The successful final close of Winch Capital 4 is a major milestone for Andera Partners, as it is the first fund raised since the management company became independent in March 2018. It reflects the renewed confidence of Winch Capital’s long-standing LP base and marks the arrival of new investors attracted by prior funds’ performance and the new status of the management company.

After a first close at €360 million in July 2018, already above its initial target of €350 million, the fundraising of €445 million for Winch Capital 4 provides Andera Partners’ mid-cap strategy with an investment vehicle that is among the largest in its segment and whose size exceeds that of its predecessor by 50% (Winch Capital 3 – €300 million).

The success of this fundraising confirms the stability of the Winch Capital team, present in the French market for 20 years under the leadership of five managing partners (Sylvain Charignon, Antoine Le Bourgeois, François-Xavier Mauron, Pierre-Yves Poirier and Laurent Tourtois), who carried out 80 investments since the creation of Winch Capital. It also confirms the success of a consistent strategy of supporting executives-shareholders of growing SMEs / mid-cap companies (€30 million to €300 million in turnover) to enable them to scale up quickly, frequently in the context of primary transactions whereby the company opens its capital to institutional investors for the first time (nearly 60% of primary operations). Winch Capital 4 will mainly invest in France and Italy, like its predecessors, and occasionally in neighbouring countries such as Belgium, Switzerland and Spain where certain business owners, funds or intermediaries have identified Winch Capital as a partner of choice to support the change of scale of growing companies.

In recent years, the Winch Capital team has established itself, alongside talented managers, as the leading financial investor in companies that have experienced spectacular growth. Examples include French SMEs which, in just a few years, have transformed into international groups that are now unicorns valued at over €1 billion, such as Exclusive Networks and SFAM. Other companies, still in the portfolio, share a similar future, such as Scalian, Netco, Star Service, Minafin and Maesa, which have already doubled or tripled their turnover through both organic and external growth.

This is the first fundraising completed after the company became independent and without the long-time support of the Edmond de Rothschild Group. It confirms the confidence of Winch Capital’s long-standing LP base (FEI, BPI France, Sogecap, BNP Paribas Cardif, UMR, MACSF, Euro PE, Swen, among others) and its attractive positioning for new investors like Ardian, as well as foreign investors which now represent more than 15% of the fund. These new investors, known to Andera Partners for many years, were waiting for confirmation of its independence.

Over the past few years, Andera Partners has itself experienced the scale-up that it encourages and supports at all companies which it invests into: assets under management doubled in five years; first acquisition completed with ActoMezz in 2016; acquisition of 100% of the management company’s capital in March 2018.

“This fundraising is the final phase of a flagship year 2018 for Andera Partners, says Pierre-Yves Poirier, Partner of Winch Capital and Manager of Andera Partners. It completes the renewal of the four franchises and enables Andera Partners to increase its market share by bringing its assets under management to €2.3 billion. The internationalisation of our development department, the expansion of our LP base and the level of maturity of our teams ensure the achievement of our objectives and the success of our upcoming fundraising campaigns.“

Source: Andera Partners Press Release

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Camunda, creators of popular open source workflow automation software, has announced a  €25 million Series A financing from Highland Europe, marking the first time the company has taken outside investment.

Camunda will use the new funds to accelerate global awareness of its solutions, drive continued product development and expand its organization in the United States, Europe and Asia. With annual recurring revenue (ARR) more than doubling over the past 12 months, Camunda’s growth has been fueled by global demand from both digital-native businesses and companies undergoing digital transformation.

The Camunda stack provides an integrated platform for software developers and business stakeholders, covering all phases of workflow automation: from process design and execution, to continuous process improvement. The stack includes a robust toolkit for modeling and executing business processes, coupled with powerful visual interfaces for monitoring and troubleshooting active processes and analyzing large volumes of process data.

instead of buying monolithic business systems off the shelf, modern organizations are composing their own bespoke technology stack that reflects their individual business model. Digital transformation means that companies need to automate core business processes – which are not rigidly baked into one system, but span multiple microservices and are constantly evolving – in a collaborative effort with software developers, as well as business stakeholders. To achieve this, a new generation of workflow automation infrastructure is needed, with Camunda’s solutions helping companies successfully navigate business process automation initiatives.

