Category: Deals

Article CF NEWS BY RODOLPHE LANGLOIS Published on 15 Dec 2021 at 14:49

 

Since 2018, and its first round of financing, the challenge for Uavia has been to demonstrate the usefulness of its technology to industry (see below). According to the publisher, which provides a collaborative platform for piloting autonomous and connected drones, it has achieved its goal, since the Total group, as part of a collaborative programme, has validated its interest in facilitating and securing the deployment of drones in order to capture data on their industrial sites. Its new ambition is now to “supply the major system integrators, to continue to find new use cases and to hand over our technologies to them, who can scale up to deployments for major clients”, confides Pierre Vilpoux, President of Uavia for the past two years. In this context, Uavia is raising €5m and inviting Innovacom and Cattleya Finance, the investment holding company of Benjamin & Ariane de Rothschild, to join its capital. The existing shareholders, UI Investissement and Bpifrance, who participated in the fundraising process, are taking advantage of the opportunity to reinject cash.

 

Validated economic model

 

One of the first recognised uses of the software platform is its ability to carry out remote missions. Uavia, which works with six to seven drone manufacturers, thus facilitates the piloting of surveillance, maintenance, verification or crisis management missions. “We have validated our business model. As a technology provider, we are going to hire system integrators worldwide who will represent the technology on the markets,” explains the manager. Our technologies allow us to take measurements directly inside the drone using our on-board intelligence, and to have real-time visualisations, such as for the search for pollutants on industrial sites. Uavia wants to offer end-users, particularly large groups in the energy, logistics or oil and chemical industry sectors, a unified and secure interface, with all configuration and usage settings being made via the software interface. The company, which will increase its workforce from 23 to 40 next year, is facing a market player such as the Swiss company Autérion.

 

The stakeholders of the UAVIA operation

 

Target company: UAVIA

Buyer or Investor : INNOVACOM , UI INVESTISSEMENT (EX UI GESTION) , BPIFRANCE INVESTISSEMENT , PERSON(S) PHYSICAL , Benjamin de Rothschild , Ariane de Rothschild

Purchaser Corporate Lawyer : JOFFE & ASSOCIES

Company Corporate Lawyer : FIDAL , Anne Fréchette-Kerbrat

 

Article NEOTEK, published on 14 December 2021

 

Sea Vorian, a company created by a pool of investors led by Jean-Luc Biache and François-Xavier de Cointet, is acquiring 100% of Seafin, the leading distributor and manufacturer of high-tech products for the blue economy, from its founder Claude Pacheco, the Atalaya and Financière de Brienne 2 funds managed by Ace Capital Partners and the SFLD fund.

 

Founded in September 2004 by Claude Pacheco, Neotek specialises in the distribution and integration of data acquisition, oceanographic and hydrographic instrumentation, positioning, UAV and mine clearance equipment.

 

RTSys, acquired in 2012 when Ace Capital Partners funds entered the market, has established itself in the design and manufacture of underwater acoustics and robotics products. Its high level of expertise is now recognised in 4 main areas of innovation: passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), underwater exploration via autonomous underwater drones (AUV), mine countermeasures (MCM) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

 

Numerous R&D programmes have been carried out in partnership with the Directorate General for Armaments, the Pôles Mer de Compétitivité, or the European Defence Fund, to design miniaturised products without compromising either performance or cost. Renewable marine energies, deep sea exploration and anti-submarine warfare are all sectors in which the Seafin group now claims a leading position.

