VC firm Draper Esprit reignites flotation plans

Company’s Irish operations headed by serial entrepreneur Brian Caulfield

Draper Esprit’s Irish operations are headed by serial entrepreneur Brian Caulfield. The VC firm has reignited plans for a flotation in Dublin and London after raising €102 million.

Joe Brennan

Venture capital company Draper Esprit, which is invested in a number of Irish technology companies, has reignited plans for a flotation in Dublin and London after raising €102 million.

The company, which was reportedly seeking to raise about £120 million (€156 million) late last year before postponing the IPO, expects to have a market capitalisation of €159 million at the time of its admission to trading on June 15.

Goodbody Stockbrokers and Numis Securities in London are advising the company, which was previously known as DFJ Esprit on the transaction.

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Draper Esprit's Irish business is headed up by serial entrepreneur Brian Caulfield, a former partner with Trinity Venture Capital. His portfolio includes investments in companies such as Datahug, Mobile Travel Technologies, Getbulb and Movidius.

At the time of the flotation, the company will have minority stakes in a portfolio of 24 firms. It intends to invest in the companies comprising the initial portfolio and to pursue new investment opportunities.

Joe Brennan

Joe Brennan

Joe Brennan is Markets Correspondent of The Irish Times