Camunda users come from various industries, including financial services, telecommunications and insurance, as well as software companies seeking to embed Camunda’s workflow technology. More than 200 enterprise customers such as AXA Insurance, Intuit, T-Mobile, Universal Music Group and Zalando rely on Camunda’s software to automate core business processes such as eCommerce order executions, stock transactions, and insurance claim settlements.

At the heart of Camunda’s offering is the open source Workflow Engine which is built with developers top-of-mind, providing seamless integration points with an organization’s broader infrastructure. Camunda will continue to innovate on its product stack, with a specific focus on supporting modern use cases such as microservices orchestration, and high-scale scenarios for processing massive volumes of transactions with low latency.

“We are very excited to be working with Highland Europe, who share our long-term vision and cultural values,” said Jakob Freund, co-founder and CEO of Camunda. “Raising additional capital gives us the financial liberty to accelerate our growth and drive expansion, without having to compromise on product innovation.”

“As digital transformation becomes a core focus for businesses across all industries, workflow automation has emerged as one of the fastest growing software categories globally. We’ve followed Camunda closely for several years and have been incredibly impressed by its product focus, capital efficiency and big ambition. We are thrilled to be partnering with the Camunda team on their next phase of expansion,” Sam Brooks, Partner at Highland Europe, said.

Source: Highland Europe Press Release

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at the heart of security solutions for mobile and connected devices, has announced it has entered into an exclusivity agreement to acquire Verimatrix, a privately-held company headquartered in San Diego, California, USA.

Verimatrix which employs more than 300 people in 20 countries, with most significant operations in California and in Germany, is a global independent leading software security provider for video services, trusted by all major content owners in Entertainment. Their security solutions are recognized for comprehensive multi-network support and maintaining end-to-end service integrity. Verimatrix helps to reduce the cost and complexity in the current content delivery processes. The company extends its technical innovation for video providers by offering a comprehensive data collection and analysis platform for automated real-time quality of experience (QoE) optimization that drives security performance monitoring, user engagement and content monetization.

Verimatrix generated mid-single digit growth to $78.7 million revenue and $14.5 million EBITDA in the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2018.

Commenting on the proposed transaction, Amedeo D’Angelo, Chairman and CEO of Inside Secure, said: “Over the years, we have built a unique position to bring security at the heart of connected devices and apps with a leading position in the OTT video services market. Verimatrix has become a key player in software-based security for Entertainment content management through its scalable and comprehensive platform with a deep expertise in cloud-based data analytics and intelligence on security performance and video users’ behaviours. In this context, I’m very pleased to move ahead with the project to acquire Verimatrix which is the perfect fit to strengthen scale and reach of our value proposition in end markets that are fast shifting towards software and cloud-based security solutions while video content consumption is becoming multi-device and multi-format. We are looking forward to combining both businesses to offer our clients the best value proposition in security, starting with entertainment and moving towards Internet of Things and Connected Cars, and to continue to create value for our shareholders.”

Tom Munro, CEO of Verimatrix, Inc., declared: “This transaction allows a great combination of technologies and expertise, bringing two well-respected market players together. It’s exciting to create a company with such a clear focus, a global presence, and a depth of expertise in the applications of security and analytics across critical market segments.”

Source: Verimatrix Press Release

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The leading provider of Software-as-a-Service solutions in Enterprise Architecture (EA) Management, today announced that it has closed $30 million in Series C funding, led by Insight Venture Partners. Previous investors DTCP (Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners), Capnamic Ventures, and Iris Capital also participated in the round. The closing brings LeanIX’s total funding to nearly $40 million since its founding in 2012. Insight Venture Partners Principal, Teddie Wardi, will join the LeanIX board of directors.

