CFI advised RedGazelle Group in the sale of Big Data Republic, JDriven and JCore, through a Buy-In Management Buyout transaction backed by a private equity consortium comprising Navitas Capital and Quadrum Capital


Amsterdam CFI is pleased to announce it acted as the exclusive corporate finance advisor to RedGazelle Group (‘RedGazelle’) in the sale of Big Data Republic B.V. (‘BDR’), JDriven B.V. (‘JDriven’) and JCore B.V. (‘JCore’), collectively the ‘Group’, through a Buy-In Management Buyout transaction backed by a private equity consortium comprising Navitas Capital (‘Navitas’) and Quadrum Capital (‘Quadrum’).

The Group is a Netherlands-based multidisciplinary information technology group specializing in the domains of data science and enterprise software development. BDR deploys high caliber graduates (typically with an academic or PhD degree) that focus on big data solutions by helping organizations in big data discovery phases, design big data architectures and develop or implement the models/algorithms and integrate these systems. JDriven and JCore support IT development projects by providing services from experienced senior and medior consultants to support all phases of the software development lifecycle, with a focus on open source technologies, and more specifically on Java/JVM technologies..

JDriven’s co-founder, Mr Rob Brinkman, remains involved with the Group as a shareholder and board member. Following the transaction, Mr Fred Kroon will join Mr Brinkman as co-shareholder and co-board member. Mr Kroon held previous positions at a.o. DPA IT Professionals and Het Consultancyhuis .

Navitas Capital is the investment company of the Zeeman family that invests in rock solid companies with excellent management. Navitas has long term participating interests in mainly Dutch companies, including both private companies and publicly listed companies, such as in embedded software specialist ICT Group, staffing company DPA Group, cleantech and chemicals business Avantium and online bank BinckBank. Navitas is, together with the international retail chain Zeeman textielSupers and real estate investment company GREEN, part of the United Zeeman Enterprises (V.o.Zee).

Quadrum Capital is an entrepreneurial and hands-on private equity group, with considerable experience in the IT sector through its Quadrum IT Investments fund. The transaction signifies its 5th in the technology sector and follows acquisitions of Wazzup Software, Magic Group Media, Scale Logic and Nerds & Company.

Mr Kroon and Mr Brinkman (board members Group) stated: “We are thrilled to be partnering with new investors to build on the fabulous platforms of BDR, JDriven and JCore. On top of this, we are already developing new projects leveraging our strength in attracting and retaining talented data science and enterprise software champions. Across the board, we are looking forward to continuing assisting the top-250 companies in the Benelux with transitioning towards digital and data-driven organizations”.

Mr Rob van Eerden and Mr Frank Kurstjens (RedGazelle) stated: “For RedGazelle the investments in BDR, JDriven and JCore exemplify our added value in successfully incubating and supporting high growth technology companies. We are very pleased with the CFI team and their efforts throughout the transaction. They are highly professional and due to their IT focus had good understanding of our business and market dynamics. It ensured a very structured, competitive, efficient and successful process”.

CFI initiated discussions and negotiations with a select range of international strategic and financial parties in a process that ultimately resulted in a successful transaction with the consortium of Navitas Capital, Quadrum Capital and Management.

The transaction was closed on 29 December 2017.

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