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Private equity firm Henko Partners makes its first investment in the technology sector and in Portugal through its investment in Link. Link is a leading IT services provider in Portugal, offering a broad portfolio of solutions, with offices in Portugal, Brazil and the Middle East. Henko will support Link's international expansion, creating a platform with operations centres in Iberia and Latin America, and customers throughout Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
Lisbon, 19 Septemberth 2023.
Henko Partners, a Spanish private equity firm, has invested in Link to drive its international growth. Henko seeks to position Link as a leading IT services company in the Iberian Peninsula, with a strong presence across Europe and other key countries in Latin America and the Middle East.
Link was one of the first companies in the field of IT services in Portugal and stands out for its constant innovation. Today the Lisbon-based company has a broad portfolio of services including cloud architecture, workspace digitisation, managed services and analytics. Its strong customer base, with more than 350 accounts, extends mainly in the financial services, utilities and public administration sectors. In addition, its strategic partnerships with renowned clients support its ability to deliver the highest quality services. This is made possible by an experienced team of more than 400 employees.
The IT services sector continues to experience solid growth due to the increasing importance of digital technologies, resulting from the growing complexity of information and data management, as well as a need for greater agility in their use. The company has demonstrated a long track record of double-digit growth and is led by a highly skilled and experienced management team.
In addition to supporting its growth plans in Iberia, Henko intends to assist Link in its expansion in Europe. Henko seeks to establish Link as a leading nearshoring services provider, leveraging its experience and execution capabilities in Portugal and Brazil to offer services in Northern Europe and the Middle East. Link will also seek to complement its service offering through strategic acquisitions in Portugal and Spain, among other countries.
The company's CEO, José Alves Marques, and Link's current management team will continue to lead the company. Alongside financial backing, Henko will provide operational support to accelerate the company's development, expand its geographical presence and diversify its service portfolio.
José Alves Marques comments: "Henko's investment will give us the opportunity to access new markets and services. It will also provide us with the necessary resources to acquire companies that complement our business, both geographically and in terms of service portfolio.
Lars Becker, Partner at Henko, adds: "We are convinced that the IT services sector will continue to experience strong growth, and that digitalisation will become increasingly relevant for economic growth. Link, backed by its broad portfolio of services and its highly qualified team, is well positioned to accompany its customers in their digital transition process. We are delighted to support the Link team in their ambitious plans.
The transaction has been advised by SRS Legal and Haitong, as legal and financial advisors to Link's shareholders, and by Garrigues and PwC, as legal and financial advisors to Henko.
About Link:
Link is a leading IT consulting firm based in Portugal. With a strong focus on Innovation, Link provides strategic advice and cutting-edge technology solutions to help organisations overcome the challenges of the digital transition and create long-term value in partnership with their clients.
For additional information, please visit www.linkconsulting.com.
About Henko Partners:
Henko Partners is an independent private equity firm focused on supporting Spanish and Portuguese SMEs in markets with long-term growth trends. The strategy is to work with entrepreneurs and management teams to develop high potential businesses. As entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, the firm supports companies to accelerate their growth and transform into more resilient and sustainable businesses. Henko Partners is a responsible investor committed to strict environmental, social and governance principles.