The investment, which will be used to accelerate growth in the U.S. and fuel continued product innovation, comes amidst a period of record growth for LeanIX. Founded in 2012 by André Christ and Jörg Beyer, the company quickly solidified its position as the next-generation EA management solution not just limited to IT architecture experts but enabling IT transparency and collaboration across the business. In 2018, LeanIX achieved several major milestones, including doubling its global customer base, expanding operations in Boston, and growing its global headcount with the appointment of several senior-level executives. This year the company continued to set new standards: as the first EA tool with a certified integration with ServiceNow, it eliminates data silos and automates data capturing. The new LeanIX Store turns the application into an extensible platform in which customers and partners can build and distribute best practice apps such as reports. Most recently, LeanIX was recognized as the 10th fastest-growing company in Germany on the Deloitte 2018 Technology Fast 50 list.

“Today’s enterprises face data overload, overwhelmed by archaic IT landscapes that cripple productivity and business opportunity. Organizations need clear, actionable insights, and more than ever, enterprises are opting for IT modernization and demanding innovative EA tools,” said André Christ, CEO, and co-founder of LeanIX. “Together with our investors, we aim to become the category leader for EA in modern technology business management. While Agile, DevOps and Cloud are becoming mainstream in enterprises, we provide the best technology for a successful adoption and continuous management.”

“For businesses today, effective enterprise architecture management is critical for driving digital transformation, and requires robust tools that enable collaboration and agility,” said Teddie Wardi, Principal at Insight Venture Partners. “LeanIX is a pioneer in the space of next-generation EA tools, achieved staggering growth over the last year, and is the trusted partner for some of today’s largest and most complex organizations. We look forward to supporting its continued growth and success as one of the world’s leading software solutions for the modernization of IT architectures.”

LeanIX helps organizations efficiently manage and optimize their Enterprise Architecture, providing a Software-as-a-Service to reduce IT complexity, ensuring IT compliance and enabling business growth. Use cases include application rationalization, technology risk management and cloud transformation which the company offers to some of today’s most respected brands including Adidas, DHL, Merck, and Santander, with strategic partnerships with Deloitte, ServiceNow, and PwC, among others.

Source: Insight Venture Partners Press Release

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As part of a succession plan, BCM has a majority stake in the Palas GmbH. The co-founder and majority shareholder Leander Mölter leaves the company. Dr. Maximilian Weiß, longtime managing director, development and production manager and minority shareholder, will continue to play a significant role in the company and will continue to lead the company as CEO .

With its unique optical measurement technology and more than 20 active patents, Palas is the global technology leader for high-precision airborne particle measurement devices. The product range includes certified particulate matter and nanoparticle measuring devices, aerosol spectrometers and generators as well as associated systems and software solutions. With around 270 customers from over 60 countries – including BASF , Siemens, BMWand Bayer – Palas products are used in particular in the public sector, the pharmaceutical industry, medical technology, the industrial sector, the automotive industry as well as in laboratories and clean rooms. The market for particulate measurement technology is experiencing high growth rates due to increasing global awareness of the health risks of air pollution and the resulting increase in regulation.

“Successful succession planning offers ideal conditions for continuing our extraordinary growth story,” explains Palas founder and outgoing shareholder Leander Mölter. “When selecting the new majority shareholder, it was crucial to us that BCM is not only well-acquainted with the needs of fast-growing, mid-tier technology leaders and can support us with a broad network of industry experts, but also sets a long-term partnership as a technology holding company, rather than conventional financial investors are not subject to a given investment horizon, “Mölter continues.

“The global market for particulate measurement technology is rapidly expanding, not least because of growing awareness of the health risks posed by air pollution and the resulting stricter regulation,” explains Drs. Maximilian Weiß, CEO of Palas, under whose leadership the current core product Fidas for fine dust measurement was developed and introduced. “The unique technology expertise and excellent network of our new majority shareholder BCM gives us the opportunity to drive our successful expansion, particularly by opening up new international markets and additional application areas,” continues Weiss.

“As an experienced technology investor, who has helped companies such as Wirecard and 360T in their track record, we are convinced that Palas is a world-class technology leader,” said Marco Brockhaus, CEO of BCM . “The company has unique optical particle measurement technology worldwide and is well positioned in a niche whose impressive growth is driven by global megatrends. Thus, Palas not only stands for exceptional dynamics combined with high profitability, but also for the best growth prospects in the long term. Joining Palas is an important milestone in building our BCM portfolio and preparing for our planned IPO, “adds Brockhaus.

