Novator Partners

The company specializes in investments in companies based in emerging markets. Industries by which it focuses on include telecommunications,{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewcave/2014/12/18/how-to-lose-4-billion-in-eight-months-and-build-it-back-again-a-biographers-story/|title=How Iceland's Thor Bjorgolfsson Lost $4B in Eight Months|last=Cave|first=Andrew|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=10 October 2019}} pharmaceuticals,{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304724404577295550816517824|title=Watson Nears $5.9 Billion Actavis Deal|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=21 March 2012}} social gaming,{{Cite web|url=https://www.eu-startups.com/2019/08/berlin-based-game-studio-klang-raises-e20-million-to-develop-a-virtual-space-colony/|title=Berlin-based game studio Klang raises €20 million to develop its virtual space colony, Seed {{!}} EU-Startups|last=Loritz|first=Mary|date=21 August 2019|language=en-US|access-date=10 October 2019}} financial services and natural resource sectors.

In 2003 Novator acquired a 70% stake in Czech telecoms company České Radiokomunikace for £120m. It owns 39.23% of the shares in T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s. (one of the two largest mobile operators in the Czech Republic). Novator sold the stake three years later for £942m.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In 2005 it acquired the largest single stake in Finnish telecom company Elisa for around £100m. The stake was later sold in 2007 for £311m.

In 2005 Actavis acquired the New Jersey–based generic drug company Amide Pharmaceutical for US$500 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1890001220070718|title=Novator takeover of Actavis closes|date=18 July 2007|work=Reuters|access-date=10 October 2019|language=en}}

In 2005 Novator invested in video game developer CCP,{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} and sold their stake to developer Pearl Abyss for $425 million.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/black-desert-online-creator-pearl-abyss-acquires-eve-online-maker-ccp-games-for-425-million/|website=Venture Beat|title=Eve Online maker CCP Games sells to Black Desert Online's Pearl Abyss for $425 million |date=September 16, 2018}}

In 2006 it acquired a large stake in Polish telecom Netia.{{cite web|url=http://investor.netia.pl/press,list,1429.html|title=25.01.2006 Information on acquisition of Netia's shares|work=netia.pl|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222154607/http://investor.netia.pl/press,list,1429.html|archivedate=22 December 2014}} Netia has the second-largest fixed-line network in Poland. Netia and Novator announced that they are going to build a 4th mobile network in Poland.{{cite web|url=http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/16200740896.htm|title=ABC Money – Finance News|work=ABC Money|access-date=6 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122175102/http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/16200740896.htm|archive-date=22 January 2012|url-status=dead}} Novator sold its entire 30.3% stake in Netia in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/novator-sells-netia-stake--662376 |website=Telecomper |title=Novator sells Netia stake |date=March 12, 2009}}

In 2007 Novator founded Play, a Polish telecommunications provider. Play IPO’ed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in July 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1df7f5bc-685f-11e7-8526-7b38dcaef614 |website=Financial Times |title=Poland's Play finalises €1bn IPO at low end of range |date=July 13, 2017}} Novator sold its remaining stake in Play to Iliad SA, a French provider of telecommunications services in September 2021.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In 2007 Novator founded data center company Verne Global and sold it to Digital 9 Infrastructure in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/news/verne-global-acquired-digital-9|website=Scientific Computing World|title=Verne Global acquired by Digital 9 |date=September 6, 2021}}

In 2007 Novator made a $12.5 million investment in TurkNet.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} In 2013, the Çelebiler family acquired 100% ownership of Turknet, a telecommunications internet service provider, by purchasing the remaining shares from Novator.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In 2010 Novator founded Greenqloud, a cloud computing software company in Iceland. It was sold to NetApp in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://northstack.is/2017/08/28/netapp-greenqloud-memo/|title=Greenqloud acquired by NetApp: Digging through the story |website=Northstack |date=August 28, 2017}}

