Horizon Capital Achieves Real Deals Private Equity Award 2026 CEE Deal of the Year for Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell Transaction
On April 24, 2026, Horizon Capital, a prominent private equity firm operating in emerging Europe with managed assets of $1.8 billion, was awarded the esteemed Real Deals Private Equity Award for the CEE Deal of the Year, recognizing the significant telecommunications transaction involving Datagroup, Volia, and Lifecell. This accolade marks Horizon Capital’s second win in this category's history. Dmytro Boroday, a partner at the firm, had the honor of accepting the award at a prestigious event held in London.
The Real Deals Private Equity Awards have established themselves as the most esteemed recognition within the European private equity sector over the past 25 years. Every year, around 1,000 influential figures from the industry convene to honor fund managers and advisors who have significantly advanced the sector in the past year. A panel of industry leaders assesses all contributions, with awards being granted based on merit, accomplishments, and the quality of contributions.
Lenna Koszarny, founding partner and CEO of Horizon Capital, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, "The Real Deals Award highlights the dedication of all individuals involved in the success of this transaction, including the leadership and teams at Datagroup, Volia, Lifecell, our brilliant CEO Mykhaylo Shelemb, visionary telecom entrepreneur Xavier Niel, the Horizon Capital transaction team led by Dmytro Boroday, as well as the EBRD, IFC, and the European Commission, whose support was crucial for this transaction. We share this recognition with Ukraine to celebrate the resilience, determination, and strength of its people who continue to achieve exceptional investment outcomes even in the toughest circumstances."
The DVL Telecom transaction (Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell) is notable for being one of the largest mergers and acquisitions in Ukraine in decades. Structured as a consortium led by NJJ Holding, with Xavier Niel as the global telecom and technology entrepreneur, Horizon Capital played a vital role as a minority investor in this significant acquisition. Real Deals acknowledged the innovative vision and execution by Horizon Capital that transformed Datagroup, resulting in a remarkable 3.8-fold revenue increase and a 4.8-fold EBITDA growth over five years since Horizon assumed operational control.
This award further recognizes Horizon Capital’s innovative approach to partnership and capital structuring. To facilitate NJJ's entry into the Ukrainian market, Horizon Capital, managed by the Horizon Capital Growth Fund II, L.P., became a partner with NJJ, and a portion of the exit proceeds was invested alongside NJJ into DVL Telecom. To complete the transaction, Horizon secured $435 million of debt financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), supported by the European Commission's investment framework for Ukraine.
This transaction represents a total investment of $1.5 billion in Ukraine, combining the acquisition price with guaranteed capital expenditures, despite the ongoing war, showcasing international investors’ confidence in Ukraine’s resilience and promising future.
Dmytro Boroday, partner and member of the Catalyst Fund’s investment committee, added, "This award reflects not just another private equity exit, but something far more substantial and significant. It represents the largest deal in Ukraine over the last decade, conducted amid extensive warfare, unparalleled in modern history. We are proud to be nominated in this category alongside leading private equity firms like Invalda, MCI Capital, and MidEuropa, who have inspired us over the years with their remarkable achievements in our region, and we are excited to bring this prestigious award back to Kyiv."
Horizon Capital stands as a leading private equity firm in emerging Europe, with assets exceeding $1.8 billion and a capital base of over $700 billion from investors. The firm’s investment strategy focuses on empowering visionary entrepreneurs who lead rapidly growing businesses in Ukraine and Moldova. Since its inception, Horizon Capital has invested in over 200 companies employing more than 56,000 people. Its newest fund, the Catalyst Fund, aims for a target sum of €300 million and has secured over 50% of its fundraising goal to attract up to €3 billion in capital to Ukraine for reconstruction efforts.
The Real Deals Private Equity Awards have established themselves as the most esteemed recognition within the European private equity sector over the past 25 years. Every year, around 1,000 influential figures from the industry convene to honor fund managers and advisors who have significantly advanced the sector in the past year. A panel of industry leaders assesses all contributions, with awards being granted based on merit, accomplishments, and the quality of contributions.
Lenna Koszarny, founding partner and CEO of Horizon Capital, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, "The Real Deals Award highlights the dedication of all individuals involved in the success of this transaction, including the leadership and teams at Datagroup, Volia, Lifecell, our brilliant CEO Mykhaylo Shelemb, visionary telecom entrepreneur Xavier Niel, the Horizon Capital transaction team led by Dmytro Boroday, as well as the EBRD, IFC, and the European Commission, whose support was crucial for this transaction. We share this recognition with Ukraine to celebrate the resilience, determination, and strength of its people who continue to achieve exceptional investment outcomes even in the toughest circumstances."
The DVL Telecom transaction (Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell) is notable for being one of the largest mergers and acquisitions in Ukraine in decades. Structured as a consortium led by NJJ Holding, with Xavier Niel as the global telecom and technology entrepreneur, Horizon Capital played a vital role as a minority investor in this significant acquisition. Real Deals acknowledged the innovative vision and execution by Horizon Capital that transformed Datagroup, resulting in a remarkable 3.8-fold revenue increase and a 4.8-fold EBITDA growth over five years since Horizon assumed operational control.
This award further recognizes Horizon Capital’s innovative approach to partnership and capital structuring. To facilitate NJJ's entry into the Ukrainian market, Horizon Capital, managed by the Horizon Capital Growth Fund II, L.P., became a partner with NJJ, and a portion of the exit proceeds was invested alongside NJJ into DVL Telecom. To complete the transaction, Horizon secured $435 million of debt financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), supported by the European Commission's investment framework for Ukraine.
This transaction represents a total investment of $1.5 billion in Ukraine, combining the acquisition price with guaranteed capital expenditures, despite the ongoing war, showcasing international investors’ confidence in Ukraine’s resilience and promising future.
Dmytro Boroday, partner and member of the Catalyst Fund’s investment committee, added, "This award reflects not just another private equity exit, but something far more substantial and significant. It represents the largest deal in Ukraine over the last decade, conducted amid extensive warfare, unparalleled in modern history. We are proud to be nominated in this category alongside leading private equity firms like Invalda, MCI Capital, and MidEuropa, who have inspired us over the years with their remarkable achievements in our region, and we are excited to bring this prestigious award back to Kyiv."
Horizon Capital stands as a leading private equity firm in emerging Europe, with assets exceeding $1.8 billion and a capital base of over $700 billion from investors. The firm’s investment strategy focuses on empowering visionary entrepreneurs who lead rapidly growing businesses in Ukraine and Moldova. Since its inception, Horizon Capital has invested in over 200 companies employing more than 56,000 people. Its newest fund, the Catalyst Fund, aims for a target sum of €300 million and has secured over 50% of its fundraising goal to attract up to €3 billion in capital to Ukraine for reconstruction efforts.
Topics Financial Services & Investing）
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