Horizon Capital Wins the Real Deals Private Equity Awards 2026

Horizon Capital, a leading private equity firm in Central and Eastern Europe, with assets under management of over USD 1.8 billion, is honored to announce its victory at the Real Deals Private Equity Awards 2026 in the “CEE Deal of the Year” category for the landmark transaction in the telecommunications sector, Datagroup–Volia–lifecell. Horizon Capital is receiving the “CEE Deal of the Year” award for the second time in its history. The award was accepted at the ceremony in London, United Kingdom, by the company’s partner Dmytro Borodai.

Over more than 25 years, the Real Deals Private Equity Awards have become the most prestigious and authoritative distinction in the European private equity industry. Every year, 1,000 leading representatives of the industry come together to recognize fund managers and advisers who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of the industry over the past year. All submissions are evaluated by an expert panel of industry leaders, and decisions are made based on the results achieved, the professional level of execution, and the quality of the submitted application.

Olena Kosharna, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Capital, said: “The Real Deals award is recognition of everyone who contributed to the success of this transaction — the management and teams of Datagroup–Volia–lifecell, our exceptionally talented CEO Mykhailo Shelemba, the visionary of the telecom and technology sector Xavier Niel and the NJJ team, the Horizon Capital team led by partner Dmytro Borodai, as well as the EBRD, IFC and the European Commission, without whom this deal would have been impossible. We share this distinction with Ukraine, celebrating the strength, invincibility and resilience of