Deals
Cogniac, a specialist in enterprise-class AI image and video analysis, has raised USD10 million in Series B financing round led by Autotech Ventures.The funding will be used to hire key staff, expand sales and marketing, and support the growth of the company.
Cogniac utilises the latest AI technology to build inspection workflows, offering enterprise-class AI-based deep learning solutions that automates visual inspection tasks like classifying, detecting, counting and measuring to human level accuracy and beyond. With a camera agnostic, agile approach to AI and elegant end-to-end architecture, Cogniac simplifies the deployment of AI in enterprise video and image analysis across
Exotec, a robotics solution provider for the logistics sector and creator of the Skypod 3D warehouse robots, has closed a USD90 million financing round, led by 83North – with participation from Dell Technologies Capital – and supported by historical investors, Iris Capital and Breega.This new funding will further fuel Exotec’s international development, especially their recently formed Atlanta and Tokyo teams and help them meet the growing demand for warehouse automation technology in the USA and Asia. Exotec has the ambition to become the leader in robotics solution for logistics and forecasts they will produce up to 4000 robots per year
The latest Autotech M&A market report from Hampleton Partners, an international technology mergers and acquisitions adviser, reveals that this year the sector has been impacted by Covid-19 lockdown measures, economic recession and a collapse in car sales in Europe and the USA. Autotech registered an 11 per cent dip in deal volume in the first six-months of 2020 vs the second half of 2019, and recorded only USD4 billion in disclosed transaction value, in what is normally a buoyant sector for M&A.
The global rise in e-commerce did provide some good news for dealmakers in logistics, fleet management and digital services.
An investment subsidiary of Investindustrial VII and Black Diamond Capital Management, are to buy, on a 50/50 basis, Hexion PSR , a carved out division of global diversified chemicals company Hexion Inc.Hexion PSR is a global producer of phenolic specialty resins, engineered thermoset moulding compounds and merchant formaldehyde with a leading market position in Europe.
The consideration of USD425 million consists of USD335 million in cash and certain assumed liabilities with the remainder in future proceeds based on the performance of the company. The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2021. Together, the company’s businesses posted sales of
Private equity firm Trilantic North America has closed a substantial minority investment in Rarebreed Veterinary Partners, a technology-enabled veterinary services platform.
Founded in 2018 in Portland, Maine, Rarebreed is focused on taking care of the people who take care of animals, with the goal of becoming the employer of choice for those dedicating their professional lives to veterinary care. Today, Rarebreed employs more than 450 people across its footprint of 17 veterinary practices in the Northeast, including the recent acquisition of Greenwich Village Animal Hospital, its first location in New York.
“We were drawn to the opportunity to invest
Global digital consultancy Appnovation has received GBP6.8 million in follow-on equity financing from a partnership between UK-based BGF, the Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF) and Export Development Canada (EDC).
With 15 offices across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Appnovation will use the proceeds from this investment to continue its global expansion and growth strategy. This includes scaling teams in strategic global markets, particularly in the UK and across Europe, as well as potential acquisitions.
Both CBGF and BGF made initial investments in Appnovation in July 2019 totalling GBP8.8 million. Since then, Appnovation has scaled up its EMEA operations, which
Aurelius Wachstumskapital SE & Co KG, an investment company with a long-term horizon that acquires stakes in successful small and medium-sized enterprises in high-growth sectors, has raised EUR120 million in fresh capital to invest in SMEs.
As part of the Aurelius Group, a pan-European asset manager, Aurelius Growth Investments focuses on investments in sustainably successful small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The principal activities of Aurelius Growth Investments, which is managed by Nico Vitense and Claudius Graf von Plettenberg, both responsible for transactions, and Eric Blumenthal, responsible for operations, involve owner buyouts and (early) succession solutions, as
QuadPay, the US-based payment instalment platform, has secured a senior secured a revolving line of credit of up to USD200 million from Goldman Sachs, with mezzanine financing provided by Oaktree Capital.
QuadPay secured the facility through Finitive’s direct lending platform.
QuadPay will use the credit facility to expand its buy now, pay later (BNPL) business to new merchants throughout the US. QuadPay partners with merchants to allow their customers to pay via instalments for merchandise purchased online or in-store. QuadPay recently merged with Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) to create a USD2 billion global payments business. The combined entity
YourParkingSpace, a UK on-demand parking platform and provider of intelligent parking solutions, has secured a GBP5 million investment from Pelican Capital to support the next phase of its growth strategy.
The funds will be used to further develop YourParkingSpace’s proprietary technology which already markets over 80,000 bays in the UK from private individuals through to operators including Tesco, Morrisons and Premier Inn. By using YourParkingSpace, space owners can monetise this underutilised resource whilst commercial clients across hospitality, retail and property can drive footfall and improve customer experience.
The investment will support the next phase of growth for the company.
Vector Capital, a private equity firm specialising in transformational investments in established technology businesses, has invested in event tech platform Patron Technology (Patron).
Patron offers a full-suite of event technology solutions for live, virtual, and hybrid events designed to transform the attendee experience. The company empowers event organisers at conventions, sports arenas, music venues, performing arts festivals, and other attractions to tailor their ticketing, mobile, experiential marketing, and cashless products to fit each of their vertical-specific needs. Patron’s seasoned management team, led by Chief Executive Officer Marc Jenkins, is remaining with the business.
“We are excited to back Patron
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