BURLINGTON, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#CFO—Silfab Solar, North America’s leading PV module manufacturer, announced today it will debut its new utility-grade solar panels as well as showcase its most powerful line of commercial panels during the RE+ expo in Anaheim, California.

Silfab, which will open its next and largest U.S. panel and solar cell manufacturing plant later this year, is applying its engineering prowess and industry-leading automated assembly technology to deliver durable and high-performing bifacial modules for utility-scale projects. Silfab will also display at RE+ next week its premium residential Prime series with N-type cell technology and our Silfab Elite panel, including a sneak peek at the Elite panel of the future.

“Silfab Solar continues to expand and innovate to meet demands of customers who seek high-quality, high-efficiency PV solar panels that are made in America,” said Paolo Maccario, Silfab President and CEO. “With more than 40 years of solar industry experience and our well-known commitment to quality, reliability and innovation, Silfab remains a trusted partner for clean energy solutions in North America.”

Silfab is excited to announce its Silfab Utility NTC 620-640 XL bifacial modules with a nearly 23 percent efficiency rating, improved shade tolerance and low-light performance, made-to-order cables and connectors, and superior durability, including an industry-leading hail rating. As with all its panels, the Silfab Utility line is backed by the most comprehensive warranties in the industry.

Commercial lineup

Silfab’s American-made commercial panels have been trusted to provide energy solutions to every kind of installation – from US military buildings, national retail chains to US sports stadiums. Silfab Commercial NTC utilizes next-generation N-type solar cells, contributing to significantly higher efficiency levels (20%+) and longevity while maximizing energy production and reduced degradation over time. Silfab panels are designed and engineered specifically for the North American market to provide superior performance and durability to handle harsh, cold conditions and extreme heat and humidity. The latest lineup includes:

• Silfab Commercial-570/580/590 XM+ (bifacial)
• Silfab Commercial-520/530/540 XM (bifacial)
• Silfab Commercial-520/530 QM

In addition to displaying a prototype panel with integrated back-contact cell and foil interconnect design, other panels to be showcased at RE+ will be the Silfab Prime N-type 420/430/440, and the Silfab Elite-420 BG , which recently earned a PVEL “Top Performer” rating.

Look for Silfab at Booth 28051 at the RE+ expo that begins Sept. 10.

Expansion

Silfab’s newest factory in South Carolina will soon provide the company with its own 1 gigawatt of domestic cell production and add another 1.3 gigawatts of made-in-America module capacity. The facility will begin operations by the end of this year.

For more information about Silfab’s superior solar products, visit: www.silfabsolar.com

About Silfab Solar

Silfab Solar is the North American leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-efficiency, premium quality PV modules. Silfab leverages more than 40 years of solar experience and best-in-class technologies to produce the highest-rated solar modules. Silfab operates state-of-the-art facilities in the state of Washington and Toronto, Canada and will soon be manufacturing solar cells and PV modules in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Each facility features multiple automated production lines, an ISO 9001:2015-accredited Quality Management System, and just-in-time manufacturing to deliver Buy American approved PV modules specifically designed for and dedicated to the North American market. www.silfabsolar.com

Contacts

Media Contact: Geoff Atkins, Email: g.atkins@silfabsolar.com, Tel: +1-905-255-2501 Ext. 737

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Inovalis Real Estate Investment Trust (the “REIT”) (TSX: INO.UN) today announced that unitholders approved, in accordance with the requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”), an ordinary resolution (the “Resolution”) authorizing the sale of the property located at 24-26, Rue Bénard – 25, Rue Hyppolite Maindron – 27-29, Rue de la Sablière, Paris, District 14, France (the “Sabliere Sale”) to Inovalis S.A. (the “Purchaser”) at a special meeting of unitholders of the REIT (the “Special Meeting”).

