Scanntech fecha rodada de US$ 180 milhões; Warburg faz saída parcial

Catterton is leading a US$ 180 million investment in Scanntech, a technology company that monitors real-time sales of supermarkets, according to sources close to the deal. The round also includes participation from Partners Group and Bradesco. The deal was signed on Thursday, following nearly a year of negotiations. It combines the sale of shares from current shareholders with a capital injection, with a near 50/50 split between primary and secondary markets.

The investment, at a valuation of around 5.5 times annual revenue, is expected to give new shareholders nearly 30% of Scanntech. This marks a partial realization of Warburg Pincus, which invested US$ 40 million in the company in 2023 and is now selling part of its position. Warburg decided to return some capital and renewed its bet to ride the upside for more time, a source said.

Over the last year, global private equity firms like General Atlantic, GIC, and Advent also engaged in the process. The timing of the market is noteworthy, as scarce IPOs and difficulties in exiting technology investments have made funds more selective in allocating capital to the sector. Scanntech's growth and profitability, along with the prospect of a strategic sale or capital opening in the future, helped attract investors.

The company has been growing at an annual rate of around 30%, which is still high but lower than previous years. Some of the new funds will be used for Scanntech's international expansion, which already operates in Mexico and Colombia and plans to enter new markets starting next year. The company also considers opportunities in other Latin American countries and even outside the region.

Founder Raúl Polakof will continue to lead the company. Scanntech processes over R$ 1 trillion in retail sales annually, capturing transactions at supermarket cash registers and turning that information into commercial intelligence for industries and retailers. The technology tracks the sell-out - sales effectively made to consumers - and offers detailed data on prices, volumes sold, market share, and promotion performance.

This information helps major food, beverage, and hygiene manufacturers, as well as supermarkets, to set prices, inventories, and commercial strategies. Scanntech's story began in Uruguay in 1992 when entrepreneurs Raúl Polakof, Benny Szylkowski, and Soledad Fernández developed software that turned computers into cash registers for small merchants.

From this technology, the founders created a network that allowed kiosks to offer financial services and promotions, a practice up until then exclusive to large chains. The company entered Brazil in 2013, becoming its main market. The model attracted the attention of Sequoia Capital, which made Scanntech its first investment in Latin America, injecting US$ 10 million in 2011.

The manager returned to invest in the company in 2014 and sold its stake again. Another historic investor is Hindiana, the investment vehicle of Alfredo Villela, who entered the capital of the company before Warburg and will remain a shareholder after today's transaction. JP Morgan advised Scanntech.