KONTRON acquired by VINCI ENERGIES

Sopra Steria, a global leader in technology, has finalized the acquisition of Assua NV and its operating subsidiaries Tobania NV and Python Predictions BV. This acquisition brings the Group into the club of major players in a market considered

The transaction involved the acquisition of Barracuda Networks from its previous financial sponsor. The strategic rationale for the acquisition was driven by the sponsor's continued focus on the cybersecurity sector, recognizing Barracuda’s established position as a leader in protecting SME digital infrastructure. By transitioning ownership to a new private equity partner, the company sought to leverage enhanced operational resources and global reach to accelerate its next phase of growth. The partnership aims to further professionalize the target's product development and go-to-market strategies, particularly in advanced security domains such as managed detection and response and SASE.

QinetiQ US has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Avantus Federal from NewSpring Holdings. The acquisition represents a transformational platform for QinetiQ, significantly expanding its presence within the U.S. intelligence and national security communities. The strategic rationale for the merger is to create a powerful growth platform that addresses complex global defense and cyber challenges at scale. Avantus brings a strong order backlog and highly complementary capabilities in data analytics and cyber operations that enhance QinetiQ's existing portfolio of autonomous systems and sensing technologies. For Avantus, joining QinetiQ US provides the global scale and infrastructure necessary to meet the rapidly evolving demands of its government customers. The combined entity is positioned as a unique innovator in the defense market, capable of delivering technical differentiation and "speed to impact" for warfighters and intelligence operators. The transaction was advised by Guggenheim Securities for the sell-side and Citizens and Gleacher Shacklock for the buy-side.

Bain Capital entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Inetum from the Qatari group Mannai Corporation. The transaction valued the group at approximately EUR2.27 Billion. The goal of this LBO is to accelerate Inetum's international expansion and support its buy-and-build strategy to become a leading player in the European IT services market.

Partners Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in atNorth Holding AB from its existing shareholder group with the objective to transform atNorth from an Icelandic-centric operator into a leading pan-Nordic data center provider. The transaction aligns with atNorth's strategic goal to accelerate its expansion across the Nordic region, capitalizing on the rapidly growing demand for high-density and power-efficient data hosting driven by AI applications. At the time of acquisition, atNorth operated two major sites in Iceland (83MW committed capacity) and was finalizing a 11MW state-of-the-art site in Stockholm, Sweden. Partners Group plans to implement a transformational value creation plan that includes building new sites, growing the contract portfolio, and institutionalizing internal processes. This acquisition marks a key entry into the Nordic data market, which is forecasted to grow at a 22.5% CAGR, positioning atNorth to gain market share through its renewable-only and cost-optimized service offering.

Capza and Parquest Capital entered the capital of Advens as minority shareholders, alongside founder Alexandre Fayeulle and the management team, who retain majority control. This operation is notable for its integrated philanthropic structure: a significant portion of the company’s capital gains and dividends are directed toward a large-scale endowment fund. The primary objective of the partnership is to fuel Advens’ technological R&D and international expansion, aiming to establish the firm as the premier Security-as-a-Service provider in Europe. The deal also involved a significant employee secondary component, allowing 33% of the staff to become shareholders.

Adista and Unyc, both supported by Keensight Capital, have signed an exclusivity agreement for a strategic merger. This transaction creates a new national champion with a combined turnover of €220 million and 900 employees in 2021. Under the leadership of Group President Patrice Bélie, the two entities will maintain their operational specializations: Adista focusing on direct sales and Unyc on indirect/white-label distribution. Damien Watine, founder of Unyc, becomes a shareholder in the new holding company and continues to lead Unyc’s operations while joining the group’s executive board. The merger aims for massive scale, targeting €500 million in revenue by 2025.

The Fayat Group acquired 100% of NXO from Butler Industries. This acquisition comes six years after Butler rescued the company (then NextiraOne) from bankruptcy and successfully turned it around. Strategically, this deal is a game-changer for Fayat's Energy division. By integrating NXO, Fayat moves beyond traditional electrical installation to master the "data layer" of infrastructure. The goal is to become a fully integrated player in the "Smart City" and "Smart Building" markets, capable of delivering both the physical hardware (lighting, cables) and the digital intelligence (network management, cybersecurity) required by modern cities.

Charterhouse Capital Partners acquired Labelium, a leading Paris-based digital marketing agency. This transaction marked a significant milestone, as Labelium had more than doubled in size since its previous acquisition by Qualium Investissement in 2018. Charterhouse outbid competitors IK Investment Partners and Naxicap Partners in the final round of bidding, which was managed by Cambon Partners. This acquisition enabled the exit of Qualium Investissement who had acquired Labelium in 2018 for EUR140 million, when the company's EBITDA was EUR11 million and revenue stood at EUR22 million.

Triton Partners has acquired a majority stake in Swiss IT Security Group (SITS) from Ufenau Capital Partners. The transaction values the company at over EUR450 million. This exit represents a phenomenal return for Ufenau, generating a 12x Money Multiple and an IRR of >150% in just 4 years. Management remains invested alongside Triton.