As the Sabliere Sale could be considered a “related party transaction” pursuant to MI 61-101, the REIT was required to obtain the prior approval of the Sabliere Sale by a majority of the minority unitholders on a disinterested basis. At the Special Meeting and excluding votes cast by (i) Mr. Stéphane Amine, President and CEO of the REIT, who holds 37,900 units and indirectly exercises control or direction over 1,530,074 units and 938,036 special voting units held by the Purchaser; (ii) Mr. David Giraud, an employee of the Purchaser, who holds 1,151,782 units; and (iii) Ms. Anne Smolen, an employee of the Purchaser, who holds 41,100 units, the Resolution approving the Sabliere Sale received 2,432,752 votes (representing 94.8% of the votes cast) for its approval, and 133,158 votes (or 5.2% of the votes cast) against. Final voting results from the Special Meeting will be filed and available on the REIT’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

As previously set forth, the Sabliere Sale is conditional upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. There is no certainty, nor can the REIT provide any assurance, that these conditions will be satisfied and, as such, there is no assurance that the Sabliere Sale will be completed, or if completed, will be on the terms as previously disclosed by the REIT. Any material difference in the terms of the Sabliere Sale will require the REIT to seek further approval of unitholders.

About Inovalis REIT

Inovalis REIT is a real estate investment trust listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada. It was founded in 2013 by Inovalis and invests in office properties in primary markets of France, Germany and Spain. It holds 13 assets. Inovalis REIT acquires (indirectly) real estate properties via CanCorpEurope, authorized Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) by the CSSF in Luxemburg, and managed by Inovalis S.A.

About Inovalis Group

Inovalis S.A. is a French Alternative Investment fund manager, authorized by the French Securities and Markets Authority (AMF) under AIFM laws. Inovalis S.A. and its subsidiaries (Advenis S.A., Advenis REIM) invest in and manage Real Estate Investment Trusts such as Inovalis REIT, open ended funds (SCPI) with stable real estate focus such as Eurovalys (for Germany) and Elialys (Southern Europe), Private Thematic Funds raised with Inovalis partners to invest in defined real estate strategies and direct Co-investments on specific assets.

Inovalis Group (www.inovalis.com), founded in 1998 by Inovalis SA, is an established pan European real estate investment player with EUR 7 billion of AuM and with offices in all the world’s major financial and economic centers in Paris, Luxembourg, Madrid, Frankfurt, Toronto and Dubai. The group is comprised of 300 professionals, providing Advisory, Fund, Asset and Property Management services in Real Estate as well as Wealth Management services.

Contacts

For further information:

Mike Bonneveld
Chair of the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees

Inovalis Real Estate Investment Trust

mbonneveld@inovalis.com

 

When EV charging is not available at multifamily properties, the percentage of residents who plan to own or drive an EV in the next five years drops from 62% to 25%, according to a survey by SWTCH Energy

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new survey by SWTCH Energy (SWTCH), a company pioneering electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for multi-tenant buildings across North America, reveals that access to property-level EV charging has a significant impact on multifamily residents’ decision to own or drive an EV within the next five years. The survey highlights residents’ strong desire for sustainable, eco-conscious lifestyles and how, despite this, the lack of EV charging at urban multifamily properties across the U.S. is hindering their transition to EV ownership.

Conducted in partnership with a third-party research firm, the survey consisted of 1,567 intergenerational consumers who rent or own a non-standalone home (i.e. apartment or condominium residence) in Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; and Miami or Tampa, FL.

The key findings include:

A sustainable lifestyle and EV ownership are top of mind for many multifamily residents.

• Nearly half of residents (47%) find a sustainable, eco-conscious lifestyle to be “very” or “extremely” important to them.
• 66% of residents believe that access to EV charging would benefit residential communities.
• 67% of residents say that having EV charging in their building would make them consider getting an EV.

Beyond the cost of owning/leasing EVs, availability of at-home charging is a significant factor deterring residents from switching to EVs.

• Almost half of non-EV owners/lessees (47.5%) cite high purchase and lease price as a barrier to using an EV.
• 31% of non-EV owners/lessees cite lack of charging in their multifamily building/at home as a barrier to using an EV.
• 82% of non-EV owners/lessees are without EV charging in their buildings.

“This data further shows that at-home EV charging for the over 44 million Americans living in multifamily properties is a critical component to achieving transportation electrification,” said Sofia Berrada, Head of Strategy at SWTCH. “SWTCH has long been focused on expanding EV charging at multifamily properties. Coupled with the declining costs of EVs, we have a unique opportunity to support residents, property owners and operators’ sustainability journey in the most cost-effective way.”