 

With the transfer of the group to Sea Vorian, a new stage is opening up for the Seafin group to become an undisputed European player in the naval, civil and defence submarine markets.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Article CF NEWS BY RODOLPHE LANGLOIS Published on 7 Dec 2021 at 14:00

 

GitGuardian’s international dimension is set to grow further in the coming months. Born in 2017, this publisher of an automated detection solution for secrets hosted in the cloud has generated 75% of its revenues in the United States since its first round of funding in 2019, which has remained confidential (see below). The company, co-founded by Jérémy Thomas and already sponsored by Balderton Capital, Bpifrance and Germany’s Fly Ventures, is opening up directly to Eurazeo and Californian VC Sapphire Ventures in its series B round, which amounts to just over €39m ($44m). Alongside these two investors, who were also involved in Andjaro’s third round last year (see below), several of the company’s historical shareholders have taken the opportunity to strengthen their positions. Together, they value the Paris-based software publisher at just over €156m ($177m), three times more than two years ago. The whole process was quick,” says Jérémy Thomas, “since it took us a month to obtain our first term sheet. After that, we had to turn down proposals from five investment funds.

 

A first branch in the US

 

Within the source code security market, which is expected to reach between $50 and $100 billion by 2025, GitGuardian operates in a niche vertical, DevSecOps, estimated at $10 billion, i.e. the automated detection and identification of leaks of sensitive authentication data processed daily by developers. Its international clients include Talend, Mirantis, Instacart, Genesys, Now:Pensions and Maven Wave, “which spent an average of $140K this year,” adds the executive. We are the number one source code security application on GitHub in terms of number and installation, with 130,000 downloads.” The company, which employs 60 people, wants to take advantage of its funding to add other types of vulnerability, and thus move into adjacent verticals by 2022, which form a “very fragmented” market, in which the Israeli start-up Checkmarx, in particular, is operating. GitGuardian should also open its first foreign office next year, with the creation of an office in Texas, headed by Jérémy Thomas. The publisher could also launch a recruitment campaign for a hundred people by 2022.

 

CFNEWS Article BY AURORE BARLIER Published on 18 Oct 2021 at 10:15

 

With 85% of its €90m in revenues generated in France, what could be more natural for Portuguese company Gardengate than to choose a team based in the Hexagon to accompany it in its new growth phase. After two years in the portfolio of its compatriot Crest Capital, the aluminium doors manufacturer has joined Equistone. Equistone, selected after a competitive process organised by the Portuguese teams of PwC, acquires a stake of about two thirds of the capital, alongside the founder and management. The fund is intervening here via its Equistone VI vehicle, which, with an investment of almost 50%, would inject equity in the middle of its range (between €25 and €200 million) in this transaction. The former majority shareholder will reinvest a portion of its proceeds to retain a minority stake. This LBO bis is completed by a unitranche debt provided by Eurazeo IM (ex-Idinvest), with the support of the Portuguese private debt fund Tresmares Capital.

 

Conquering Europe

 

Founded in 1997 in Braga under the initial name Porta XXI, Gardengate distributes its products (gates, fences, shutters, fences, etc.) under the Portadeluxe, Greendoor and Friday Courage brands, mainly through DIY stores. This distribution channel has naturally led to a strong presence in France, which is “by far the largest European market for aluminium closures,” say Equistone partners Grégoire Châtillon and Thierry Lardinois. And the group of 600 employees led by its founder, Adelino Costa, now intends to diversify its geographies by relying on the European network of its new majority owner (represented in the Netherlands, England, Paris and Germany). The aim is to increase its presence in areas where it is not very present, such as the Benelux countries, Germany and the United Kingdom – markets that are less mature than France and which offer significant growth potential. In this context, Gardengate will be able to capitalize on the natural geographic expansion of its partner DIY stores, and will support it with new online offerings and expanded product lines.

 

18% annual growth

 

In addition to these commercial developments, the company intends to consolidate its local production units – of which there are currently nine – onto a single site in order to increase its production capacity and improve its profitability. All this in a context of continued growth, averaging 18% per year between 2016 and 2021. “Despite supply difficulties and the closure of certain DIY stores during the lockdowns, the company continued to grow in 2020, thanks in particular to the importance that individuals have placed on their living environment since the crisis,” say Grégoire Châtillon and Thierry Lardinois, adding that the planets seem to be fully aligned to continue this dynamic: “Aluminium products continue to take market share from wood, PVC or steel products. At the same time, distribution via online channels and DIY stores is gaining ground on installers,” the investors continue, commenting on a sector they know well having accompanied La Toulousaine between 2010 and 2015 (see below).

