Partners Group raises over EUR 1 billion for innovative multi-asset credit program;continues to see strong deal flow in the corporate and asset-backed middle market

Partners Group

Baar-Zug, Switzerland,6 June 2017

Partners Group raises over EUR 1 billion for innovative multi-asset credit program;continues to see strong deal flow in the corporate and asset-backed middle market.

Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, has raised over EUR 1 billion for the latest offering in its Multi-Asset Credit (MAC) series of investment programs.

The capital was raised via the firm’s third dedicated comingled MAC program, MAC 2016 (III), as well as a number of separate client mandates. Partners Group’s global MAC investment strategy provides investors with comprehensive exposure to corporate and asset-backed private markets debt.

The strategy focuses on senior secured debt and aims to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns within a relatively short build-up period compared to traditional private market credit offerings.

The MAC strategy was first launched in 2014 as a complement to the firm’s long-running corporate credit-focused Private Markets Credit Strategies series of investment programs.

At the time of its final close, MAC 2016 (III) had already been committed to over 30 credits across a diverse range of sectors and regions.

Corporate investments include Diligent, a US-headquartered global provider of online collaboration tools for company boards and leadership teams ;

Claranet, a leading UK-based managed IT services provider; as well as Loungers, a fast-growing UK-based operator of café-bars in the casual dining sector. Asset-backed investments include the debt financing of a mixed use real estate site in the City of London.

Christopher Bone,Managing Director and Head of Private Debt Europe at Partners Group, comments:

“The MAC series of programs has proven to be an attractive offering for our clients who want broad access to private credit with attractive risk-adjusted returns. We continue to see excellent relative value in the mid-market globally. Our proven arranging capabilities, coupled with global reach, mean that we are able to find and access great assets to invest in on behalf of our clients.”

Scott Essex, Partner and Co-Head of Private Debt at Partners Group, states: “We continue to see strong appetite for our private debt offerings from institutional investors searching for yield at a time when traditional fixed income investments are still offering low to negative yields. Combined, our range of private debt programs and mandates allow clients to access the full spectrum of private market credit opportunities.”

About Partners Group

Partners Group is a global private markets investment management firm with over EUR 54 billion (USD 57 billion) in investment programs under management in private equity, private real estate,

private infrastructure and private debt. The firm manages a broad range of customized portfolios for an international clientele of institutional investors. Partners Group is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland and has offices in San Francisco, Denver, Houston, New York, São Paulo, London, Guernsey, Paris, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Manila, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney.

The firm employs over 900 people and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (symbol: PGHN) with a major ownership by its partners and employees.

 

www.partnersgroup.com

Categories: News

Tags:

Johan Van de Steen joins IK Investment Partners

ik-investment-partners

Johan Van de Steen joins IK Investment Partners

IK Investment Partners (“IK”), a leading Pan-European private equity firm, is pleased to announce that Johan Van de Steen has joined the firm as Operating Partner as of April 2017. Johan will head IK’s Strategy, Operations and Business Control (SOBC) team.

Johan Van de Steen, 51, has substantial hands-on industrial experience, acquired over more than two decades in the corporate, management consulting and private equity environments. He began his career in industry, working for Siemens before joining McKinsey & Company as a strategy consultant.  He then became one of the founding European team members of KKR Capstone. Johan spent 15 years in private equity before joining IK.

In total, Johan brings more than 23 years of operating experience to IK. He will work closely with IK investment professionals and management teams to support IK’s existing portfolio companies to reach their full potential.

Johan holds a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD in France and a Master of Science degree in Electronics Engineering from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium.

“Johan has a unique background with an exceptional toolkit of operational skills, a vast network of industrial contacts and a firm command of several European languages. As such, he is particularly well fitted to contribute to IK’s active ownership model. We are looking forward to taking a further step in sharpening our firm’s operational skill set,” said Christopher Masek, CEO of IK Investment Partners.

“I was very much attracted to IK’s strong operational focus and hands-on approach as they partner with management teams to help businesses grow and expand. I look forward to collaborating closely with the investment teams and the companies across IK’s portfolio,” said Johan Van de Steen, Operating Partner at IK Investment Partners.

For further questions, please contact:

IK Investment Partners
Christopher Masek, CEO
Phone: +44 207 304 4300

Mikaela Hedborg
Director Communications & ESG
Phone: +44 77 87 573 566
mikaela.hedborg@ikinvest.com

About IK Investment Partners
IK Investment Partners (“IK”) is a Pan-European private equity firm focused on investments in the Nordics, DACH region, France, and Benelux. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €9 billion of capital and invested in over 100 European companies. IK funds support companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit www.ikinvest.com

Categories: People

Tags:

IK Investment Partners opens Amsterdam office

ik-investment-partners

IK Investment Partners opens Amsterdam office

IK Investment Partners (“IK”), a leading Pan-European private equity firm, announces today that it has opened an office in Amsterdam at UNStudio, 13th floor, Gustav Mahlerlaan 350, 1082 ME Amsterdam.

