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Ageras targets ‘1-2 major acquisitions’ amid growing revenue, profits and market appetite for a pan-European consolidation of fintechs to catch its ‘camel ride’

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With a stabilising tech sector, easing interest rates and an IPO on the horizon, accounting and banking software platform Ageras eyes both growing supply and demand for a pan-European consolidation in the fintech and business software market servicing Europe’s almost 25 million SMEs. And according to Ageras’ CEO, the company is in ‘advanced talks’ for its first new acquisition since 2022 as the Danish fintech’s financial ‘camel ride’ and strategy has come to fruition, netting its first-ever profits and seeing revenues surge 53% with its just published 2023 annual report.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Danish fintech Ageras, a leading provider of accounting, banking and business software solutions for more than 300,000 European small businesses, is ready to respond to a ‘growing market appetite’ for a pan-European consolidation in the fintech and business software sector, targeting to complete 1-2 major acquisitions before a potential IPO in 2026. And according to its CEO, the company is already in ‘advanced talks’ with prospects that can fulfil its vision of becoming Europe’s largest in its industry, aiming to execute on its ambitions as early as 2024, as the publication of Ageras’ 2023 annual report shows its first-ever profitable EBITDA and continued revenue growth of 53% to support its further expansion plans:

“As a result of our transformative and strategic ‘One Company’ initiative, we grew our revenue by 53% and reached the important milestone of becoming profitable, ending the year at an EBITDA margin of +30%. This accomplishment not only validates the effectiveness of our strategic direction, but also underpins our position as a resilient player in the market. This is a unique platform for consolidation and further growth and with other European fintechs and SaaS companies having been hit in the wake of the last couple of years’ financial turmoil, we believe there is now both supply and demand for a pan-European consolidation on our platform for accounting and banking software; together we can own the niche,” says Rico Andersen, CEO and co-founder of Ageras.

A financial ‘camel ride’

According to Ageras’ 2023 annual report, the 53% revenue growth amounted to a turnover of EUR 31.7 million in a fiscal year labelled its ‘most exciting year ever’ which also included the Danish fintech’s first-ever profitable EBITDA of EUR 1.2 million. More importantly, an upward trend in Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for the past five years of a similar 53% underlines that Ageras is on a stable and strong growth trajectory defying the financial environment. Thus a unique market position that serves as a clear call-to-action for other fintechs and business software companies wanting to consolidate and join the journey, Rico Andersen argues:

“Last year we spoke about Ageras being a camel, a financial term coined by Alex Lazarow. Camels can survive the scorching heat of the desert sun, sandstorms, as well as the freezing desert nights. Unlike unicorns, camels are not imaginary creatures living in fantasy worlds. They are real, resilient, and can survive in the harshest places on Earth. Our 2023 metrics and market position proved that we are mission-critical and resilient. We can survive turbulent times. It is this financial ‘camel ride’ we want to offer Europe’s fintechs and business software companies servicing SMEs with accounting, banking and tax solutions,” elaborates Rico Andersen.

Timing ‘couldn’t be better’

Earlier in the spring of 2024, Ageras raised EUR 82 million in fresh equity for new acquisitions with overwhelming commitments from the existing investor Investcorp and new investors including Norwegian state pension fund Folketrygdfondet and American asset manager Lazard. And with the European tech sector showing stabilisation and the ECB having just announced easing on interest rates, Ageras’ investors too feel confident that the timing is right for Europe’s accounting and banking software suppliers to come together to service the continents’ almost 25 million SMEs on a central platform under the Ageras brand:

“We are continuing to successfully execute our strategy to acquire and consolidate the fintechs and business software companies servicing Europe’s millions of SMEs. On the Ageras platform, they will benefit from economies of scale, cross-border reach and thus the ability to tap seamlessly into new markets across the continent, and with the macroeconomic environment easing its grip on Europe’s tech sector combined with Ageras’s unique market position, both financially speaking and concept-wise, timing couldn’t be better,” says Gilbert Kamieniecky, Head of Private Equity Europe at Investcorp, who entered Ageras as investor in 2017.

