Verdane Edda (“Verdane”) has entered into an agreement to invest in CAP-Group, Finland’s largest driving school and a pioneer of simulator-based training for consumers and professionals. The sector’s digital transformation is expected to drive rapid growth for a new breed of driving schools. Verdane will deploy its software expertise to strengthen CAP-Group’s digital offering and use its local presence across Northern Europe to support CAP-Group’s international expansion.
Since launch in 2009, CAP-Group has pioneered the digitalisation of driving schools in Finland, bringing customers a more convenient driving school experience at a better price. The company’s proprietary and industry-leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is used by the vast majority of driving schools in Finland.
“The team at CAP-Group have brought to market leading technology that is helping drive the evolution of the Finnish driving school sector. CAP-Group’s simulators make learning easier not only for consumers but also for driving professionals. With the move from traditional models to e-learning comes both cost efficiency and improved convenience.”, says Janne Holmia, Principal at Verdane.
CAP-Group is headquartered in Hämeenlinna, Finland, and has nearly trebled revenues between 2015 and 2018. Its 330 staff are employed across more than 80 driving schools nationwide, catering to both consumers and professional drivers.
Pekka Kari, CEO at CAP-Group, adds: “Our goal was always to recreate the driving school experience with the user at its centre. With our simulators and market-leading ERP system, we are able to do that both for the person learning to drive and for the organisation teaching that person how to drive. With Verdane onboard, we can grow our software offering faster and internationalise our offering across Northern Europe with the support of their local teams.”
CAP-Group is Verdane’s 11th software investment in Finland. Current and previous Finnish software investments include Analyste, Clausion, Codenomicon, CRF Health, HappyOrNot and Vaadin.
The parties have agreed not to disclose the terms of the transaction. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and to approvals of the Finnish Competition and Consumer authority and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in Finland.
“The team at CAP-Group have brought to market leading technology that is helping drive the evolution of the Finnish driving school sector. CAP-Group’s simulators make learning easier not only for consumers but also for driving professionals. With the move from traditional models to e-learning comes both cost efficiency and improved convenience.”
Janne Holmia, Principal
About CAP-Group
CAP-Group Oy is the largest, fast-growing driver training company in the Nordic region, providing significant added value to its customers by developing advanced and effective learning methods. CAP draws up guidelines for driver training and actively contributes to the development of the industry as a whole. In 2019, CAP-Group Oy will have approximately 330 satisfied employees and several contract trainers, as well as many more satisfied customers. www.cap.fi
About Verdane
Verdane is a specialist growth investment firm that partners with tech-enabled and sustainable European businesses. Verdane can invest as a minority or majority investor, either in single companies or through portfolios of companies, and looks to deploy inside two core growth themes; digitalisation and decarbonisation.
Verdane funds hold over €6 billion in total commitments and have made over 400 investments in fast-growing businesses since 2003. Verdane’s team of over 140 investment professionals and operating experts, based out of Berlin, Munich, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Oslo, and Stockholm, is dedicated to being the preferred growth partner to tech-enabled and sustainable businesses in Europe.
Verdane is also a certified B Corporation, the most ambitious sustainability accreditation globally. The firm only backs businesses that pass its 2040 test, which indicates whether the company can thrive in a more sustainable future economy.
Verdane is partly owned by the Verdane Foundation, which is focused on two areas: climate change and more equitable and inclusive local communities.
More info: www.verdane.com
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Press Contact
Verdane Press Office
press@verdane.com
+46 76 27 28 100
Janne Holmia, Principal
Verdane
janne.holmia@verdane.com
+358 40 084 3333
Jonathan Bui, Communications Manager
Verdane
jonathan.bui@verdane.com
+46 76 27 28 100
