Category Archives: News

Nektar Announces Definitive Agreement with Ampersand Capital Partners to Sell Its Commercial PEGylation Reagent Manufacturing Business in Alabama

Ampersand

Huntsville-based facility to be spun out as standalone Ampersand portfolio company. Nektar to receive $90 million in total consideration for the business, comprised of $70 million in cash and $20 million equity ownership in new portfolio company. Strategic divestiture allows Nektar to streamline its operations and continue its strategic focus on the development of core R&D programs in immunology.

San Francisco, CA, November 4th, 2024 – Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR), a global biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies to treat autoimmune disorders, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Huntsville, Alabama manufacturing facility and reagent supply business to Ampersand Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm with a decades-long track record of investing in life sciences and healthcare companies, including contract manufacturing and pharma services businesses.

Ampersand has agreed to acquire Nektar’s commercial-scale manufacturing facility and PEGylation reagent supply business for a total consideration of $90 million, comprised of $70 million in cash proceeds and $20 million in a retained equity position for Nektar in a newly-created Ampersand portfolio company. Ampersand has also committed to invest additional growth equity capital into the new portfolio company. Following the closing of the transaction, Nektar will be entitled to appoint a representative to the board of the new Ampersand portfolio company.

The Huntsville site is a 124,000 square foot, commercial-scale specialized manufacturing facility with a strong history of supporting commercial supply chains for PEGylated therapeutics across global markets. The facility has several commercial-scale supply chain contracts with leading pharmaceutical companies. All of Nektar’s employees at the Huntsville facility will be offered employment at the new portfolio company, ensuring continuity in the high-quality manufacturing and PEGylation expertise that longstanding customers trust and rely on.

“This sale streamlines Nektar’s operations as we continue to focus on the future success and clinical advancement of rezpegaldesleukin and our other antibody-based immunology pipeline assets, including our TNFR2 antibody and bispecific programs,” said Howard W. Robin, President and CEO of Nektar Therapeutics. “We believe Ampersand is an optimal partner to lead the manufacturing activities at the Huntsville facility. Importantly, Ampersand’s commitment to investing in the plant’s business will help ensure that Nektar’s existing commercial customers of PEGylation reagents will continue to be well served and will also provide uninterrupted access to a reliable supply of PEGylation reagents for Nektar’s needs. The sale also further extends Nektar’s cash runway into the fourth quarter of 2026.”

Nektar and the new Ampersand portfolio company will be entering into manufacturing supply agreements to meet Nektar’s PEG reagent needs for rezpegaldesleukin and certain pipeline programs.

“We were immediately impressed with the world-class PEGylation reagent manufacturing capabilities at this facility,” said David Anderson, General Partner, Ampersand Capital Partners. “The Huntsville site and its employees have played an important role in the development of significant FDA-approved PEGylated therapeutic medicines. We look forward to investing in and growing the site as a stand-alone manufacturing business dedicated to serving existing and new customers.”

The sale is not subject to financing contingencies. The transaction will be subject to customary closing conditions and costs and is expected to close by December 2, 2024. Following the closing, Nektar will retain all rights to current and future royalty streams and milestones related to existing PEGylated product license agreements.

UBS Investment Bank acted as exclusive financial advisor and Sidley Austin LLP served as legal advisor to Nektar Therapeutics. Goodwin Procter LLP acted as legal advisor to Ampersand Capital Partners.

About Nektar Therapeutics

Nektar Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments that address the underlying immunological dysfunction in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Nektar’s lead product candidate, rezpegaldesleukin (REZPEG, or NKTR-358), is a novel, first-in-class regulatory T cell stimulator being evaluated in two Phase 2b clinical trials, one in atopic dermatitis and one in alopecia areata. Our pipeline also includes a preclinical candidate NKTR-0165, which is a bivalent tumor necrosis factor receptor type II agonist antibody. Nektar, together with various partners, is also evaluating NKTR-255, an investigational IL-15 receptor agonist designed to boost the immune system’s natural ability to fight cancer, in several ongoing clinical trials. Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For further information, visit Nektar.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Ampersand Capital Partners

Ampersand Capital Partners, founded in 1988, is a middle-market private equity firm with $3 billion of assets under management, dedicated to growth-oriented investments in the healthcare sector. With offices in Boston, MA, and Amsterdam, Netherlands, Ampersand leverages a unique blend of private equity and operating experience to build value and drive long-term performance alongside its portfolio company management teams. Ampersand has helped build numerous market-leading companies across each of the firm’s core healthcare sectors. For additional information, visit AmpersandCapital.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

