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Ageras enters into an exclusive agreement with Societe Generale to acquire Shine and become one of the leading European providers of banking and accounting software for SMEs

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This acquisition would be Ageras’ largest and most significant to date           Shine would bring exceptional and complementary product and tech expertise within banking to Ageras, enhancing the combined company’s comprehensive suite and enabling it to service the entire lifecycle for small businesses, from company formation to invoicing, accounting and daily banking and payments           With more than 200,000 customers in France combined, Ageras would be well-positioned to offer a leading all-in-one solution to the country’s 4.2m small businesses           Shine will proceed with the usual information and consultation process with its workers’ council and the transaction will be subject to the approval by the ACPR (the French financial regulatory authority)

PARIS, June 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ageras, a leading provider of accounting software, banking, and admin tools for more than 300,000 active SME customers in France, Germany, The Netherlands and Denmark, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Societe Generale to acquire Shine, a leading French SME fintech. This transaction, fully in line with Ageras’ strategic plan announced with the successful €82 million raise in April 2024, would be the company’s largest acquisition to date and its eighth overall.

Reinforcing Ageras’ offering and leadership in Europe and France

With the acquisition of Shine, Ageras would strengthen its position as a leading European provider of banking and accounting software for SMEs, expanding its foothold in France, a core market for the Danish-founded fintech since its entry in 2021 with the acquisition of the leading pan-European invoicing software Zervant.

Upon completion of the transaction, the addition of Shine’s banking product would enable Ageras to service the entire lifecycle for French small businesses, from company formation to invoicing, accounting and daily banking and payments. In addition, Shine’s expertise and technological leadership within banking would strengthen Ageras’ banking activities across Europe.

This transaction would represent one of the potential two major acquisitions that Ageras is targeting to build a pan-European champion in banking and accounting software, ahead of a potential IPO in 2026. In its 2023 annual report, Ageras reported €31.7 million in revenue, a 53% increase year-on-year, marking its first profitable year.

“This would be our largest and most significant acquisition to date, moving us closer to achieving our ambition of building the ultimate financial hub for small businesses across Europe. When completed, the combination of Shine’s excellent banking product with our broad banking, accounting and business software, would enable us to deliver a complete offering of key financial solutions in France, mirroring our success in other core markets. We are truly impressed with what the Shine team has built and are looking forward to welcoming the team and together building the leading financial player for SMEs in France and across Europe,” said Rico Andersen, CEO of Ageras, which he co-founded with Martin Hegelund in 2012. 

Shine: a leading fintech for SMEs in France 

Founded in 2017 to make the lives of the self-employed and small businesses easier, Shine rapidly became a leading fintech in France. Societe Generale became a majority shareholder in Shine in 2020.

Much more than a business account, Shine also offers a « co-pilot » solution to provide a full daily banking service to SMEs with adjacent features, such as invoicing, payments and company formation. Serving more than 100,000 customers, Shine has been recognized for its stellar customer support by being awarded “Best business bank” by ESCDA in 2024. The company is regulated as a payment institution by the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR), the French financial regulatory authority.

“I am proud of what the Shine team has built over the past years and would like to thank Societe Generale for the confidence and their solid support. Shine is offering a superior business banking product with transparent pricing, a great user interface and top-quality support, which is loved by our customers, yielding a strong market position. ⁠Invoicing, accounting and daily banking are becoming more and more connected, and under the Ageras umbrella, we would be able to offer a state-of-the-art, comprehensive offering that simplifies the daily life of small businesses in Europe. We are excited to begin this new chapter and take our business to the next level,” commented Shine’s CEO Jean-Baptiste Sciandra.

Number of small businesses in France has doubled in 10 years

The SME market in France is growing. The country has approximately 4.2 million SMEs, accounting for 99.9% of all businesses. Their numbers increased by 7.7% between 2020 and 2022 and approximately doubled from 2012 to 2022.

“Ageras was founded with a vision to enable success for small businesses by allowing them to run their business, ideally spending zero minutes on administration. Most business owners struggle with an overview of their business, managing their cash flow and various reporting obligations. The acquisition of Shine will allow us to provide a best-in-class product to French SMEs,” added Rico Andersen, who himself started his first company with co-founder Martin Hegelund at age 17.

