Tag Archives: Services

NanoImaging Services Receives Growth Equity Investment from Ampersand Capital Partners

Ampersand

San Diego, California – June 12, 2023: NanoImaging Services (“NIS”), the leading provider of cryo-electron microscopy (“cryo-EM”) services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology communities, announced today that it has received a growth equity investment from Ampersand Capital Partners.  Members of the NIS management team joined Ampersand in the financing.  The company will use this investment to support its worldwide growth initiatives, including expanding microscope capacity and adding complementary services to further serve the needs of existing and future customers.

NIS was founded in 2007 with the vision to make cryo-EM workflows accessible to all.  Subsequent advances in cryo-EM technology have enabled the technique to become an essential tool used in structure-based drug discovery as well as in later stage drug development applications, including antibody development, virus and vaccine studies, characterization of drug delivery vehicles, and biomanufacturing QA/QC.  NIS and its founders, Clint Potter and Bridget Carragher, have played pivotal roles in developing these applications for industry.  As the largest commercial provider of cryo-EM services today, NIS remains at the forefront of innovation and new application development for this powerful technique.

Peter Glick, Chairman of NIS, commented, “We are thrilled to have Ampersand joining NanoImaging Services as an investor and on the Board.  We have built the leading pharma services company for cryo-electron microscopy, and Ampersand’s support will fuel our continued growth in both structural biology for drug discovery and nanoparticle characterization to support drug product manufacturing.”

David Parker, General Partner at Ampersand Capital Partners who has joined NIS’s Board, added, “NanoImaging Services is an excellent fit with Ampersand’s strategy of partnering with specialized pharmaceutical services providers that have established leadership positions in attractive market segments based on differentiated science, strong technical expertise, and high service quality.  We look forward to supporting the NIS team to accelerate the company’s next phase of growth and further expansion of the cryo-EM market.”

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

About NanoImaging Services, Inc.

NanoImaging Services, Inc. was launched in 2007 to provide imaging services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and nanotechnology communities.  We have since built a client-focused organization with a reputation for expertise, reliability, and collaboration. NIS is committed to expanding our service capacity through microscope acquisition, workflow automation, recruitment and training of top talent, and development of new service offerings. Our state-of-the-art facilities include a range of electron microscopes, sample preparation equipment, and computational infrastructure to support structural biology and nanoparticle characterization workflows. NIS is the largest and most comprehensive provider of TEM and cryo-EM services to the industrial life science market. For more information, visit: www.nanoimagingservices.com.

About Ampersand Capital Partners

Founded in 1988, Ampersand 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.

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Mercer Advisors Announces Expansion of Strategic Investor Group With Equity Investment From Altas Partners

Altas Partners

DENVER, June 6, 2023 – Mercer Advisors, a national Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) with Assets Under Management (AUM) of approximately $48 billion as of April 30th, 2023, announced today that it is expanding its set of strategic investors, by adding a new investor, Altas Partners (“Altas”). Altas joins Mercer Advisors’ current strategic investors, Genstar Capital and Oak Hill Capital, and over 300 Mercer Advisors employees who own equity in the company. The transaction is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2023.

 

Mercer Advisors is a leading national fiduciary wealth-management firm that provides a family office for families ranging from mass affluent to ultra-high-net-worth, and serves a spectrum of institutional clients, including companies, endowments, and foundations. Based in Denver, Mercer Advisors has a U.S. footprint of over 80 locations and almost 900 employees. Founded in 1985, Mercer Advisors differentiates itself as a unified and integrated wealth manager serving investors as a fiduciary and providing a broad range of in-house services. These services are tailored to individual clients through a “One Team” approach, including financial planning, investment management, estate planning, tax strategy and preparation, insurance solutions, and trustee services.

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“We are excited to welcome Altas Partners as a strategic investor,” said Dave Welling, Chief Executive Officer of Mercer Advisors. “We have had an outstanding partnership with Genstar and Oak Hill for many years and chose Altas as our newest strategic investor because they believe in our mission, purpose, and strategy and are committed to support continued investment in capabilities that will allow us to enhance the way we serve our clients.”

