In a series of discussions with entrepreneurs whose capital-efficient businesses are recognized “return leaders”, Kennet Partners Managing Director Javier Rojas sat down with Mark to learn how he was able to build such a successful company despite breaking many of the conventional rules.

Click here to read the full article on Sandhill.com

In a series of discussions with entrepreneurs whose capital-efficient businesses are recognized “return leaders”, Kennet Partners Managing Director Javier Rojas sat down with Kent to learn how he was able to build a company from just himself and a partner into one that had successfully raised $175 million in an IPO.

Click here to read the full article on Sandhill.com

Click here to read the full article on Sandhill.com

In a series of discussions with entrepreneurs whose capital-efficient businesses are recognized “return leaders”, Kennet Partners Managing Director Javier Rojas sat down with Ratmir to learn how the attention paid to customers, technology and product focus led to the success of the company.

Click here to read the full article on Sandhill.com

In a series of discussions with entrepreneurs whose capital-efficient businesses are recognized “return leaders”, Kennet Partners Managing Director Javier Rojas sat down with Heidi to learn how she and her brother created and ran the company, and how they went on to sell it to Rakuten.

Click here to read the full article on Sandhill.com

Entrepreneurs who own a major stake in their business are often faced with the question of whether and when to sell their shares. This can be the hardest decision to make because the stakes are high – both through indecision or a misstep, and at the same time emotional because of the potential changes involved.

As an advisor and investor Javier Rojas has often helped founders answer these questions. In the process he has developed a model for breaking down the decision process and helping to come to the right answer given the appropriate set of circumstances.

This article was originally published at The Sterling Report

Gustavo talks about some of the lessons learned in corporate marketing and in earlier ventures, and how his learning has been applied at BuyVIP.

In a series of discussions with entrepreneurs whose capital-efficient businesses are recognized “return leaders”, Kennet Partners Managing Director Javier Rojas sat down with Jassi to learn how he created a company that achieved that remarkable 52x ratio of exit value to capital used.

Click here to read the full article on Sandhill.com

In this frank interview John talks us through some of the ups and downs of the Staffware journey. It is a story of survival through a downturn, dogged determination and more than a little humour.

London, Madrid, Frankfurt. April 3, 2009 – BuyVIP has announced the completion of a €14.9 million financing round led by Kennet Partners, a leading technology growth investor. Kennet will invest up to €11.1 million in the financing and joins existing investors Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI), 3i Group and Molins Capital inversión, advised by Active Capital Partners, which also participated in this round. David Carratt, Managing Director of Kennet will join the board of BuyVIP.

Private buying clubs are showing tremendous growth in many European countries as fashion-conscious consumers are flocking to the web to save both time and money by participating in short duration sales. As a result, the online channel is becoming an integral part of many brands’ international distribution strategy. The overall European market opportunity is estimated to exceed €1 billion in 2009.

BuyVIP is the leading European private buyers’ club with more than 400 brand relationships across the region. With an online community of more than 3.5 million members and operations in Spain, Germany and Italy, the company offers a unique and efficient direct marketing channel to its brand partners.

The company operates an online marketplace which invites its members to private sale events, offering discounts of between 30 to 70% on branded goods that are either end-of-line or not available through retail outlets. Products are sourced from leading brand partners in each of its markets. BuyVIP already has effective operations in three European countries and will use the capital to expand into additional geographies in the region, building on both its brand relationships and its member acquisition program.

Every day its members are invited to more than 10 sales events, offering discounts of up to 70% on branded goods. Products are sourced directly from leading brand partners in each of its operating markets.

“The overall shift from offline stores to the Internet continues and there are substantial opportunities within this trend” said Kennet Managing Director David Carratt. “Within e-commerce, fashion is the fastest growing sub-segment, with 34% growth year-over-year. BuyVIP has been growing at more than 300% per year and we believe that the company has the team and processes in place to build a significant European business.”