In 2015 Novator acquired 100% of WOM (Chile) (formerly Nextel Chile) in Chile.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-telecoms-idUSKCN0WI2UC|title=New telecoms player grows fast, turns heads in conservative Chile|date=16 March 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=10 October 2019|language=en}}

In 2016 Novator invested in Zwift, a multiplayer online indoor cycling game in Series A funding that reached $27 million.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/16/zwift-a-multiplayer-game-thats-making-indoor-athletics-more-social-just-raised-27-million/|title=Zwift, a multiplayer game that's making indoor athletics more social, just raised $27 million|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|access-date=10 October 2019}} Novator co-led Zwift's $120 million Series B funding round, alongside Highland Europe, Causeway, and True. Novator also participated in its $450 million Series C funding round.{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/16/zwift-maker-of-a-popular-indoor-training-app-just-landed-a-whopping-450-million-in-funding-led-by-kkr/|website=TechCrunch |title=Zwift, maker of a popular indoor training app, just landed a whopping $450 million in funding led by KKR |date=September 16, 2020}}

In January 2016 Novator invested in Artificial Intelligence company Disruptional, formerly known as Play Fusion Ltd.{{Cite web |title=Disruptional, Acquired by Novator Partners LLP on January 1st, 2016 {{!}} Mergr |url=https://mergr.com/disruptional-acquired-by-novator-partners |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=mergr.com}}

In 2016 Novator made a partial exit from Nova, an Icelandic mobile operator, when it sold 50% of Nova to Anchorage, Alaska based private equity firm, Pt. Capital.{{cite web|url=https://www.alaskajournal.com/2016-10-11/arctic-investment-firm-makes-play-iceland-telecom|website=Alaska Journal of Commerce |title=Arctic investment firm makes play for Iceland telecom |date=October 11, 2016}}

In November 2016 Novator invested in British online food delivery company, Deliveroo.{{Cite web |title=Novator Partners Invests In Deliveroo {{!}} Mergr M&A Deal Summary |url=https://mergr.com/novator-partners-invests-in-deliveroo |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=mergr.com}}

In 2018, Novator invested in AppLovin, an internet software and services company, alongside global investment company KKR.{{cite web |url=https://mergr.com/kkr-invests-in-applovin |website=mergr |title=KKR and Novator Partners Invest In AppLovin |date=July 17, 2018}}

In 2019, Novator led $25 million Series C funding of Rebag, a New York-based digital platform, enabling it to expand to 30 more stores.{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/08/luxury-handbag-marketplace-rebag-raises-25m-to-expand-to-30-more-stores/ |website=TechCrunch |title=Luxury handbag marketplace Rebag raises $25M to expand to 30 more stores |date=February 8, 2019}} Novator also led REBAG's $33 million Series E funding round in 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sharonedelson/2021/12/15/rebag-raises-33-million-with-funds-earmarked-to-expand-tech-enabled-resale-business/?sh=61501dd44699|website=Forbes |date=December 15, 2021|title=Rebag Raises $33 Million, With Funds Earmarked To Expand Tech-Enabled Resale Business

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In 2019 Novator led a $22.33 million funding round to further develop a multiplayer online space colony simulation game called Seed. Novator was joined by Lego Ventures, the investment entity of the Lego brand. Birgir Ragnarson, partner at Novator, was appointed Klang's chairman of the board.{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/15/klang-raises-22-3-million-for-mmo-space-colony-simulation-seed/|title=Klang raises $22.3 million for MMO space colony simulation Seed|date=15 August 2019|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|access-date=10 October 2019}}

In August 2019 Lockwood Publishing announced a funding round led by existing investors and new shareholders Novator. The round was led by CCP Games CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson. The total amount was not specified.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-08-15-lockwood-publishing-closes-funding-round-led-by-novator-ccp-games-ceo|title=Lockwood Publishing closes funding round led by Novator, CCP Games CEO|website=GamesIndustry.biz|language=en|access-date=10 October 2019}}

In 2020, Novator participated in online bank Monzo’s £60 million funding round.{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/02/monzo-the-u-k-challenger-bank-picks-up-additional-60m-in-funding/ |website=TechCrunch |title=Monzo, the UK challenger bank, picks up additional £60M in funding|date=December 2, 2020}}

