Convergent Finance LLP (“Convergent”) today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Ackermans & van Haaren (“AvH”), an independent and diversified group aiming at creating shareholder value through long-term investments in a limited number of companies with international growth potential. The AvH group represented, at an economic level, a turnover of 6 billion euros in 2021 and is based in Antwerp, Belgium.
Through this partnership, Convergent seeks to leverage AvH’s operating and industrial expertise and global networks. Convergent expects that this partnership will help its platform companies (whose businesses are global) explore opportunities in AvH’s sphere of influence. Through this partnership, AvH expects to tap the Convergent team’s diverse network and decades-long expertise in investing in Indian companies and to create industrial and co-investment partnerships over time.
Further, as part of this partnership, John-Eric Bertrand (“John-Eric”), AvH’s co-CEO, will be appointed as the Chairman of Convergent’s Advisory Council. John-Eric, who has held various leadership positions at AvH during his 14 years with the group, will work closely with Convergent on investments and future strategies.
Harsha Raghavan, the Managing Partner at Convergent, welcomed the partnership and stated, “Convergent’s core objective is to partner with great companies and help them transform into global leaders. We hope our partnership with AvH will help our platform companies achieve this goal by leveraging the group’s network and experience in helping businesses grow. We are also delighted to have John-Eric chair the Advisory Council. As Chairman, he will work with our platform companies on matters including bolt-on acquisitions, organic growth opportunities, and ESG.”
John-Eric commented, “The Convergent management team has proven its relevance and distinctiveness in the dynamic Indian market by actively supporting entrepreneurs and management teams in building efficient market leaders, applying a relentless focus on performance improvement across the value chain. AvH and Convergent share similar investment philosophies, aimed at concluding long term partnership with families and management teams in companies with a strong track record of operational and financial success. I and the rest of the AvH team are delighted to partner with Convergent to identify investment opportunities and then working with those companies to expand their businesses.”
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