M&A Deal Summary

Eurazeo PME, Paragon Partners, IK Partners and Ardian Acquire Questel

On April 5, 2018, private equity firms Eurazeo PME, Paragon Partners, IK Partners and Ardian acquired information technology company Questel from RAISE France and CAPZA

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Eurazeo PME’s 3rd, Paragon Partners’ 1st, IK Partners’ 5th and Ardian’s 16th transaction in the Information Technology sector.
  • This is Eurazeo PME’s 34th, Paragon Partners’ 1st, IK Partners’ 23rd and Ardian’s 149th transaction in France.

M&A Deal Summary

Date 2018-04-05
Target Questel
Sector Information Technology
Buyer(s) Eurazeo PME
Paragon Partners
IK Partners
Ardian
Sellers(s) RAISE France
CAPZA
Deal Type Secondary Buyout

Target

Questel

Paris, France
website
Questel is a developer of IT tools to help corporations manage their intellectual property issues. Covering patents, trademarks and industrial design. Questel products and services comprise databases, search and monitoring services. Questel was founded in 1978 and is based in Paris, France.

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Buyer(S) 4

DESCRIPTION

Eurazeo PME, formerly known as OFI Private Equity Capital. Eurazeo PME invests equity and mezzanine capital in secondary buyout transactions of unlisted French companies. The Firm looks for opportunities valued between €50 and €250 million. Areas of interest include chemicals, financial services, consumer services, retail, manufacturing, distribution, and life science. Eurazeo PME was formed in 1997 and is based in Paris.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 44 of 80
Sector (Information Technology) 3 of 7
Type (Secondary Buyout) 19 of 30
Country (France) 34 of 53
Year (2018) 1 of 4
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2017-11-30 NEST New York

New York, New York, United States

NEST New York is a designer and manufacturer of luxury home fragrances, personal care products and fine fragrances. Company offers a collection of over 30 home and fine fragrances sold in luxury department stores, specialty retailers and upscale boutiques, as well as on QVC and nestnewyork.com. NEST New York was founded in 2008 and is based in New York City.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-07-16 Odealim

Paris, France

Odealim is an insurance broker for the property management sector. The company acts as an intermediary between insurers and joint-property companies, real estate companies and property owners. Odealim designs, produces, prices and manages insurance policies, which are underwritten by blue-chip insurance partners. Odealim was founded in 1927 and is based in Paris, France.

Sell -
Buyer

Paragon Partners

Munich, Germany

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 2004
PE ASSETS 1.2B EUR
Size Large
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Paragon Partners is an independent private equity group focused on investments within German speaking Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The Firm does not have any sector preferences, generally targeting profitable companies (EBIT of €5 to €5o million) with attractive business models and 'outstanding' management. Paragon Partners was formed in 2004 and is based in Munich.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 21 of 32
Sector (Information Technology) 1 of 2
Type (Secondary Buyout) 5 of 9
Country (France) 1 of 1
Year (2018) 2 of 5
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-03-05 UNICEPTA

Cologne, Germany

UNICEPTA is a provider of visionary AI-powered Media & Data Intelligence solutions with an added human factor of analytics and insights that drive faster, more effective business decisions. UNICEPTA offers real-time end-to-end Global Media Monitoring across all media channels (social media, online, broadcast, print), supported by Analytics & Insights to help the subscribed customer to spot corporate issues and opportunities immediately. UNICEPTA was established in 1996 and is based in Cologne, Germany.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-05-17 inprotec

Heitersheim, Germany

inprotec is a contract manufacturer for industrial drying and granulation services using fluidised-bed spray granulation, coating, matrix encapsulation, and spray drying technologies. inprotec was established in 1999 and is based in Heitersheim, Germany.