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Welling added, “We are unabashedly client-focused first, second, and always. Each year we continue to make significant investments in our people, new services, new technology, and new offerings, all geared to serve clients better and drive our future growth. With over 300 employee-owners representing over one-third of our employees, we are proud to have the broadest number and percentage of employee ownership in the firm’s history, which is noteworthy in the independent RIA industry. Our strategic investors have supported our vision to expand ownership opportunities to all full-time employees and beyond the common elite and exclusive “partners only” model that is still prevalent in the RIA industry.”

 

“Mercer Advisors is an exceptional company serving a large and loyal clientele,” said Paul Emery, Partner at Altas. “Through its leadership, operational excellence and strategic acquisitions, Mercer Advisors has rapidly scaled and established a leading position in a fragmented industry, all while staying true to its client-centric culture. This investment aligns extremely well with our distinctive strategy of identifying one or two high quality businesses each year that we believe are positioned to grow meaningfully and deliver lasting value to our partners. We are thrilled to help fuel Mercer Advisors’ continued growth alongside the Company’s existing strategic investors, Genstar and Oak Hill, and in close partnership with Dave Welling and team.”

 

Mercer Advisors’ AUM has grown dramatically, from less than $5.7 billion in 2015, to $16.5 billion at the time of Mercer Advisor’ last recapitalization in the fourth quarter of 2019 to $48 billion today. The firm has invested heavily in enhancing services for its clients, including expanding its investment offerings and platform, expanding its wealth management professionals in 80+locations, adding new talent and expertise to its estate and tax planning teams, and investing considerably in its technology platform. Mercer Advisors also added SRI and ESG capabilities to investment offerings and is one of the first independent RIAs to be a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing. Mercer Advisors is widely recognized as one of the leading wealth management firms in the United States, including being named a 2022 Top 100 RIA by Barron’s, a 2022 50 Fastest Growing RIAs by Financial Advisor, and Wealth Management Industry Awards, i.e., “The Wealthies,” won by Dave Welling as CEO of the Year and Kara Duckworth as a Rising Star. Mercer Advisors has also won Wealthies in the Thought Leadership category for Mercer 2030, a company-wide program created to fulfill the mission of becoming a sustainable organization while contributing positively to the communities it serves. Since2016, Mercer Advisors has completed 75 acquisitions that expanded its footprint, talent, and expertise.

 

Tony Salewski, Managing Partner of Genstar, said, “We are grateful for the partnership with Mercer Advisors, and the entire management team, as they have built a leading wealth management platform, growing their assets from approximately $5.7 billion to $48 billion, since our original investment in 2015. Importantly, as Mercer Advisors has grown, it has never sacrificed its commitment to serving its clients and helping them achieve their financial goals. We are excited to continue as investors with Oak Hill and Altas as Mercer Advisors embarks on yet another phase of robust growth.”

 

Steve Puccinelli, Managing Partner of Oak Hill, said, “Mercer Advisors has demonstrated consistent performance and continues to have an extensive runway for sustainable, accelerated growth. We are thrilled to continue this journey with Dave and the management team, Altas, and Genstar. We look forward to being part of their growth as the firm further identifies avenues to enhance its comprehensive wealth management services and rapidly attracts new clients.”

 

Raymond James served as a lead financial advisor, and Paul, Weiss served as legal counsel to Mercer Advisors on the transaction. Mercer Advisors management and employees were also supported by Katzke & Morgenbesser LLP as legal counsel and Jamieson Corporate Finance US LLC as an advisor. Goldman Sachs served as a financial advisor, and Kirkland & Ellis served as legal counsel to Altas Partners on the transaction.

 

About Mercer Advisors

Established in 1985, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. (“Mercer Advisors”) is a total wealth management and financial planning firm that provides comprehensive, fee-based investment management, financial planning, family office services, retirement benefits and distribution planning, estate and tax planning, insurance solutions, and corporate trustee and trust administration services. Mercer Advisors Inc. is a parent company of Mercer Global Advisors Inc. (RIA), and Regis Acquisitions, Inc. (RIA). Both are majority owned by Oak Hill Capital and Genstar Capital. Mercer Global Advisors, Inc. is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, is privately held, has almost 900 employees, and operates nationally through over 80 locations across the country. Mercer Advisors manages $48 billion in client assets. For more information, visit www.merceradvisors.com.