Ageras is mainly backed by Investcorp since 2017 with other shareholders including Lugard Road Capital (Luxor Capital), Rabobank, Lazard, Tryghedsfondet, Back in Black and CIBC.

Ageras would take over all the activities operated by Shine, as well as all employees of the entity. 

This transaction will be subject to applicable social procedures, usual suspensive conditions, and the approval of the competent financial and regulatory authorities. 

The closing of the transaction is expected in the first half of 2025.

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 financing, 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 Lazard. For more information, please visit www.ageras.com.

Press contacts: 

Ageras

Denmark and international

Rossen & Company
Nicolai Rossen
nic@rossen.com
+45 20729972

France and international

Image Sept
Leslie Jung / Roxane Planas / Sergio de la Calle
ageras@image7.fr
+33 1 53 70 74 70

– Ageras A/S, 19/6/24

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ADX welcomes Morgan Stanley as the first international investment bank Remote Trading Member, expanding global access to Abu Dhabi’s capital markets

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ABU DHABI, UAE, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Group today announced that Morgan Stanley, a leading investment bank and financial services company, has joined the ADX as its first international investment bank Remote Trading Member — enabling Morgan Stanley’s clients to access the ADX directly.

This milestone strengthens ADX’s global connectivity and supports growing international institutional demand for exposure to UAE markets. It also reinforces its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing exchanges by market capitalization, while highlighting the market’s continued progress in depth, liquidity, and inclusion in major global indices.

Remote membership enables Morgan Stanley to provide its clients with direct market access to the ADX, with trading conducted via the firm’s global trading platform. The ADX continues to play a pivotal role in advancing Abu Dhabi’s long-term economic ambitions, as a mechanism for a diversified, innovation-led, knowledge-based economy.

Morgan Stanley’s direct trading access to ADX reflects the strength of Abu Dhabi’s investment proposition and the continued institutionalization of UAE capital markets. Morgan Stanley’s membership will enhance execution quality, optimize order routing, and provide greater control across the end-to-end trade lifecycle, delivering an advanced trading experience for global investors.

The structure follows a proven international access model used by Morgan Stanley and is designed to meet growing client demand for efficient, transparent, and seamless access to ADX-listed opportunities.

Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Group, said: “This marks a significant step in advancing our ambition to be a leading financial marketplace that drives opportunity and sustainable economic growth. This momentum is reflected in the strong foreign investor participation, with trading value exceeding 85 billion dirhams in the first quarter of 2026 up by 22% year on year. This performance underscores the growing depth and global relevance of our market, while reinforcing our commitment to expanding international access, strengthening cross-border connectivity, and building a world-class market infrastructure that attracts global capital, supports a diverse range of issuers and contributes to Abu Dhabi’s long-term economic prosperity.”

Patrick Delivanis, Regional Co-Head of MENA at Morgan Stanley, said: “Becoming a Remote Trading Member of ADX reflects our focus on providing clients with efficient, seamless access to Abu Dhabi’s capital markets through our market–leading trading platform. We see continued momentum in the institutionalization and international participation of UAE markets, and we’re pleased to support that evolution by enabling international investors to access opportunities in MENA with direct connectivity to local markets, alongside greater transparency and control across the trading lifecycle.”

Morgan Stanley’s participation aligns with ADX’s strategy to strengthen international connectivity, with remote memberships selectively offered to global firms to attract high-quality cross-border liquidity. The announcement builds on the ADX’s expansion momentum: in 2025, foreign investment rose by nearly 14% and institutional trading increased by 10% year on year. Subject to final operational readiness, Morgan Stanley expects to begin trading as a remote member in the coming weeks.

About Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)

The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) was established on 15 November 2000 pursuant to Local Law No. (3) of 2000, which granted the exchange legal rights with independent financial and administrative status, as well as the necessary supervisory and executive powers necessary to carry out its functions. On 17 March 2020, the ADX was converted from a public entity into a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) in accordance with Law No. (8) of 2020.

The ADX Group, a market infrastructure group comprising the exchange (ADX) and its post-trade ecosystem, including its wholly owned subsidiaries AD Depository and AD Clear, was established. Through its integrated and globally aligned business structure, the ADX Group supports efficient, transparent, and resilient capital markets across trading, clearing, settlement, and custody.

The Group provides an efficient and regulated marketplace for the trading of securities, including equities issued by public joint-stock companies, bonds issued by governments and corporations, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other financial instruments approved by the UAE Capital Market Authority.