Source: BCM AG Press Release

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CEE-focused Mezzanine Management has closed its fourth fund on €264m of capital commitments, representing its largest vehicle to date.

Mezzanine secured commitments for the fund from 20 limited partners, with half of the capital raised coming from new investors. The Luxembourg-based fund was initially targeting €250m, but went on to surpass both this and the €200m raised for its predecessor.

The firm will use AMC Capital IV to provide growth capital to mid-market businesses in Central Europe, through long-term debt and equity. Mezzanine has already tapped the fund to back four deals including investments in ATM, Netrisk, Nettle and Optimapharm.

Mezzanine is targeting between 15 and 18 deals and will make initial investments from €10m to €30m per deal.

Mezzanine head of investor relations Christian Stix said, “We are pleased by the tremendous support of our existing investor base, which is a result of our disciplined strategy of delivering strong risk-adjusted returns.

“In addition, AMC IV received first-time support from Asia, which is testament to the allure of our exciting region for international investors and may facilitate additional outside commitments to Europe’s fastest-growing region.”

Mezzanine Management has invested over €600m across its funds through its offices in Vienna, Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague.

Source: Mezzanine Management Press Release

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EQT has closed its second European direct lending fund, EQT Mid-Market Credit II (the “Fund”). The fund received capital commitments of € 2.3 billion, including expected leverage. Since its founding in 2008, the EQT Credit Platform has raised more than € 6 billion and invested over € 5.1 billion in more than 170 companies.

The Fund will continue to pursue EQT Credit’s successful investment strategy and provide financing to European SMEs. The focus is on high-quality and defensive companies. More than 30% of the fund volume is already committed to 12 investments, including financing for Medifox, Dukes Education and VPS.

The investors in EQT Mid-Market Credit II include a broad group of European, Asian and North American pension funds, insurance companies, foundations and family businesses.

Paul Johnson, Partner at EQT Partners, the Fund’s Investment Advisor, says, “We see many opportunities in the credit market and believe that EQT Credit’s strengths as a due diligence focused investor are backed by the institutional knowledge gained through 24 years of EQT’s investment experience In the same regions and industries, we have an excellent starting position. With strong support from existing and new investors, the fund will be able to capitalize on these opportunities over the coming years as the direct credit market continues to grow throughout Europe. “

Andrew Konopelski, Partner and Head of EQT Credit at EQT Partners, adds, “Over the past decade, we have focused on local sourcing and careful consideration of each investment opportunity at EQT Credit. This approach is supported by our network of industrial consultants and our ability to invest in a variety of situations. The EQT Credit platform has evolved significantly, and we are looking at ways to further transform and expand the offering. “

“The EQT Credit Platform is extremely successful and complements EQT’s offering across the spectrum of alternative investments. The fund has far outperformed its original target, confirming the attractiveness of this asset class to investors and their support and trust in EQT and EQT Credit. EQT Credit’s track record over the last decade and its experienced investment team headed by Andrew Konopelski are the foundation for EQT’s strong position as an integrated investor across the full range of risk profiles, “said Thomas von Koch, CEO and Managing Partner at EQT ,

Fundraising for EQT Mid-Market Credit II is now complete. Accordingly, the foregoing should not in any way be construed as an offer or solicitation to subscribe for any securities or other interests or to engage in any other transaction.

This news release has been translated into several languages ​​for informational purposes. In case of deviations, the original English version applies.

Source: EQT Partners Press Release

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London-based asset management consultancy, MJ Hudson, has acquired Amaces, a data and analytics firm, which provides tools and consulting services to help institutional investors benchmark and monitor the cost and quality of the investor services they receive from their custodian banks. The firm also provides innovative tools and related consulting services in the field of FX transaction cost analysis.

Founded in 2002 by two senior treasury and custody principals that worked together at Chase Manhattan (now JP Morgan) and then Citibank, Amaces has an established customer base and operations in Europe, as well as in the United States and Canada.

