A group of investors comprising Amadeus Capital Partners, Martin Bjäringer, Monterro Holdings, Northzone Ventures, Mikael Runhem and family and the company’s employees have agreed to sell for an undisclosed sum EPiServer Group AB, a fast-growing provider of web content management platforms, to IK Investment Partners, a Pan-European private equity firm with Nordic roots. The transaction is subject to competition approval.
EPiServer is a Swedish software company offering a broad range of products and services which, through strong partner networks, provide customers in approximately 30 countries with professional online presence (web content management and web hosting). A range of products offer the ability to drive web traffic to customers’ sites, engagement with corporate web communities, profitable e-commerce and optimised online presence in real time.
Amadeus first invested in EPiServer in August 2007. Since then, the investors have capitalised on the strong technology built under Mikael Runhem and turned a monoline, predominantly Swedish company, into an international market leader with a broad product offering. During this period, the company has experienced rapid expansion and more than trebled its revenues with offices in 10 countries on three continents. The exit is a profitable one for all investors and represents an attractive outcome following an IPO process that the owners decided to discontinue in June 2010.
Martin Henricson, CEO of EPiServer, commented: “EPiServer has benefited from constantly having developed its products to fast-changing market demands and, through its strong partner network, enabling end customers to transform their online presence into real business results. Our investors have been instrumental in EPiServer’s development and we now look forward to continuing this journey with IK, benefiting from their proven investment approach and track record of building successful companies while maintaining business continuity. IK is the ideal new partner for EPiServer as we continue to grow the business through our international efforts, developing more products and services.”
Amadeus Capital Partners and Northzone Ventures issued a joint statement saying: “Our joint investment in EPiServer has been a great success, delivering strong returns for our funds. This investment is testament to how dedicated venture investors can transform a young, regional technology player into an international market-leading company with world class management.”
Peter Larsson, Chairman of EPiServer, added: “ Europe has always produced great technologies but we are not always so good at turning those into great businesses. EPiServer is a company that has successfully built an international market position, thanks in part to the funding and support of our investors. We are now poised to become a global force in building companies’ online presence and it’s going to be an exciting journey.”
SEB Enskilda acted as financial adviser and Gernandt & Danielsson acted as legal adviser to the sellers.
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For further information, please contact:
Chantal Ligertwood, PR for Amadeus, +44 (0)7976 229 210 chantal@ligertwood.net