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AUM data refers to client assets under management (AUM) and client assets under advisement (AUA) by both Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and Regis Management Company. Regis Management Company is a tradename used by Regis Acquisition, Inc. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and Regis Acquisition, Inc. are affiliated SEC registered investment advisers and deliver investment advisory and family office related services. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and Regis Acquisition, Inc., are subsidiaries of Mercer Advisors Inc., a parent company not involved with investment services.

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Mercer Advisors is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice to clients. All estate planning documentation preparation and other legal advice is provided through its Advanced Services Law Group, Inc. Tax preparation and tax filing are a separate fee from Mercer Advisors’ investment management and planning services. Trustee services are offered through select third parties with which a client would engage directly. Mercer Global Advisors has a related insurance agency. Mercer Advisors Insurance Services, LLC (MAIS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercer Advisors Inc. Employees of Mercer Global Advisors serve as officers of MAIS. MAIS provides individual life, disability, long term care coverage, and property and casualty coverage through various insurance companies.

 

About Oak Hill Capital Partners

Oak Hill is a longstanding private equity firm focused on the North America middle-market. Oak Hill applies a specialized, theme-based approach to investing in the following dedicated industry sectors: Media &Communications, Industrials, Services, and Consumer. The Firm implements a highly systematic approach to theme development, proactive origination, and value creation in partnership with management to build franchises of lasting value. Since 1986, Oak Hill and its predecessors have raised approximately $20billion of initial capital commitments and co-investments, invested in approximately 100 companies, and completed more than 300 add-on acquisitions representing an aggregate enterprise value at acquisition of over $60 billion. For more information, please visit www.oakhill.com.

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About Genstar

Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com)is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high-quality companies for over 30 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Together with Genstar XI and all active funds, Genstar currently has approximately $49 billion of assets under management and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, healthcare, industrials, and software industries.

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About Altas

Altas Partners is a North American private equity firm focused on selectively acquiring significant interests in high-quality and market-leading businesses with meaningful growth potential. Altas concentrates on specific sectors where it has deep expertise, seeking one or two compelling investment opportunities each year. The Firm’s patient investment philosophy, engaged approach to ownership, and flexible time horizon distinguish Altas as a buyer of choice for many management teams and founders. The Firm was founded in 2012 and operates from offices in Toronto and New York. Altas manages approximately $10 billion on behalf of leading institutional and family office investors from around the world. For more information, please visit www.altas.com.

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Awards Disclosures

2022 Barron’s Top 100 RIAs: Advisors who wish to be ranked fill out a 102-question survey about their practice. Barron’s verifies that data with the advisors’ firms and with regulatory databases and then Barron’s applies their rankings formula to the data to generate a ranking. The formula features three major categories of calculations: (1) Assets (2) Revenue (3) Quality of practice. In each of those categories Barron’s does multiple sub calculations. Barron’s measures the growth of advisors’ practices and their client retention. Barron’s also consider a wide range of qualitative factors, including the advisors’ experience, their advanced degrees and industry designations, the size, shape, and diversity of their teams, their charitable and philanthropic work and, of course, their compliance records.

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FA Fastest Growing RIAs 2022: Financial Advisor Magazine examined RIA growth by comparing firms’ year-end AUM to the previous year-end numbers reported to Financial Advisor Magazine on its survey responses. This list only includes firms with $500mm and more in AUM.

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Wealth Management Industry Awards 2022 “The Wealthies”: A panel of independent judges made up of top names in the industry and led byWealthManagement.com Editor-in-Chief David Armstrong determined the 2022 Wealthmanagement.com Industry Award winners. The best in each category were selected based on quantitative measures of their initiatives—such as scope, scale, adoption, and feature set—along with qualitative measures, such as innovation, creativity and new methods of delivery.

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Please Note: Limitations. Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Mercer Advisors is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Rankings published by magazines, and others, generally base their selections exclusively on information prepared and/or submitted by the recognized adviser. Rankings are generally limited to participating advisers (see participation criteria/methodology). Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, Mercer Advisors did not pay a fee to be included on any such ranking. No ranking or recognition should be construed as a current or past endorsement of Mercer Advisors by any of its clients.

