how a business operates. The opportunity ahead is one of the largest we have seen – and we believe there is no better team to serve as our nucleus for growth than Fractional.”

Tarim Wasim, Partner at Hellman & Friedman, said: “Anthropic’s frontier models are genuinely unmatched in the enterprise. Unlocking their full potential takes expertise and judgment to redesign systems around what’s newly possible. H&F has scaled some of the world’s leading services businesses, and it was clear from Fractional AI’s success in our portfolio that they are the right foundation for building a category-defining AI services firm.”

Terms of the Fractional AI acquisition were not disclosed.

About Anthropic
Anthropic is a frontier AI company whose mission is to steer the trajectory of AI to advance human progress. We are best known for building Claude, the intelligence platform trusted by millions of people and businesses worldwide. Anthropic is a public benefit corporation—a for-profit committed to operating in service of social and public good—and controlled by a Long-Term Benefit Trust, a group of independent experts in AI safety, national security, public policy, and social enterprise.

About Blackstone
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests. Blackstone’s over $1.3 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

About Hellman & Friedman
Hellman & Friedman is a preeminent global private equity firm with a distinctive investment approach focused on a limited number of large-scale equity investments in high-quality growth businesses. H&F seeks to partner with world-class management teams where its deep sector expertise, long-term orientation, and collaborative partnership approach enable companies to flourish. H&F targets outstanding businesses in select sectors, including technology, financial services, healthcare, consumer services & retail, and information, content & business services. H&F was founded in 1984 and has over $115 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025. Learn more about H&F’s defining investment philosophy and approach to sustainable outcomes at www.hf.com.

Contacts
Anthropic
press@anthropic.com

Blackstone
Matt Anderson
Matthew.Anderson@Blackstone.com

Hallie Dewey
Hallie.Dewey@Blackstone.com

Hellman & Friedman
FGS Global
H&F-US@fgsglobal.com

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Ardian and Lamar Development acquire 10,000 sqm building on Calle Alcalá 38-40, Madrid

Ardian

Ardian, a global private investment firm, and Lamar Development, a real estate developer with presence in the Gulf and Europe, announced today the joint acquisition of a prominent office building located on Calle Alcalá 38-40, in the heart of Madrid’s city centre.

The asset dates back to 1880 and features a total area of ca. 10,000 sqm distributed across seven floors with a private courtyard garden on the ground floor and a rooftop terrace. The property occupies a prime location on Calle Alcalá 38-40, located at the intersection with Gran Vía, directly opposite the iconic Metropolis Building and within walking distance of the Four Seasons Hotel and Galería Canalejas, Plaza de Cibeles and the Banco de España.

The partnership intends to undertake a comprehensive redevelopment of the property, transforming it into a high-end residential complex. The renovation will be carried out to the highest standards, with the project aiming for a high-level environmental certification. Lamar Development will manage the project, drawing on their experience in high-end residential projects and collaborations with internationally recognised architects and designers including David Chipperfield, Studio MK27, Jacobsen Arquitetura, Sordo Madaleno and Patricia Urquiola.

The vision for the project is aligned with Ardian’s real estate strategy, which focuses on high-quality assets in strategic locations and based on value creation through active asset management, with the aim of improving facilities, asset performance and, ultimately, realizing their full potential.

“We are very excited about this latest acquisition in Spain. This project reflects our trust in the local real estate market and our dedication to developing best-in-class real estate in major European cities. We are firm believers in Madrid’s potential as a dynamic and growing city and look forward to contributing to the development of the city with innovative and sustainable projects.” Edmund Eggins, Head of Real Estate Spain & Managing Director, Ardian

“This acquisition marks our second investment in the immediate area and reflects our conviction in both Madrid and the continued evolution of this area as one of Europe’s most compelling luxury residential destinations. With Casa Lamar in Cedaceros 9 (www.casalamar.com), we began building our vision for this part of the city, and Alcalá 38-40 represents a natural continuation of that commitment.” Henri Hottinger, European Partner, Lamar Development

List of participants

  • Ardian

    • Uría Menéndez
    • Ashurst

  • Lamar Development

    • Cuatrecasas
    • Linklaters
    • Knight frank

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 $200bn for more than 1,920 clients worldwide across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit.
Ardian. Mastering change for lasting value.

ardian.com

ABOUT LAMAR DEVELOPMENT

Lamar Development is a real estate developer focused on ultra luxury residential, hospitality and mixed use projects across the Gulf and Europe. The group combines international development experience with a design led approach, working with globally recognised architects and designers to create projects defined by quality, craftsmanship and long term value.
With €450 million in GDV to date in Spain and US$5 billion in GDV in Dubai, Lamar Development is expanding its European presence through prime opportunities in high barrier to entry markets, including Madrid, Athens and Lisbon.

