The family investment holding company, DENTRESSANGLE has announced that it is in exclusive discussions with BRIDGEPOINT DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL (BDC), the SMid-Cap business of BRIDGEPOINT, to acquire a majority stake in ACTEON Group, a French medtech company specialized in high-technology dental and medical equipment.
ACTEON designs and manufactures high-technology equipment and consumables for the dental sector as well as medical equipment. ACTEON is globally renowned in the field of dental imaging and is a global leader in intraoral cameras and high-intensity ultrasound (piezosurgery), a non-invasive and non-traumatic surgical technique used notably in implantology.
ACTEON, headquartered in Mérignac, France, employs 850 people across 5 plants in Europe, saw a strong increase in its turnover over the last 3 years, rising from €119 million in 2014 to €162 million in 2017. The group generates 85% of its sales outside France, its main markets are USA, China, Spain, the Middle East and Japan.
DENTRESSANGLE will bring its entrepreneurial culture to ACTEON in order to strengthen its position as an indispensable partner for dental surgeons around the world. DENTRESSANGLE wants to accelerate the development of ACTEON through increased R&D activity, expanding its global reach and implementing an external growth strategy.
Thierry Coloigner, Managing Partner at DENTRESSANGLE Mid & Large Cap said: “ACTEON fits seamlessly into DENTRESSANGLE’s investment strategy: a highly global company, with solid positions in the burgeoning dental care industry, a very strong reputation and a high-growth profile. We’re very pleased to be supporting Marie-Laure Pochon and her teams. Marie-Laure Pochon is a talented leader whose great entrepreneurial energy fits perfectly with the culture and values of the family investment holding company DENTRESSANGLE.”
Marie-Laure Pochon, CEO of ACTEON added: “After the intense work carried out together with the Bridgepoint teams to breathe new life back into the business, over the past few years ACTEON has rediscovered the road to growth. The timing of DENTRESSANGLE’s equity participation in ACTEON coincides perfectly with the growth acceleration phase in which we are entering. We’re pleased to be able to rely on a majority shareholder with such a strong entrepreneurial culture to support our strategy, consolidating the company’s global leadership in the field of dental piezosurgery and imaging, with an ever more innovative and digital range of products for dental practices.”
Olivier Nemsguern, Partner of BRIDGEPOINT DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL in France continued: “Under the guidance of its management team and with the support of Bridgepoint, Acteon has worked intensively to re-energise its business and rationalise its production facilities, and has completed two acquisitions. As a result, the company has developed rapidly, consolidating its leadership role in the field of dental equipment, as well as positioning itself as a global player in dental imagery and significantly growing its international business. We believe that ACTEON is now ideally placed to continue growing and developing internationally.”