Paris: Private equity companies that have NSO, Israeli spyware companies in the heart of the Pegasus scandal, are liquidated, a source close to the company to AFP on Monday, confirming media reports.
London-based Novalpina capital, which bought the NSO group in 2019, was dissolved after a dispute between the founders.
The liquidation makes NSO ownership in the future unclear, just like a company wrestling with a vast electronic espionage scandal.
Novalpina also has an Estonian casino group Estonia Olympic Entertainment and Pharmaceutical France X.O.
The Financial Times reported that the Novalpina investor “had up to August 6 to decide whether to liquidate funds with the sale of fire assets, or appoint a third party to control it”.
French Business Daily Les Echos reported that Novalpina was being liquidated to end the “internal war” between its founders.
But “the espionage scandal may be a straw that breaks the camel’s back”, he added.
The NSO Group is in the Hurricane Center this month after an international media investigation claims its pegasus software is used to spy on mobile human rights activists, journalists, and even the head of state.
NSO has denied the mistake, label the accusation of “wrong”.
This confirms the software is intended to be used only in combating terrorism and other crimes.