Overview

Future Biogas is one of the largest anaerobic digestion (AD) plant developers and biogas producers in the UK. It owns two AD plants with one further AD plant in construction, and operates 10 AD plants mainly on behalf of institutional investors under medium-long term contracts.

Future Biogas’s plants convert a wide range of feedstocks into clean and renewable energy through AD which produces biogas. Biogas can either be used to generate green electricity, or upgraded into biomethane and injected into the UK’s national gas network. Future Biogas produces over 500GWh of biogas per year, enough energy for over 40,000 homes.

Biomethane from AD is a ready-to-use and commercially viable solution for hard to decarbonise industrial sectors. It does not require any upgrade to the existing UK gas infrastructure. Energy produced by AD plants is carbon neutral, as the CO2 released during the process matches the CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere by the feedstock.

Future Biogas promotes a regenerative farming approach, sustainably integrating feedstock from energy crops into agricultural systems. The circular process of returning digestate back to land can help replenish soil nutrients and carbon and displaces demand for carbon intensive artificial fertilisers.

Recent developments

Future Biogas performed in line with expectations due to good services revenues and index-linked contracts. The company has a promising pipeline of organic growth and M&A opportunities.

During the year, Future Biogas signed a new 15-year gas supply agreement with AstraZeneca (‘AZ’) for unsubsidised green gas. To deliver this green gas, it is constructing the UK’s first unsubsidised AD plant. In September 2023, 3iN invested £35 million to fund the plant’s construction, which will supply 100GWh of biomethane to AZ’s UK sites.

In November 2023, 3iN invested a further £30 million to fund the acquisition of two AD plants that Future Biogas was already managing. These strategic investments continue to transition Future Biogas from a manager of third-party biogas plants to a leading developer, asset owner and operator. The company is actively exploring viable sites for constructing new AD plants, and the interest from high-quality corporate partners is encouraging.

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc.

Overview

Global Cloud Xchange (“GCX”) is a leading global data communications service provider and owner of one of the world’s largest private subsea fibre optic networks. The business provides high-bandwidth connectivity to a range of customers including over-the-top content providers, telecom carriers, new media providers and enterprises.

GCX’s 66,000km of cables span from North America to Asia. It is particularly strong on the Europe-Asia and Intra-Asia routes where it is well positioned to capitalise on growth opportunities and serve the exponentially growing demand for data traffic.

Recent developments

GCX has shown strong year-on-year growth in lease revenues and has recently signed several large bulk capacity deals on its Middle East and intra-Asia subsea routes. Financial performance was held back by a high level of cable cuts which have now been repaired. The sales pipeline is healthy and demand for subsea data capacity continues to grow, driven by increasing adoption of AI applications and substantial investments in capacity and route diversification by the hyperscalers.

Looking ahead, GCX is evaluating several attractive growth opportunities, for example, acquiring new subsea capacity and developing new edge data centres near its cable landing stations that will drive additional data on its subsea network.

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc.

Overview

Herambiente is the Italian leader in the waste treatment and disposal sector. The company owns and operates a portfolio of c.80 waste treatment facilities, mostly located in the Emilia Romagna. The plants include landfills, waste to energy plants, anaerobic digestion and other waste sorting facilities.

Herambiente’s revenues originate primarily from waste treatment and disposal and from sale of the resulting by-products, including electricity from incineration, biogas from landfills and recycled materials. In 2016, Herambiente treated c. 1.7m tons of urban waste, 4.7m tons of special waste and produced 161,455,167kWh of electricity.

Investment rationale

• Strong market position in its home region of Emilia Romagna and more broadly in Northern and Central Italy
• The large plants portfolio provides technology diversification and exposure to increased recycling across Europe
• The highly fragmented market offers significant consolidation opportunities
• The expertise and environmental permits required to build new facilities provide significant barriers to entry

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc.

Overview

Infinis is the UK’s leading generator of low carbon power from captured methane. The business captures methane gas from landfill sites and disused mines and converts it into electricity. Its sustainable energy expertise also includes solar power and battery energy storage technology. This work helps to reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change and provides secure, efficient local power generation.