This press release contains forward-looking statements which can be identified by words such as: “will,” “expect,” “develop,” “extend,” “advance,” “anticipate,” “can,” and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the therapeutic potential of, and future development plans for rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-1065, and our other drug candidates. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: (i) our statements regarding the therapeutic potential of rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-1065, and our other drug candidates are based on preclinical and clinical findings and observations and are subject to change as research and development continue; (ii) rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-1065, and our other drug candidates are investigational agents and continued research and development for these drug candidates is subject to substantial risks, including negative safety and efficacy findings in future clinical studies (notwithstanding positive findings in earlier preclinical and clinical studies); (iii) rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-1065, and our other drug candidates are in preclinical and clinical development, and the risk of failure is high and can unexpectedly occur at any stage prior to regulatory approval; (iv) the timing of the commencement or end of clinical trials and the availability of clinical data may be delayed or unsuccessful due to regulatory delays, slower than anticipated patient enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, evolving regulatory requirements, clinical trial design, clinical outcomes, competitive factors, or delay or failure in ultimately obtaining regulatory approval in one or more important markets; (v) patents may not issue from our patent applications for our drug candidates, patents that have issued may not be enforceable, or additional intellectual property licenses from third parties may be required; and (vi) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

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Teamfront Expands its Portfolio of Field Services Software Companies with the Acquisition of Floorzap

Mainsail partners

This acquisition bolsters Teamfront’s mission to empower field service businesses with innovative technology

Austin, TX – November 4, 2024 – Teamfront, a strategic partner for founder-owned field services software companies, today announced the acquisition of Floorzap, a leading provider of business management software for the flooring and remodeling industries. This strategic move strengthens Teamfront’s commitment to providing innovative software solutions to the field services industry and underscores its dedication to empowering founder-owned software companies with the tools and best practices they need to succeed in their unique domains.

Developed by flooring industry experts with more than 20 years of experience, Floorzap offers a comprehensive suite of features that streamline the entire flooring business management process. From lead management to job costing, and billing and payment processing to installation, Floorzap provides a seamless and efficient solution that helps flooring businesses increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer service, whether in the store or in the field.

“We’re excited to welcome Floorzap to the Teamfront family, ” said Cameron Darby, CEO of Teamfront. “Their extensive knowledge of the flooring and remodeling industries and their commitment to operational efficiency make them a perfect fit for our portfolio. Together, we’ll offer flooring companies a comprehensive suite of solutions to streamline their operations and help drive growth.”

Mike Saleh, founder of Floorzap, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Teamfront, saying “This acquisition will provide Floorzap with the resources and strategic support needed to continue our mission of helping flooring and remodeling businesses work smarter and grow faster and more profitably.”

The acquisition of Floorzap marks a significant milestone for Teamfront as it continues to expand its portfolio of vertical software companies. Teamfront’s comprehensive solutions automate fundamental back-office tasks, streamline and optimize payments, drive growth through powerful marketing websites and services, and boost loyalty through effective customer communications. Teamfront has become a trusted partner for bootstrapped, founder-owned companies seeking support for operational efficiency and growth.

About Teamfront
Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Austin, TX, Teamfront is a strategic partner to founder-owned software companies that are market leaders in the field services industry. Our team, comprised of seasoned executives in vertical SaaS, provides holistic operational support, playbooks, and best practices that enable our Team Cos to achieve their visions. Our commitment is to empower software companies to thrive and succeed in their unique domains. Together, we aim to thrive on this journey of growth. Learn more at www.teamfront.com.

About Floorzap
Floorzap is a leading provider of flooring business management software designed to streamline operations and drive growth for flooring companies. With a comprehensive suite of features, Floorzap helps businesses manage inventory, track sales, manage projects, and improve customer relationships, ultimately increasing efficiency and profitability. Learn more at www.floorzap.com.

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Equistone portfolio company BUKO Traffic & Safety expands into the German market with acquisition of BVT Bremer Verkehrstechnik

Equistone

BUKO Traffic & Safety (“BUKO”), a leading provider of outsourced traffic and safety management solutions in the Netherlands and the UK, has acquired BVT Bremer Verkehrstechnik GmbH (“BVT”). The acquisition marks BUKO’s expansion into Germany, a key strategic growth market, and follows the company’s expansion into the UK market earlier this year through the acquisition of Road Traffic Solutions Ltd. (RTS). The parties have agreed not to disclose details of the transaction.

