BREVO acquired by OAKLEY CAPITAL INVESTMENTS

Siemens acquired ASTER Technologies to create a comprehensive "shift-left" design-to-manufacturing flow for printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA). By integrating ASTER's DFT and test coverage analysis tools, Siemens enables customers to detect defects earlier in the design cycle, reducing costs and accelerating time-to-market. The move addresses the growing complexity of 5G and automotive electronics, where safety and reliability standards are increasingly stringent. ASTER will be integrated into Siemens' EDA (Electronic Design Automation) business unit.

Montefiore Investment has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a joint-controlling equity stake in Arche MC2, forming an equal 50/50 partnership with the company's historical financial sponsor, Activa Capital. Choosing not to execute a full exit at this stage, Activa Capital has structured this co-investment framework to actively co-sponsor the platform's next growth cycle. Under the updated governance and capital structure, the internal management team will retain a minority equity stake, while Turenne Capital and Groupe Up will fully divest their respective holdings and exit the capital. The investment thesis centers on driving cross-border expansion and product diversification through a powerful dual-sponsor model. For Arche MC2, the strategic rationale focuses on leveraging Montefiore Investment’s established institutional presence and localized operational networks in Italy and Spain to accelerate international market penetration. Concurrently, the post-closing corporate roadmap prioritizes expanding the platform’s core software capabilities and product features—specifically targeting advanced modules in human resources (HR), payroll processing, and regulatory compliance—to maximize customer lifetime value and capture a broader share of the enterprise software market.

Upvest has successfully closed a $125 million (€115 million) funding round, valuing the company at approximately $735 million (€680 million). The transaction includes $90 million in equity financing led by BlackRock, alongside Sapphire Ventures, Tencent, and Bessemer Venture Partners, with additional discussions for a $35 million credit facility. The strategic rationale for the deal is to accelerate Upvest's path to profitability and support its target of exceeding €100 million in annualized revenue within the next 24 months. The fresh capital will be used to expand the platform’s regional footprint and roll out innovative AI-supported tools for personalized advisory services. This round follows a €30 million bridge in 2023 and a December 2024 valuation of €360 million, marking a nearly 2x valuation increase in 12 months.

smartTrade Technologies has acquired kACE Financial to create a unified, multi-asset trading and payments platform. This transformational acquisition combines smartTrade’s low-latency SaaS infrastructure with kACE’s specialized expertise in FX derivatives and complex pricing analytics. The strategic rationale is to address the market's increasing demand for a single, integrated workflow that handles everything from simple spot trading to sophisticated structured products. Following the recent investment from TA Associates, this deal represents a major step in smartTrade's innovation roadmap, specifically accelerating its transition to a fully cloud-native, AI-driven offering. The merger allows the combined group to leverage a global infrastructure and an expanded technical team to deliver lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for its international banking and brokerage clients.

Odigo has finalized the strategic acquisition of Akio, a move supported by its majority investor Seven2 (formerly Apax Partners). This transaction is designed to consolidate the European CCaaS market and create a major sovereign digital alternative to US-based competitors. By integrating Akio, Odigo expands its market reach from large global accounts to the SME and mid-market segments (starting from 10 users). The strategic rationale centers on technological synergy, particularly in AI; Akio brings specialized analytical AI and reputation management tools, which will complement Odigo's proprietary "Agentic AI" platform. This combination allows for a unified omnichannel offering including classic digital channels and advanced conversational experiences like RCS. The deal strengthens Odigo's presence in France, Benelux, Spain, and the UK through an enriched partner ecosystem. Patrick Giudicelli, Akio’s founder, will contribute to the integration as the group transitions into a European CX champion.

Septeo, one of the leading French and European software publishers, today announced the signing of an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of stp.one, a strategic European player in LegalTech software.

Magellan Partners signed an agreement to acquire Worldline's MeTS division and select Digital Banking activities for a total consideration of EUR410 million. This acquisition is transformative for Magellan, adding EUR450 million in revenue and expanding its workforce to over 6,700 employees. For Worldline, this disposal is part of a strategic plan to offload non-core assets and refocus purely on Payments.

Var Group, a subsidiary of Sesa, has completed the acquisition of a 20% stake in Albasoft, establishing put and call option mechanisms designed to facilitate the gradual acquisition of the entire share capital. This business combination is a strategic initiative under the Sesa 2026–27 industrial plan, designed to enhance the group's presence in the Digital Platforms and Vertical Applications segment. By integrating the target's specialized software for corporate treasury and financial flow optimization, the acquirer aims to create an integrated application scenario that bridges the gap between ERP systems and banking platforms. The strategic rationale is driven by the growing necessity for process standardization, automation, and real-time financial monitoring amidst rising interest rates and regulatory demands.

Lacour has completed the acquisition of the Italian automotive services platform Proger, marking its third major international build-up since Carlyle took control in 2023. The acquisition was financed through an existing unitranche debt facility provided by Capza. The strategic rationale for the deal is to secure a dominant foothold in the Italian market while integrating Proger’s massive "ClipParts" database into Lacour’s broader software suite. This move brings Lacour’s consolidated revenue to approximately €70 million and expands its workforce to 450 people. Following successful entries into the UK and Italy, Lacour is now targeting further expansion into Spain and Germany for 2026 to complete its pan-European footprint.

In light of the reform of the professional training market in France, the management of Ymag (a software publisher specializing in professional training) wanted to structure a primary MBO to take over the company upon the retirement of its founder.