Apax Global Alpha (AGA) has announced it expects to invest an additional c.€3m indirectly into WGSN, the consumer trend forecasting platform, following its acquisition of IWSR, a global provider of data and insights for the beverage alcohol industry.
The acquisition was completed on 5 June 2025 by WGSN, a portfolio company of the Apax XI Fund, in which AGA is a limited partner. This strategic move aligns with Apax XI’s original investment thesis when it backed WGSN in 2024 – namely, to expand the platform’s reach across new verticals and enhance its offering through targeted M&A.
WGSN currently provides consumer trend insights across sectors including fashion, beauty, interiors, and consumer tech. The addition of IWSR – whose proprietary beverage alcohol data spans over 160 countries – bolsters WGSN’s analytical firepower, particularly in the growing food and drink space. The deal also strengthens WGSN’s use of AI and predictive analytics in sector forecasting.
Following this latest investment, AGA’s total look-through exposure to WGSN now stands at approximately €24.7m. AGA holds a c.$700m commitment to Apax XI and offers listed exposure to a diversified portfolio of Apax-advised private equity funds, alongside a smaller debt investment portfolio.