Infinis’s cashflows are positively correlated with UK inflation through the Government-backed Renewables Obligations Certificate (ROC) and CfD regimes and through index-linked corporate PPAs. Infinis’ current generation portfolio comprises:

• Captured methane: 255 MW across 104 sites
• Solar: 103 MW across 4 sites
• Flexible generation: 173 MW across 29 sites

This unique combination of green baseload power, renewable assets and flexible generation mean Infinis is ideally placed to respond to growing electricity demand, increasing energy market volatility and to play a key role in the UK’s route to decarbonisation and greenhouse gas reduction.

Recent developments

Infinis had a strong financial performance despite lower UK power prices. It generated a value gain of £20 million as its captured landfill methane business outperformed expectations, compensating for lower margins from its power response assets. Furthermore, Infinis is making significant progress in developing its 1.4GW solar energy generation and battery storage pipeline, with 103MW of solar capacity already operational.

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc.

Overview

Ionisos is a leading owner and operator of cold sterilisation facilities servicing the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Established in 1993 in France, Ionisos is one of the largest cold sterilisation providers globally and operates a network of 11 facilities in Europe with market leading positions in France and Spain. It has over 250 employees and a highly diversified customer base of around 1,000 customers.

Ionisos delivers a mission-critical, non-discretionary service for customers, for whom cold sterilisation is an essential component of the manufacturing process. It is typically applied to single use products that would be damaged by the heat and/or humidity of hot sterilisation methods.

Recent developments 

Ionisos performed below expectations due to reduced bio-processing and labware volumes, which have returned to pre-Covid levels, and weaker demand in markets connected to the construction industry which represents a small share of treatment capacity. However, the majority of product categories sterilised by Ionisos continue to exhibit strong volume growth. Ionisos is making progress in its growth initiatives. The expansion of its new greenfield EO plant in Kleve, Germany is progressing and the development of the new X-ray greenfield facility in north east France is proceeding according to schedule and within budget.

Overview

JMJ is a US-headquartered, leading cultural transformation firm, focused on improving safety, sustainability, and performance. JMJ supports executives and front-line workers at companies with complex capital programmes and ongoing operations across diverse industries on a global basis.

Highlights

• Via our Business Leaders Network we introduced Pete Regan, who has unique experience in consulting and safety businesses, as Chair
• Moved to a full partnership structure in 2015
• Using our international network to identify and support further growth opportunities
• Using our experience in software to help JMJ add new digital capabilities and product offerings

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Corporation.

Overview

Joulz is a leading owner and provider of essential energy infrastructure equipment and services in the Netherlands. Joulz serves approximately 21,000 industrial, commercial, and public sector clients with its solutions, that encompass realization, maintenance, management, and leasing of energy infrastructure equipment.

Joulz’ service offering includes mid-voltage infrastructure (owning and leasing transformers, switchgear and cables under long-term contracts), storage (owning and leasing large scale battery storage systems under mid- to long-term contracts), solar (large-scale installations under operational lease or with government-subsidized PPAs), metering (owning and leasing 50,000 electricity and gas meters under mid-term contracts) and EV charging (AC and DC charge points in mid-term exploitation, rental or CPO contracts). Additionally, it provides integrated solutions to address energy transition challenges such as grid congestion.

Recent developments

Joulz performed in line with expectations. It is benefitting from its inflation-linked longterm contracts and the completion of new installations. Joulz has seen significant interest in integrated energy transition solutions from customers seeking to decarbonise their operations and overcome constraints due to electricity grid congestion.

Regulatory information
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc.

Overview

Konges Sløjd is a fast-growing premium international lifestyle brand offering apparel and every day products for babies and children. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Konges Sløjd designs and markets high-quality children’s clothing, accessories, home products and toys through a curated network of (online-) retailers and direct-to-consumer e-commerce in more than 50 countries.

The business has been a forerunner in the premium baby/child segment through its stylish, functional, safe, durable, sustainable and affordable products across all children categories, and is well positioned to accelerate its growth across Europe, Asia and North America.

Highlights

• International footprint with rapid global expansion resulting from a proven and replicable online and offline market-entry strategy
• Global baby/child product market benefits from strong sociographic tailwinds such as premiumisation, rising middle classes and older parents having higher disposable incomes when they reach parenthood
• Highly fragmented market among mass, premium, affordable luxury and aspirational luxury players, with Konges Sløjd well placed at the convergence of the fast-growing premium and affordable luxury segments

Overview

Luqom Group is the #1 vertically-integrated online retailer of lighting products in Europe. It is headquartered in Germany, from where it distributes own-brand and third party products to customers all over Europe through 27 country-specific online shops.

