M&A Activity • Nov 23, 2015
M&A Activity
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Paris, November 23, 2015,
Mannai Corporation, together with Apax France (jointly with Altamir) and Boussard & Gavaudan, today announced they have entered into exclusive negotiations for Mannai Corporation to purchase a 51% equity and voting rights stake (on a fully diluted basis) in the Gfi Informatique at a price of €8.50 per share.
The price represents a premium of 34.0% over the volume-weighted average share price during the previous 20 trading days as of November 23rd, 2015 and 31.6% premium over the last closing price before the announcement. The price values Gfi Informatique at some €561 million.
Since 2009, Gfi Informatique has successfully followed a strategy designed to make its services and software offering stand out and move up the supply chain. Backed by 2014 revenues of €804 million, including 15% earned abroad, Gfi Informatique has launched a new phase in its growth driven by the digital revolution. The firm plans to increase the value added of its combined services/software offering based on innovation and expanding its presence abroad beyond the eight European countries where the firm already operates.
With the planned acquisition, Mannai Corporation seeks to contribute Gfi Informatique's strategy to accelerate growth alongside the existing management team and shareholders, Apax France (with Altamir) and Boussard & Gavaudan. Mannai Corporation holding a majority stake would give the Firm a long-term shareholder who is an expert in the IT services industry and an effective partner capable of supporting the Firm's growth, especially in the Middle East.
Alekh Grewal, Mannai Corporation Group CEO, said: "This acquisition is in line with Mannai Corporation's stated objective of growing its business through diversifying its earnings internationally. Mannai Corporation's IT operations in Qatar and India provide a complementary platform for Gfi Informatique's expansion into these markets. Being a long-term shareholder, Mannai Corporation aims to accelerate Gfi Informatique's growth and international expansion strategy."
"Mannai Corporation becoming our majority shareholder perfectly matches our group's business projects and reinforces our growth plan. In addition, it demonstrates the relevance of the strategy implemented since 2009, maintains the teams and the management of Gfi Informatique and opens up promising development prospects " added Vincent Rouaix, CEO of Gfi Informatique.
"We are very pleased to welcome a new international investor alongside Apax and Boussard & Gavaudan as a shareholder in Gfi Informatique, to further develop the group and give it access to new markets. Gfi Informatique has been growing rapidly since 2010, both organically and through acquisitions, as the management team, with the support of shareholders, has successfully transformed the company. We think everyone at Gfi Informatique has performed admirably, and we are reiterating our support for management, which can now rely on a stronger shareholder base as it pursues its growth and development," jointly declared Gilles Rigal, Partner at Apax Partners, and Emmanuel Boussard, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Boussard & Gavaudan.
It is recalled that funds managed by Apax France (including Altamir) and Boussard & Gavaudan, acting in concert, currently hold 80% of the equity and voting rights of Gfi Informatique.
Gfi Informatique's staff representative bodies will be consulted with regard to the planned transaction.
Following the tender offer, there would be no change to Gfi Informatique's current management team. Gfi Informatique's board would consist of 11 directors including two directors from Mannai Corporation, two directors from Apax France and five independent directors.
Mannai Corporation is advised by Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank acting as exclusive financial advisor and Clifford Chance acting as legal advisor.
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The legal advisors of Apax Partners and Boussard & Gavaudan are Dethomas-Peltier -Juvigny, White & Case and Dentons.
The advisors of Gfi are Edmond de Rothschild Corporate Finance acting as financial advisor and Cohen Amir-Aslani acting as legal advisor.
Gfi Informatique is a major player in value-added IT services and software in Europe, and occupies a strategic position in its differentiated approach to multinationals and niche entities. With its multi-specialist profile, the Firm serves clients with a unique combination of local presence, sector organization and world-class quality solutions. Backed by close to 11,000 employees, the Firm posted 2014 revenues of €804 million. Gfi Informatique is listed on Paris Euronext, NYSE Euronext (Compartment B) - ISIN Code: FR0004038099.
Mannai Corporation is a diversified publicly listed conglomerate spanning the key industry and services sectors. Created over 60 years ago and based in Doha, Qatar, the group has grown over the years through a business portfolio and geographical diversification strategy. Today, the core activities of the group include information and communication technology, automotive distribution, jewelry retailing, heavy equipment distribution and services and engineering services to the oil and gas sector. Mannai Corporation employs over 6,100 employees within its group of companies. In addition to Qatar, the conglomerate has a presence today in UAE, India & Turkey. As of December 31st 2014, Mannai Corporation recorded 1.53 billion euros in revenue (QR 5.9 billion) and a 136 million euros net profit (QR 526 million). Mannai Corporation is listed on the Qatar Exchange since 2007 (QE: MCCS).
Apax Partners is a leading private equity firm in French-speaking European countries. With more than 40 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 €2.4 billion. These funds invest in fastgrowing middle-market companies across four sectors of specialization: TMT (Altran, Gfi Informatique, Infopro Digital, Vocalcom); Retail & Consumer (ALAIN AFFLELOU, Europe Snacks, Groupe Royer, THOM Europe (Histoire d'Or, Marc Orian, TrésOr); Healthcare (Amplitude Surgical, Capio, Unilabs; Business & Financial Services (Groupe INSEEC, SK FireSafety, TEXA).
For more information, please visit www.apax.fr or our social networks.
Altamir (Euronext Paris-B, ticker: LTA) is a listed private equity company with more than €600m 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; mid-sized companies in French-speaking European countries and larger companies across Europe, North America and key emerging markets. For more information: www.altamir.fr
Created in 2002, by Emmanuel Boussard and Emmanuel Gavaudan, Boussard & Gavaudan is an independent asset manager, wholly owned by his founders and partners. The funds managed and advised by Boussard & Gavaudan are around €2.4 billion. The Group has 60 recognized professionals, from which 10 traders and 8 analysts. Boussard & Gavaudan distinguishes itself by its entrepreneurial, proactive and independent spirit, insuring an objective investment process.
Stéphanie Elbaz – +33 6 46 05 08 07 – [email protected] Marie Frocrain – +33 6 04 67 49 75 – [email protected] Daniel Saltsman – + 33 6 33 39 94 42 – [email protected]
Tel. + 33 1 53 65 01 29 Tel. +33 1 53 65 01 74 [email protected] [email protected]
Coralie Cornet, Communications Director Agathe Heinrich, Investor Relations & Communications
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