Partners Group invests in Softonic

Switzerland-based Partners Group took a 30% stake in Softonic – slightly less than the 40% stake the firm was expected to take for €110m in January, according to reports in the local press. The GP is the majority shareholder following the investment and will actively lead the business together with founder Tomás Diago.

Spanish mid-market investor Espiga and VCs Bonsai Venture Capital and Inveready are also invested in the company, alongside Grupo Intercom and Digital River. Softonic previously said it planned to launch an IPO within four years of Espiga's investment (2011). Partners Group told unquote": "Going public on NASDAQ in the future is still a long-term option, for which we do not have a fixed date."

Softonic will use the funding to increase its presence in core markets such as the US, China and Japan while launching its site in new languages. The business also plans to create new products and services across all platforms and devices.

Company
Softonic is an online software guide informing users about programmes, apps, games and web applications. The company was founded in Barcelona in 1997 and has since opened offices in Madrid, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo, employing a total of 350 staff.

Softonic offers software for most operating systems – including Windows, OSX, iOS and Android – which can be downloaded via the web, a desktop application or on a smartphone. The software is categorised and analysed by an editorial team, which generates content in more than 10 languages. The company attracts around 140 million unique users a month, who generate more than five million downloads per day.

People
Christian Unger is managing director at Partners Group and responsible for the firm's technology, media and telecommunications practice. Stephan Seissl is vice president of Partners Group's private equity team in Europe. 

• Tweet  
• Facebook  
• LinkedIn  
• Google plus  
• Send to  

• Topics
• Buyouts
• Southern Europe
• Technology
• Partners Group
• Spain