Fashiontech firm Hyphen Group sells Chalco Technologies to Valsoft. The deal spins off Hyphen's software business, with CEO Stefano Righetti set to lead its international expansion. November 4, 2026, 12:01am MILAN - Italian tech company Hyphen-Group, a software house active in digital content production and management for fashion, luxury, retail and media brands, is entering its next phase of development through an agreement with the Canadian investment firm Valsoft Corp. The latter is acquiring Chalco Technologies, a newco resulting from the spin-off of Hyphen's business unit operating the Chalco software, its crown jewel platform. Introduced in 1998, the software allows brands to manage and distribute their products' digital content through an integrated suite of solutions designed for different teams and needs, from product development and sales to marketing, e-commerce and archive. The technology is currently adopted by such labels as Ferragamo, Corneliani, Guess and brands that are part of the Max Mara Fashion Group. The fashion industry represents about 60 percent of the company's clientele. The stronger backbone resulting from the acquisition will also lay the groundwork for Chalco Technologies to branch out into food and beverage, beauty, design and automotive, the company said. In addition to licensing the proprietary software, Hyphen over time has integrated side services including consulting, software implementation and support, as well as the Hyphen Shooting Line for content production and Hyphen-Media, for photographic, 3D and CGI production and post-production. These will continue to be carried out by Hyphen-Integration, which was not part of the Valsoft acquisition. As part of the deal, whose financial details were not disclosed, Hyphen-Group's current chief executive officer Stefano Righetti is to assume the same role at Chalco Technologies, leading the newco toward international expansion and implementation of generative AI capabilities. "The Hyphen team has built with Chalco a solid product in the field of content operations and a loyal client base in Italy and Switzerland in the luxury and retail sectors: exactly the kind of team and technology we choose to support with a long-term horizon, making our resources and international network available to accelerate its growth," said Aidin Mohsenin, investment partner of Valsoft Corp. The latter is specialized in the acquisition and growth of software companies that provide critical solutions in their respective markets. Over more than 10 years it has built a portfolio of about 150 companies active in more than 20 sectors and 20 countries. Righetti and business partner Andrea Turazza, who will become CEO of Hyphen-Integration, established the company in 1998, acquiring the trademark from a troubled software company. They turned it into a hub for advertising, publishing and content management, adapting it as digital technology reshaped media and consumer good businesses. "Our small insight was that, in the future, companies would become publishers of their own content. We began working on the life cycle of digital content," Righetti told WWD, recalling the early days of Hyphen. Since 2010 and then more markedly from 2015, Hyphen has been stepping up its game helping brands develop, manage and distribute what it bills as "digital product identities." The Chalco software house being sold to Valsoft sits at the heart of this process. It's a centralized toolkit for photographic production, 3D product development, product catalogues creation, hybrid physical-digital showroom, and window displays and in-store display materials, among other services. "Alongside the supply chain for the physical product, there is a supply chain for producing that same product digitally," Righetti said. "That is where our relationship with luxury brands began, making the sector more receptive to certain aspects of the first wave of digitalization." Hyphen helps brands build "digital factories," workflows that streamline the consistent production and management of digital assets, break down operational silos and align teams across departments. Through the acquisition, Chalco Technologies is expected to double its sales in five years. In 2025 Hyphen-Group posted revenues of 14 million euros, up 10 percent versus 2024. "In Valsoft Corp., we have found a partner whose intentions aligned with ours. They have a portfolio of 150 companies and 20,000 clients overall, which represent a significant lead-generation opportunity. This global distribution gives us something that would have been very costly for us to achieve on our own: the opportunity to speak with and get to know companies...It is also a group with considerable financial strength, and an acquisition rate of 1.5 companies a month, which follows a buy-and-hold approach that allows it to invest," Righetti said. As part of the growth strategy, the Chalco software is to expand its footprint, across countries and sectors. "In five years, we want to reach eight countries. Hyphen's DNA will not change, but the architecture behind it will," Righetti said, mentioning France as an obvious choice among the target markets for its concentration of luxury house, as well as the U.K. In all new countries the team will identify the right partners for distribution and implementation of the Chalco software, with the first deals expected in the second half of 2027. In Italy and Switzerland those operations will continue to be handled by Hyphen-Integration. Righetti did not rule out expanding Chalco through acquisitions, an approach consistent with Valsoft's buy-and-hold strategy. Newsletters