Luqom Group differentiates itself from its competitors through an extensive range of 50,000 products, broad and differentiated product assortment, in-depth product knowledge, excellent customer service and high product availability. Luqom has grown strongly in the DACH region as well as internationally, through a steady roll-out across European countries in recent years.

Highlights

• Via our Business Leaders Network we appointed Jochen Wilms, a seasoned expert in both the building supply and online industries
• Supporting the business to further strengthen its position in Germany and further penetrate existing and additional international markets
• We also introduced the operational Venture Capital fund Project A Ventures as minority investor to further improve Lampenwelt’s best-in-class digital capabilities
• Acquired Netherlands-based QLF / Lampenlicht, the leading player in the Benelux region, in July 2019 as well as Lampemesteren, the leading online retailer for premium lighting products in the Nordics, in March 2021

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc, advised by 3i Germany.

Overview

MAIT Group is a leading provider of innovative and pioneering digital solutions in the DACH region.  Headquartered in Rottweil, Germany, MAIT focuses on software and hardware in product lifecycle management (“PLM”), enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) and IT services generating approx. €150m in sales per annum.

The business develops and implements solutions in close cooperation with their over 6,000 SME customers. As a strategic implementation partner, MAIT uses the most innovative technologies from market-leading PLM, ERP and IT providers such as Siemens, PTC, SAP-PLM, abas, Comarch, HP and Fujitsu.

Highlights

• Differentiates itself by looking at digitisation in a holistic way and developing tailored solutions in partnership with its customers
• High level of recurring revenues driven by multi-year maintenance and IT infrastructure contracts
• Operates in an attractive market which is expected to continue to grow considerably; medium-sized companies in particular are investing significantly in digital transformation in order to make their processes more efficient and effective
• Demand for PLM, ERP and IT is expected to grow by around 8% annually in the coming years, driven by megatrends such as IoT and Industry 4.0
• Kamy Niroumand, former Chief Sales Officer at T-Systems and current Chair of HR management software provider P&I, has joined the Advisory Board as Chair
• Strong M&A track record and further consolidation opportunities in a fragmented market

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc, advised by 3i Germany.

Overview

Mepal is a leading Dutch lifestyle consumer brand that is known for its innovative, high-quality and sustainable products for storing, serving and take-away of food and drinks.

Headquartered in Lochem, the Netherlands, Mepal’s products are renowned for their original and premium design, functionality, convenience, quality and sustainability, resulting in market-leading levels of customer satisfaction. The products are sold through mass and specialty retail channels, e-commerce partners and Mepal’s own online channels.

The company has grown impressively since 2018 driven by organic expansion into food retail and other large retail chains in Germany and increased e-commerce revenue.

Highlights

• Strong track record in both innovation and design, winning numerous leading design awards
• Further growth planned in existing core markets of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany as well as developing new markets in Europe
• Planned growth of its online business, further benefitting from increased e-commerce opportunities
• Strong focus on ESG; Mepal is focused on increasing the share of recyclable materials in the production process and customers can re-order parts to extend the lifecycle of their products. Additionally the products themselves help reduce food waste and the usage of single-use packaging, such as plastic bags and single use cups and bottles
• Differentiates itself from the competition based on premium design, functionality, product quality and a history of innovations (both re-designing existing concepts and launching new product lines)

Overview

MPM is an international leader in branded, premium, natural pet food. The business owns leading pet food brands such as Applaws, Encore and Reveal and differentiates itself through its high quality, human-grade products, its natural, clean-label ingredients and its “cat first” proposition.

MPM is a certified B-Corp and its loyal customer base places great importance on its sustainable sourcing and recyclable packaging. Headquartered in Manchester, UK, MPM has an established presence in the UK, EMEA and APAC with a fast-growing business in North America resulting in international sales now accounting for more than 70% of revenues.

The market has proven resilient through economic downturns and Covid-19, with pet ownership increasing amongst a highly engaged and loyal community for whom pets are seen as family members.