The ADX is the second-largest exchange in the Arab region by market capitalization. Its strategy of delivering stable financial performance through diversified revenue streams is aligned with the UAE’s national development agenda, “Towards the Next 50”, which aims to build a sustainable, diversified, and high-value-added economy.

For more information, please contact:
Abdulrahman Saleh ALKhateeb
Manager of Corporate Communication
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)
Mobile: +971 (50) 668 9733
Email: ALKhateebA@adx.ae

 

 

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SOURCE Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)

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Geotab integrates Polestar vehicles into its OEM telematics network

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Fleet operators across North America, Europe, and APAC can now access Polestar vehicle data directly in MyGeotab — no aftermarket hardware required.

LONDON, UK, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Geotab, a global leader in connected vehicle and asset management solutions, today announced the integration of Polestar vehicles into its OEM telematics network, giving commercial fleet operators seamless access to Polestar data within MyGeotab from day one — with no aftermarket hardware installation required. The integration is available globally across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, supporting all Polestar models.

Developed in collaboration with Geotab, among other telematics service providers, Polestar Fleet Telematics integrates directly into MyGeotab. The Geotab integration enables fleet managers to manage Polestar vehicles alongside all other makes and models on a single unified platform — without fitting additional devices.

Connected vehicle data where it matters most

Through Polestar Fleet Telematics, fleet operators gain near-real-time access to a comprehensive dataset — covering EV battery and charging status, location, tyre information, vehicle security, maintenance alerts, and climate data — flowing directly from Polestar’s connected vehicle architecture into MyGeotab, with no physical installation required.

This breadth of data enables fleet managers to move from reactive to proactive operations — scheduling maintenance before failures occur, optimising charge planning across depots, and maintaining duty-of-care oversight across the entire fleet.

Supporting Europe’s Mixed-Fleet Reality

OEM-embedded telematics removes the need for aftermarket device installation across mixed-manufacturer fleets, reducing logistical overhead and supporting compliance with works council and GDPR requirements — a critical consideration for European fleet operators.

“Polestar Fleet Telematics combines sustainability with intelligence, integrating seamlessly with Geotab to deliver these capabilities directly into the platforms fleet operators trust. Continuous data visibility enables more efficient and informed fleet operations, from day-to-day management to long-term planning. By leveraging Polestar vehicles’ embedded connectivity, fleet managers can make smarter, data-driven decisions — without adding hardware or complexity to their operations.” said Emma Knapp, Manager of Global Key Accounts at Polestar.

Polestar joins an OEM telematics network that already spans over 80% of leading global vehicle manufacturers by fleet market share, including BMW Group, Ford, Stellantis, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Cars. For fleet operators already using MyGeotab, Polestar vehicles can be connected and deliver data without any additional hardware or installation.

“OEM-embedded telematics represents a change in how fleet data reaches the platform — and Polestar’s connected vehicle architecture makes this integration particularly well-suited for markets that are seriously considering transitioning to electric vehicles.” said Christoph Ludewig, Vice President OEM Global at Geotab. “Fleet operators managing mixed EV and internal combustion engine fleets no longer need separate tools or hardware for each vehicle type. Polestar data flows directly into MyGeotab alongside every other vehicle in the fleet — giving operators the consolidated visibility they need to drive efficiency, support duty of care, and manage their EV transition with confidence.”

Global Availability

The integration is available now across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, supporting all Polestar models. Fleet managers can activate the service via the Geotab Marketplace or by contacting their Geotab representative.

About Polestar

Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) is the Swedish electric performance car brand with a focus on uncompromised design and innovation, and the ambition to accelerate the change towards a sustainable future. Headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, its cars are available in 28 markets globally across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Polestar has four models in its line-up: Polestar 2, Polestar 3, Polestar 4, and Polestar 5. Planned models include the Polestar 7 compact SUV (to be introduced in 2028) and the Polestar 6 roadster. With its vehicles currently manufactured on two continents, North America and Asia, Polestar plans to diversify its manufacturing footprint further, with production of Polestar 7 planned in Europe.

Polestar has an unwavering commitment to sustainability and has set an ambitious roadmap to reach its climate targets: halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 per-vehicle-sold and become climate-neutral across its value chain by 2040. Polestar’s comprehensive sustainability strategy covers the four areas of Climate, Transparency, Circularity, and Inclusion.