About Ageras

Ageras was founded in 2012 by serial entrepreneurs Rico Andersen and Martin Hegelund, who together have over 25 years of experience building internet businesses. Ageras’ vision is to create success for small businesses by simplifying their administration. By integrating its solutions into a single cockpit for invoicing, accounting, payroll, banking and finance, it enables business owners to focus on running their business. The company’s investors include Investcorp, Rabo Frontier Ventures (Rabobank) and Lugard Road Capital (Luxor Capital), Folketrygdfondet and Investering & Tryghed. For more information, please visit www.ageras.com.

Timeline – How Ageras has evolved over the past 12 years:

2012: Ageras is founded by Rico Andersen and Martin Hegelund.
2016: Ageras is named Børsen Gazelle as one of Denmark’s fastest growing companies and wins the EY award for Entrepreneur of the Year.
2017: Investcorp acquires the majority of Ageras  which also wins the Danish e-commerce award for Best B2B Company.
2019: Ageras acquires accounting software Billy.
2020: Rabobank makes a strategic investment in Ageras, achieving EUR 10 million in ARR the same year.
2021: Lugard Road Capital injects EUR 60 million into Ageras which later acquires the invoicing system Zervant and the payroll system Salary.
2022: Canadian CIBC invests EUR 35 million in Ageras which later acquires German neo-bank Kontist.
2023: Ageras becomes profitable for the first time in July 2023. 
2024: Ageras receives EUR 82 million in investment from its founders, Investcorp, Folketrygdfondet, Lazard, Roosgruppen, Back in Black and Investering & Tryghed.

Contact
For further information, please contact nic@rossen.com or call +45 20729972. 

– Ageras A/S, 12/6/24

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/rossen—company/r/ageras-targets–1-2-major-acquisitions–amid-growing-revenue–profits-and-market-appetite-for-a-pan-,c3999368

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Neusoft Education officially renamed as ” Neutech Group Limited “, accelerating the advancement of the “education-healthcare-wellness and mind tour” strategy in a new stage

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January 12, 2025

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HONG KONG, Jan. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On 9 January, Neusoft Education (09616.HK) announced that the Company’s English name will change from “Neusoft Education Technology Co. Limited” to “Neutech Group Limited”. The name change will take effect on the same day.

According to the announcement, the Company’s renaming to “Neutech Group Limited” better reflects its strategic transformation and upgrade, and more accurately demonstrates its five-in-one industry layout of “education-healthcare-wellness and mind tour”. This will establish a new corporate brand image and highlight the Company’s comprehensive strength in technological innovation and integrated development. Starting with the name change, the Company will focus on education and adapt to the aging economy, promoting the parallel development of academic education, continuing education, senior education, and resource output. This will create a business model of “education-assisted healthcare, education-assisted wellness, medical-care conversion, medical-education assistance, care-supported medicine, and care-education assistance”. Driven by technology and platform research and development, the company will achieve integrated development of education, medicine, care, health, and tourism, as well as efficient use of human, financial, and material resources. This will build a harmonious and inclusive “education + technology + medical care + health + tourism” prosperous ecosystem. It is expected to further enhance the Company’s brand reputation and industry influence, and support its sustainable development.

Neutech Group, as a pioneer in the “education-healthcare-wellness and mind tour” ecosystem in China, successfully listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 29 September 2020, becoming the “first stock of IT higher education” (stock code: 9616.HK). With the broad market opportunities brought by the aging population and the positive support of policies for the development of the elderly care industry, the Company leverages its innovative research and development capabilities in “education + technology + medical care” to build a new ecosystem of integrated development of ” education-healthcare-wellness and mind tour”.

In the education technology business sector, the Company will retain the main body of ” Neusoft Education Group” and continue to operate academic education, continuing education, and resource output businesses. Based on IT innovation education, the Company will further develop the “digital media” and “medical care” fields, build an integrated ecosystem of “education-healthcare-wellness”, and consolidate the core competitiveness of education technology in the future. The Company will also establish a characteristic product and service system based on the 4S model, providing first-class platforms, resources, models, and management services to governments, universities, hospitals, and health care institutions, continuously empowering partners’ reform and development.

