#Ukraine #Kyiv #Horizon Capital #GPCA #Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell

Horizon Capital Wins 2025 Deal Innovation Award

A Prestigious Recognition

On November 13, 2025, Horizon Capital, a leading private equity firm based in Ukraine, proudly announced its accolade of winning the 2025 Deal Innovation Award from the Global Private Capital Association (GPCA). This recognition celebrates Horizon Capital's innovative leadership and expertise in structuring and executing the acquisition of Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell (DVL Telecom), deemed one of the most significant mergers and acquisitions in Ukraine for decades.

The acquisition was part of a consortium led by NJJ Holding, established by global telecommunications and technology entrepreneur, Xavier Niel. The GPCA, representing over 300 private equity funds and institutional investors across more than 60 countries, honored Horizon Capital for its exceptional contributions to the deal, which has positioned Ukraine as an attractive destination for private capital investments, even during challenging geopolitical climates.

Transformative Impact of the Acquisition

The GPCA praised Horizon Capital's vision and professionalism, which led to a remarkable 3.8x revenue increase and a 4.8x growth in EBITDA over five years for Datagroup. This endeavor also demonstrates the firm's commitment to creating inclusive and sustainable value, particularly in a country facing significant challenges. With Horizon Capital’s involvement, NJJ was able to rapidly penetrate the Ukrainian market by securing a 10% investment stake alongside NJJ in DVL Telecom. This was supplemented by a $435 million debt financing package from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), marking a total investment of about $1.5 billion.

Investment in Resilience

Despite the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine, the magnitude of this investment signals an unwavering confidence among international investors in Ukraine's resilience and future safety.