Paris (France), 19 June 2017: Apax Partners and Altamir announce that they have sold the first block of their remaining stake in Gfi Informatique, a major European player in value-added IT services and software, to Mannai Corporation.

As announced in a press release on May 10, Apax Partners and Altamir, which hold c. 18.5% of the share capital and voting rights of Gfi Informatique, have completed the first sale of c. 12% of the share capital and voting rights. The balance of c. 6.5% of the share capital and voting rights will be sold in June 2018.

Gfi Informatique holds a strategic position in its differentiated approach to its clients, from global firms to niche entities. With its multi-specialist profile, the Group serves its customers with a unique combination of proximity, sector organisation and industrial-quality solutions. The Group currently employs c.  14,000 people.

The company’s revenue grew from €633 million in 2006 to €1,015 million in 2016, breaking through the billion-euro mark. Gfi Informatique’s growth strategy is based on three specific objectives: transformation of its business model, internationalisation and build-ups.

Transformation of its business model

Gfi Informatique has successfully managed the development of its model by industrialising its processes and know-how, particularly through the development of international service centres, allowing for both greater access to expertise and improved operational efficiency for the Group’s customers.

Internationalisation

Gfi Informatique has refocused its international activities, strengthened its presence in Southern Europe and opened up to Eastern European markets. Today, international business represents 25% of the Group’s pro forma revenues.

Build-ups

Gfi Informatique has successfully acquired and integrated 20 companies since 2006, allowing it to enhance its range of services and expand abroad. The acquisitions of Roff and Efron in 2016 in particular allowed Gfi Informatique to double the size of its business in Iberia.

Vincent Rouaix, CEO of Gfi Informatique, said: “The Apax Partners teams were totally in line with our growth strategy from the beginning. Their specific knowledge of the ESN market allowed us to achieve the transformation of our business model and our geographic repositioning, and to invest in build-ups that were relevant and accretive for the Group.”

Gilles Rigal, Partner at Apax Partners, added: “We are proud to have supported the strong growth and successful transformation of Gfi Informatique, and to have forged solid relationships with a CEO and teams of such high quality”.

About Gfi Informatique

www.gfi.world/fr

Gfi Informatique is a major player in value-added IT services and software in Europe, and through its differentiated approach occupies a strategic position between global firms and niche entities. With its multi-specialist profile, the Group serves its customers with a unique combination of proximity, sector organisation and industrial-quality solutions. The Group has around 14,000 employees and generated revenue of €1,015 million in 2016.

Gfi Informatique is listed on the Paris Euronext, NYSE Euronext (Compartment B) – ISIN Code:FR0004038099.

About Apax Partners

www.apax.fr

Apax Partners is a leading private equity firm in French-speaking countries in Europe. With more than 45 years of experience, Apax Partners provides long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. Funds managed and advised by Apax Partners exceed €3 billion. These funds invest in fast-growing middle-market companies across four sectors of specialisation:

TMT: Altran, Gfi Informatique, InfoVista, Melita, Nowo-ONI and Vocalcom

Consumer: Europe Snacks, Groupe AFFLELOU, Groupe Royer, Sandaya, and THOM Europe (Histoire d’Or, Marc Orian, TrésOr, Stroili and Oro Vivo)

Healthcare: Amplitude Surgical

Services: Groupe INSEEC, Marlink and SK FireSafety

About Altamir

www.altamir.fr

Altamir (Euronext Paris-B, LTA) is a listed private equity company with almost €800m in assets under management. The company invests via and with the funds managed or advised by Apax Partners France and Apax Partners LLP, two leading private equity firms in their respective markets. It provides access to a diversified portfolio of fast-growing companies across Apax’s sectors of specialisation (TMT, Retail & Consumer, Healthcare, Business & Financial Services) and in complementary market segments (mid-sized companies in French-speaking European countries and larger companies across Europe, North America and key emerging markets).

19 Jun 2017

HgCapital, the Manager of HgCapital Trust plc (the “Company”), today announces an investment in Esendex, a leading provider of mission-critical business messaging services across Europe. This represents a further investment into the Technology Infrastructure cluster. On completion of the transaction, Esendex will be merged with existing Mercury portfolio company Mobyt, which provides similar business messaging services in Italy and France. HgCapital will have a majority share in the combined business with the Company owning c. 20% alongside other HgCapital clients. The terms of this transaction were not disclosed.

HgCapital Trust plc will invest approximately £8.9 million in Esendex (including £5.5 million in co-investment), in addition to the £2.7 million of equity already invested in Mobyt.  Other institutional clients of HgCapital will invest alongside the Company through the HgCapital Mercury Fund.

The Company, whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange, gives private and institutional investors the opportunity to participate in all HgCapital’s investments.

Following completion, approximately 83% of the Mercury Fund will have been invested. In February 2017, the Company committed £80 million to further investments in smaller-cap technology companies, with the Mercury 2 Fund, over the next four to five years.

Based on the pro-forma 31 May 2017 NAV, the Company’s liquid resources available for future deployment, including all announced transactions, are estimated to be £137 million (22% of the pro-forma 31 May 2017 NAV of £621.2 million). In addition, the Company has access to an £80 million standby facility, which is currently undrawn. Following the transaction, the Company will remain committed to invest approximately £474 million in HgCapital deals over the next four to five years.