Gustavo Garcia Brusilovsky, the CEO of BuyVIP said “Kennet is the ideal investor for BuyVIP because of its expertise in developing international businesses and willingness to support the extreme pace at which we operate. We are delighted to have David on board, with his hands-on experience in building international business operations. We already have effective operations in three European countries and will use the capital to expand into additional geographies, building on both our strong brand relationships and our member acquisition program.”

The round was legally supported by: Gómez-Acebo & Pombo; Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira; Araoz&Rueda; Landwell PwC and Salans.

About Kennet Partners

Kennet is a leading international private equity firm that invests in growth companies in Europe and North America. Kennet supports entrepreneurial technology businesses with expansion capital to accelerate growth and build exceptional shareholder value. Kennet is an experienced investor with more than $500 million in funds under management.

For more information: www.kennet.com or contact Su Johnston (sjohnston@kennet.com) T: +44 (0)20 7839 8020. Kennet Partners Limited is authorized and regulated in the U.K. by the Financial Services Authority

About BuyVIP

BuyVIP is an exclusive, invitation-only online destination where invited members discover premier brands in time limited campaigns. Products are either end of season or are not yet available thus making BuyVIP a unique platform for great deals usually 30-70% off the original retail price.

With more than 3.5 million members (Dec 2008) and more than 10 new sales campaigns every day, throughout Europe, BuyVIP is a leader in the private sales segment. Partner brands include companies such as Calvin Klein, Ed Hardy, Diesel, Adidas, Puma, Nudie, Gucci or Fendi. Investors include Bertelsmann and 3i group.

The company was founded in 2006 simultaneously in Spain and Germany by a two serial entrepreneurs Gustavo Garcia and Gerald Heydenreich. Today BuyVIP is a truly European company with more than 120 employees with subsidiaries in Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria. BuyVIP recently won the acclaimed Red Herring Top 100 award and has been selected by European Tech Tour.

For further information please go to www.buyvip.com

About Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI)

Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, based in Luxembourg, is the Venture Capital subsidiary of the international media company Bertelsmann AG. BDMI investments focus on new trends and business models in the area of digital media. BDMI expects to support the success of portfolio companies through a close working relationship with Bertelsmann divisions (RTL Group, Random House, Gruner + Jahr, Arvato, Direct Group), enhancing their leading and innovative positioning in the media industry. BDMI is managed by an international team based in US and Germany. For further information: www.bdmifund.com.

About 3i

3i is an international leader in private equity. We focus on Buyouts, Growth Capital, Infrastructure and Quoted Private Equity (“QPE”) and invest across Europe, North America and Asia. Our competitive advantage comes from our international network and the strength and breadth of our business relationships. These underpin the value that we deliver to our portfolio and to our shareholders. For further information: www.3i.com or contact Rachel Richards (Rachel.Richards@3i.com)

About Active Capital Partners

Active Capital Partners, advisor to MCI (Molins Capital inversión S.C.R. S.A.), makes minority investments in European technology companies requiring startup or expansion capital. Active invests between €500,000 and €3,000,000 per transaction and also co-invests in larger opportunities. Active’s investment style is characterised by its independent and entrepreneurial management team and its international network of Venturepreneurs, advisers, specialists, who enable them to add considerable value to its investments. Some of the principal investments are Telemedicine Clinic, Polymita Technologies, Xperience Consulting and Golden Gekko. For further information: Christopher Pommerening, Tlf: +34 93 487 6666. www.acpvc.com

London, March 24, 2009 – Kennet Partners, the technology growth investor has announced a €6.5 million investment in GoViral, a global online distributor of branded video content.

GoViral launches branded video content across its proprietary online publisher network, ensuring high brand engagement and maximum viral exposure to the relevant demographics. GoViral’s unique positioning within viral marketing and video distribution ensures high-volume, targeted and high return-on-investment campaigns. These content-based campaigns are distributed in local languages, on local sites and with local publishers. Recognized as a leader in the segment, the company’s Seed&Track solution helps marketers reach Internet users in more than 80 countries. GoViral is based in Copenhagen, with offices in London, Frankfurt and Paris.

