3TS and Cisco target CEE venture

3TS Capital Partners and Cisco Systems have launched a new investment fund, the Technology in Central and Eastern Europe S.C.A. SICAR (to be marketed as the “3TS–Cisco Growth Fund III”), primarily targeting growth capital investments in technology, media and communications companies in the CEE region.

This third fund by 3TS Capital Partners brings the total funds under management to over €200m. 3TS continues to cover the whole CEE region from the Baltic States to the Balkans. In addition to the core countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria, this new fund will consider investment opportunities in Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine and Turkey. The target companies will be exceptional high-growth, small and medium-size companies that are or can become either regional market leaders or global challengers.

Managing director Pekka Santeri Mäki, said: “In addition to being one of the largest high tech companies in the world, Cisco is also a very active venture capital investor worldwide, so we are obviously delighted that Cisco has chosen to partner with us. This will further enhance the position of 3TS as a preferred venture capital and private equity partner in Central Eastern Europe.”

3TS Capital Partners targets investments in growth sectors including technology, telecoms, media and marketing, services, environment and energy. Investors in the funds include 3i, Cisco, EBRD, KfW and Sitra, among others.