Headquartered in Barendrecht, the Netherlands, BUKO Traffic & Safety employs over 450 people and successfully oversees thousands of projects annually. A leading provider of outsourced traffic and safety management solutions in its home market of the Netherlands, the company consists of the two business units BUKO Infrasupport and BUKO Waakt. Founded in 1991, BUKO Infrasupport specialises in temporary traffic management solutions. With its comprehensive portfolio of services – from design, planning, approval, deployment and collection, as well as onsite management of road signage, safety equipment required for roadworks and also an innovative range of digital traffic management solutions – BUKO Infrasupport primarily serves contractors and public authorities, active in utility-related and urban/rural roadworks. BUKO Waakt provides temporary remote security solutions with a focus on camera surveillance, intrusion detection systems and access control systems, which are used principally on construction sites.

Since funds advised by Equistone acquired a majority stake in BUKO in February 2023, the company has pursued a growth strategy focused on building its presence in its home market and targeted expansion into neighbouring countries supported by strong market dynamics. In March 2024, BUKO established a foothold in the attractive UK market with the acquisition of RTS, a temporary traffic and event management solutions specialist, operating from seven locations and employing 175 people.

By establishing a presence in Germany, the acquisition of BVT represents the next milestone in BUKO’s growth strategy. Headquartered in Stuhr (near Bremen), BVT provides high-quality temporary traffic management services to a diverse customer base of contractors, local authorities and event organisers. In recent years, BVT has grown into a go-to partner for customers in the region by combining a focus on low-speed traffic situations with a strong service proposition. BVT currently operates from three locations and has 75 employees.

“We are excited to partner with BVT for our entry into the German market. There is a strong fit between BVT and BUKO in terms of strategic focus, culture and shared ambitions for the future.”, says Robert Emmerich, CEO at BUKO. “This partnership marks our entry into Germany, and we are determined to significantly expand our presence over the coming years.”

“After successfully entering the UK market earlier this year, BVT represents an ideal partner for BUKO as it now enters the German market. We are excited to help BUKO realise its international growth ambitions via a targeted buy-and-build strategy which will enable the company to replicate its exceptional track record in the Netherlands in new markets,” says Tanja Berg, Director in Equistone’s Munich office.

The Equistone team includes Hubert van Wolfswinkel, Tanja Berg and Josh Aalbers. BUKO was advised on the transaction by PwC (Financial & Tax), De Angelis (Legal), Roland Berger (Commercial) and Rautenberg (M&A).

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CVC DIF acquires strategic interest in Singapore’s leading hazardous waste management company ECO

CVC Capital Partners

CVC DIF has agreed to acquire a 49.9% stake in ECO, a hazardous waste management company in Singapore.

  • ECO operates with 649,000 tonnes per year waste processing capacity for its customers across a range of services.
  • This acquisition marks CVC DIF’s inaugural investment into Asia.
  • Séché Environnement will retain a 50.1% share and bring their extensive waste management and circular economy waste expertise to the partnership.

CVC DIF, the infrastructure arm of global private markets manager CVC, has agreed to acquire a 49.9% stake in ECO, Singapore’s leading hazardous waste management company (by market share, range of service offerings & treatment and incineration capacity), from Séché Environnement (who will retain a 50.1% share). This transaction marks CVC DIF’s inaugural investment in Asia. The investment in ECO will be made through DIF Infrastructure VII.

ECO is a local market leader with a strong focus on innovation and technology regarding the circular economy that serves a diversified customer base of leading industrial companies benefiting from long term relationships offering the broadest array of hazardous waste management services in Singapore. With a waste processing capacity of 649,000 tonnes per year (“ktpa”), ECO operates 12 waste incinerators (439 ktpa) and four specialized treatment facilities (210 ktpa), including a cementation plant for inorganic waste and a wastewater treatment plant for both organic and inorganic liquid waste. The company operates with a team of over 300 employees and a dedicated fleet of waste collection vehicles.

Gijs Voskuyl, Managing Partner at CVC DIF, said: “ECO’s leading market position, their longstanding and diversified client relationships and the high barriers to entry in the sector make this an interesting investment for DIF Infrastructure VII. Moreover, this investment marks the first investment of CVC DIF in Southeast Asia, on the back of CVC DIF’s global sector relationships and CVC’s widespread local office network in the region. We are delighted to partner with Séché Environnement, a market leader in hazardous waste. Together with Séché Environnement and ECO’s Singapore based management team, we are well-positioned to drive ECO’s growth as a leader in sustainable infrastructure in the region.”

