AXA Private Equity leads a minority stake investment in Bravofly

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Press release

AXA Private Equity leads a minority stake investment in Bravofly

  • 21 September 2010

  • Growth

  • France, Paris

6 minutes de lecture

AXA Private Equity, the leading European diversified private equity firm, announces today its investment in Bravofly. With its acquisition of a 6% stake, it has led a group of private investors which, in aggregate, has acquired approximately 16% of Bravofly’s capital.

Launched in 2004, Bravofly is a major player in the European online booking market. With its user-friendly interface and advanced technology, the company offers its customers a powerful research and comparison engine to book flight tickets on low-cost and traditional airlines.

The company, owned by its founders, has experienced strong growth since its establishment and is today a major European online player with a turnover of €180 million and 6 million unique visitors every month. Bravofly today boasts one of the broadest offer ranges in flight and travel-related markets through its websites bravofly.fr, bravofly.de, bravofly.co.uk, bravofly.es, bravofly.com, volagratis.it and viaggiare.it.

AXA Private Equity has extensive experience of identifying talented management teams and working with them to help expand their businesses geographically via its international network of contacts. The firm will help to support Bravofly’s management team in accelerating its expansion and development plans.

Francesco Signoretti, Bravofly CEO: "Innovation was key in ensuring the growth of Bravofly in Europe. We are pleased to welcome AXA Private Equity as a new shareholder; the firm’s international dimension and responsiveness convinced us."

Laurent Foata, director at Axa Private Equity: "Bravofly’s managers have turned their company into a model of entrepreneurial success with international ambitions. We look forward to actively supporting them throughout this new phase of development".

ABOUT AXA PRIVATE EQUITY

AXA Private Equity is a leading private equity firm with US$25 billion in managed assets and a global reach extending across Europe, North America and Asia. The firm offers investors the full spectrum of private equity services for every market segment: direct funds, infrastructure financing, mid cap and small cap buyouts, venture capital, co-investments, fund of funds as well as mezzanine financing.
With offices in Paris, Frankfurt, London, New York, Singapore, Milan, Zurich and Vienna, AXA Private Equity supports the development and long-term growth of its portfolio companies with sustainable growth strategies and by granting them access to the AXA international network. AXA Private Equity has earned the trust of its investors by regularly supplying them with transparent performance data on its funds and portfolio companies.

About Bravofly

Bravofly is the European leader for the search and sale of low cost flights. It is the only system in Europe that allows users to search, compare and book flights offered from all low cost airlines as well as all traditional airline companies. Bravofly is renowned for its simplicity, its useful tools and its innovative projects that use the most advanced technologies. Whether for business or for pleasure, Bravofly provides an extensive choice for flights, hotel, car hires and guides for every kind of trip.

Participants

  • PARTIES INVOLVED

    • AXA Private Equity investor: Laurent Foata
    • Investor’s legal counsel: Dijkstra Voermans Advocatuur & Notariaat and Weil Gotshal
    • Investor’s due diligence counsel: Grant Thornton
    • Company’s financial advisor: Eidos Partners
    • Company’s legal counsel: Baker & McKenzie

Press contact

AXA - Headland Consultancy

Daniel Kahn

+442073675247

Press contact

Bravofly

Gaspar Santonja

gaspar.santonja@bravofly.com

+41916833339