HgCapital announces an investment in Esendex

19 June 2017: HgCapital has today announced an investment in Esendex, a leading provider of mission-critical business messaging services across Europe. The investment is being made from HgCapital’s Mercury Fund which focuses on growth buyouts in the technology sector across Europe. This represents a further investment into the Technology Infrastructure cluster. The terms of this transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2001, Esendex provides a broad portfolio of high value business critical application-to-person messaging solutions to SMEs and corporate customers. Esendex’s product portfolio includes SMS, voice, email, payment and IP-based products which are delivered over rich APIs and web applications. Over 13,000 businesses in the UK, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany and Australia rely on its services to communicate with their customers and staff. Esendex employs over 140 people across its international offices. Esendex was acquired by Darwin Private Equity in July 2013.

Esendex recently acquired SMSpubli, a leading supplier of business messaging services in Spain, to further strengthen its position in this fast-growing market.

On completion of the transaction, Esendex and SMSpubli will combine with Mobyt SpA and SMSenvoi, existing HgCapital portfolio companies, which provide similar business messaging solutions in Italy and France.

The combined group will generate more than €75 million of revenue across its wide portfolio of brands and territories. The group will be led by existing Esendex CEO, Geoff Love, and HgCapital intends to back the group to further consolidate this fast-growing sector across Europe.

Esendex demonstrates many of the business model characteristics that HgCapital looks for, including: a high proportion of recurring revenues from serving a large fragmented base of SMEs, delivering an operationally critical service and the opportunity to back a strong management team.

David Issott, a Partner in the HgCapital Mercury team, said. “We are delighted to be partnering with Geoff Love, as well as the entire management team and staff at Esendex, Mobyt, SMSpubli and SMSEnvoi.com for the next phase of their journey. We are very excited to be backing this opportunity to create a leading European champion in business messaging. We will immediately look to invest further behind the group to accelerate its growth, both organically and through further acquisitions, and we will also seek to intensify the pace of technology and product development to support the group’s customers in their deployment of high value mission critical use cases.”

Geoff Love, CEO of Esendex, commented: “This is an exciting time for mobile business messaging and the combination of these four strong businesses creates a European heavyweight in application-to-person communications.  With around 200 staff and 25,000 customers, sending some 2 billion messages a year, we are extremely well-positioned to take this fast-growing industry forward. With HgCapital’s backing for further acquisitions, as well as continuing strong organic growth, we look forward to helping even more businesses transform their communications with their customers and staff.”

– Ends –

For further details:

HgCapital
Laura Dixon
+44 (0)20 7089 7888

Maitland
Tom Eckersley
+44 (0)20 7379 5151

About HgCapital Trust plc

HgCapital Trust plc is an investment trust whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: HGT.L). The Company is a client of HgCapital, giving investors exposure to a portfolio of high-growth private companies, through a liquid vehicle. New investments and existing portfolio companies are managed by HgCapital, an experienced and well-resourced private equity firm with a long-term track record of delivering superior risk-adjusted returns for its investors. For further details, please see www.hgcapitaltrust.com.

Eurazeo, a leading global investment company listed in Paris, in partnership with West Street Capital Partners VII, a fund managed by the Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division (“GS MBD”), has announced the completion of the acquisition of Dominion Web Solutions(“DWS”), an integrated platform of branded marketplaces and digital marketing solutions for the powersport, RV, commercial truck and equipment industries.

Eurazeo and GS MBD reached an agreement in May 2017 to purchase the company. Eurazeo ’s total investment is $226 million for a 50% equity stake. This completes Eurazeo’s first investment in the U.S. since opening its North America headquarters in September 2016.

About Dominion Web Solutions >

Dominion Web Solutions is the leading online classifieds marketplace and marketing software solutions provider to commercial and recreational dealers. Its mission of bringing buyers and sellers together remains the core of its businesses. DWS is committed to providing innovative products to ensure that customers generate leads, drive sales and maximize profits.

Its B2C brands consist of Cycle Trader, RV Trader, ATV Trader, PWC Trader, Snowmobile Trader, and Aero Trader, producing over 7 million unique visitors monthly. Additionally, its industry leading B2B brands consist of Commercial Truck Trader, Commercial Web Services, Equipment Trader, RV Web Services and focus on supporting its dealers and manufacturers with driving impressive results as top of mind.

Dominion Web Solutions has 10 businesses and approximately 300 employees with its home office located in Norfolk, VA.

About Eurazeo>

With a diversified portfolio of approximately € 6 billion in assets under management, of which €1 billion is from third parties, Eurazeo is one of the leading listed investment companies in Europe. Its purpose and mission is to identify, accelerate and enhance the transformation potential of the companies in which it invests. The Company covers most private equity segments through its five business divisions – Eurazeo Capital, Eurazeo Croissance, Eurazeo PME, Eurazeo Patrimoine and Eurazeo Brands. Its solid institutional and family shareholder base, robust financial structure free of structural debt, and flexible investment horizon enable Eurazeo to support its companies over the long term. Eurazeo is notably a shareholder in AccorHotels, ANF Immobilier, Asmodee, CIFA, CPK, Desigual, Dominion Web Solutions, Elis, Europcar, Fintrax, Grape Hospitality, Les Petits Chaperons Rouges, Moncler, Neovia, Novacap, Sommet Education, and also SMEs such as Péters Surgical and Flash Europe International, as well as start-ups such as Farfetch and Vestiaire Collective.