The Amsterdam office will be led by Partner and Head of Benelux, Remko Hilhorst who has been with IK since 2001. In addition to the existing mid cap team, consisting of a total of six investment professionals, IK is extending its small cap strategy and establishing a Benelux-dedicated team. Together, the two Amsterdam-based teams will focus on investments with enterprise values of up to €500m, partnering with entrepreneurs who are looking for support to help them achieve the next stage of their company’s growth and development.

IK has been present in the Benelux region since 1995 and has completed thirteen successful investments during this time. IK’s current portfolio includes four companies in the Benelux region including CID LINES, the dedicated supplier of innovative hygiene solutions, Salad Signature, the leading producer of spreadable salads, Ampelmann, the global market leader in offshore access and DGI, a leading supplier of power, motion and control solution for the oil & gas, maritime and high-end machine building industries. Having an office and teams located in the region will allow IK to better help companies to achieve their growth plans.

To date, over €1bn has been invested into the Benelux region through IK’s funds. In recent years, IK has been one of the most active regional players with notable transactions including Vemedia, the market leader of OTC drugs which was sold to Cooper last year, Wehkamp, one of Holland’s leading online retailers, Magotteaux, the leading manufacturer of cast wear parts for cement and mining industries and fund administrator Vistra, amongst many others.

Remko Hilhorst, Partner and Head of Benelux at IK Investment Partners said:
“We are excited to announce the opening of our Amsterdam office. Ever since IK’s inception in 1989, we identified the Benelux as a unique region fertile with investment opportunities thanks to the number of entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses which operate here. We are particularly pleased to have both a mid cap and small cap practice operating on the ground, allowing the firm to capitalise on the synergies which are present in the market and giving the teams a superb investing platform from which to execute transactions.”

Christopher Masek, Partner and CEO at IK Investment Partners said:
“Our strategy remains focused on partnering with ambitious management teams and growth businesses, and helping them realising their full potential. Given the success IK has seen with its investments in the Benelux over the years, we look forward to further building on our track record and supporting the local business community.”

For further questions, please contact:

IK Investment Partners
Remko Hilhorst, Partner
Phone: +44 207 304 4300

Mikaela Hedborg
Director Communications & ESG
Phone: +44 77 87 573 566
mikaela.hedborg@ikinvest.com

About IK Investment Partners
IK Investment Partners (“IK”) is a Pan-European private equity firm focused on investments in the Nordics, DACH region, France, and Benelux. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €9 billion of capital and invested in over 100 European companies. IK funds support companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit http://www.ikinvest.com

Categories: News

Tags:

Eaton Vance completes acquisition of Calvert Investments

Eaton Vance

Following the agreement reached for the purchase of SRI boutique Calvert Investments in October 2016, Eaton Vance has completed the acquisition of all business assets of Calvert Investments and has launched a new subsidiary, Calvert Research and Management.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1976, Calvert Investments had $12.1bn (€11.6bn) of fund and separate account assets under management as of 31 October 2016.

John Streur, president and CEO of Calvert Investments, has joined Calvert Research and Management in the same role. He also retains his role of president of the Calvert Funds.

The Calvert Funds are diversified and responsibly invested mutual funds, encompassing actively and passively managed equity, fixed income and asset allocation strategies managed in accordance with the Calvert Principles for Responsible Investment.

“The new Calvert Research and Management is dedicated to building on the Calvert brand and legacy to achieve global leadership in responsible investment management,” said Thomas Faust, chairman and CEO of Eaton Vance.

Eaton Vance and its affiliates managed $336.4bn (€322.5bn) in assets as of 31 October 2016.

Categories: News

Tags:

Investment in Fronteer Solutions

Investinor

Investinor invests MNOK 3.5 in Oslo based Fronteer Solutions, a fintech startup that offers tech based equity fund management.

Fronteer Solutions recently launched its first equity fund where security selection and risk management is entrusted to a powerful machine. With the help of computing power and advanced mathematics, Fronteer provides smart portfolio solutions based on predetermined investment criteria.

The solution is described as «thousand analysts in a box», but without human psychology coming into play.

​«Our vision is to make smart savings- and investment solutions available to all in a simple and safe way, and at a reasonable price. Fronteer shall be at the forefront of developments in science-based asset management and offer best-of-breed products. With the launch of our first fund, we have taken an important step towards providing our solutions to the retail market», says CEO Atle Christiansen.

