KACE FINANCIAL acquired by SMARTTRADE TECHNOLOGIES

Harvest has successfully finalized the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Firstance, following its previous international expansion into the DACH region. The strategic rationale for this transaction is to create a unified European WealthTech champion by merging Harvest’s leading position in wealth management software with Firstance’s dominant digital distribution platform for life insurance. This alliance allows the combined entity to offer a comprehensive, cross-border technological suite to financial institutions across more than 30 jurisdictions. By entering the Italian market, Harvest significantly scales its geographical footprint and diversifies its product offering into the private insurance vertical. The integration aims to leverage human and technological synergies to meet the rising demand for sovereign European financial software solutions, providing a highly differentiated and sophisticated digital experience for wealth management professionals and their end-clients across the continent.

The founders of Hipto bought back their independence from Olyn (Gimv-backed holding). The transaction values Hipto at ~EUR20M. Concurrently, Hipto completed its first build-up by acquiring Zone ADSL&Fibre, a telecom comparison platform. The goal is to reach EUR100M in revenue within 2 years by shifting value toward intentional and qualified leads in a post-cold calling era.

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.

The SaaS customer relationship management software provider welcomes Oakley and General Atlantic alongside its long-standing clients Bridgepoint and Bpifrance. The company also announces the departure of Partech, which had been a customer for 8 years.

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.

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.

Septeo's acquisition of stp.one is a strategic move to consolidate the European legaltech market, particularly in the DACH region. This acquisition strengthens Septeo's position in German-speaking regions and countries, leveraging stp.one's established presence in these areas. With a workforce of 400 employees, stp.one offers a comprehensive range of integrated legal solutions, from workflow automation to AI-powered document management. The transaction, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, is financed 50% through Septeo's equity and the remaining amount through a senior debt facility. This acquisition is a continuation of Septeo's external growth strategy, following several buy-and-build operations in recent years, notably in Spain and Portugal. The French company, which expects to generate €460 million in revenue this year, aims to significantly boost its international presence, with a substantial increase in foreign activity. The combination of Septeo and stp.one is also expected to generate operational synergies and enhance the company's ability to innovate and develop new solutions for its clients.

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.

PSG Equity has divested its majority stake in Sellsy, a French SaaS company, to Italian firm TeamSystem after a three-year holding period. This transaction marks the exit of PSG Equity and the entry of a new shareholder, TeamSystem, which aims to expand its offerings internationally, particularly in Europe. The deal will enable Sellsy to leverage TeamSystem's resources and expertise to accelerate its growth and strengthen its position in the enterprise management solutions market. TeamSystem's strategy is to continue developing Sellsy as a standalone company, maintaining the Sellsy brand and retaining the current management team, led by Victor Douek. This approach will allow Sellsy to preserve its identity and autonomy while benefiting from TeamSystem's support and resources. The acquisition is expected to be a strategic move for TeamSystem, enabling it to broaden its portfolio of enterprise management solutions and increase its presence in the European market.

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.