 

The stakeholders in the GARDENGATE transaction

 

• Target company: GARDENGATE
• Buyer or Investor : EQUISTONE PARTNERS, Grégoire Châtillon , Thierry Lardinois , Jérémy Mathis , Valérian Fleury , FOUNDER(S), Adelino Costa , MANAGERS
• Transferor : CREST CAPITAL PARTNERS, FOUNDER(S), Adelino Costa , MANAGERS
• Acquirer Investment banker / M&A advisor : BANCO FINANTIA
• Business lawyers Financing: GOODWIN, Adrien Paturaud , Laurent Bonnet.
• Competition Lawyer: JOFFE & ASSOCIES, Olivier Cavézian , Klara Matous
• DD Legal and Tax: GOODWIN, Thomas Maitrejean , Marie-Laure Bruneel , Simon Servan-Schreiber , Arthur Deschamps , CMS RUI PENA & ARNAUT
• DD Financial : EIGHT ADVISORY, Stéphane Vanbergue , Christophe Puissegur , Julien Roux.
• DD Strategic : ROLAND BERGER, Ambroise Lecat , Sébastien Murbach , Matthieu Daumas , Mouhsine Aguedach
• Transferor Investment Banker / M&A Advisor: PWC CORPORATE FINANCE
• Transferor Corporate lawyer: GARRIGUES
• Legal and tax advisor: GARRIGUES
• VDD Financial: KPMG TS
• Transferor Strategic advice: LEK CONSULTING, Serge Hovsepian , Maxime Julian
• Debt: TRESMARES CAPITAL
• Debt Unitranche: EURAZEO IM (EX IDINVEST PARTNERS), Maxime de Roquette Buisson
• Debt Lawyer: MAYER BROWN, Patrick Teboul
• Financing Counsel: MARLBOROUGH PARTNERS, Romain Cattet , Philippe de Courrèges

CF NEWS Article , BY LUCAS DJEFFAL Published on 18 Oct 2021 at 10:20

The young deeptech company AI Verse wants to democratize the use of deep learning (software that simulates a neural network, commonly known as artificial intelligence – AI) for the creation of artificial vision software. To do this, it is tackling the lack of images and more specifically the lack of correctly labelled images, i.e. where each pixel of an important element in an image is identified, which is essential for training an AI. “Only large organisations can afford to rally the resources needed to build a bank of labelled images manually and without being able to predict the final quality,” comments Benoit Morisset, president and founder in 2020. A doctor in robotics and artificial intelligence, he founded Pixmap, a company that integrates 3D mapping systems with robotics. With Arnaud Lamorlette, an expert in 3D animation who has supervised Dreamworks projects (Shrek 2 and 3, etc.), they have developed a solution that automatically generates synthetic images that can feed these digital neural networks. To finalise it, they raised €2.5m from Innovacom, which is involved through its Technocom 3 FPCI and the Digital Venture fund of Bpifrance Investissement. The five current employees (excluding the founder) also hold 20% of the shares.

 

Sale of image banks

The new cash will enable the software to be taken from the prototype stage to a marketable solution within twelve to sixteen months. It will be available through an online platform and will be aimed at SMEs as well as large accounts in the fields of robotics, virtual and augmented reality, home automation, smart cities and intelligent assistants. IA Verse, based near Nice, promises that each client will be able to obtain in a few hours a bank of computer-generated images representing any situation, on which an AI must be trained, for a price of around ten cents per image. Five to ten tech profiles should thus be recruited. The American companies DataGem and Parallel Domain, which specialises in imaging for autonomous vehicles, are present in the sector. In France, the company Imageens – which raised €1.2m in April (see below) – has developed software that automatically defines the elements present in existing medical images.