SWTCH is at the forefront of closing EV charging gaps in the critically underserved multifamily market. The company’s turnkey EV charging solutions tackle the main deployment challenges for new and aging multifamily buildings from upfront costs and limited electrical capacity to charger reliability. SWTCH has deployed over 10,000 charging ports across North America.

For more information, please visit https://swtchenergy.com/request-survey-data/.

About SWTCH Energy

Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with offices in Brooklyn and Boston, SWTCH is pioneering EV charging solutions for multifamily, commercial, and workplace properties across North America. SWTCH leverages the latest technology available to help building owners and operators deploy EV charging by tapping into their existing grid infrastructure. Through constant innovation and an extensive partnership network, SWTCH provides the most profitable and unique business model for multi-tenant buildings to stay competitive. For more information, visit www.swtchenergy.com.

Contacts

Chelsea Nolan

Antenna Group for SWTCH

SWTCH@antennagroup.com

Transformative new solutions will drive business value for water utilities, commercial properties, and residential communities.

BOULDER, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Metron, the global leader in cellular-based smart metering and water intelligence, today announced that it will launch two transformative new products at the National Rural Water Association’s WaterPro Conference 2024, to be held in Savannah, Georgia, from September 9-11, 2024.

The product launches form part of Metron’s new data-first strategy, using advanced analytics and machine learning to empower utilities, property managers, and homeowners to identify and fix leaks, optimize water usage, lower costs, and chart a more sustainable path forward. Building on Metron’s long-standing leadership in water management, the eagerly awaited new products will bring Metron’s advanced water intelligence solutions to municipal utilities, developers, property managers, and homeowners across the United States. Further details will be revealed in coming days as WaterPro 2024 approaches.

Metron’s presence at WaterPro 2024 will give customers and industry partners an opportunity to learn about the company’s new course under the leadership of tech industry veteran Carolyn Parent, who joined as CEO in February. Under Parent’s leadership, Metron is building on its long history of creating groundbreaking hardware devices, and expanding into data-driven and advanced analytics solutions that radically enhance customers’ ability to manage and maintain water infrastructure, reduce waste and operating costs, and accelerate progress toward ambitious sustainability goals.

“For decades, Metron has been one of the world’s best-known and most trusted developers of smart metering solutions,” Parent said. “Now we’re embarking on an exciting new chapter — and there’s no better place to begin that journey than at WaterPro 2024. I can’t wait to meet with industry leaders from across the country, introduce our impactful new products, and share our vision for the future of intelligent, data-driven water management.”

Over 1,700 industry leaders and 110 exhibitors will attend WaterPro 2024 in Savannah from September 9-11, 2024. The Metron leadership team will be on hand to unveil their new product lineup, meet with industry stakeholders, and offer hands-on demos. Find Metron at booth 611 in the Savannah Convention Center.

About Metron

Metron is the world’s leading smart water management system and water sustainability company providing customers with best-in-class, real-time water use data analytics. Metron creates industry-leading customer solutions combining durable, high-performance meters and sensors with WaterScope™ Advanced Water Data Software. Over 1 billion gallons of water has been saved by Metron’s smart water system’s resource usage optimization, enhanced efficiency, and informed decision making. With 8,000 networked customers and a massive network of installed network devices, Metron propels property water management and sustainability – detecting leaks and abnormal consumption from the utility meter and across a broad range of water users within a complex. Metron serves the Utilities, Municipalities, Manufactured Housing, Multi-Family Housing, Education, Residential and Commercial Real Estate verticals in all 50 states and in Canada.

Learn more: metronfarnier.com.

About XPV Water Partners

XPV Water Partners is a team of experienced operators and investors who are committed to making a difference in water. The firm manages investment capital from some of the world’s top institutional investors, and partners with emerging water-related companies to help them rapidly expand and achieve their strategic goals. XPV aims to generate strong, risk-adjusted returns for its investors by leveraging its trusted ecosystem, deep industry knowledge, and its water centric company scaling platform. XPV is committed to building partnerships that contribute to growing people, sustainable businesses, prosperous communities, and a water secure future.

Learn more: xpvwaterpartners.com.

Contacts

Nick Bettis, pr@metronfarnier.com

Sellers brings over 15 years of building products experience to LP

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–LP Building Solutions (LP), a leading manufacturer of high-performance building products, today announced the appointment of Jeremy Sellers as Vice President of OSB Sales and Marketing.