The acquisition expands MJ Hudson’s existing asset management client base from 600+ managers, pension funds and other asset owners to more than 700, collectively managing in excess of $10Trn. It provides MJ Hudson with an established operational and commercial presence in the US and Canadian markets, while simultaneously offering new and existing clients an extended and enhanced suite of services.

Amaces is a subscription-led data and analytics service provider to more than 100 fund managers, pension funds and endowments. Its clients rely on Amaces products and services to help them achieve and sustain optimum performance from their custodian banks and administrators. Its clients are located principally in the US, Canada and Europe and include many of the world’s most significant institutional investors.

The senior executive team at Amaces will remain with the business and there will be no interruption of services to existing customers. A number of client initiatives to develop services benefitting from the natural synergies between Amaces and MJ Hudson’s existing service offering are already underway.

The Amaces name will continue as ‘MJ Hudson Amaces’ and all of the services provided by the company will be accessible under the MJ Hudson brand.

Matthew Hudson, CEO, MJ Hudson, commented on the deal:

“Amaces is a leader in its field. The team has built an impressive business, becoming a trusted adviser to a remarkable array of blue chip clients on both sides of the Atlantic. The acquisition will complement the consulting, analytics and software capabilities MJ Hudson has already built and allow our clients to benefit from a more comprehensive, technology-enabled suite of services, across multiple markets.”

“As well as allowing us to provide new services to MJ Hudson’s European customers, our decision to acquire the company, its software system and IP comes as we seek to further improve the support we provide to our North American clients and begin to grow our profile in the world’s largest asset management market. The Amaces team has identified a significant growth opportunity for its market-leading services and we are excited to work with the team to capture this opportunity and help more institutions generate enhanced returns.”

James Economides, Director, Amaces US, commented:

“Amaces and MJ Hudson both operate within asset management and both have strong, compatible cultures. The logical next step was to combine forces for the benefit of all our clients. We look forward to providing even better, more extensive products and a broader consultancy practice for the 100+ institutions that we already work with.”

Source: MJ Hudson Press Release

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BaltCap together with JBIC IG Partners, a Japanese government backed private equity and venture capital firm, will establish a new €100m fund focusing on venture capital investments in the Nordic and Baltic region. JB Nordic Ventures, 50/50 joint venture between BaltCap and JBIC IG, will focus on early stage investments into ICT/Deep Tech sectors, including Autonomous Mobility, Digital Health, AR/VR/MR, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and IoT. The fund investors will include large Japanese technology corporations like Honda, Omron and others. The Fund will utilize global network in Tallinn, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tokyo and plans to start operating in Q1 2019. “We are very pleased to see that the Nordic-Baltic region has emerged as one of the hottest venture capital areas in the world and we are excited to begin this new venture together with highly reputable Japanese investors,” says Peeter Saks, Managing Partner of BaltCap.

Source: BaltCap Press Release

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Eurazeo, Idia, Future French Champions, and Unigrains, Neovia shareholders since 2015 alongside InVivo (historical majority shareholder), have announced the effective sale of all Neovia shares to Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM). Over the past three years, spurred by Eurazeo and InVivo, its historical shareholder, as well as its management team, Neovia has undergone an in-depth transformation and accelerated its international reach, while expanding into high added-value businesses. Over the period, the company carried out more than 15 acquisitions worldwide, boosting its revenue outside Europe from 52% to nearly 75%. Backed by its new shareholder, with its highly complementary market positions, Neovia is well positioned to further its global leadership in animal nutrition. Transaction sales proceeds for Eurazeo and its investor partners total €225 million, including €170 million for Eurazeo, representing a return on its initial investment of nearly 2x and an IRR of approximately 20%.

About Eurazeo:

Eurazeo is a leading global investment company, with a diversified portfolio of €17 billion in assets under management, including nearly €11 billion from third parties, invested in over 300 companies. With its considerable private equity, venture capital, real estate, private debt and fund of funds expertise, Eurazeo accompanies companies of all sizes, supporting their development through the commitment of its 235 professionals and by offering deep sector expertise, a gateway to global markets, and a responsible and stable foothold for transformational growth. Its solid institutional and family shareholder base, robust financial structure free of structural debt, and flexible investment horizon enable Eurazeo to support its companies over the long term. Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Shanghai, London, Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Madrid.