Alvin Lim, Senior Managing Director at CVC Asia, commented: “This acquisition is a pivotal entry point for CVC DIF in Asia. With CVC DIF’s infrastructure sector expertise and CVC Asia’s strong local presence, we are excited to support ECO’s management team, in partnership with Séché Environnement, to further drive ECO’s growth initiatives.”

Maxime Séché, CEO of Séché Environnement, added: “We are delighted to have CVC DIF, a key player in infrastructure investment, as a long-term partner in ECO. Together, we share an ambitious vision for ECO’s future, one that aligns with CVC DIF’s ambition to advancing infrastructure across Asia. The combination of our industrial, financial and strategic expertise provides a strong foundation for ECO’s growth in Southeast Asia.”

The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks.

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Audax Private Equity Exits EIS

Audax Group

BOSTON and SAN FRANCISCO — Audax Private Equity (“Audax”), a growth-oriented capital partner to middle market companies, announced today it has sold portfolio company EIS (or “the Company”), a value-added distributor of process materials and production supplies used in electrical and electronic applications. Terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Audax Private Equity acquired EIS in 2019 through a carveout of Genuine Parts Company’s Electrical Specialties division. Audax’ thesis was to separate the acquired division into three distinct operating businesses, one of which was EIS.

“I think EIS represents a tremendous growth story and a testament to our Buy & Build strategy,” noted Audax Partner Don Bramley. “We recruited a talented management team, built the corporate infrastructure to support stand-alone operations and acquisitive growth, and worked closely with Glenn and other EIS executives to refine the company’s go-to-market strategy. Through these enhancements, we helped position EIS as a value-add partner with the technical expertise and product portfolio to serve its customers across the OEM and aftermarket value chain.”

During Audax’ hold, EIS grew earnings and accelerated growth through the execution of the firm’s Buy & Build strategy. During Audax’ hold, EIS completed six add-on acquisitions, which added capabilities and expanded the Company’s presence in the aftermarket segment.

“Audax was a collaborative partner who brought deep resources to help us enhance our value proposition to OEMs and expand through acquisition into key aftermarket segments,” noted Glenn Pennycook, CEO of EIS. “Today, EIS is distinguished by our value-added capabilities, product breadth, and expansive service offerings. We believe the foundation is in place to capitalize on ongoing trends of electrification and energy grid evolution.”

“We want to thank Glenn and his leadership team, whose commitment and partnership were critical to EIS’s growth and transformation over the past five years,” added Audax Managing Director Tim Porter. “From the outset, this opportunity was enabled by the depth of portfolio support we could dedicate to the carveout transaction. But the efforts of EIS leadership to formulate and execute on a compelling strategic vision ultimately delivered what we consider to be a great outcome for the company, Audax, and our investors.”

William Blair and J.P. Morgan acted as advisors to Audax and EIS, while Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Audax.

About

About EIS
Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, EIS provides process materials to MRO and OEM customers across an array of end markets including Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Alternative Energy, E Mobility and Industrial Electronics. With 29 distribution and fabrication locations across North America, EIS services more than 10,000 customers engaged in the manufacture and aftermarket servicing of motors, transformers, utility-scale power generators, wind turbines, and solar panels. For more information, visit www.eis-inc.com or visit the company on LinkedIn.

About Audax Private Equity
Headquartered in Boston, with offices in San Francisco, New York, and London, Audax Private Equity manages three strategies: its Flagship and Origins private equity strategies, seeking control buyouts in the core middle and lower middle markets, respectively, and its Strategic Capital strategy that provides customized equity solutions to PE-backed portfolio companies to help drive continued growth. With approximately $19 billion of assets under management as of June 2024, over 270 employees, and 100-plus investment professionals, Audax has invested in more than 170 platforms and 1,300 add-on acquisitions since its founding in 1999. Through our disciplined Buy & Build approach, across six core industry verticals, Audax seeks to help portfolio companies execute organic and inorganic growth initiatives with the aim of fueling revenue expansion, optimizing operations, and significantly increasing equity value. For more information, visit www.audaxprivateequity.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

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BC Partners Credit Announces Combination with Runway Growth Capital