lamareurope.com

Media Contacts

Ardian

LLYC

ardian@llyc.global 

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Ennov Announces Strategic Growth Investment from Bregal Sagemount and Ardian

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Ardian

Ennov (the “Company”), a global provider of end-to-end regulatory, quality, and clinical software solutions for life sciences and healthcare companies, today announced a strategic growth investment led by Bregal Sagemount (“Sagemount”), a leading growth-focused private equity firm, with participation from Ardian, a global private investment firm. The investment will support the Company’s continued expansion, with a focus on AI innovation, global go-to-market acceleration, and scaling its product offering.

Founded and headquartered in Paris, Ennov provides a unified compliance platform that serves as a centralized system of record for global life sciences organizations. The platform supports the management of content and data across key domains, including Regulatory, Quality, Commercial, Clinical, and Pharmacovigilance. Its integrated architecture and unified data model enable faster deployment, improved user adoption, consistent compliance, and AI-driven efficiency across global operations.

Developed over more than 25 years, Ennov’s software replaces fragmented point solutions and legacy infrastructure, enabling customers to manage complex regulatory requirements across global authorities such as the FDA and EMA within a single system. Today, the Company serves approximately 650 customers and over 500,000 users across 30 countries.

“We were looking for partners who understand the complexity of our customers’ environments and the opportunity ahead for integrated and AI-enabled software in life sciences. Sagemount and Ardian bring that perspective, and we look forward to continuing to build innovative solutions that support our customers’ most critical processes.” Olivier Pâris, Founder and CEO of Ennov

“Regulatory and quality workflows in life sciences are becoming increasingly complex, while the cost of managing them across disconnected systems continues to rise. Olivier and his team have spent more than two decades building a mission-critical solution that enables customers to not only manage but optimize their processes to achieve better business outcomes. We believe this opportunity is only accelerating with Ennov’s new AI products and we’re excited to support the Company in its next phase of growth.” Gene Yoon, Managing Partners at Sagemount

“Ennov represents exactly the kind of technology company we seek to support at Ardian Growth. We are excited to join forces with Bregal Sagemount, bringing together two leading US and European investment firms behind an exceptional management team. With its strong international footprint and rapidly expanding AI capabilities, Ennov is uniquely positioned to shape the future of regulatory, quality, and clinical software in life sciences worldwide.” Alexis Saada, Head of Growth at Ardian

With this growth investment, Gene Yoon, Curt Witte, and Harrison Brunelli from Sagemount and Alexis Saada from Ardian will be joining Ennov’s board of directors.

Ennov was advised by Veil Jourde. Sagemount was advised by Goodwin Procter LLP. Ardian was advised by Proskauer Rose LLP.

The transaction is expected to close in late Q2 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Ardian investment team: Alexis Saada, Olivier Roy, Alexandra Da Silva, Michelle Stitz

 

ABOUT ENNOV

Ennov provides a comprehensive software platform to manage the most demanding processes of life sciences organizations in a compliant and efficient way. With over 25 years of experience, Ennov’s cloud-based solutions cover Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, Quality, Clinical, and Commercial. Dedicated to innovation and excellence, Ennov’s solutions are used by more than 650 companies and 500,000 users worldwide, helping them to bring their products to market faster while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. For more information, visit en.ennov.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

ennov.com

ABOUT BREGAL SAGEMOUNT

Bregal Sagemount is a leading growth-focused private capital firm with $11 billion of cumulative capital raised. The firm provides flexible capital and strategic assistance to market-leading companies in high-growth sectors across a wide variety of transaction situations. Bregal Sagemount has invested in over 90 companies in a variety of sectors, including software, data & information services, financial technology & services, digital infrastructure, healthcare IT, and business & consumer services. The firm has offices in New York and Palo Alto. For more information, visit www.sagemount.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

sagemount.com

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 $200bn for more than 1,920 clients worldwide across Private Equity, Real Assets, and Credit.
Ardian. Mastering change for lasting value.

ardian.com

Media contacts

Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Ennov

Laure Bros

lbros@ennov.com 

Marketing & Communications Manager at Bregal Sagemount

Siqi Wu

siqi.wu@bregal.com 

ARDIAN

HEADLAND

ardian@headlandconsultancy.com 

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TINC – Trading update over the 1Q 2026

GIMV

In addition to the reporting over the half-year and annual results, TINC will also provide a summary update on the (non-audited) figures and developments for the intervening quarters. This trading update relates to the first quarter of the financial year 2026 (non-audited figures as at 31 March 2026).

Download as pdf

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