PE-backed Axio sells Vidal for €100m

According to a statement, the sale of Vidal will increase the total cash proceeds received by Electra from its investment in Axio to £250m, which marks a 2.8x cash multiple from the investment cost and a total return of 4x the GP's original investment in Axio.

The deal marks the fourth divestment for Axio, which currently includes several information providers such as TechInsights, operating in the intellectual property sector; aviation sector intelligence provider OAG; and RISI, which operates in the forestry products sector.

The remaining businesses in the Axio portfolio generated EBITDA of £16m in 2015.

Previous funding
Electra first invested in Axio in April 2013, when it carved out the business, then called UBM Data Services, from parent UBM. The £160m spinout was financed via £91m from Electra and a £40m PIK vendor loan.

More recently, the GP provided its portfolio company with fresh acquisition capital to boost the merger of its intellectual property division TechInsights with Canadian competitor Chipworks.

Company
Established in 1914, Vidal develops a digital database that provides drug information for healthcare operators. The company's client base include hospitals, primary care physicians and pharmacists across Europe.

Headquartered in Paris, the company also has a presence in Germany and Spain. The business posted a turnover of €41.7m in 2015 and employs a staff of 200.

People
Electra Partners – Alex Fortescue (managing partner); Alex Cooper-Evans (partner); Sarah Williams (investment director).
Axio – Hans Gieskes (chair); Henry Elkington (CEO).
Vidal Group – Vincent Bouvier (chair).

• Tweet  
• Facebook  
• LinkedIn  
• Google plus  
• Send to  

• Topics
• Exits
• France
• Support services
• France
• Electra Partners LLP
• Electra Private Equity