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Eurazeo supports acquisition of Exa Group by Montefiore Investment

Eurazeo

Eurazeo is supporting the acquisition of Italian project management business EXA Group, which is being bought by leading mid-market investment firm Montefiore Investments (“Montefiore”) from Alcedo Sgr. Eurazeo is providing a unitranche financing solution to underwrite all the debt for the transaction, which marks Montefiore’s debut in Italy.

Montefiore Investment has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in the Italian group EXA, a leader in project management in the luxury retail and hotel sectors. Alongside the founding managers, Montefiore is taking over from the Alcedo Sgr fund, which has been supporting the Group since 2016. This is Montefiore’s first transaction in Italy since the opening of its Milan office in September 2022 and the creation of a team of seven experts 100% dedicated to the local market.

Founded in 2005, EXA has progressively established itself in Italy and internationally as the leader in project management for luxury brands for all their real estate projects: flagship stores, hotels, offices and showrooms. With nearly 250 employees, the Group supports more than a hundred clients worldwide, particularly in Italy, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, and has offices on three continents.

Henri Topiol, Partner at Montefiore and Co-Head Italy, commented:

“We are grateful to Eurazeo for both their flexibility and speed of execution in providing the financing for this acquisition. We are very excited to enter the Italian market and partner with a private debt fund that has the experience and expertise in this region. EXA Group is run by talented and committed entrepreneurs with a strong winning spirit and this transaction is fully in line with Montefiore’s DNA. We look forward to being part of the next stage of development for EXA as it continues on its impressive growth trajectory.”

Francois Lacoste, Managing Partner and Emmanuelle Tanguy Investment Director at Eurazeo, said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Montefiore and to help their recently established Italian team close their first investment in the country. Montefiore has a proven track record investing in SMEs across Europe and as such are the perfect partner for Eurazeo’s Private Debt funds. We are confident that with the support of Montefiore and Eurazeo, EXA Group will be able to consolidate its position as a market leader, leaning on the financial firepower and expertise of the new investor base.”

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Renta acquires Del-Pin

IK Partners

Renta Group Oy (“Renta Group” or “Renta”) has reached an agreement to acquire A.L. DEL-PIN A/S (“Del-Pin” or “the Company”). Del-Pin is a Danish general rental company with nine depots located in the western parts of Denmark. The Company has more than 60 employees and annual revenues of almost DKK 100 million.

The acquisition marks a significant step forward on Renta’s journey to build a modern nationwide rental network in Denmark. With the acquisition Renta grows its network from 6 to 15 depots, significantly strengthening Renta’s presence in the western parts of Denmark.

We are very proud that we now can welcome one of Denmark’s oldest rental companies to the Renta family. Del-Pin is an excellent addition to Renta’s Danish operations with its local presence, highly skilled staff, and strong profitability. Del-Pin compliments our geographic presence perfectly and we will strive to continue to serve its customers with the same first-class service approach as before, while further benefitting from Renta’s broad product offering and digital solutions. The strong regional market position and experienced management team of Del-Pin create a solid foundation for serving more customers in the western parts of Denmark.

The acquisition is expected to be completed in May.

Kari Aulasmaa, CEO of Renta Group, said: 

“We are excited to welcome the Del-Pin team into the Group. Allan Del Pin, one of the pioneers in the Danish rental industry, has built a great company with a long history of excellent customer service and profitable growth. The acquisition complements our geographic coverage perfectly and is a significant step for us in building a nationwide network in Denmark. We look forward to working with the professionals of Del-Pin.”

Allan Del Pin, founder and owner of Del-Pin, said: 

“Our ambition has been to serve our customers to the full extent without compromise. We have been looking for a partner that is able to further develop Del-Pin in terms of ESG and digitalisation and in Renta we have found the perfect match. Combining our forces, we can serve more customers with a simple but hard to copy “good old service” in mind and this will ensure that our targets will be met, which are providing a nationwide coverage for rental services and retaining our commitment to exceptional service. Del-Pin’s and Renta’s values are aligned, and I see a bright future ahead for us working together.”

