Verdane buys shares in seven companies from Aggregate Media

”We already have extensive experience from guiding the growth of 37 e-commerce companies. Therefore, we have many concrete proposals on driving both short and long term value creation,” says Henrik Aspén, Partner at Verdane Capital Advisors. “The effects of digitalisation are evident for every sector in the global economy. For example, the fact that Funera is now Sweden’s tenth largest funeral home shows that even relatively conservative niches can be developed and, thanks to the internet, be able to offer their clients new services.”

The deal with Aggregate Media is the fifth undertaken with Verdane funds since 2006. Including the 7 companies to be acquired, this brings the total to 44 companies acquired by various Verdane funds from Aggregate Media. In addition to the capital contribution, Verdane Capital Advisors will reinforce the companies’ development with solid e-commerce expertise and network.

”We are confident that the companies joining the Verdane VIII portfolio will have exciting journeys ahead of them,” says Patrik Rosén, CEO at Aggregate Media. “After cultivating them to their current stage of growth, we know they will benefit greatly from Verdane Capital Advisors’ skills-set and network in their next phase of development. Aggregate Media will continue the journey in 2016 to raise our eighth fund and invest in exciting new companies.”

Background
For consumer goods companies that are growing rapidly, gaining advertising space in media often forms the largest component of their cost base. If they have to hold back on marketing due to liquidity or performance issues, these companies are often unable to reach their full potential. Aggregate Media funds therefore provide expansion capital for small Swedish companies so that they are able to increase their marketing in the media space and significantly improve their development.

When companies reach a certain size and maturity in Sweden, it is natural for many of them to expand further into the other Nordic countries, or expand into new areas in Sweden. Verdane funds have, on four previous occasions, invested in companies supported by Aggregate Media’s funds, to help them in their next phase of development. Amongst others, these companies include Bemz, Compricer and MatHem.se.

Companies in the transaction
Allinc (online travel agent)
Consector (loan and credit intermediaries)
Ecoride (Scandinavia’s leading electric bicycles producer)
Funera (funeral services online and over the phone)
Schoolido (digital learning platform for grades 7 – 9)
Stor & Liten (toys online)
Smart Senior (loyalty cards for pensioners)