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Campaign ME
7 days ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
Instinctif Partners MENA acquired by Italy's Excellera
Excellera Advisory Group, a corporate affairs advisory group based in Italy, has acquired Instinctif Partners MENA, a leading strategic communications consultancy in the MENA region. The acquisition aligns with Excellera's growth strategy launched in 2022 with the strategic and financial support of Xenon Private Equity. The move also aims to further consolidate the Group's position as a reference point in corporate affairs. This deal will give Excellera a significant presence in the Middle East and Arabic-speaking North African markets, where Instinctif Partners MENA has built a strong presence over the past 12 years. The company will retain the same management team, led by founder CEO Samantha Bartel, and will operate under a new name, IP Excellera, marking the change in ownership of the company and Excellera's expanding footprint in one of the world's fastest-growing and most dynamic markets. 'We are delighted to be joining Excellera Advisory Group for the next stage of our growth journey. It has been an amazing 12 years since we established in MENA and I'd like to thank all colleagues for their hard work and dedication and clients for their loyalty, who have made it so special over the years,' said Bartel. With the addition of IP Excellera, the Group claims its total turnover will exceed $75 million, with a team of more than 350 professionals, further extending its international footprint. IP Excellera's offices in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai will expand the Group's global network, which already includes locations in Bergamo, Berlin, Brussels, Genoa, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Rome, and Treviso, bringing the total to 15 locations worldwide. Gianfranco Piras, Chairman of Excellera Advisory Group and Partner at Xenon Private Equity, said: 'The acquisition of IP MENA marks a fundamental step in Excellera's growth journey, confirming the soundness of our investment strategy and the Group's ability to attract high-value companies in fast-growing markets.' IP Excellera will operate as an integrated strategic advisory firm with offers across strategic communications, capital markets and investor relations, corporate reporting, and ESG & sustainability. A team of 60 talented consultants, drawn from the world's leading financial, government, and academic institutions, offers clients best-in-class advice to help them navigate risk, reputation, and change. The company also claims to represent clients in the public and private sectors and has a portfolio of more than 100 corporate clients with a combined market value of over $3 trillion. 'At Xenon Private Equity, we have believed from the very beginning in the creation of a strong, competitive Group capable of establishing itself as a leading player in the corporate affairs sector and serving as a platform for further aggregation,' Piras said. 'Entering the MENA region strengthens Excellera's platform and broadens its scope, laying the foundations for long-term growth.' Leadership at IP Excellera claims the company has achieved more than 20 per cent annual growth for the last 5 years, cementing its position as a leading advisory firm in the region and setting a strong basis for growth in partnership with Excellera. 'This transaction is another important step in our international development strategy,' said Paolo Zanetto, CEO of Excellera Advisory Group, on the acquisition. 'In an increasingly interconnected world, the EMEA region has become a natural arena for those, like us, who provide strategic advice on complex and global issues,' he added. IP Excellera's integrated service offering aims to be complementary to Excellera's strength in financial communications and its leading position in M&A in Europe, which will enable organic growth across the Group. 'We will continue to build our value proposition so we can consistently offer our clients the very best advice across strategic communications, capital markets and investor relations, corporate reporting, and ESG & sustainability and service our growing client roster even better,' Bartel added. Finally, Julian Walker, CEO of Instinctif Partners, also commented on the acquisition, following the sale. 'On behalf of us all, I thank Sam and her team for such consistently great work and send our very best wishes for their future as part of Excellera,' he said, noting the new potential of IP Excellera's new journey.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Clean the Queen effort rallies Charlotte volunteers ahead of Earth Day