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 Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland, and the Baltics, with 136 depots and approximately 1,500 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 significant supplier of scaffolding and weather-protection services. For more information, visit www.renta.com

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About Del-Pin

The Company was founded in 1984 and is one of the oldest rental companies in Denmark. Del-Pin is a general rental company serving construction, industry and DIY sectors in the southern parts of Jutland and on Fyn. Del-Pin has nine depots, more than 60 employees and annual revenues of almost DKK 100 million. For more information, visit www.delpin.dk

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Renta acquires Pohjanväre

Renta Group Oy (“Renta Group” or “Renta”) is strengthening its position in Finland through the acquisition of Espoon Nosturikeskus Oy Pohjanväre and Espoon Rakennuskonevuokraamo Oy as well as the operative assets of Lohjan Nosturipalvelu Oy (together “Pohjanväre” or “the Company”). Pohjanväre is a Finnish rental company focusing on lifts and material handling equipment. Through Espoon Rakennuskonevuokraamo the Company is also engaged in general rental operations. The Company, operating in the capital region and in southern Finland, has 3 depots, more than 10 employees and annual revenues of approximately EUR 5 million.

The transaction further strengthens Renta’s position in the capital region and extends Renta’s presence in southern Finland.

The Company has a well-known brand and a reputation of providing high-quality services. Operationally the Company is a great match to Renta thanks to its local and customer centric business model and complimentary geographic presence. Pohjanväre will continue to serve its customers with the same local approach and high-quality services as before, while further benefitting from implementing Renta’s cutting edge digital solutions.

Kari Aulasmaa, CEO of Renta Group, said: 

“Pohjanväre has a long history in the industry and is well-known for its high-quality services. We are very pleased to join forces with a profitable company that shares our aspiration to provide excellent customer service locally. The acquisition further strengthens our position in the capital region and provides us with a good foundation for continued growth in southern Finland.”

Jari and Antti Pohjanväre, Owners of Pohjanväre, said: 

“We are happy to partner with Renta, a company that has a genuine interest in the continued development and growth of our business. By joining forces with Renta we will get access to greater resources, a broader product offering and Renta’s digital solutions. We are convinced that Renta will provide a good home for our employees and that we will be able to further develop our services towards our customers as part of Renta.”

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 136 depots and approximately 1,500 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 significant supplier of scaffolding and weather-protection services. For more information, visit www.renta.com

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About Pohjanväre

Pohjanväre, founded in 1964, is a Finnish rental company focusing on lifts and material handling equipment. Through Espoon Rakennuskonevuokraamo the Company is also engaged in general rental operations. Pohjanväre operates in southern Finland, has 3 depots, more than 10 employees and annual revenues of approximately EUR 5 million. For more information, visit www.pohjanvare.fi

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Renta acquires Hyrpoolen

IK Partners

Renta Group Oy (“Renta Group” or “Renta”) is strengthening its position in Sweden through the acquisition of Hederén Maskinuthyrning AB (“Hyrpoolen” or “the Company”). Hyrpoolen is a Swedish general rental company with two depots located in the Stockholm area. The Company has more than 30 employees and annual revenues of approximately SEK 70 million.

The acquisition expands Renta’s presence in the southern and eastern parts of Stockholm and is perfectly aligned with Renta’s strategy to strengthen its position in the capital region. The transaction marks another strategic step in building a nationwide network and following the transaction Renta will have 54 depots across Sweden.

Hyrpoolen’s profitable operations and local business model makes it an excellent fit for Renta. Hyrpoolen will continue to serve its customers with the same local approach and high-quality services as before and further benefit from implementing Renta’s cutting edge digital solutions to complement their services. The experienced management team and strong local market standing will provide a good foundation for continued growth in the region.

The acquisition was signed and completed on the 5th of April.

Kari Aulasmaa, CEO of Renta Group, said: 

“Hyrpoolen fits our strategic agenda very well given the profitable operations and local business model. The Company has a strong presence in attractive parts of Stockholm and has a reputation of providing high-quality services appreciated by its customers. We are very pleased to join forces with Hyrpoolen and look forward to the journey ahead.”

