Transaction overview
We are delighted to announce the successful completion of our latest transaction, advising Netzkern, one of the leading German digital agencies, on its acquisition by the Netherlands-based Avedon Capital Private Equity firm. Netzkern will now form a group with Macaw, a leading digital services provider in the Netherlands and Germany. Macaw, which employs 350 people and has expertise in digital marketing, e-commerce, data and AI, aims to become a market leader in other parts of Europe. Private Equity firm Avedon Capital will support these ambitions.
The combined Netzkern-Macaw IT consulting services company will expand into continental Europe and become the biggest player in Sitecore in the German-speaking world and on the continent. Ciesco called the deal a natural marriage of companies.
About Netzkern
Netzkern is a leading full-service digital agency and one of the top Sitecore specialists in the DACH region. Netzkern is a Sitecore Platinum Implementation Partner and Microsoft Gold Partner and offers expertise in all areas, from strategy and design to development and all-round experience. Netzkern’s team of 100 experts is based across the company’s offices in Wuppertal and Hamburg. The company’s Sitecore team is one of the largest in the DACH region, with over 50 highly skilled specialists, including Certified Sitecore coaches recognised by Sitecore as MVP, or Most Valuable Professionals.
About Avedon Capital
Founded in 2011, Avedon Capital is an Amsterdam-based growth investor focused on realising fast track ambitions for high growth companies with exceptional entrepreneurs. With investments over 450 locations worldwide and 1800+ portfolio employees, they have considerable experience across the Software and Tech, Smart Industries, Business Services, Consumer & Health sectors.
Ciesco’s role
Ciesco acted as an exclusive sell-side advisor to the shareholders of Netzkern in a transaction that resulted in the creation of the largest Sitecore team in the DACH region. In combination with Macaw and with support from Avedon Capital, Netzkern will expand its services into continental Europe and become one of the leading providers of tech services in the region.
This transaction follows the recently completed deal announcements from Ciesco including the acquisition of San Francisco-based creative agency Pereira O’Dell by the largest European independent agency group Serviceplan, the sale of Rightspend, a SaaS-based marketing procurement technology platform to LDC Private Equity; the sale of Mediaxplain, the leading Amsterdam- based full-service media and marketing agency; and the sale of Mavens, the London based data and analytics consultancy to Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company recently acquired by Bain Capital.
Client testimonials
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"The Ciesco team helped us navigate this transaction and has been instrumental in orchestrating this successful outcome for the shareholders and employees of Netzkern. We achieved a fantastic result and joined forces with the partner that will help us realise our growth ambitions."
"The past twenty years have been an amazing journey. And we are incredibly proud of the team that has built Netzkern to make it what it is today. In recent years, we’ve seen the agency world change dramatically and in order to serve our clients even better, we’re delighted to join forces with Macaw. In Macaw we have found a match in terms of company culture, passion and ambition. We look forward to our first joint projects and to continuing our journey of discovery together."
"There is a perfect strategic fit of Netzkern and Macaw. The two companies have expertise in different technologies which are totally complementary. We are very much looking forward to seeing this new group flourish in the German-speaking market and elsewhere across Europe. In Germany specifically, we project a healthy double-digit growth."