Tuesday is Earth Day, and Charlotteans are doing their part by participating in cleanups all week long. Channel 9's climate reporter Michelle Alfini introduces a few of the organizers and volunteers who hope this is just the start of getting more involved in making our area greener. All week long, you might see a few yellow vests along Charlotte's streets, cleaning up whatever they could find. ALSO READ: Earth Day 2024: When did it start; how is it celebrated; what can you do? It is part of the Clean the Queen effort, a week-long collaboration between Envision Charlotte, Charlotte Solid Waste Services Department, and Keep Charlotte Beautiful. 'Doing this kind of event really opens people's eyes to this problem,' said Gracie Bartel with Keep Charlotte Beautiful. Bartel is the AmeriCorps environment engagement specialist with Keep Charlotte Beautiful. She said events like this one, especially around Earth Day, are a great way to get people thinking about environmental issues across the city, starting with one that's easy to identify but also overlook. 'Maybe you weren't paying attention while you were driving around,' said Bartel. Organizers said it's not just about getting the big stuff off of our streets, but these tiny pieces of trash that can be easier to miss can cause the biggest problems. 'Those little pieces are what we really want to focus on because that is what can get into our water or get into our soil,' said Bartel. From there, she said it can hurt local wildlife and even enter our drinking water systems. Another way volunteers are trying to reduce waste this week is by learning how to reuse materials that would otherwise head to landfills. ALSO READ: Nourish Up volunteers honor friend's memory through service Esther Moberly told Channel 9 that she had volunteered with Clean the City, but this year she's bringing new friends and co-workers. She said he hoped the event would help open their eyes to environmental concerns across the city, as well as to opportunities to help. 'There are issues. Instead of being at home and being upset about it, get out, do your part, contribute, and learn more about what others are doing. Learn how you can do your part to make a difference,' Moberly said. Several other cleanups have been planned for this week. You learn more here. VIDEO: Nourish Up volunteers honor friend's memory through service
CBC
23-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Saskatchewan pork producers face impact of Chinese tariffs
At King of Duck, a Chinese barbecue restaurant in Saskatoon, the chef carefully prepares pork for the day's service. The restaurant specializes in roasted and barbecued meats — a staple of Chinese cuisine. Philip Zhang, the restaurant's manager, came to Saskatoon after 20 years cooking Chinese barbecue in Toronto. He said his restaurant is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan. Some of the most popular dishes involve pork, including roasted pork belly and char siu. "Pork to the Chinese culture is very important," Zhang said. "On any special occasion — weddings, birthdays — pork is a must." Pork is one of several industries targeted in a trade dispute between Canada and China. In October, the Canadian government imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. In response, China announced a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian pork taking effect on March 20, raising concerns for Saskatchewan's producers. Eric Micheels, an associate professor in agricultural economics at the University of Saskatchewan, said China is a key market for pork — but not the only one. "China is the third most important destination for Canadian pork exports," Micheels said. "But we're maybe more reliant on China than they are on us." Micheels said China can source pork from other multiple countries, such as Brazil and Spain, while Canadian pork producers will take a hit as they try to find other markets. "Canada exports over half a billion dollars to China," said Mark Ferguson, general manager of Sask Pork. "Canada's pork exports are annually over $4 billion. So that's a huge chunk of our total market." Micheels said losing market access or facing higher costs could force some producers to reconsider their strategies. "The best thing producers can do right now is stay as efficient as possible," Micheels said. "That's what makes Canadian pork competitive." Local farmers see shift in demand While larger producers worry about the impact of tariffs, not all pork farmers are affected. Ben Martins Bartel, who owns Grovenland Farm near Lanigan, doesn't rely on exports. He sells the pork he raises directly to consumers across Saskatchewan. "We have a small land base, so we need to have a diversified farm," Bartel says. "We produce food rather than commodities." Since the tariff announcement, Bartel has noticed a surge in demand for locally-sourced pork. "I've had a lot of calls, a lot of emails," he said. "But with pigs, it takes eight to 10 months to increase production. Right now, I have more interest in my products than I have supply." Bartel said a stronger mix of large, small and mid-sized farms would make the pork industry more resilient to global trade disruptions. As tensions between Canada, China and the United States play out, Bartel is hopeful that more consumers will consider buying local. "Building that relationship between agriculture and consumers — where your neighbour is producing your food — it's good for us," he says. "And in the long run, it's good for everyone."
