Orange and Publicis Groupe Announce the Creation of IrisNext- one of the biggest multi-corporate venture capital funds in Europe
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
ORANGE AND PUBLICIS GROUPE ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF IRISNEXT
One of the biggest multi-corporate venture capital funds in Europe
On the occasion of today's Franco-German conference on digital at the Elysée
Palace, Stéphane Richard (Chairman and CEO of Orange), Maurice Lévy (Chairman
and CEO of Publicis Groupe), and Gerhard Cromme (acting in a private capacity),
have signed a letter of intent with a view to creating a European multi-
corporate venture capital fund on a global scale.
The goal of this new fund, named IrisNext, is to become one of Europe's leading
venture capital funds through funding from major international groups of French,
German and international origins, as well as from institutional investors.
IrisNext will mainly invest in European start-ups to help fund their growth, not
just in the early stages but all throughout the phases of growth. The fund will
focus its investments in entities involved in all aspects of corporate digital
transformation. Among the start-ups concerned, IrisNext will be funding pure
players, but also new business models built around digital technology, as well
as new tools and technologies taking on the challenge of this transformation
(e.g. big data, cloud, artificial intelligence, digital innovations, robots,
etc.). The fund will be managed by Iris Capital, assisted by German VC fund
Capnamic, with an initial closing scheduled in 2016.
To ensure the success of this venture, Publicis Groupe and Orange have committed
to provide additional funding of 75M? each. With the support of Gerhard
Cromme, who has joined this project in a personal capacity and will sit on the
Supervisory Board of Iris Capital, they will use their networks and influence to
convince other German, French and European groups to invest in IrisNext, in
order to endow the fund with the required dimension while optimizing
opportunities for European start-ups. Institutional investors will also be
invited to invest. Furthermore, public bodies in the field of corporate
financing in France and Germany will also be solicited for additional funding to
ensure the fund reaches the critical mass it needs.
In view of the very active presence of the large Anglo-Saxon and Asian venture
capital funds, the parties involved in this agreement consider it indispensable
to leverage the Franco-German axis in order to bolster the European venture
capital sufficiently for it to support start-ups, particularly in the later
stages of growth, and in doing so, to help anchor them in Europe.
The IrisNext project is a follow-up to the Orange Publicis Ventures funds which
were launched in 2012 and contributed some 300M? to the funding of the French
and European digital ecosystem. These funds, which are also managed by Iris
Capital, have helped promote the emergence of an innovative, multi-corporate
investment model that is mutually beneficial to both parties: the start-ups
receiving funding and the groups who learn from these innovations. Close to 60
start-ups have received funding from Orange Publicis Ventures, including very
promising firms such as Netatmo in the IoT (Internet of Things), Talend
(software), Scality (high capacity storage), Adjust (mobile analytics) and
Mister Auto (e-commerce).
About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris FR0000130577, CAC 40] is a global leader in
marketing, communication, and business transformation. In a world marked by
increased convergence and consumer empowerment, Publicis Groupe offers a full
range of services and skills: digital, technology & consulting with
Publicis.Sapient (SapientNitro, Sapient Global Markets, Sapient
Government Services, Razorfish Global, DigitasLBi, Rosetta) - the world's
largest most forward-thinking digitally centered platform focused exclusively on
digital transformation in an always-on world - as well as creative networks such
as BBH, Leo Burnett, Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, public affairs,
corporate communications and events with MSLGROUP, ad tech
solutions with VivaKi, media strategy, planning and buying through Starcom
MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia, healthcare communications, with Publicis
Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG), and finally, brand asset production with
Prodigious. Present in 108 countries, the Groupe employs more than 76,000
professionals.
www.publicisgroupe.com | Twitter: (at)PublicisGroupe |
Facebook: www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe | LinkedIn: Publicis Groupe
| http://www.youtube.com/user/PublicisGroupe | Viva la Difference !
About Orange
Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with sales
of 39 billion euros in 2014 and 157,000 employees worldwide at 30
September 2015, including 98,000 employees in France. Present in 28 countries,
the Group has a total customer base of 263 million customers worldwide at 30
September 2015, including 200 million mobile customers
and 18 million fixed broadband customers. Orange is also a leading provider of
global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the
brand Orange Business Services. In March 2015, the Group presented its new
strategic plan "Essentials2020" which places customer experience at the heart of
its strategy with the aim of allowing them to benefit fully from the digital
universe and the power of its new generation networks.
Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock
Exchange (symbol ORAN).
For more information on the internet and on your
mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com, www.livetv.orange.com or to
follow us on Twitter: (at)orangegrouppr.
Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material
are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.
Contacts
Publicis
Groupe
Peggy Corporate + 33 (0)1
Nahmany Communications 44 43 72 83 peggy.nahmany(at)publicisgroupe.com
Jean-Michel Investor + 33 (0)1
Bonamy Relations 44 43 77 88 jean-michel.bonamy(at)publicisgroupe.com
Chi-Chung Investor +33 (0)1
Lo Relations 44 43 66 69 Chi-chung.lo(at)publicisgroupe.com
Orange
Caroline +33 (0)1 Caroline.simeoni(at)orange.com
Simeoni 44 44 93 93
Olivier +33 (0)1 Olivier.emberger(at)orange.com
Emberger 44 44 93 93
Iris
Capital
Robert +33 (0)1
Amady 44 82 46 31 Robert.amady(at)consultants.publicis.fr
This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of
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(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Publicis Groupe via GlobeNewswire
[HUG#1961875]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 27.10.2015 - 20:25 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 429907
Anzahl Zeichen: 8143
contact information:
Town:
Paris
Kategorie:
Business News
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