Buy -
Buyer

IK Partners

London, United Kingdom

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1989
PE ASSETS 14.0B EUR
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Ik Investment Partners Ltd. (Formerly Industri Kapital) is a private equity firm that targets control investments in mid-sized manufacturing and service companies located in select European countries. IK focuses on growth businesses located in the Benelux region, as well as Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden. The firm looks to commit €50 to €150 million of equity capital per transaction and targets companies with 'a proven ability to generate significant cash flow' as well as an ability to 'sustain growth through various economic cycles'. IK Investment Partners was formerly known as Industry Kapital. IK Investment Partners was formed in 1989 and has offices in Hamburg, London, Paris, and Stockholm.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 117 of 170
Sector (Information Technology) 5 of 9
Type (Secondary Buyout) 37 of 64
Country (France) 23 of 41
Year (2018) 1 of 11
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2017-12-20 Optimum Group

Alkmaar, Netherlands

Optimum Group is a European printing and labelling company. Optimum Group is a printer of self-adhesive labels, banding and shrink sleeves, primarily serving the food and retail market. The Group operates through five printing facilities, of which four in the Netherlands and one in Belgium. Optimum Group is based in Alkmaar, Netherlands.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-04-19 Touristry

Stockholm, Sweden

Touristry is a provider of tourism related services. Touristry operator of sightseeing buses and boats in the Nordic capitals as well as provider of tourism related services. Touristry was founded in 2011 and is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Sell -
Buyer

Ardian

Paris, France

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1996
PE ASSETS 125.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Ardian is a mega-sized diversified investment group focused on opportunities worldwide. Ardian invests across and manages funds focused on small and mid-sized buyouts, growth capital financings, mezzanine, infrastructure, real estate, and co-investment opportunities. Ardian's small-buyouts group targets controlling interests in French, German, and Italian businesses valued up to €100 million. It's mid-sized buyout group seeks businesses valued up €1.5 billion and does not have any geographic limitations. The Infrastructure team looks for European opportunities and can commit up to €150 million per transaction. The Mezzanine group supports junior capital commitments of €5 to €80 million. In addition to direct investing, Ardian also manages various private equity fund-of-funds. Ardian was founded in 1996 and is based in Paris.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 312 of 416
Sector (Information Technology) 16 of 24
Type (Secondary Buyout) 100 of 135
Country (France) 149 of 185
Year (2018) 6 of 22
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-03-28 Brico Privé

Montredon, France

Brico Privé is a provider of professional-quality products at affordable prices. Bricoprivé.com was founded in 2012 and is based in Montredon, France.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-04-20 Kallista Energies Renouvelables

Paris, France

Kallista Energies Renouvelables owns and operates 15 wind farms giving a total capacity of 163 MW, which are mainly situated within a 300km radius to the north, west and south of Paris.

Sell -

Seller(S) 2

SELLER

RAISE France

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Growth Capital Firm
Founded 2013
PE ASSETS 510M EUR
Size Middle-Market
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

RAISE France is a private investment firm focused on investing in growth-oriented French companies with €30 to €500 million of revenue. Raise looks for situations where its capital and expertise can increase opportunities for expansion as well as further internal development. RAISE France was formed in 2013 and is based in Paris.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 2 of 6
Sector (Information Technology) 1 of 1
Type (Secondary Buyout) 2 of 4
Country (France) 2 of 6
Year (2018) 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-03-23 LMB Fans & Motors

Malemort-sur-Correze, France

LMB Fans & Motors is a provider of Military & Aerospace grade AC/DC fans, blowers, motors, and specialized rotating machines. LMB Fans & Motors was founded in 1941 and is based in Malemort-sur-Correze, France.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-05-01 Blissim

Paris, France

Blissim is an online distributor of beauty products through three complementary offerings a monthly beauty box, a multi-brand beauty e-shop and a brand laboratory. Blissim was founded in 2011 and is based in Paris, France.

Buy -
SELLER

CAPZA

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 2004
PE ASSETS 2.5B EUR
Size Large
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Capzanine is a provider of equity and junior capital to small and medium-sized unlisted French companies. Capzanine does not have any sector preferences and looks to invest in companies valued from €20 to €400 million. Capzanine was formed in 2004 and is based in Paris.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 28 of 39
Sector (Information Technology) 2 of 3
Type (Secondary Buyout) 22 of 29
Country (France) 27 of 37
Year (2018) 2 of 6
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-03-05 Karavel

Paris, France

Karavel operates as a tour operator and an online travel agency, offering a full range of services including airline tickets, hotel rooms, cruises, and package holidays through multiple online channels which receive over seven million unique visitors each month. Karavel is based in Paris, France.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-05-01 MAGIX

Berlin, Germany

MAGIX is a global developer and provider of software for the editing of video and music content as well as photographs. The company’s products are increasingly aimed at professional users, such as advertising agencies, freelancers, and independent music producers. MAGIX was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.

Buy -