BC Partners Logo
  • BC Partners’ credit arm to acquire Runway Growth Capital as a long-term, strategic investment, complementing BC’s existing platform across private lending, opportunistic credit and specialty finance
  • Runway Growth Capital will continue to operate independently and serve as the external investment adviser to Runway Growth Finance, a publicly traded business development company, with the current leadership and investment teams remaining in place
  • Transaction will expand origination channels, enhance investment solutions, and accelerate capital formation and fundraising capabilities as Runway Growth Capital seeks to strengthen the venture ecosystem

Runway Growth Capital LLC (“Runway”), a leading provider of growth loans to both venture and non-venture-backed companies seeking an alternative to raising equity, and BC Partners Credit, the $8 billion credit arm of BC Partners, an approximately $40 billion AUM alternative investment firm, today announced a definitive agreement whereby BC Partners Credit will acquire Runway.

Following the closing of the transaction, Runway will remain the investment adviser to investment funds, including Runway Growth Finance Corp. (Nasdaq: RWAY) (“Runway Growth Finance”), a business development company, and other private funds. Runway’s current management team and investment personnel are expected to continue to serve as officers and senior management. Runway Growth Finance will be well positioned to capitalize on a broader range of investment and value creation opportunities with access to BC Partners’ origination capabilities and expansive platform.

Runway Founder and Chief Executive Officer David Spreng commented, “This transaction is expected to deliver increased value for both investors and borrowers in the near- and long-term as we join the BC Partners Credit platform. Our strategic partnership positions Runway to accelerate originations within our ideal investment range of $30-150 million and expand our offerings to both target companies and sponsors. The combination will enhance our capabilities by introducing structured equity preferred investments, asset-based lending, and the ability to operate in new strategies such as equipment leasing, while strengthening our sponsor relationships through fund finance and other fund-level offerings. By combining BC Partners’ resources and scale with our network, expertise and differentiated presence in the market, we believe Runway will deliver more comprehensive financing solutions for a wider range of companies. Moving forward, we expect that our investors will benefit from increased exposure and access to a greater number of investment opportunities, additional diversification and the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns.”

Ted Goldthorpe, Head of BC Partners Credit, said, “David and the team at Runway have built one of the most well-respected platforms across growth and venture lending. Their solutions are sought after by fast growing companies, and we look forward to building on their momentum. As a virtue of being part of the BC Partners Credit platform, we see many compelling opportunities for Runway to generate additional origination activities, optimize its capital structure and create value for investors and borrowers. Likewise, the acquisition is quite strategic for BC Partners Credit, as we expand our offerings through a robust suite of financing solutions to all stakeholders. We will continue to accelerate our growth trajectory, establishing BC Partners Credit as a best-in-class, fully diversified credit manager, serving a multi-trillion-dollar market with strong tailwinds.”

Transaction Timing

The closing of the transaction, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2024, is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of a new investment advisory agreement with Runway, by Runway Growth Finance’s stockholders, the terms of which are expected to remain the same as the existing investment advisory agreement. The Runway Growth Finance Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders approve the new investment advisory agreement, under which Runway will continue in its capacity as the company’s investment adviser. Senior management of Runway Growth Capital LLC has agreed to vote their shares in favor of the transaction.

Advisors

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Runway Growth Capital LLC. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as legal counsel to Runway Growth Capital LLC and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is acting as legal counsel to the independent directors of Runway Growth Finance. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as legal counsel to BC Partners.

About Runway Growth Capital LLC

Runway Growth Capital LLC is the investment adviser to investment funds, including Runway Growth Finance Corp. (Nasdaq: RWAY), a business development company, and other private funds, which are lenders of growth capital to companies seeking an alternative to raising equity. Led by industry veteran David Spreng, these funds provide senior term loans of a target of $30 million to $150 million to fast-growing companies based in the United States and Canada. For more information on Runway Growth Capital LLC and its platform, please visit www.runwaygrowth.com.

About Runway Growth Finance Corp.

Runway Growth Finance is a growing specialty finance company focused on providing flexible capital solutions to late- and growth-stage companies seeking an alternative to raising equity. Runway Growth Finance is a closed-end investment fund that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Runway Growth Finance is externally managed by Runway Growth Capital LLC, an established registered investment adviser that was formed in 2015 and led by industry veteran David Spreng. For more information, please visit www.runwaygrowth.com.