Valsoft Corporation announces acquisition of the Firebrand Group Collection of Companies. Valsoft Corporation acquires Firebrand Group, home of Firebrand Technologies, NetGalley and Supadu, publishing software used by publishers worldwide. MONTREAL, October 6, 2026 (Newswire.com) - Valsoft Corporation Inc. ("Valsoft"), a Montreal-based company specializing in the acquisition and development of vertical market software businesses, today announced the acquisition of Firebrand Technologies ("Firebrand"), NetGalley LLC ("NetGalley"), and Supadu Ltd ("Supadu"), together known as the Firebrand Group, a global collection of companies providing leading software and services that help publishers succeed. Valsoft acquired the Firebrand Group from Media Do International, the US-based subsidiary of MEDIA DO Ltd., in Japan. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Firebrand Technologies provides title management and metadata software publishers use to plan, manage, and distribute book data to retailers and trading partners around the world. Its flagship platform, Title Management Enterprise, runs the publishing workflow from acquisition through publication, keeping schedules, rights, costs, and metadata in one system of record. Eloquence on Demand distributes that title data, along with covers and digital files, to retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. NetGalley, founded in 2008, is the industry standard for digital galley distribution and book marketing. Nearly 1 million book advocates and trade professionals rely on NetGalley's secure, sustainable platform to discover new titles, share reviews, and champion literacy worldwide. With a global presence spanning the US, UK, Germany, France, and Japan, NetGalley is the bridge between authors, publishers, and the world's most influential readers. Supadu, founded in 2010 and based in London, United Kingdom, builds websites, ecommerce, and discovery tools that help publishers sell directly to readers and get more value from their metadata. Together, the three companies serve publishers of every size, from the Big Five to independent, university, and religious presses, along with the booksellers, librarians, educators, reviewers, and media who discover and promote new titles. "Firebrand, NetGalley, and Supadu are trusted names that publishers depend on every day. We're ecstatic to continue building and investing in the technology that helps a title from the moment it's created to the moment it reaches a reader. We're excited to partner with the passionate team that shows up every day to make life better and more productive for everyone in the book industry," said Anthony Caruso, Managing Partner at Valsoft. Firebrand, NetGalley, and Supadu will continue to operate autonomously, with their leadership teams and employees remaining in place. As part of the Valsoft ecosystem, the companies will benefit from shared expertise, operational support, and long-term investment, while preserving their entrepreneurial culture and strong customer focus. Valsoft was represented internally by David Felicissimo (General Counsel), Shinjay Choi (Senior Legal Counsel), Oliver Gray (Senior Legal Counsel, M&A), and Pamela Romero (Paralegal). About the Firebrand Group Collection of Companies Firebrand Technologies provides leading software and services that help publishers succeed. Firebrand Technologies believes that intelligent technology paired with human expertise is the key to increased accessibility, sales, and efficiency, igniting publisher success and bettering lives. Firebrand Technologies' flagship platform, Title Management Enterprise, runs the whole publishing workflow from acquisition through publication, keeping schedules, rights, costs and metadata in one system of record. Eloquence on Demand sends that title data, along with covers and digital files, to retailers, wholesalers and distributors around the world. NetGalley is the industry standard for digital galley distribution and book marketing. Nearly 1 million book advocates and trade professionals rely on NetGalley's secure, sustainable platform to discover new titles, share reviews, and champion literacy worldwide. With a global presence spanning the US, UK, Germany, France, and Japan, NetGalley is the bridge between authors, publishers, and the world's most influential readers. Supadu global services help publishers and booksellers make their books easier to discover and readers to buy. Its metadata automation powers publisher websites and book discovery online, while its ecommerce tools and fulfillment integrations help publishers sell print books, ebooks and audiobooks directly to readers. About Valsoft Valsoft acquires and develops vertical market software businesses that provide mission-critical solutions in their respective niches. Valsoft's strategy is to invest for the long term, enabling businesses to benefit from global expertise, shared best practices, and a decentralized structure that allows them to retain their entrepreneurial spirit while achieving sustainable growth. Media Contact

Valsoft Corporation has acquired Firebrand Technologies, NetGalley and Supadu from Media Do International. Financial terms were not disclosed. The Montreal-based vertical market software investor acquired the three publishing technology companies, collectively known as the Firebrand Group. Together, they provide software spanning title management, metadata distribution, book marketing, ecommerce and reader discovery. Firebrand Technologies, founded in 1987 and based in Newburyport, Massachusetts, provides workflow management and metadata distribution software. NetGalley, founded in 2008, connects publishers with nearly 1 million book advocates across the US, UK, Germany, France and Japan. London-based Supadu, founded in 2010, provides publisher websites and ecommerce systems. The businesses serve customers ranging from major publishers to independent presses. Valsoft plans to maintain their operating independence whilst providing resources for continued development.