Per Gustavsson, CEO of Hyrpoolen, said: 

“We have been looking for a partner for some time to support us in further developing our operations and we are happy to say that Renta is an excellent match for us. Renta shares our values and partnering with them will provide us access to a broader range of equipment and to Renta’s top-notch digital solutions. Hyrpoolen has a solid customer base, a strong reputation and a deep knowledge of the local market in southern Stockholm. I am convinced that together with Renta we will become even stronger and the preferred partner for customers in our region.”

Enquiries: ir@renta.com

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KKR Invests in Leading Strategic Advisory and Communications Firm, FGS Global

KKR

NEW YORK & LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– KKR today announced an agreement to make a growth investment in leading strategic advisory and communications firm, FGS Global (the “Company”). Under the terms of the agreement, WPP plc (“WPP”) will remain the Company’s majority owner and FGS employees will remain substantial shareholders. FGS also plans to expand its employee ownership to include nearly half of its staff worldwide. Golden Gate Capital, an FGS shareholder since 2016, will exit its investment through the sale of its interest to KKR.

FGS is a leader in all aspects of strategic advisory and communications, including corporate reputation, crisis management, government affairs and is a leading advisor on business-critical financial communications worldwide. FGS’s always-on global platform delivers trusted advice, data-driven insights and hands-on execution for clients navigating their defining moments. The Company’s 1,300 experts across 27 global offices oversee an integrated suite of reputation-shaping capabilities, with deep local relationships and extensive knowledge across industries and geographies. FGS empowers its over 1,600 clients to effectively engage with their key stakeholders and supports them in navigating important issues ranging from sustainability to litigation, regulatory developments and cybersecurity.

Philipp Freise, Partner and Co-Head of European Private Equity at KKR, stated: “Our investment in FGS is the latest example of our focus on proprietary, strategic partnership investments where we are providing long-term capital and a global network of resources to an entrepreneurial management team and alongside a world-class business. We firmly believe that Alex Geiser, Carter Eskew, Roland Rudd, George Sard and their talented global team are pioneering the next generation of value-add strategic communications services. Stakeholder engagement is a boardroom issue and we are confident that FGS, with whom we have enjoyed a long-term relationship, is well positioned to capitalize on significant growth opportunities ahead as a global category leader in the growing management consulting service industry.”

Alexander Geiser, Global CEO of FGS, added, “We are thrilled to have found a partner in KKR, who shares our vision of creating a global integrated communications consultancy and will help us to accelerate the evolution of our industry. Companies are operating in increasingly complex stakeholder ecosystems and FGS was created to build a new kind of consultancy to help leaders face this challenge. KKR’s exceptional investment track record, extensive experience and global resources will be invaluable as we seek to grow our integrated solutions globally. We are committed to creating value for all of our shareholders. This includes many of our colleagues who will be able to participate in our long-term success through a new expanded ownership program that we will create, which we believe is without precedent in our industry.”

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: “FGS has established itself as a global leader in strategic advisory and communications, providing board-level counsel to the world’s leading companies and organizations. We are delighted to welcome KKR as a new strategic partner in FGS, in a transaction that recognizes the tremendous value of the business and its potential for continued strong growth.”

FGS was recently ranked the #1 Global PR firm for Deal Count and Value in 2022 by Mergermarket. It is also consistently ranked a Band 1 PR firm for Crisis & Risk Management and for Litigation Support by Chambers and Partners. FGS was created through a combination of leading strategic communications and public affairs firms: Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, Hering Schuppener, and Sard Verbinnen & Co.

KKR is making the investment in FGS primarily through its European Fund VI, an $8 billion fund that invests in the growth of leading businesses by providing access to KKR’s extensive network and business building resources. One of the core strategies of KKR’s European Private Equity team is investing alongside founders, entrepreneurs and corporates to provide flexible capital for strategic partnership transactions. The FGS investment follows a similar thematic pursued when KKR invested in ERM, the world’s largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, in 2021.

The transaction is expected to close before the end of the third quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

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 and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

About FGS
FGS is a leading global strategic communications consultancy, with 1,300 experts around the world, advising clients in navigating complex situations and reputational challenges. FGS Global was formed from the combination of Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, Hering Schuppener and Sard Verbinnen & Co to offer board-level and c-suite counsel in all aspects of strategic communications — including corporate reputation, crisis management, government affairs and is also the leading force in financial communications worldwide.