About BC Partners & BC Partners Credit

BC Partners is a leading international investment firm in private equity, private debt, and real estate strategies. BC Partners Credit was launched in February 2017, with a focus on identifying attractive credit opportunities in any market environment, often in complex market segments. The platform leverages the broader firm’s deep industry and operating resources to provide flexible financing solutions to middle-market companies across Business Services, Industrials, Healthcare and other select sectors. For further information, visit www.bcpartners.com/credit-strategy.

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Evite Announces Strategic Growth Investment from Francisco Partners

Franciso Partners

LOS ANGELES & SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Evite, the world’s leading digital platform for bringing people together, today announced a strategic growth investment from Francisco Partners (“FP”), a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology businesses. Evite CEO David Yeom will continue to lead the company and remain a significant equity holder.

“We are excited to partner with David on the next phase of Evite’s growth journey”

Launched in 1998, Evite was first to market in the digital invitation space and has more than 25 years of authority on how America parties. Leading the market in brand awareness and usage, Evite is most well-known for its digital invitations and party-planning resources such as RSVP tracking, event reminders, guest messaging and more.

“We are thrilled to announce this new investment from Francisco Partners, which will allow us to accelerate innovation and increase the breadth of our product offering,” said David Yeom, Evite CEO.

“We are excited to partner with David on the next phase of Evite’s growth journey,” said Alan Ni, Partner at Francisco Partners and Nick LaGrandeur, Vice President at Francisco Partners. “David has done an exceptional job of evolving Evite under his leadership by reinventing the brand and upleveling the product experience by really focusing on the needs of Evite’s users.”

The transaction closed in October 2024. Financial terms are not being disclosed. Rothschild & Co served as financial advisor and Cooley LLP served as legal advisor to Evite. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Francisco Partners.

About Evite

Evite is America’s go-to destination for all things party. Since launching in 1998, Evite has elevated the standard for the event planning industry while evolving from an invitation company to a fully integrated ecosystem of customizable invitation and greeting card designs, RSVP tracking, event reminders, guest messaging and contact management. Evite brings together people to make celebrating face-to-face effortless and more memorable. To date, the company has sent nearly three billion invitations. Visit www.evite.com or download the app to start planning and get inspired.

About Francisco Partners

Francisco Partners is a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. Since its launch 25 years ago, Francisco Partners has invested in over 450 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. With approximately $45 billion in capital raised to date, the firm invests in opportunities where its deep sectoral knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential. For more information on Francisco Partners, please visit www.franciscopartners.com.

Contacts
Media
Francisco Partners
Whit Clay / Jake Cohen
wclay@sloanepr.com / jcohen@sloanepr.com

Evite
Emily Tschirhart
emily@jbc-pr.com

Team

Status

Current

Deal Facts

North America

Private Buy Out

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Pelican Pipeline Reaches Final Investment Decision

Stonepeak

October 31, 2024 — AUSTIN, Texas — WhiteWater has reached a final investment decision to move forward with the construction of the Pelican Pipeline after having secured sufficient firm transportation agreements with shippers.

The Pelican Pipeline has been designed to transport up to 1.75 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas through approximately 170 miles of 36-inch pipeline from Williams, Louisiana, to the Gillis Hub near Ragley, Louisiana. Supply for the Pelican Pipeline will be sourced from multiple upstream connections in the Haynesville Basin, including direct connections to processing facilities.

The Pelican Pipeline is expected to be in service in the first half of 2027, pending the receipt of customary regulatory and other approvals.

WhiteWater, an Austin, Texas based infrastructure company has partnered with FIC, Stonepeak and Trace Capital Management on the Pelican Pipeline. For more information about WhiteWater, visit www.wwdev.com

About FIC

FIC is an investment firm with a focus on critical infrastructure assets across the power and power use value chains. FIC focuses on investment opportunities that generate long-term capital appreciation in the gas transmission, downstream, power and utilities, renewables, and data/telecommunications industries. We partner with management teams and businesses to accelerate the development of strategic assets that serve society’s growing energy needs and the associated decarbonization of industrial infrastructure. For more information about FIC, please visit www.FICfund.com

About Stonepeak

Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $70 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 communications, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics, and real estate. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Houston, London, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Abu Dhabi. For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com

About Trace Capital Management

Trace Capital Management (Trace) is a proven and pragmatic energy investor focused on value and growth investments across the global energy landscape, with a particular focus on energy infrastructure, upstream oil and gas and viable low/no carbon opportunities. Based in Houston, Texas, Trace currently manages funds with invested and committed capital of more than $1.6 billion. Learn more at www.tracecapital.com