Source: Eurazeo press release

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Eurazeo has announced the sale to AXA of its 22% stake in Capzanine, an independent European management company specializing in private investment. Since entering Capzanine’s share capital in October 2015, Eurazeo and AXA have helped Capzanine accelerate its growth in the debt and equity sectors and develop international partnerships. During this period, Capzanine has significantly expanded its business, increasing assets under management from €1.1 billion to €2.5 billion. This transaction is accompanied by the assumption by AXA and other investors of all Eurazeo commitments in funds managed by Capzanine, excluding an €8 million commitment in Capzanine Situations Spéciales. The transaction amount is approximately €82 million. This includes shares in the management company on which Eurazeo realizes a multiple of just over 3x the initial investment and fund shares recently subscribed by Eurazeo.

About Eurazeo:

Eurazeo is a leading global investment company, with a diversified portfolio of €17 billion in assets under management, including nearly €11 billion from third parties, invested in over 300 companies. With its considerable private equity, venture capital, real estate, private debt and fund of funds expertise, Eurazeo accompanies companies of all sizes, supporting their development through the commitment of its 225 professionals and by offering deep sector expertise, a gateway to global markets, and a responsible and stable foothold for transformational growth. Its solid institutional and family shareholder base, robust financial structure free of structural debt, and flexible investment horizon enable Eurazeo to support its companies over the long term. Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Shanghai, London, Luxembourg and Madrid. o Eurazeo is listed on Euronext Paris. o ISIN: FR0000121121 – Bloomberg: RF FP – Reuters: EURA.PA

Source: Eurazeo press release

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Platina Energy Partners LLP (“Platina”) has sold a 30MWp portfolio consisting of four operating solar plants located in Spain (“Portfolio”) to a Spanish investment manager, Q-Energy.  Platina acquired the four solar PV plants, located close to Toledo, Sevilla and Tenerife, and arranged non-recourse long-term financing of the Portfolio with UniCredit, NordLB and Santander in 2008-2009.

Platina has been managing funds investing in renewable energy for the past 17 years. As a pioneer in the field, Platina has deployed €1.3bn, invested in four development platforms and operated more than
740MW of renewable assets. Julia Gubar, Investment Manager at Platina, commented: “We are pleased to have sold the 30MWp solar PV portfolio to Q-Energy as part of our divestment program. The sale comes after a successful senior debt refinancing in 2017. Operating the Portfolio for a decade gave our asset management and investment teams valuable experience in the Spanish market.”

Adrien Pinsard, Partner at Platina, commented: “We remain committed to the Spanish renewable energy market and are now actively looking at the new wave of Spanish solar projects. We see a lot of growth potential in the sector in the years to come. With our new fund, we can be flexible on how we invest and how we partner with developers to realise the value of these projects.”

The Madrid offices of WFW (legal) and PWC (M&A) advised Platina on the sale.

Source: Platina Energy Partners

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Ardian has announced the signing of a binding agreement for the acquisition of 100% of Celli S.p.A., the leading Italian beverage solutions company, which is currently owned by Consilium – an asset management company specializing in private equity – and the Celli family. Senior management will reinvest alongside Ardian.
Founded in Rimini in 1974, the company specializes in the design, manufacturing, testing and installation of innovative beverage dispensing solutions for breweries (including Heineken, Carlsberg, Asahi, Molson Coors, Budweiser) and soft drinks companies (including Coca-Cola and Pepsi). The Group is also involved in the manufacturing of water dispensers, developing solutions that are more sustainable than bottled beverage consumption.
During its 45 years of activity, Celli has evolved from a company focused on the product and its components to a leading operator in the supply of end-to-end solutions in the cold drink dispensing equipment market, distinguishing itself for its product innovation and the excellence of the service offered. Thanks to a widespread network of technical assistance centers and exclusive distributors, Celli offers its services on a global scale, which include installation, function testing, and ordinary and extraordinary maintenance.