FGS offers seamless and integrated support with offices in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Kingston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Washington, D.C., West Palm Beach, and Zurich. The headquarters is based in New York.

About WPP
WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.

KKR
Julia Leeger/ Miles Radcliffe-Trenner
media@kkr.com

FGS Global
Dorothy Burwell / Brooke Gordon / Jennifer Loven / Dirk von Manikowsky
mediaglobal@fgsglobal.com

WPP
Chris Wade / Niken Wresniwiro / Richard Oldworth
Chris.wade@wpp.com / Niken.Wresniwiro@wpp.com / richard.oldworth@buchanancomms.co.uk

Source: KKR

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PNO Group and Bencis Capital Partners join hands to speed up international growth strategy

Bencis

Grants consultancy PNO Group and Bencis Capital Partners join hands to further develop PNO Group’s international growth path together. Both through acquisitions and organically, PNO has set a healthy growth curve over the years, which has resulted in a solid European foundation for further development. Understanding the specialist industry in which PNO operates makes Bencis the ideal strategic partner to help grow PNO Group into a leading European grants and innovation consultancy in the coming years.

 

Synergistic growth remains imperative

 

With roots dating back to 1985, PNO is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the most solid grants and innovation consultancies in Europe. As market leader and with success rates in European grants well above average for years in a row, PNO managed to develop a unique client portfolio. PNO Group CEO Peter Zwart: “We have worked hard in recent years to further strengthen our business. In doing so, we gratefully drew on the vast expertise and enthusiasm of the people who make PNO what it is today: a dynamic club of committed professionals who wish only the best for their clients and through them for our society. Over the years, we have become increasingly involved in innovation projects, both on a national and European scale, addressing key issues in areas such as climate, health and safety. The fact that we are so successful in this, apart from our passionate people, is due to our scale: like no other, we are able to bring parties together across borders and achieve great results together. Looking at growing international demand, the scaling-up of European projects and the legitimate demands for excellence in our profession, synergistic growth remains imperative to meet this increasing need for quality. PNO has everything in place to provide this quality, and with Bencis’ help we can continue to do so as we grow”.

 

Great faith in PNO’s future

 

Jacob Versteeg of Bencis: “Extraordinary things are happening in the market in which PNO Group operates. Whether their clients work on a regional, national or European scale, they always contribute in one way or another to the larger goals of our time. Think energy transition and climate, care and health, innovation, economic development. For this reason alone, as well as the enormous professionalism PNO takes on new challenges, we have great faith in PNO’s future, and are delighted to help them achieve their ambitions.”

 

About PNO Group

 

PNO Group is a grants and innovation consultancy with a strong foothold in Europe’s most innovative economies. With over 400 highly skilled staff, the group contributes to the missions formulated by national governments as well as the EU by supporting SMEs, large industries, academic organisations and research institutions in their innovation projects. PNO offers a wide spectrum of services in the field of grants, strategic innovation advisory, compliance, IT-tooling, legal and communication.

 

About Bencis Capital Partners

Bencis is an independent investment company that supports business owners and management teams in achieving their growth ambitions. Working out of offices in Amsterdam and Brussels, and more recently in Düsseldorf, Bencis has been investing in strong and successful businesses in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany since 1999.

 

 

For questions please refer to Bernard van Leeuwen, press@pnoconsultants.com, +31 (0)6 12 58 19 84

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Renta acquires Høyde-Service

IK Partners

Renta Group Oy (“Renta Group” or “Renta”) has reached an agreement to acquire Høyde-Service Utleie AS (“Høyde-Service” or “the Company”). Høyde-Service is a Norwegian general rental company with four depots located in Oslo, Sandefjord, Porsgrunn and Arendal. The Company has more than 20 employees and annual revenues of approximately NOK 90 million.

The acquisition is another strategic step towards building a nationwide rental network, growing Renta’s presence in the south-east region of Norway, and further strengthening Renta’s market position in the Norwegian market.