“Jeremy’s exceptional sales leadership and strategic vision will be an invaluable asset to LP,” said LP Executive Vice President, General Manager of OSB Jimmy Mason. “I look forward to seeing his expertise drive our business forward and support our ambitious goals.”

In his new role, Sellers will lead the development, alignment and execution of all sales and marketing programs within LP’s OSB segment. This includes overseeing the innovative value-added OSB product portfolio known as LP® Structural Solutions, managing strategic partnerships, and steering comprehensive product marketing campaigns and sales strategies.

With over 15 years of experience in the building products industry, Sellers has a proven track record of success. He began his career at Wolf Home Products as a Product Specialist and advanced to Senior Vice President of Sales in 2022. Sellers holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

To learn more about LP, visit LPCorp.com.

About LP Building Solutions

As a leader in high-performance building solutions, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP Building Solutions, NYSE: LPX) manufactures engineered wood products that meet the demands of builders, remodelers and homeowners worldwide. LP’s extensive portfolio of innovative and dependable products includes Siding Solutions (LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding, LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Trim & Siding, LP BuilderSeries® Lap Siding and LP® Outdoor Building Solutions®), LP® Structural Solutions (LP® TechShield® Radiant Barrier, LP WeatherLogic® Air & Water Barrier, LP Legacy® Premium Sub-Flooring, LP® FlameBlock® Fire-Rated Sheathing, LP NovaCore® Thermal Insulated Sheathing and LP® TopNotch® 350 Durable Sub-Flooring) and oriented strand board (OSB). In addition to product solutions, LP provides industry-leading customer service and warranties. Since its founding in 1972, LP has been Building a Better World™ by helping customers construct beautiful, durable homes while shareholders build lasting value. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, LP operates 22 plants across the U.S., Canada, Chile and Brazil. For more information, visit LPCorp.com.

Contacts

(615) 986-5886

Media.Relations@lpcorp.com

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Newlands Property Group Limited (NPGL) has successfully acquired Equites Property Fund’s (JSE:EQU) interests in the Equites Newlands Group Limited development platform. This phased acquisition encompasses the following key steps:

1. Acquisition of Special Purpose Vehicles: NPGL has acquired SPVs holding interests in logistics development projects located in Cambridge, Rushden, Junction 16 (Northampton), and Junction 24 (Nottingham).
2. Granting of an Option: NPGL has secured an option to acquire all shares in the SPV that holds an interest in a development project near Thrapston, Northamptonshire.
3. Additional SPV Acquisitions: NPGL will acquire SPVs with interests in projects near Egham, Peterborough, and Goldthorpe, contingent upon meeting specified conditions.

Meanwhile, the development projects near Newport Pagnell, Basingstoke, and Coton Park remain under the joint control of NPGL and Equites Property Fund.

NPGL, a joint venture formed in March 2024 by the management of Newlands Developments and Forum Partners, is a fully integrated platform that will drive the acquisition, development, operation, investment management, and property management of logistics and industrial projects across the UK, with a strategic focus on the Midlands and the South East of England. This partnership builds on Forum Partners’ previous investment in Roxhill Developments, Newlands’ predecessor platform.

Russell Platt, CEO of Forum Partners, commented: “We are thrilled to complete this phase of our investment in Newlands Property Group. This acquisition strengthens our relationship with the Newlands team, allowing them to secure strategic assets from their previous partner, Equites. The agreement also sets favorable terms for three projects where Newlands and Equites will remain co-investors. With one of the largest land banks of strategic logistics sites in the UK, Newlands is well-positioned to capitalize on current market dynamics.”

Graham Pardoe, CEO of Newlands Developments, added: “We are thrilled to have partnered with Forum once again to acquire these strategic land options and development sites. Our experienced team is on the verge of bringing key logistics sites to market. With our extensive land bank, we are well-positioned to meet growing demands and drive further significant investment into the logistics sector.”

About Forum Partners:

Forum Partners is a global investment manager focused on investing in real assets and best in class real estate companies. Since its establishment in 2002, Forum has deployed approximately $7.7 billion of capital across 24 countries and over 100 investments. Forum operates regional offices in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

About Newlands Developments:

Newlands Developments is a leading developer and operator of industrial and logistics projects across the UK. Founded in 2018 by the former senior management team of Roxhill Developments, Newlands management has delivered over 37 million square feet of space for blue-chip clients such as DHL, Howdens, Nestlé, H&M, Amazon, and Evri. Their current pipeline includes 15 million square feet of prime logistics space across more than 10 UK projects.

