AXA Private Equity, the European diversified private equity house, today announces that it has acquired a 25% equity stake in French software producer, GOTO Software.

GOTO Software has three core business divisions: Vade Retro anti-spam software designed for businesses and internet service providers; electronic communication with Sarbacane application designed for SMEs to manage mass mailings; and online portals to learn, play and master the game of bridge via PC Internet with GOTO Bridge and funbridge.com.

Based in Lille, GOTO Software has 40 employees and the company’s sales have grown 40% per year with positive earnings over the last four years.

Thierry Tarnus, who founded GOTO Software, said: “AXA Private Equity has practical experience in entrepreneurship and its pragmatic approach suited me perfectly.”

Laurent Foata, an AXA Private Equity director, commented: “GOTO Software management have managed to diversify their business while ensuring growth in sales. AXA Private Equity would like to support them for this new stage.”

About AXA Private Equity

AXA Private Equity (www.axaprivateequity.com), an AXA Investment Managers company, is a leading private equity house with $25bn of assets under management and international reach across Europe, North America and Asia.
The firm provides investors with funds across the full range of private equity offerings: direct funds -
infrastructure; LBO mid cap and small cap; venture capital; co-investments; funds of funds - primary,
early secondary and secondary and finally mezzanine.

With offices in Paris, Frankfurt, London, New York, Singapore, Milan, Zurich and Vienna, AXA Private Equity offers company management commitment to long-term growth by providing access to its international offices. Investors rely on the firm’s regular, comprehensive feedback on performance and portfolio companies.

AXA Private Equity, Global Investments The European Way

AXA Private Equity press contacts

The HeadLand Consultancy

Mr Daniel Kahn – dkahn@headlandconsultancy.co.uk
Tel.: +44(0)207 367 5247

Ms Maria Shum – mshum@headlandconsultancy.co.uk
Tel.: +44 (0)207 367 5227

About GOTO Software

Founded in 1982, GOTO Software was initially present in minitel software production. As technologies evolved over time, the company progressively moved towards the Internet. GOTO Software currently has three distinct businesses: Vade Retro anti-spam software (www.vade-retro.com), e-mail communication with Sarbacane (www.sarbacane.com), and lastly the game bridge notably via www.funbridge.com. The company targets both private and business customers, the latter comprising SME, large companies and telecoms operators. All products are entirely developed internally and offered to customers via the SaaS model (Software as a Service).

Contact: Mathieu Tarnus, mtarnus@goto.fr, +33.328.328.075

Parties involved:

AXA Private Equity investors: Antoine Lacour and Laurent Foata
AXA Private Equity legal consultant: Claire Bourgeois, BDA
Due Diligence: Yann Marchand, Diagnostic et Investissement