Høyde-Service’s customer-centric business model, strong track of profitable growth and complimentary geographic presence makes it an excellent fit for Renta. Høyde-Service will continue to serve its customers with the same local approach and high-quality services as before and further benefit from implementing Renta’s cutting edge digital solutions to enhance their services.

The acquisition is expected to be completed during April.

Kari Aulasmaa, CEO of Renta Group, said: 

“We are delighted to welcome the Høyde-Service team into the Group and look forward to working with them. Høyde-Service is an excellent strategic and cultural fit for us, with a complimentary geographic presence and a local focus to the business. The acquisition is a natural step forward to becoming a fully nationwide player in Norway and is a good platform for further development and growth in the south of Norway.”

Steinar Kaalstad, CEO of Høyde-Service Utleie AS, said: 

“We are very pleased that Høyde-Service joins forces with Renta, a company that shares our values and has ambitious future plans. Being part of Renta will ensure continued high-quality services for our customers and provide a good home for our employees. I am convinced that together with Renta, Høyde-Service will become even stronger in our region.”

 

Enquiries: ir@renta.com

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Sun Capital Partners Affiliate Completes Investment in Anderson Business Advisors

Sun Capital
  • Addition further expands Sun Capital business services portfolio
  • Company to benefit from Sun Capital’s buy-and-build expertise and operational toolkit for accelerating growth

BOCA RATON, FL – March 14, 2023 – Sun Capital Partners, Inc. (“Sun Capital”), a leading private investment firm focused on defensible businesses in growing markets with tangible performance improvement opportunities, today announced its affiliate has completed a majority investment in Anderson Business Advisors (“Anderson” or the “Company”), adding to Sun Capital’s growing business services portfolio. Management and employees of the company reinvested proceeds from the sale to retain a significant minority stake in the Company.

Founded in 1999, Anderson is a Las Vegas, Nevada-based provider of corporate services, including entity formation and incorporation, registered agent, and tax and bookkeeping services, primarily serving real estate investors.

“The corporate services sector is highly fragmented, creating strong potential for Anderson to grow through strategic acquisitions that will increase market share and diversify its customers,” said Alexander Wyndham, Principal at Sun European Partners. “We are excited about the opportunity to work closely with the team at Anderson to build on its competitive advantages, which include a broad base of ~17,000 customers and a proven ability to navigate through challenging economic conditions.”

Demand for corporate services to real estate investors is expected to grow well above 6% annually, driven by several key tailwinds, including macroeconomic conditions, increase in outsourcing, tighter regulatory environment and strong pricing power.

“We are very pleased to welcome Sun Capital as our new partner and we look forward to working with them hand in hand to scale the business and capitalize on new opportunities, “said David Gass, CEO of Anderson Business Services. “Sun Capital’s success in the corporate services sector, coupled with their track record of executing buy-and-build strategies globally made them the ideal investor as we continue to grow.”

The acquisition underscores Sun Capital’s focus on continuing to invest in the corporate services space, and follows the recent acquisitions of Fletchers Solicitors in 2021 and K3 Capital Group in February 2023. Fletchers has seen strong growth under Sun’s ownership, both through strategic add-ons and organic growth initiatives.

 

About Sun Capital Partners, Inc.
Sun Capital Partners, Inc. is a global private equity firm focused on partnering with outstanding management teams to accelerate value creation. Since 1995, Sun Capital has invested in approximately 500 companies worldwide with revenues in excess of $50 billion across a broad range of industries and transaction structures. The firm has built a reputation as a trusted partner, recognized for its operational experience. Sun Capital focuses on defensible businesses in growing markets with tangible performance improvement opportunities in the Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrial, and Technology sectors. The firm has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles and New York, and an affiliate with offices in London.

For more information, please visit www.suncappart.com.

About Anderson Business Advisors
Anderson Business Advisors provides entity and trust formation, tax prep, and business planning services for real estate investors and business owners. By bringing together the estate planning, asset protection planning, business, and tax planning needs of clients under one roof, Anderson has created an efficient and effective way to provide their clients peace of mind knowing they aren’t overpaying taxes and their assets are protected. Anderson has serviced business owners and investors from across the United States since 1999.

Media Contact
Matthew Conroy
Stanton
646-502-3563
mconroy@stantonprm.com

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