19.8.2019

Bitbar – Sale of Bitbar Technologies to Francisco Partners backed Smartbear (US)

Related services

We acted as the legal advisor to Bitbar Technologies Oy and the sellers, including Inventure, in Bitbar’s sale process. Bitbar Technologies, the leading provider of testing technology for web and mobile applications, was acquired by Francisco Partners backed SmartBear Software Inc, a US software house.

Bitbar is a cloud-based testing platform to automate continuous software delivery. Empowering DevOps teams of all sizes – including Mozilla, WeWork, Google, PayPal, Deutsche Telekom, Square, CBS Interactive, and TomTom. Bitbar Device Cloud is also offered through IBM Cloud as part of its Rational Test Workbench. Bitbar solutions help companies to optimise CI/CD workflows, leverage AI to accelerate the software development lifecycle, and accelerate their transformation into a New Software Organisation.

SmartBear is behind the software that empowers developers, testers, and operations engineers at over 20,000 of the world’s most innovative organisations, including Adobe, JetBlue, MasterCard, and Microsoft. More than 6 million people use SmartBear tools to build, test, and monitor software.

Francisco Partners is a leading global private equity firm which specialises in investments in technology and technology-enabled businesses. With over $14 billion of capital raised to date, Francisco Partners are one of the largest and most active technology-focused private equity firms in the world.

Our team

Latest references

Jolt Capital and Tesi – Investment in VEV

We advised Jolt Capital and Tesi in connection with their investment in VEV, a leading provider of commercial fleet electrification solutions. The investment, led by Jolt Capital with Tesi as co-investor, will support VEV’s next phase of growth and expansion across Europe. As part of the transaction, VEV became an independent company following the acquisition of Vitol’s stake in the business. Founded by Vitol, VEV provides integrated fleet electrification solutions combining fleet strategy, charging infrastructure, energy supply and operational services. Through its VEV IQ platform, the company supports more than 6,000 commercial electric vehicles across Europe and has been deployed across more than 600 sites spanning the transport, logistics and waste sectors. Jolt Capital is a private equity firm focused on growth investments in European deeptech companies. Tesi is a Finnish state-owned investment company that promotes Finnish business and economic growth through investments. We advised Jolt Capital and Tesi on the equity financing and structuring aspects of the transaction. International law firm Goodwin advised the investors on the acquisition of VEV.

HANZA – Divestment of its Nivala and Sievi operations

We advised HANZA on the divestment of its Nivala and Sievi operations. The transaction was part of HANZA’s larger strategic reorganisation, where the company optimised its Finnish manufacturing cluster. Founded in 2008, HANZA is a Swedish mechanical engineering and electronics contract manufacturing company listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm main list. HANZA has approximately 5,000 employees and annual sales of SEK 10 billion.

Kiwa – Acquisition of Sertio

We advised Kiwa in its acquisition of Sertio Oy, a Finnish notified body designated by the authority in accordance with the EU Regulation on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDR). Sertio provides conformity assessment services in accordance with IVDR. Kiwa is one of the world’s leading testing, inspection, and certification companies, operating in over 35 countries.

Metsäkonepalvelu – Acquisition of Junnonen Forest and the business operations of Lamerit

We advised Metsäkonepalvelu Oy in its acquisition of the entire share capital of Junnonen Forest Oy, a Finnish timber harvesting services company, and the timber harvesting services business of Lamerit Oy. The acquisition supports Metsäkonepalvelu’s growth strategy and strengthens the company’s position, particularly in southeastern Finland. Metsäkonepalvelu is a portfolio company of A. Ahlström Oy, a Finnish family-owned industrial owner. The company provides mechanical timber harvesting services to forest companies, large private forest owners, and the public sector in Finland and Sweden. Metsäkonepalvelu Group employs nearly two hundred forestry professionals.

Search from the site.