Cross Border IT

PRESS RELEASE
Contact AP Management:
Pierre-Yves Dargaud
Tel : +33 (0) 1 44 55 00 89
pyd@apmanagement.fr
www.crossborderit.com

London/Paris, September 4th, 2008



Launch of a dedicated M&A boutique focusing on cross-border deals in the IT field

AP Management, a French M&A boutique and Frenger International, a UK M&A boutique have decided to set up a dedicated new joint-venture to advise on M&A operations in the IT sector throughout Europe.

This new company, Cross Border IT Limited, will be head-quartered in London, UK and will also have operations in Paris and Benelux.

In combining both AP Management's and Frenger International's expertises, this new company will provide leading European IT players with a unique service to facilitate their international development.

Cross Border IT aims to exploit the rapid evolution of the IT sector and in particular the growing need for international expansion to either follow major customers or to seek new market opportunities as is the case for software publishers. Cross Border IT will focus on assisting companies seeking to achieve this international expansion via the acquisitions of businesses in foreign markets. This method of market entry is the fastest and surest way of securing a significant foothold in a new territory providing a solid platform for future expansion. Cross Border IT will operate with a team of seven experienced professionals with a track record of over 20 cross border deals completed in the IT sector over the past 10 years.

" A year after the kick-off of our international development and a few months after hiring Jacques Paquin, a well-known professional in the cross border M&A world, the creation of this joint-venture with Frenger International, the leader in cross border acquisitions between the UK and France on the mid market segment, is a significant milestone for AP Management " commented Pierre-Yves Dargaud, Managing Director of AP Management.

"The launch of Cross Border IT with AP Management is a significant step in Frenger International's development. It will enable us to offer solutions to more IT companies in new markets with the support of a very experienced team of M&A professionals" explained Jean-Noël Mermet, Founder and Managing Director of Frenger International.





About AP Management : www.apmanagement.fr

Established in 2003 AP Management advises IT companies in M&A transactions and capital restructuring operations. The team completed over 70 deals in France between 1997 and 2007. Since 2007, the company has been strengthening its structure to fulfil its Clients' international development requirements.
Pierre-Yves Dargaud, Managing Director was CFO of several IT services and Software Engineering companies, e.g. SLIGOS Group. Founder of Euro Fi Conseils, an IT specialised M&A consultancy, he joined the investment bank Apax Partners in 1999 as a business partner in charge of the IT sector. In these capacities, he personally advised numerous Corporate Executives within the framework of their development strategy.


About Frenger International : www.frenger.com

Frenger International was formed in 1983 in London by Jean-Noël Mermet and specialised in cross border M&A transactions for the mid market.
Clients include companies quoted on Euronext, London Stock Exchange, AIM and privately owned companies including many private equity backed businesses. Over the years Frenger International has completed over 40 cross-border transactions of which around 30% involved ICT businesses. Jean-Noël Mermet, its founder and CEO, is recognised as one of the most active M&A cross-border specialists for mid-market transactions.