In the elderly education and elderly care technology business sector, following the concept of “Elderly care starts with prevention, education drives elderly care, and technology empowers elderly care”, the Company has deeply developed elderly education through Neuedu Phoenix Academy and created a unique “LIFECARES” model of integrated elderly education with “leisure, care, medical services, education, and integration”. Using top-notch medical and care services and platform services to empower the elderly to live a happy life, the Company is building a dream university for active seniors. In addition, the Company will strengthen the training of elderly care service personnel by creating a one-stop industry chain of “university training + training + intern + human resource services”. On the other hand, the Company will build a medical and care technology operation service model, create an elderly care solution industrial ecosystem through the output of overall smart elderly care solutions and elderly care technology products and services, and achieve mutually beneficial cooperation with ecological partners.

In the medical and health care service sector, the Company integrates customer management service systems to provide intelligent medical and elderly care information solutions, and create a “medical care and elderly care” integrated development system with treatment-based medical institutions, rehabilitation-based nursing institutions, and care-based elderly care institutions. Its subsidiaries, Ruikang Cardiovascular Hospital, Dalian Ruikang Zhuomei Stomatology Hospital Co., Ltd., and Wecare Family Nursing Home, have been put into operation.

In the wellness tourism sector, targeting energetic seniors, the Company integrates tourism, education, and elderly care into one, with a focus on “leisure learning, slow travel, and peaceful living”. Through the concept of “study-travel-care”, seniors can experience a variety of dimensions of “learning-travel-care” in their travel and learning process, creating a comprehensive elderly education model that provides opportunities for art experiences, promotes physical and mental relaxation, enhances cultural literacy, and expands social interaction.

In addition, the Company expands its industrial management and service sector, with the vision of building a better life and using technology to empower intelligent logistics. It explores diverse, characteristic, and value-added service models to meet the diverse needs of internal and external customers, continuously expanding its brand reputation and social influence.

With its keen market insight and deep accumulation of industry and education resources, Neutech Group Limited actively embraces the development of the silver-haired economy, timely enters new tracks, and improves its position in the industrial ecosystem. Now, the Group’s new layout of “education-healthcare-wellness and mind tour ” has been formed, which not only helps to create a new growth curve but also continuously expands new development margins, moving towards becoming a leader in the development of the “education-healthcare-wellness and mind tour” ecosystem.

CONTACT: Lin Wei, weilin@neuedu.com

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SOURCE Neutech Group Limited

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RoboSense and Coco Robotics Forge Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery

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January 12, 2025

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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — RoboSense (2498.HK), a global leader in AI-driven robotics technology, and Coco Robotics, an innovator in delivery robots, have announced a strategic partnership to transform last-mile logistics. By combining RoboSense’s advanced sensor technology with Coco Robotics’s delivery solutions, the collaboration aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in urban networks.

Coco Robotics bridges the gap between local businesses and customers through advanced navigation and real-time tracking, prioritizing sustainability by reducing carbon emissions and delivery costs. Since its launch in 2020, the company has expanded operations to major U.S. and European cities, forming partnerships with food delivery leaders like Uber Eats and DoorDash to meet the growing demands of modern logistics and support a greener future.

This partnership addresses key challenges in autonomous last-mile delivery by integrating RoboSense’s perception solutions into Coco Robotics’s fleet to enhance navigation and obstacle detection. Together, the companies are accelerating the deployment of delivery robots to optimize efficiency and scale operations.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with RoboSense to push the boundaries of what’s possible in last-mile delivery,” said Zach Rash, Co-founder and CEO of Coco Robotics. “This partnership strengthens our ability to provide safe, reliable, and sustainable delivery solutions at scale, helping us better serve businesses and communities.”

Mark Qiu, CEO of RoboSense, said, “The successful collaboration with Coco Robotics is one of the key milestones in RoboSense’s global strategy. By combining our visual sensor technology with Coco Robotics’ innovative robotics solutions, we aim to redefine what’s possible in autonomous last-mile delivery. RoboSense will continue to innovate, providing superior incremental components and solutions to our global robotics customers. Partnering with Coco Robotics, we will create safer, smarter robotic delivery services and expand into global markets.”  