According to Jupiter research, online video will grow faster than any other creative type in Europe, increasing more than tenfold from €87 million (four percent of display ad spending) in 2006 to €929 million (20 percent of display ad spending) in 2012.

“We are excited about the prospects for GoViral.” said Michael Elias, Managing Director of Kennet. “Jimmy Maymann and his team have developed a first-mover advantage in a significant new market that is transforming media and advertising consumption. GoViral is an established business, fast-growing and profitable, with a global market opportunity. It is capital-efficient and highly responsive to the evolving requirements of its customers. The combination of strong market opportunity, innovative technology and effective management team makes this a very promising investment for Kennet and we are pleased to be the first institutional investor in the company.”

Jimmy Maymann, CEO of GoViral added, “We believe that the Kennet team, and Michael in particular, can add a lot of value to the business in the coming years. We have a shared vision for the business - the belief that video advertising is a key consideration that will help the online channel become the most important advertising medium in the future. GoViral already has a leading position within the digital advertising space, and this investment positions us well to scale the business to respond to the opportunity.”

As part of the investment, Michael Elias from Kennet will join the board of GoViral.

About Kennet Partners

Kennet is a leading international private equity firm that invests in growth companies in Europe and North America. Kennet supports entrepreneurial technology businesses with expansion capital to accelerate growth and build exceptional shareholder value. Kennet is an experienced investor with more than $500 million in funds under management.

For more information: www.kennet.com. Kennet Partners Limited is authorized and regulated in the U.K. by the Financial Services Authority

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European media enquiries:
Kennet - Su Johnston, +44(0) 20 7839 8020, sjohnston@kennet.com

US media enquiries:
Accelent Marketing - Theresa Maloney, +1 925 287 1509, theresa@accelentmarketing.com

London, March 19, 2009 — Kennet, a leading growth equity investor in Europe and North America with funds under management in excess of $500 million, today announced the addition of Hillel Zidel to its London team.

Hillel joins Kennet from ETV Capital, a provider of debt and equity-based capital to technology and biotech companies. At Kennet he will be working with the founders and management teams of European technology companies to exploit growth opportunities, including addressing new markets and geographies, and undertaking business development activities.

“We are delighted to have Hillel join us at Kennet” said Michael Elias, Managing Director. “His business knowledge and experience with growth capital in particular is an ideal fit for us. Kennet is seeing an increasing number of investment opportunities in both Europe and the U.S., so there is a good deal for him to do here.”

Hillel Zidel added: “This is an exciting time to be making European growth equity investments. The current climate has created opportunities as well as challenges for many high-tech entrepreneurs, and the value that Kennet provides in helping its portfolio companies to capitalize on opportunities and deal with challenges is an important differentiator in a difficult economy. Kennet has a great team of investment professionals with a great track record and I very much look forward to being part of the team.”

Kennet closed its third fund, Kennet III, in June 2008 and is actively investing in technology and technology-enabled businesses. Seven investments have already been made from the fund including: Spreadshirt, the online marketplace for customized apparel; Go Internet Media, the online lead generation specialist; and Schoolwires a U.S.-based provider of communications platforms for schools and their communities.

About Kennet Partners

Kennet is a leading international private equity firm that invests in growth companies in Europe and North America. Kennet supports entrepreneurial technology businesses with expansion capital to accelerate growth and build exceptional shareholder value. Kennet is an experienced investor with more than $500 million in funds under management.

For more information: www.kennet.com. Kennet Partners Limited is authorized and regulated in the U.K. by the Financial Services Authority.

With NTRglobal’s enterprise-grade Service (SaaS) for remote systems management he is driving revenue momentum for the industry around the globe. Under his leadership NTRglobal has increased its revenues (MRR) by a factor of 7x between 2005 and 2007.

Ed has also created a business that grades itself against a detailed set of metrics, and has built a highly capable team.