About Geotab

Geotab is a global leader in connected vehicle and asset management solutions, with headquarters in Oakville, Ontario and Atlanta, Georgia. Our mission is to make the world safer, more efficient, and sustainable. We leverage advanced data analytics and AI to transform fleet performance and operations, reducing cost and driving efficiency. Backed by top data scientists and engineers, we serve approximately 100,000 global customers, processing 100 billion data points daily from more than 5 million vehicle subscriptions. Geotab is trusted by Fortune 500 organisations, mid-sized fleets, and the largest public sector fleets in the world, including the US Federal government. Committed to data security and privacy, we hold FIPS 140-3 and FedRAMP authorisations. Our open platform, ecosystem of outstanding partners, and Geotab Marketplace deliver hundreds of fleet-ready third-party solutions. This year, we’re celebrating 25 years of innovation. Learn more at www.geotab.com/uk and follow us on LinkedIn or visit our blog.

GEOTAB and GEOTAB MARKETPLACE are registered trademarks of Geotab Inc. in Canada, the United States and/or other countries.

Media Contact: Geotab Contact, Romina Dashghachian, Strategic Communications Lead, EMEA, pr@geotab.com

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IDX Opens Geneva Office and Strengthens Global Data & Insights Capability

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New Swiss presence and specialist team integration support growing global demand for evidence-based, defensible communications strategies

LONDON, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IDX today announced the opening of its new Geneva office and the integration of a specialist Data & Insights team, strengthening the company’s international footprint and expanding its ability to help clients worldwide build communications strategies grounded in evidence, market intelligence and audience insight.

The expansion gives IDX an on-the-ground presence in Switzerland while adding further depth to its Data & Insights capability. The Geneva-based team will work closely with IDX specialists across performance marketing and corporate communications, helping clients develop a clearer view of the markets they operate in and the forces shaping their growth.

The move aligns with Destination 250 – Customers First, IDX’s global strategy to grow its team by 250, focused on deepening client value, strengthening delivery and investing in the capabilities that matter most to clients.

The investment strengthens the Data pillar of IDX’s Connected Content™ model, which combines Creative, Data, Technology and Media to create what IDX calls The Multiplier Effect, helping clients multiply what matters through more connected, measurable and effective work.

“IDX is experiencing phenomenal growth, and our new Geneva office gives us boots on the ground to better serve clients across Europe and globally across performance marketing, investor relations and corporate communications,” said Crispin Beale, Worldwide CEO, IDX. “Data has been at the heart of this business for decades, and this centre of excellence reflects our continued investment in that capability. It’s an incredibly exciting time for IDX, and I look forward to the next phase of our growth as we continue to expand globally.”

“This is an exciting step in IDX’s growth story and a clear response to what clients are asking for: more evidence-based thinking, stronger market context and clearer rationale behind their communications strategies,” said Chris Corrigan, Chief Customer Growth Officer, IDX. “Our new presence in Geneva, combined with deeper Data & Insights expertise, strengthens the way we support clients globally, giving them earlier access to the insight and market context they need to make better-informed decisions and turn evidence into action.”

The Geneva office will strengthen relationships with existing clients in the region, support re-engagement with former partners and create new opportunities for IDX with organisations operating across European and global markets. It reflects IDX’s continued investment in the capabilities that matter most to clients as communications, marketing and corporate reputation work become increasingly data-led and commercially accountable.

“IDX’s integrated offer across insights, performance marketing and corporate communications, powered by the combination of human intelligence, advanced technology and AI, represents exactly where the industry is heading,” said Lonneke de Roo, Head of Data & Insights, IDX. “I am delighted to join the business and help clients navigate increasingly complex markets with clearer evidence, sharper insight and more connected strategies.”

ABOUT IDX  

IDX is a global strategic communications and marketing agency, headquartered in London with offices around the world, including New York, London, Phoenix, Helsinki, Gothenburg, Geneva, and Vadodara. Working with more than 1,600 clients across sectors, IDX combines deep industry knowledge with a data-first mindset to help ambitious brands thrive in complex, fast-moving markets. The firm specialises in performance marketing, investor relations, and stakeholder engagement, delivering integrated campaigns that drive meaningful business outcomes. Visit www.idx.inc to learn more.

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