24ORE SOFTWARE acquired by TEAMSYSTEM

Bridgepoint has acquired a majority stake in eFront from Francisco Partners, a technology-focused private equity firm, in a secondary buy-out valued at €300 million. Bridgepoint emerged as the winner in a competitive auction process managed by Barclays Capital, outbidding several major private equity firms including Permira, Astorg, TPG Capital, and Silver Lake. This transaction follows eFront's successful private-to-public-to-private journey, having listed on Alternext Paris in 2006 before being taken private by Francisco Partners in 2011

The IK Partners has reached an agreement to sell EPiServer to Accel-KKR (AKKR). This transaction represents an exit for the private equity sponsor following a multi-year investment period characterized by significant internationalization and product portfolio expansion. Under the stewardship of the previous owner, the company broadened its service offerings and strengthened its global footprint through both organic development and the acquisition of e-commerce and search capabilities. The transition to AKKR is intended to support the company’s next phase of growth, with a specific focus on leveraging AKKR’s resources to better serve customers, particularly within the North American region

KKR is partially exiting its controlling stake in Nordic software group Visma. This equity reshuffle enables HgCapital to reinvest through its HgCapital 7 fund and the listed HgCapital Trust, while bringing Cinven on board as a new equity partner. Subject to regulatory clearance, the transaction establishes a balanced governance triumvirate, with KKR, HgCapital, and Cinven each holding an equal 31% stake. Concurrently, the legacy HgCapital 5 fund (2006 vintage) will fully exit its historical position

Siemens has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of Invensys Rail from Invensys plc. The transaction involves the full transfer of all rail-related assets to Siemens' Infrastructure & Cities sector, following the necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals. The acquisition is a strategic move to strengthen Siemens' Rail Automation business, establishing it as a core pillar of the Infrastructure & Cities sector. The combination is highly synergetic, merging two businesses with complementary geographic footprints and overlapping cultural focuses on engineering reliability

This of Metrologic Group by Carlyle represents a public-to-private buyout. The acquirer has secured a controlling interest in the company via the acquisition of shares held by the founder and management team. Following this initial acquisition, the firm initiated a simplified public tender offer to delist the company from Euronext Paris. The strategic rationale for the deal centers on facilitating the company's next phase of development as a private entity. By removing the constraints associated with public markets, the management team, in partnership with the sponsor, aims to focus on long-term growth initiatives, operational optimization, and the expansion of its core 3D measurement software offerings

IK Investment Partners has acquired 100% of EPiServer Group AB from a consortium of sellers, including Amadeus Capital, Northzone Ventures, and other investors. The acquisition is driven by EPiServer’s track record in a fast-growing digital engagement market. IK aims to leverage its investment experience to accelerate EPiServer’s organic growth, both within the Swedish market and internationally. The investment thesis relies on EPiServer’s product suite (which bridges content, commerce, and communication) being well-positioned to capitalize on strong structural market drivers

Private equity firm HgCapital has entered into a definitive agreement to sell a 63.5% portion of its stake in Nordic software provider Visma to global investment firm KKR. Through this partial realization, which is subject to customary regulatory clearance and expected to close in November 2010, HgCapital will retain a 17.7% minority equity position in the overall business. Concurrently, Visma’s management team and employees will increase their ownership percentage within the newly restructured corporate framework

European sector-focused private equity firm HgCapital has reached a definitive agreement to acquire a majority controlling stake in Italian software provider TeamSystem SpA. The buyout is being executed on behalf of the sponsor's client base, which includes the listed investment vehicle HgCapital Trust plc. The transaction is officially anticipated to reach completion on September 30, 2010. For the acquirer HgCapital, which has proactively tracked the target's trajectory since 2004, the acquisition extends a proven thematic investment strategy targeting the regulatory-driven SMB software market

German media conglomerate Axel Springer, acting through its subsidiary StepStone ASA, has entered into a binding agreement to divest its talent management software division, StepStone Solutions (now Lumesse), to European sector-focused private equity firm HgCapital. Executed as a strategic corporate carve-out, the transaction is expected to close by the end of April 2010, subject to customary closing conditions. Following the completion of the deal, Axel Springer will continue to independently own and operate StepStone’s core online job board business

Arseus acquired 100% of Julie Owandy. The seller was the French private equity firm Initiative & Finance, which had supported the company's growth. This acquisition allowed Arseus to vertically integrate by owning the proprietary technology (software and sensors) rather than just distributing third-party products. The deal strengthened Arseus's position in France and added high-margin technology products to its European catalog.