 

The stakeholders in the AI VERSE transaction

• Target company: AI VERSE
• Buyer or Investor: INNOVACOM, BPIFRANCE INVESTISSEMENT
• Corporate Counsel: CONSTELLATION AVOCATS, Pierre Callède
• Investor Counsel: JOFFE & ASSOCIES, Thomas Saltiel, Charlotte VIANDAZ

Heroiks acquires the independent media agency Makuity, created in 1985 under the name Promopress Media, and headed by Gérard Kisler. The agency manages 60 million euros of annual investment and has about 20 experts.

For Heroiks, this acquisition also presents the interest of strengthening its position in the management of public tenders managed by Makuity, such as local authorities (City of Paris, Grand Est Region, Burgundy Franche-Comté Region, Vendée Departmental Council, etc.), inter-professional bodies (Nouveau by Beaujolais, Union des Industries de la Protection des Plantes, etc.), public organisations (Caisse Nationale des Allocations Familiales, Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Vieillesse, Pôle Emploi, etc.). ..).

Article by Legal Global Chronicle France, Published October 14, 2021

 

With Mapwize, ServiceNow will provide indoor mapping features to employees as they book conference rooms and workspaces from their computers or mobile devices, as well as as as they move around the company’s premises.

Mapwize’s features will also help workplace teams manage space plans based on usage trends and changing real estate needs. To support flexible and agile workplaces, ServiceNow intends to integrate Mapwize features into the Now Platform and the Workplace Service Delivery suite. Mapwize’s mapping solutions, product features and engineers will complement and enhance ServiceNow’s existing Workplace Service Delivery services, including Workplace Space Mapping, Workplace Reservation Management, Workplace Space Management, Workplace Visitor Management, Case and Knowledge Management and Safe Workplace Suite.

 

ServiceNow was primarily advised in this acquisition by Baker McKenzie, led by the Paris-based firm’s team of Guillaume Nataf (Photo) , Partner, Samantha Chavane de Dalmassy, Associate, Paul Nury, Associate, Johanna Federspiel, Counsel, Denise Broussal, Partner, Nadège Dallais, Partner, Lauriane Raux, Associate, Adrien Leberon, Associate, For tax matters, Stéphane Taïeb, Associate, Robin Gaulier, Associate, Nathalie Marchand, Partner, Audrey Bovie, Associate, Magalie Dansac le Clerc, Partner, Bérénice de Wailly, Associate, Léna Sersiron, Associate, Manuella Roblet, Associate, Arnaud Cabanes, Associate, Christophe de Saint-Pern, Associate.

Baker McKenzie’s Santa Clara, California office also participated in the transaction with Derek Liu, Partner and Dominique Manguiat, Associate.

 

Joffe & Associés advised Mapwize with a team composed of Thomas Saltiel, Partner, Paddy Pascot and Charlotte Viandaz, Associates.

Article by Nomadia Group, published on 15 oct. 2021

 

Nomadia symboliss the entrepreneurial dynamics of tech in France and aims to promote local know-how at an international level.

 

Nomadia is the result of the merger of three renowned French software publishers with complementary expertise in the field of mobility: GEOCONCEPT (route and schedule optimisation, field service management, GIS and geomarketing), DANEM (mobile business applications for sales representatives, delivery drivers and technicians) and B&B Market (CRM SFA, consulting and data for the consumer goods and retail industries).

 

Operating in a market that is growing by 15% per year and is expected to exceed 30 billion euros by 2026, Nomadia responds to the growing need of companies to manage the activities of their professionals in the field in real time. These professionals, who spend an average of 30% of their working time on the road, share the need to optimise the management of their interventions to gain operational efficiency and improve customer satisfaction. This need has increased since the beginning of the pandemic, with a hybrid work organisation and, above all, new requirements for connectivity to access data everywhere and at all times.

 

Operational gains and a CSR asset

 

Through advanced optimisation algorithms, mobile business applications, sales cycle automation capabilities, and data and consulting offerings, Nomadia’s solutions help companies address their key operational performance and profitability challenges with a promise of 20% productivity gains.