In 2020, Novator invested in Cazoo, a UK-based online used car buying platform, as part of a £240 million funding round.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/01/cazoo-the-uk-used-car-sales-portal-raises-another-311m-now-valued-at-over-2b/|website=TechCrunch|date=October 1, 2020|title=Cazoo, the UK used car sales platform, raises another $311M, now valued at over $2.5B

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In 2020 Novator led men’s wellness/health service, Numan’s £10m Series A funding round along with other venture capitals. Novator also participated in the company’s $40 million Series B funding round in September 2021.{{Cite web |last=Butcher |first=Mike |date=2020-10-13 |title=Men's health subscription startup Numan closes £10M Series A funding round |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/13/mens-health-subscription-startup-numan-closes-10m-series-a-funding-round/ |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Butcher |first=Mike |date=2021-09-13 |title=Pandemic's shift to remote wellness helps Numan raise $40M Series B led by White Star |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/13/pandemics-shift-to-remote-wellness-helps-numan-raise-40m-series-b-led-by-white-star/ |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

In 2020 Novator Partners buys majority stake in Colombia's Avantel telecommunications company. Nevertheless, Novator Partners entered into the country with a new brand, WOM, and will be competing in the market together with Avantel.{{Cite web|title=Wom Colombia se lanzaría oficilamente luego de Semana Santa|url=https://www.comunidad-ola.com/portal/index.php/operadores/13897-wom-colombia-se-lanzaria-oficilamente-luego-de-semana-santa|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Comunidad OLA... ¡Estamos Conectados Contigo!|language=es-es}} Chris Banister "el tío WOM" will lead the new "WOM Colombia".{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/colombia-telecommunications/novator-partners-buys-majority-stake-in-colombias-avantel-idUSL8N2EE5SX|title=Novator Partners enter the Colombian market.}}

In 2021 Novator participated in e-scooter rental company, Tier Mobility's $40 million Series B Round, Series C funding round of $250 million and $200 million Series D funding round.{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/25/tier-scoots-off-with-first-close-of-its-200m-series-d/|website=TechCruch|title=Tier scoots off with $200M, all-equity 'first close' of Series D |date=October 25, 2021}}

In 2021 video game company, Ubisoft joined lead investor Novator Capital in a €14.1 million funding round.{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/assassins-creed-publisher-ubisoft-arms-dublin-based-vela-games-fhmmf500j |website=The Times|title=Assassin's Creed publisher Ubisoft arms Dublin-based Vela Games |date=July 4, 2021}}

In 2021 Novator participated in digital flower buying platform, Bloom & Wild's $102 million funding round and a £50 million funding round {{cite web|url=https://www.uktech.news/news/uks-bloom-wild-raises-further-50m-funding-and-acquires-french-rival-bergamotte-20210728|website=UK Tech News|title=UK's Bloom & Wild raises further £50M funding and acquires French rival Bergamotte |date=July 28, 2021}}

In August 2021, Novator invested $250 million in Prime Focus Limited, the parent company of visual effects studio DNEG.{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2021-08-18 |title=Visual Effects Oscar Heavyweight DNEG Gets $250M Injection From UK Investment Firm Novator |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/oscar-visual-effects-dneg-250-million-investment-novator-1234817509/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

An 18.27% stake in the Economic & Investment Bank (EIBank) in Bulgaria, which was previously 100% owned Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's domestic partner Tsvetelina Borislavova.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Actavis acquired Indian research company Lotus Laboratories.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

It acquired a controlling stake in Finnish telecom Saunalahti.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Acquired a 65% stake in Bulgarian Telecommunications Company for an undisclosed sum. In 2007 the stake was sold for £855m.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

It acquired a large stake in Polish telecom P4.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official|http://www.novator.co.uk }}

{{Private equity and venture capital}}

Category:Private equity firms of the United Kingdom

Category:Financial services companies based in London