Smart and long-term
«Fronteer’s approach is rooted in decades of financial research and contributions from several Nobel Prize-winning economists. Our solution is not, however, to automate short-term trading strategies or to be faster than everyone else. Put simply, we have built a powerful technology to make long-term investments smarter and at a lower risk. You may call it thousand analysts in a box», says Christiansen.

Fronteer’s computing machine has analyzed more than 7,000 stocks across 46 developed and emerging markets. Based on well-known investment criteria, the machine selects the best stocks and combines these in a portfolio. The machine continuously analyzes vast amounts of data to monitor market opportunities and risks.

Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global, the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fond, applies many of the same principles in its asset management.

Experienced team
Fronteer comprises a multi-disciplinary team with background from the start-up success Point Carbon, the Norwegian Government’s Soverign Wealth Fund and academics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

From it’s base at StartupLab in Oslo, the company has caught the attention of reputable and experienced investors. ​Among its owners are Investinor, Founders Fund, Martin Skancke and Åge Korsvold.

Skancke was formerly Director General at the Norwegian Ministry of Finance with responsibility for the development of the Norwegian Petroleum Fund’s strategy. Korsvold, previously CEO of Storebrand, Orkla and Kistefos, is the company’s Chairman.

«The finance industry is in an unprecedented era of digital innovation and disruption. Financial technology is internationally one the hottest growth areas. We believe the market is ripe for the solutions offered by Fronteer. The way that large parts of the asset management industry thinks and acts has not changed much during the last 50 years. We believe in the vision, the technology and the people behind Fronteer. It is exciting that a Norwegian player leads the way and acts as a challenger in this market», says Investment Director Jon Øyvind Eriksen at Investinor.

Fronteer’s first product is a global equity fund aimed at professional investors.

Categories: News

Tags:

New venture capital fund SHIFT Invest launched

Shift Invest

First fund to invest in food & health and clean bio-based technologies. Menzis, Rabobank, Wageningen UR, TU Delft and the World Wildlife Fund have set up a new investment fund: SHIFT Invest. The fund invests in ambitious Dutch companies with innovative technologies or solutions within the themes: agro, food & health, clean and bio-based technologies. SHIFT Invest’s objective is to create an impact on sustainability and health, in addition to a financial return.

SHIFT stands for “Sustainability and Health Impact through Food & agri Transitions”. SHIFT Invest is the follow-up fund of the Dutch Greentech Fund. With the entry of new investor Menzis, the investment domain is broadened to food and health.

SHIFT Invest responds to the increasing attention for new food concepts as a result of increasing under- and overnutrition in developed economies. In addition, the fund focuses on the necessary, sustainable innovations in the traditional agro-food chain and in chemistry through (partial) transition to bio-based raw materials.

Innovation, cooperation and crossovers between sectors form the basis of new sustainable chains and the strengthening of the population’s living capacity. With its strong knowledge base and leading agro, food and chemical industry, the Netherlands has the potential to produce leading innovations.

SHIFT Invest’s investment team and its shareholders actively work with ambitious entrepreneurs on innovations and breakthrough technologies. The fund offers a combination of venture capital, relevant networks and knowledge to accelerate their proven innovation to the market.

SHIFT Invest participates up to several million euros in exchange for a minority interest. In the first few years, convertible loans of up to € 250,000 are also granted to promising early stage companies. In addition to the usual investment criteria, such as the quality of the management and a sound business plan, the fund has impact objectives in the areas of sustainability and health.

“Investing in companies that offer innovative technologies that contribute to people’s health dovetails perfectly with Menzis’ higher goal, which is to provide high-quality care together in order to strengthen the quality of life of every human being,” said Roger van Boxtel, CEO of Menzis.

Bas Rüter, Director of Sustainability at Rabobank: “A reliable, healthy and sustainable food supply is crucial for everyone. Sustainable innovative entrepreneurship is vitally important for this. Rabobank is committed to this together with its customers through contributing knowledge, network and financial solutions”.

“This fund helps start-ups bring innovative, ‘green’ solutions to the market that stimulate healthy food and a sustainable living environment,” says Ruud van den Bulk, head of business development at Wageningen UR.

Paul Althuis, Director Valorisation Center at TU Delft: “Availability of capital and access to the partners’ network for promising early-stage companies with pioneering sustainable technologies contribute to TU Delft’s valorisation objective.

Dylan de Gruijl, WNF press officer: “Conservation of nature is expressly linked to our consumption. Preserving biodiversity depends on our choices and ingenuity to use the earth’s natural resources sparingly. Sustainable innovation by progressive entrepreneurs is indispensable in this respect. SHIFT Invest is an important flywheel for bringing promising ideas and technologies to maturity”.

Categories: News

Tags: