Main Capital-backed Obi4wan buys HowAboutYou

The two companies have been in partnership for nine years. With this merger they plan to further enlarge their client base, expand internationally, and develop additional features and services.

Main Capital acquired associated software companies Obi4wan and ObiLytics in July 2016. The GP bought a stake of around 60%, while the management team, which invested alongside the GP, retained the remainder.

Following the deal, the two companies, which have the same founder, were merged into one entity, which kept the name Obi4wan. Dutch state-owned bank ABN Amro provided senior and junior debt for the deal, with a 40% leverage ratio.

Main Capital is currently investing its sixth fund, which held a first close on €535m in December 2019. It typically makes investments in software companies based across the Benelux, DACH and Nordic regions by providing equity tickets in the €3-20m range. The fund plans to build large software platforms across Europe, by acquiring majority stakes and subsequently pursuing a buy-and-build strategy.

Company
Established in 2011 and based in Utrecht, HowAboutYou specialises in social media monitoring, webcare, online customer support through social media and social customer relationship management. It serves 440 governmental institutions and organisations, including 270 Dutch municipalities, several Dutch regions and provinces, and various housing corporations.

People
Main Capital Partners – Charly Zwemstra (managing partner).
OBI4wan - Alexander de Ruiter (CEO).
HowAboutYou - Frank Bruijninckx (director).

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• Topics
• Portfolio management
• Benelux
• Technology
• Support services
• Main Capital
• Netherlands
• Build-up
• Buy-and-build