15 Mar 2017
Investcorp Technology Partners, which focuses on tech-enabled investments in the European lower middle-market as part of the Investcorp Group (“Investcorp”), today announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Ageras A/S (“Ageras” or the “Company”), a fast growing online marketplace matching Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (“SMEs”) and micro-businesses with professional services providers such as accountants and lawyers.
Despite receiving no external investment until now, Ageras grew its revenues by approximately 60% over the last financial year and, in 2016, connected ~16,600 customers successfully. Ageras operates in five markets, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland and Germany from its Copenhagen headquarters. The Company has delivered consistent growth by reinvesting cash generated back into the business.
The investment by Investcorp is expected to underpin Ageras’ high standards of service delivered to its customers and partners, and will help to drive continued growth in the Scandinavian market, as well as the Company’s broader international footprint. It will also allow for expansion into new geographies, leveraging Ageras’ strong brand, reputation for dependability and their insights into the professional service market.
Commenting on the investment, Mohammed Al-Shroogi, Co-CEO at Investcorp, said, “Ageras’ unique combination of customised service and high automation positions it perfectly to connect SMEs with accountants and lawyers. Its best-in-class levels of customer satisfaction coupled with recurring sales into its partner base have allowed it to secure a leading market position in Europe. These fundamental business strengths, coupled with an outstanding management team, make it an ideal candidate for Investcorp to partner with.”
Fahad Murad, Managing Director at Investcorp in Bahrain, said, “Ageras is an exciting company and we believe it is a perfect fit for Investcorp and our European technology portfolio. The company’s attractive offering and focus on customer service give it a real edge and we see an opportunity to expand its geographic footprint throughout Europe. We look forward to providing our expertise to help Ageras embark on the next phase of its growth journey.”
Rico Andersen, Chief Executive Officer, Ageras, added, “From the first moment we met Investcorp it was clear that they were the right partner for Ageras as we transition to the next level in our growth trajectory. Investcorp has a fantastic track record of growing founder-owned companies in the technology space, and its global presence and extensive network will support Ageras’ continued international expansion. Executing this investment from Investcorp is a great vote of confidence in Ageras’ development to date, and we believe their ongoing support will open up multiple opportunities for future growth.”
Investcorp has established a market leading position of investing in lower mid-market technology companies with a particular focus on founder-owned Data, IT Security, Internet / Mobility and Fintech / Payments businesses, and has raised more than $1 billion in funding for technology investments. Investcorp continues to see a strong technology deal pipeline in the market with Ageras marking its second investment in the sector within four months.
Gilbert Kamieniecky and Julian Bennet will join the board of Ageras as non-executive directors.