Highlights

• The premium wet cat food market is large and is forecast to continue to grow at c.7% p.a.
• MPM fits well with our desire to invest in strong mid-market businesses where we see significant headroom to accelerate international expansion
• We invested £125m alongside management for a majority stake in this rapidly growing, resilient business
• Strong relationships with key retailers across pet specialist, grocery and online channels

Overview

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in the Netherlands, Nexeye is a market leading value-for-money optical retailer in the Benelux with a presence in Sweden. The company offers a range of private label and branded spectacles, as well as hearing aids, contact lenses and sunglasses, at average price points significantly below its major competitors.

Nexeye is one of the most well-known optical retailers in its core markets, with a high level of brand awareness and customer loyalty that will benefit from long term macro-growth dynamics.

Highlights

• Leading value-for-money retailer in eyewear products and hearing aids
• Benefits from long-term, macro growth dynamics including an aging population and an increasing consumer focus on value-for-money
• Fragmented European optical retail market presents significant opportunities for growth

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc, advised by 3i Benelux.

Overview

Oystercatcher is the holding company through which 3i Infrastructure holds a 45% interest in Advario Singapore Limited (previously Oiltanking Singapore Limited).

Advario Singapore is a 1.3 million cubic metre facility focused on storage and blending of refined clear petroleum products for a range of blue chip customers. With a premier location, on Jurong Island, it is accessed by pipeline, sea going vessel and barge.

Oiltanking is one of the world’s leading independent storage partners for oils, chemicals and gases, operating 41 terminals in 18 countries with a total storage capacity of 16 million cubic metres.

Recent developments 

Oystercatcher performed well in the year. Advario Singapore, which is 45% owned by Oystercatcher, benefitted from high utilisation levels for its storage capacity, high customer activity levels and higher rates being secured at contract renewal. Whilst the oil products market remains in backwardation, a tight storage market in Singapore and the wider region provided a helpful backdrop to renewal discussions. Advario Singapore remains the leading gasoline blending facility in Singapore and the wider region.

The company has continued to pursue opportunities linked to sustainable fuels, in line with its sustainability strategy. Building on its success to date with Neste, which is blending sustainable aviation fuel (‘SAF’) at Advario Singapore, the terminal had actively looked to expand its role in activities to supply sustainable transport fuels.

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc.

Overview

Q Holding is a global leading manufacturer of catheters and high-end materials science-based critical components and subassemblies for the medical devices industry. Headquartered in Ohio, it sells products in over 80 countries and has 13 manufacturing locations in North America, Europe and Asia.

Q Holding has built a strong reputation as the supplier of choice to provide high-quality components that are mission critical. It has developed longstanding relationships with a broad range of blue chip customers who value their ability to develop such critical products and solutions.

Highlights

• Acquisitions of Degania Medical (Dec. 2016), a leading global manufacturer of catheters and other medical devices and Silicone Altimex (July 2015), a silicone provider of medical device components and pharmaceutical assemblies
• Focused on achieving significant organic growth, driven by its differentiated product offering, high service levels and a strong end-market
• Experienced management team with longstanding track record of driving innovation in product and service offering
• Sale of Q Holding’s QSR division, a leading developer and manufacturer of electrical connector seals, for $625m
• Sale of Precision Components Division, a leading provider of silicone and elastomeric molding and extrusion capabilities, for c.$172m

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Corporation. 

Overview

Formed in 2007, Regional Rail provides freight transportation, car storage, and transloading services in New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware across three railroads and over 155 miles of track connecting to a diversified Class 1 railroad network.

In 2018, the company moved over 13,000 carloads while serving over 70 customers across a diversified set of end-user markets including heating, fuel blending, agriculture, chemicals, and metals. The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Diamondback Signal, is the premier provider of rail-crossing installation and maintenance services to over 100 short-line rail customers across 20 states.

In October 2019, Regional Rail acquired Pinsly Railroad Company’s Florida operations adding 208 miles of track across three short-line railroads.

Investment rationale

• Essential service provider with high barriers to entry - irreplaceable track infrastructure with direct access to key customer facilities and multiple Class I railroad connections
• Premium geography in the Northeast U.S. - located at the centre of a densely populated corridor within the New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC metro areas
• Freight revenue is largely generated from local consumption tied to these attractive end markets
• Strong freight revenue growth of >9% p.a. since 2013
• Attractive platform for consolidation as short-line rail space is ripe for consolidation; acquisition of Pinsly Railroad Company’s Florida operations in October 2019

Regulatory information 
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Corporation.