Contacts

Nancie Wilson

Investor Relations

Forum Partners

Nancie.Wilson@forumpartners.com

AUSTIN, Texas, SAN FRANCISCO & ONTARIO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Serent Capital, a growth-focused private equity firm investing in founder-led B2B SaaS and technology companies, announced today that its portfolio company, Book4Time, a leading provider of spa management SaaS software, has been acquired by Agilysys, a global leader in hospitality software solutions and services.

Book4Time’s innovative cloud-based platform has established itself as a premier solution for hotel and resort spas, enabling operators to manage appointments, staff, and inventory seamlessly while enhancing the guest experience and providing comprehensive corporate reporting. Founded in 2004, Book4Time has become the go-to choice for leading wellness hospitality organizations and is trusted by customers in over 100 countries. Serent Capital’s strategic growth investment in 2020 was instrumental in supporting Book4Time’s continued expansion and extending its global reach.

“Our partnership with Serent has been pivotal in enabling us to scale our operations and enhance our product offerings. Their strategic guidance allowed us to better serve our clients and solidify our leadership in the wellness hospitality industry. We are grateful for their collaboration and look forward to continuing our journey of innovation in the hospitality industry as a part of Agilysys,” said Roger Sholanki, CEO of Book4Time.

“From the beginning, we recognized Book4Time’s potential to revolutionize spa management technology. It has been rewarding to see them expand their global reach and deliver exceptional client experiences. We look forward to watching the continued growth and success of the merged business unit in the hospitality industry.” said Lance Fenton, Partner at Serent Capital.

Serent Capital has a robust track record in the hospitality market, having invested in over 15 hospitality tech companies in the last decade. To learn more about Serent’s partnership with hospitality companies, visit Serent Capital Hospitality and Travel.

About Serent Capital

Serent Capital is a growth-focused private equity firm investing in capital-efficient, B2B SaaS and technology companies. From its founding, Serent set out to build a distinctly different firm that prioritizes founders and their companies and provides true hands-on resources through its 25+ person Growth Team. Serent’s in-house Growth Team is equipped with a wide range of resources to help companies accelerate growth, including strategic and operational support to drive revenue generation, assistance in building a top-tier executive team, guidance for transformative M&A, and a community of 400+ founders and operating executives. With $5 billion of assets under management, the firm has partnered with over 60 founder-led, industry-changing companies and offers unparalleled hands-on operational support. Discover how Serent Capital is fueling the growth of innovative companies across a range of industries at www.serentcapital.com.

About Book4Time

Book4Time is the global leader in spa management software and ancillary revenue for the hospitality industry. As the leading enterprise SaaS technology in the hospitality wellness industry, Book4Time manages the end-to-end guest experience for international hotels, resorts, casinos, golf and private member clubs in more than 100 countries worldwide. Based in Ontario, Canada, Book4Time is the first cloud-based software for the wellness industry to provide a centralized multi-location platform. With 60+ hotel system integrations, Book4Time publishes new updates every 4-8 weeks, has the industry’s highest uptime at 99.99%, supports 15 languages and delivers LIVE 24/7 phone and email support through strategically located global customer support centers. Book4Time is Hotel Tech Customer Support certified. www.book4time.com

About Agilysys

Agilysys exclusively delivers state-of-the-art software solutions and services that help organizations achieve High Return Hospitality™ by maximizing Return on Experience (ROE) through interactions that make ‘personal’ profitable. Customers around the world use Agilysys Property Management Systems (PMS), Point-of-Sale (POS) solutions, Food & Beverage Inventory and Procurement (I&P) systems and accompanying hospitality ecosystem solutions to consistently delight guests, retain staff and grow margins. The Agilysys 100% hospitality customer base includes branded and independent hotels; multi-amenity resorts; casinos; property, hotel and resort management companies; cruise lines; corporate dining providers; higher education campus dining providers; food service management companies; hospitals; lifestyle communities; senior living facilities; stadiums; and theme parks. www.agilysys.com

Contacts

Sam Whitford

sam.whitford@serentcapital.com