Celli has recently launched an internally developed IT platform, which remotely coordinates the overall management of the dispensers installed, on behalf of its customers. This is a unique initiative in the sector, aimed at bringing Internet of Things technology to the beverage dispensing sector. With five manufacturing plants located in Italy and the UK, the Group employs over 400 people and generated a turnover in the region of €110 million in 2018. The Celli Group has grown both organically and through the acquisition of several major companies in the beverage sector, achieving a leadership position in the beverage solutions sector.

Ardian’s investment will further accelerate Celli’s growth, in particular strengthening the Group’s international reach, which, to date, already exports its products to more than 100 countries.
Yann Chareton, Managing Director of Ardian, said: “We chose Celli as it is already a solid and highly competitive company, thanks to the good work done by its experienced senior management team. With a strong international network and distinctive skills, we are confident that we can contribute to a new phase of growth and success for Celli, supporting its management in this next challenge.”
Mauro Gallavotti, Chairman and CEO of Celli Group, added: “Celli’s Italian excellence is internationally recognized. The path taken with Consilium has been to provide the company with a manager-led approach and exceed the €100 million turnover threshold. Ardian will be the ideal partner for the coming years. We have the opportunity to become the global leader in the industry, at a time when the world is looking for sustainable solutions for beverage consumption.”
About Celli Group : 

The Celli Group is a global leader in the beverage tapping equipment and accessories sector. The company, founded in 1974 and based in San Giovanni in Marignano (Rimini), employs about 400 people in 5 production sites located in Italy and the United Kingdom – and it exports its products to over 100 countries worldwide.

Source: Ardian press release

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Tikehau IM, the asset management subsidiary of Tikehau Capital, has raised a record €2.1 billion for its fourth generation of Tikehau Direct Lending (TDL) funds, raising more than three times the previous vintage. This record fundraising confirms investors’ appetite for the private debt asset class, as well as Tikehau IM’s leading position in the European direct lending market. Tikehau Direct Lending IV (TDL IV) is the flagship fund for this fourth generation of Tikehau IM’s Direct Lending funds. The successful fundraising reflects Tikehau IM’s increasingly international investor base, in line with its strategy, with more than 70% of its subscribers based outside of France, and more than 30% outside of Europe. These funds will continue to be deployed according to Tikehau IM’s strategy, which aims at providing a wide range of bespoke financing solutions to SMEs. A pioneer in Europe’s private debt market, Tikehau IM has leading expertise in financing solutions such as stretched senior, unitranche, mezzanine financing and PIK notes.

This new generation of direct lending funds has already invested a total of more than €700 million in nearly 20 SMEs across Europe – France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway and the United Kingdom. Cécile Mayer-Levi, Head of Tikehau IM’s Private Debt practice, said: “The enthusiasm we received from experienced investors across the globe reflects the attractiveness of Tikehau IM’s private debt investment platform. This is the result of our strong team’s many years of experience and capacity to finance highly diversified operations in Europe. We remain committed to providing continued support financing SMEs which stand out for their operational and strategic excellence.”

Source: Tikehau Capital press release

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Eurazeo, a leading global investment company with approximately €17 billion in assets under management, is pleased to announce a minority investment in Bandier, a luxury, multibrand activewear retailer offering the latest trends in fashion and fitness. This funding marks the third investment for Eurazeo Brands, the division of Eurazeo which focuses on differentiated consumer and retail brands with global growth potential. Eurazeo Brands is investing $25 million in Bandier, in partnership with company founders Jennifer Bandier and Neil Boyarsky, and venture capital firm C Ventures, led by Adrian Cheng and Clive Ng. The total capital raised is $34.4 million. Bandier was advised by Ohana & Co. on this investment.

