
Keensight backs Smile MBO
Keensight Capital has acquired a majority stake in Smile Open Source Solutions as part of a management buyout alongside existing investor Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRip).
Management also took part in the transaction – led by CEO Marc Palazon. The firm had previously backed Smile in January 2010 by injecting €3.5m into the company via its €112m Cabestan Capital venture fund.
According to unquote" data, EdRip's investment comprised €2.5m in new equity and €1m to acquire a stake from Smile's founders.
Keensight is a Paris-based private equity firm, specialising in growth capital transactions. The firm typically provides €5-30m equity tickets, and can take part in syndicated rounds of up to €100m.
Company
Founded in 1991, Smile is headquartered in Paris with 14 additional bases located across Europe and two in Africa. The company currently employs more than 700 staff and recorded turnover of €50m in 2013. In 2012, Smile generated turnover of €45.8m.
Smile provides open source integration services, including web content management solutions, open source infrastructure, intranet portals and extranet platforms. As well as supplying integration services for its open source software, the company also provides training and consulting services.
People
Marc Palazon is the CEO of Smile. Jérôme Pujol is a partner at Keensight.
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