About RoboSense

RoboSense (2498.HK), founded in 2014, is an AI-driven robotics technology company that supplies industry-leading incremental components and solutions for the robotics market. The company is committed to “Become the global leader in robotics technology platforms”, and its mission is “Safer world, Smarter life”. For more information about RoboSense, visit https://www.robosense.ai 

About Coco Robotics

Coco Robotics is the world’s largest urban robot delivery platform. Founded in 2020, Coco has completed over 500,000 zero-emission deliveries, serving customers in the US and Europe. Coco’s mission is to create a more sustainable, reliable, and affordable last-mile logistics solution in cities around the world. For more information about Coco, visit cocodelivery.com  

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SOURCE RoboSense Technology Co., Ltd.

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AI Wellness Launches SoCal Fire Relief Initiative to Support Families and First Responders in Southern California

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6 hours ago

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January 12, 2025

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Demonstrating a commitment to both innovation and compassion, AI Wellness has officially launched the SoCal Fire Relief Initiative to provide aid to families and first responders affected by the devastating fires in Southern California. Unveiled during CES 2025, this initiative aims to deliver critical resources and long-term recovery solutions to the communities hardest hit by this tragedy.

 

“Southern California is more than just where we operate—it’s our home,” said Dr. Gideon Kwok, Co-Founder of AI Wellness. “The fires have left countless families without homes, belongings, and hope. This initiative is our way of giving back and rebuilding the lives of our neighbors and the first responders who have worked tirelessly to protect them.”

Let’s Take Action Together

The SoCal Fire Relief Initiative brings together individuals, brands, and organizations to address the urgent and long-term needs of affected communities. In partnership with the Mission Community Hospital Foundation and the Santo Niño Health Center, AI Wellness is leading efforts to:

Provide essential supplies such as food, water, clothing, and medical care to displaced families.Deliver hydration and wellness resources to first responders working on the frontlines.Support long-term community recovery through wellness programs and innovative solutions.

“It is during a crisis that the best of humanity comes out,” said Bernard Hiller. “It’s important for those affected to know they are not alone. This is a huge undertaking that we cannot do without you. These are our friends, neighbors, and family. Please help us.”

How You Can Help

The initiative provides several ways to make a difference:

Donate to Relief Efforts:
Contributions directly fund essential resources for families and first responders.Send Water to Evacuation Centers:
Every purchase of AI Wellness Water helps ensure first responders and displaced families stay hydrated, while also funding continued production and donation efforts.Spread Awareness:
Share the SoCal Fire Relief Initiative with your networks to amplify its reach and inspire collective action.Wellness Bundles:
Wellness bundle purchases such as the Powersuit, Smart Ring, and Mindbody Matrix Water, help support relief efforts with proceeds contributing to recovery initiatives.

DONATE HERE

Real Impact in Action

Since the fires began, AI Wellness and its partners have made a significant impact:

Delivered over 10,000 water packs to evacuation centers and first responders.Distributed 500 wellness bundles to displaced families.Donated proceeds from the first 1,000 AI Wellness Powersuits and 5,000 Smart Rings to relief efforts.Raised $250,000 to support critical aid and recovery.

“This initiative is about more than providing relief,” said Abby Aboitiz Founder of AI Wellness. “It’s about restoring hope and rebuilding our community, together.”

Uniting Brands and Innovators

During CES 2025, AI Wellness called on brands and innovators to collaborate on this critical mission. Companies can contribute by donating resources, partnering on curated wellness bundles, or amplifying awareness for the initiative.

“We’re inspired by the innovation and generosity of the brands we’ve met here at CES,” said Dr. TK Huynh, Medical Innovator at AI Wellness. “Together, we can transform this tragedy into an opportunity to rebuild lives and strengthen our community.”

Join the SoCal Fire Relief Initiative

Support the SoCal Fire Relief Initiative by visiting aiwellness.ai or contacting AI Wellness directly:

Email: info@aiwellness.aiInstagram: @aiwellnesstv

About AI Wellness

AI Wellness is a pioneer in health, wellness, and philanthropy, combining cutting-edge AI technology with innovative solutions to address the most pressing challenges facing communities today. From digital avatars to precision education and curated wellness bundles, AI Wellness empowers individuals and brands to make a meaningful impact.

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SOURCE Assisted Intelligence Wellness, Inc.

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