Bandier was founded in 2014 by namesake Jennifer Bandier, a former music executive turned retail entrepreneur. Jennifer founded the multi-label retailer with a mission to fill the white space of easily accessible and stylish activewear product. The first Bandier store opened in Southampton, NY with an experiential retail model. Today, the company has seven retail stores in key U.S. markets and a strong e-commerce business which accounts for approximately half of the company’s revenue. Bandier also operates Studio B, a boutique fitness location, and has a loyal following of nearly 300,000 fitness enthusiasts.

“Our vision for Bandier is to be the premiere multi-channel platform for an active woman who loves fashion, fitness and wellness” said Jennifer Bandier, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer. Neil Boyarsky, Co-Founder and Chairman went on to say, “Eurazeo Brands’ retail expertise and global approach make them the perfect partner for our next phase of growth.” Eurazeo Brands aims to invest a total of $800 million in high potential U.S. and European consumer companies with differentiated brands across a wide range of verticals including beauty, fashion, home, wellness, leisure and food. In addition to funding, Eurazeo Brands will provide Bandier with proven brand building, operational and industry expertise.

The investment will be used to accelerate Bandier’s omni-channel growth plan, increase customer acquisition, scale its digital footprint and continue building a world-class team. As part of its expansion plan, Bandier will enhance its executive team and add a seasoned CEO, Adrienne Lazarus, to the company. Lazarus is highly regarded as a strategic and visionary leader in the fashion and retail space. She is an accomplished executive with deep expertise in both vertical and multi-brand businesses, and is credited with creating successful exit strategies in her last two roles as the CEO of Frye and the President of Intermix. She also has a proven track record in brand building and is recognized for being a catalyst for dynamic growth and innovation in her leadership roles at Ann Taylor and Loft.

Lazarus commented, “I am extremely excited to partner with Jenn and Neil to build the innovative Bandier business. There is tremendous opportunity to bring Bandier to many more women who love a brand that combines fashion, fitness and wellness. I also recognize the great opportunity to partner with Eurazeo, a unique team of professionals with deep industry experience. I am confident that together we will make Bandier incredibly successful.”

Jill Granoff, CEO of Eurazeo Brands, added, “Bandier is at the forefront of the activewear movement and is well positioned to gain meaningful market share in this fast-growing sector. By leveraging our respective capabilities, we will drive product and digital expansion and become the destination for luxury activewear globally.”

About Bandier: 

Bandier is a luxury, multi-brand, activewear retailer, offering the latest trends in fashion and fitness. Known for identifying emerging brands and for its meticulous industry edit, the company provides an incomparable shopping experience. Bandier is headquartered in New York, NY with five store locations in New York and Texas, two new flagships with Studio B fitness boutiques opening at Zero Bond in Manhattan and Melrose in Los Angeles, as well as an e-commerce shop with global distribution

Source: Eurazeo press release

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Tikehau IM, the asset management subsidiary of Tikehau Capital, has raised a record €2.1 billion for its fourth generation of Tikehau Direct Lending (TDL) funds, raising more than three times the previous vintage.

This record fundraising confirms investors’ appetite for the private debt asset class, as well as Tikehau IM’s leading position in the European direct lending market. Tikehau Direct Lending IV (TDL IV) is the flagship fund for this fourth generation of Tikehau IM’s Direct Lending funds.

The successful fundraising reflects Tikehau IM’s increasingly international investor base, in line with its strategy, with more than 70% of its subscribers based outside of France, and more than 30% outside of Europe. These funds will continue to be deployed according to Tikehau IM’s strategy, which aims at providing a wide range of bespoke financing solutions to SMEs. A pioneer in Europe’s private debt market, Tikehau IM has leading expertise in financing solutions such as stretched senior, unitranche, mezzanine financing and PIK notes.

This new generation of direct lending funds has already invested a total of more than €700 million in nearly 20 SMEs across Europe – France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway and the United Kingdom. Cécile Mayer-Levi, Head of Tikehau IM’s Private Debt practice, said: “The enthusiasm we received from experienced investors across the globe reflects the attractiveness of Tikehau IM’s private debt investment platform. This is the result of our strong team’s many years of experience and capacity to finance highly diversified operations in Europe. We remain committed to providing continued support financing SMEs which stand out for their operational and strategic excellence.”

Source: Tikehau Capital press release

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