Ports Group welcomes Bridgepoint as a new majority owner

Ports Group welcomes Bridgepoint as a new majority owner and strategic partner, to fuel international expansion and accelerate our vision to become the leading guardian of brands across the globe.

Gothenburg, Aug 2023

Ports Group, a leading European intellectual property (IP) and domain management firm, is pleased to announce a significant milestone in its journey towards becoming a leading international IP powerhouse by welcoming Bridgepoint Group, a global private equity company, as its new majority owner. As part of the transaction, Priveq, a Swedish private equity firm, will sell its stake in Ports Group, where management and key employees will reinvest alongside Bridgepoint. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Ports Group operates a ‘one-stop-shop’ tech-enabled brand protection platform, delivering vital IP solutions and services across domain management, trademark management and web security. The client base spans across SMEs to major enterprises. During recent years, Ports Grouphas experienced remarkable growth and transformation, establishing a footprint as a leader in domain management and IP solutions in the Nordic region whilst at the same time expanding across Europe. Ports Group is now excited to welcome Bridgepoint as a new partner that is fully aligned with the vision for the group and the ambitious expansion plans going forward.

Magdalena Bonde, CEO of Ports Group, expressed her enthusiasm about this pivotal transition, stating:

"We are excited to have Bridgepoint on board as our new majority shareholder. We are confident that they will be a strong partner for Ports Group as we embark on our ambitious growth and development plan, further scaling our business across Europe and beyond. Bridgepoint's investment reflects their confidence in our ability to achieve our objectives to build an international and differentiated player in a structurally growing global market. We are aligned in our determination to innovate and lead the development of the intellectual property market, whilst at the same time delivering high quality services and a strong value proposition to our clients."

Johan Dahlfors, Partner and Head of the Nordics at Bridgepoint Development Capital said:

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Ports Group, a distinguished leader in IP management and brand protection in the Nordic region with a growing footprint across Europe. The broad service offering, tech-driven approach and strong platform addresses an underserved demand in the market. This means Ports Group is well-positioned for long-term growth. With an ambitious vision for expansion across products and geographies and a strong international team, Ports Group is poised to reshape the landscape for digital brand protection and further its reputation as a leader.”

This collaboration aligns with Ports Group's ambitious growth strategy that has seen strong organic growth and the acquisition of five complementary companies over the past four years. With Bridgepoint, Ports Group will be able to harness the firm's international reach and extensive in-market experience, amplifying its capacity to serve clients across Europe and beyond. As Ports Group embarks on this exciting journey together with Bridgepoint, the company remains committed to delivering high-quality IP advisory services, fostering innovation, and empowering businesses to thrive in the modern business landscape. This development solidifies Ports Group's standing as the go-to partner for businesses seeking strategic IP advice and services.

Ports Group was advised by EY Corporate Finance and Setterwalls Advokatbyrå.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact: Magdalena Bonde, Ports Group CEO (magdalena.bonde@abion.com)

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