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Birch Creek Closes $150m Credit Facility with KKR

KKR

Financing proceeds will be used to support development of over 4GW of solar projects

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Birch Creek Energy, LLC (“Birch Creek”), a utility scale solar and storage developer and independent power producer, and KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced that Birch Creek has closed on a $150 million credit facility within KKR’s High-Grade Asset-Based Finance (ABF) strategy via insurance accounts managed by KKR. The financing extends and upsizes Birch Creek’s previous $100 million facility, and it will be used to finance development expenses and equipment for solar farms in the company’s development portfolio.

Birch Creek was founded in 2019 and has been primarily focused on a distribution-level utility-scale solar and storage strategy in high-value, liquid markets such as PJM, MISO and ERCOT. The company boasts a large pipeline as well as a successful track record of late-stage asset sales and IPP growth. Birch Creek presently owns 160MW of operating projects in its independent power producer, with an additional 187MW under construction that will place in service over the last 2 months of 2024, bringing the total to 347MW.

“We are thrilled to have strengthened our relationship with KKR through the renewal and upsize of our credit facility,” said Dan Siegel, CEO of Birch Creek. “Through this facility, we are able to continue the development of solar projects in certain core markets, while also funding select equipment purchases for projects closer to construction. We are proud to work with KKR and appreciate their confidence in our platform as we continue to grow our unique, speed-to-market strategy.”

“Amid increasing global demand for clean energy and storage solutions, we are pleased to provide this enhanced credit facility to Birch Creek within our High-Grade ABF strategy to further the development of its solar and storage project pipeline,” said Erich Heintzen, Director at KKR.

About Birch Creek Energy
Birch Creek Energy, a utility scale solar development platform, develops, finances and owns utility scale solar and storage projects in the United States. Since 2019, Birch Creek Energy has developed 1.7 gigawatts (GW) of solar projects and has a portfolio of over 14.2 gigawatts (GW) of utility scale solar and storage projects in various stages of development and operation across MISO, PJM, ERCOT and the Southeast. Birch Creek Energy has 56 employees and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.  For more information, visit www.birchcreekenergy.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. 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.

SOURCE Birch Creek Energy

 

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Renta acquires Tunnel Support

IK Partners

Renta Group Oy (“Renta Group” or “Renta”) acquires Tunnel Support AS and Tunnel Support Sverige AB (together “Tunnel Support” or “the Company”), from Andersen Mek Verksted AS. Tunnel Support is a rental company offering specialised machinery for tunnelling infrastructure projects across Norway and Sweden. The Company is headquartered in Bergen, Norway.

With the acquisition, Renta significantly strengthens its offering and market position in the tunnelling infrastructure rental segment. Tunnel Support is a growing company with strong profitability and a modern fleet consisting of machines from high-quality OEMs. Renta’s objective, together with the management of Tunnel Support, is to seek further growth in the rental of specialised tunnelling machines, while also capturing cross-selling synergies between the Company and Renta’s general rental operations.

The acquisition was completed on 31 October 2024.

Leif-Martin Drange, Managing Director at Renta Norway, said: “Tunnel Support provides high-quality specialised equipment and has highly skilled employees. I am looking forward to joining forces and combining Tunnel Support’s expertise with Renta’s broad depot network and offering. With the acquisition, we will strengthen our overall market position and be able to provide an even more comprehensive offering to the customers of both companies.”

Kato Stien, CEO of Tunnel Support AS, said: “We are looking forward to becoming part of Renta’s professional organisation. We can utilize our specialised equipment and technical expertise while benefitting from Renta’s broad presence and digital solutions. Together, we will be able to offer a complete solution that will help our customers operate more efficiently and sustainably.”

Enquiries: ir@renta.com

About Renta Group

Renta Group is a Northern European full-service equipment rental company founded in 2015. The Company has operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland, and the Baltics, with 190 depots and more than 2,300 employees. Renta is a general rental company with a wide range of construction machines and equipment along with related services. In addition to operating a network of rental depots, Renta is a supplier of scaffolding and weather-protection services. For more information, visit www.renta.com

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About Tunnel Support

Tunnel Support is a tunnelling infrastructure rental specialist serving customers across Norway and Sweden. The Company is based in Bergen. For more information, visit www.tunnelsupport.com

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