
BlackFin buys majority stake in AMfine
BlackFin Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in French financial software developer AMfine Services & Software from its founder and CEO.
The all-equity transaction, which features both a capital increase and a capital replacement, saw AMfine CEO Michael Priem retain a minority stake in the business.
Under BlackFin's ownership, the software developer intends to reinforce its presence in the French and Luxembourg market and develop its product offering in other locations, with plans for bolt-on acquisitions in Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, among others.
The company will mainly use the fresh funds to finance the recruitment of senior professionals and strengthen its research and development teams.
The purchase marks Blackfin's second foray in the French financial software sector in the last few weeks. In May, the buyout firm backed fund accounting software service NeoXam in the acquisition of Paris-based investment management software developer Nexfi. The build-up took place a year after NeoXam was formed by BlackFin via the merger of GP3 and Decalog.
Company
Founded in 2006 by Michael Priem, AMfine Services & Software is a software developer specialising in regulatory, tax and financial reporting for asset managers.
The business has 40 employees in its France and Luxembourg offices, which service Tier 1 and Tier 2 asset managers in these countries, as well as Switzerland. Headquartered in Paris, AMfine is understood to have reported more than €2.6m in turnover in 2013.
People
BlackFin was represented by CEO Laurent Bouyoux and managing director Eric May. Michael Priem is founder and CEO of AMfine.
Advisers
Equity – Grant Thornton, Emmanuel Riou, (Corporate finance); Gide LN, Pierre Karpik (Legal).
Latest News
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme
Multi-family office has seen strong appetite, with investor base growing since 2016 to more than 90 family offices, Meiping Yap told Unquote
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m
Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO
Partners Group to release IMs for Civica sale in mid-September
Sponsor acquired the public software group in July 2017 via the same-year vintage Partners Group Global Value 2017
Change of mind: Sponsors take to de-listing their own assets
EQT and Cinven seen as bellweather for funds to reassess options for listed assets trading underwater