 

In addition, Nomadia’s solutions address the increasing attention companies are paying to their environmental footprint (with a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 30% for users of route optimisation solutions) and employee well-being (scheduling optimisation tools that take into account employee constraints in the distribution of missions).

 

The Nomadia group’s 1,500 customers have already been able to take advantage of all these benefits, whether in logistics with Colis Privé or Cdiscount, in energy with Engie, GRDF, Dalkia or Suez, in healthcare with Johnson&Johnson or Pfizer, in industry with Otis or Veolia, and in all other sectors with mobile professionals, from small and medium-sized businesses to large corporations.

 

Growth ambitions in France and internationally

 

By establishing itself as a new French champion of mobility with a rich catalog of complementary solutions for mobile professionals, Nomadia enjoys a unique positioning, industry recognition (in 2021 hailed for the 4th time in a row by Gartner in its FSM Magic Quadrant) and a first-rate customer portfolio that will enable it to win new market share in France and accelerate its growth at an international scale, particularly in Europe and the United States.

 

Reunited since the beginning of the summer, the three companies have already initiated the first steps of their integration in order to rapidly leverage their commercial and technological synergies. In September 2021, the brands of the three combined players will change. They will be complemented by the words “by Nomadia” to gradually become a single commercial brand: Nomadia.

 

“The creation of a new leader is excellent news and a strength for our customers. We are now offering them a common and enhanced platform to benefit from leading solutions for the management of their critical missions in the field. This combination of three technological gems is also a vector for the dissemination of French know-how as well as an innovation gas pedal, leading to an offer capable of competing with solutions that until now have only been offered by major international publishers. With Nomadia, mobility becomes an asset and no longer a constraint.”

Fabien Bréget, CEO and founder of Nomadia

 

Nomadia has 170 employees, more than a third of whom are dedicated to research and development. The group is clearly committed to innovation, with many projects coming, particularly in the fields of electro-mobility, IoT, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, augmented reality and Industry 4.0 (augmented technician).

 

About GEOCONCEPT by Nomadia

 

For 30 years, GEOCONCEPT, a French publisher of geographic optimisation software solutions for professionals, has been a world leader in field service planning and route optimisation. Recognised as a major player in Field Service Management and Vehicle Routing & Scheduling by Gartner, GEOCONCEPT optimises the daily movements of 155,000 resources worldwide.

 

GEOCONCEPT has offices in Paris, Grenoble and Caen, and offices in the United States, China, India and Switzerland. GEOCONCEPT’s solutions are also resold by strategic partners in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil and Japan.

 

About Danem by Nomadia

 

Since 1996, Danem has been the specialist in nomadic business solutions and applications. A true French pioneer in IT mobility, the publisher designs and markets mobility solutions for mobile staff to optimise relations with customers, field teams and headquarters. More than 300 companies and more than 12,000 people use the complete software and hardware solutions of the Ile-de-France-based company every day. Through its business applications, Danem offers solutions for taking orders, distributing and tracking packages, managing and planning technicians’ interventions, and even selling on a drop-off basis.

 

Danem is based in France, but also distributes its solutions in French-speaking African countries and in Europe (Belgium, Italy, etc.).

 

About B&B Market by Nomadia

 

Since 1991, B&B Market has been a key Frenchactor, a specialised publisher of CRM SFA solutions and customised services dedicated to the consumer goods and distribution sector: Audit, Consulting (Sales organisation and optimisation, business data supply, etc.). More than 100 companies and 2,300 sales representatives use its solutions every day.

 

Structured around a double expertise, Consulting/Data and CRM SFA, B&B Market accompanies and advises Sales Departments in the processing and analysis of their commercial data, in the rationalisation of their sales force and in the improvement of operational productivity with powerful tools and Business Intelligence.

 

Joffe & Associés advised BPI France with a team composed of Thomas Saltiel, partner, and Johann Mendez, associate.