Ardian backs Clever Age in OBO

President Frederic Bon has retained a majority stake in the business, a source familiar with the situation told Unquote. 

The OBO transaction has allowed 30 managers of the firm to become shareholders in the business. 

The buyout will allow Ardian to further support Clever Age in its external growth and internationalisation, notably closing two acquisitions in France and in Canada.

The GP's growth division is currently investing via Ardian Growth II, which closed on €230m in April 2018. The fund completes both minority and majority acquisitions, providing equity tickets in the €5-25m range to digital businesses with a turnover of €5-100m.

Previous funding
Ardian acquired a minority stake in Clever Age via a €2.5m investment in 2015. The company claims to have doubled in size via organic and inorganic initatives since the GP first backed the business. 

Company
Created in 2001 by Frédéric Bon, Clever Age is a specialist in the digitalisation of customer experience, providing consulting, design and implementation services. The company has 150 clients and it assists luxury, industrial and financial businesses in the definition and implementation of their international digital strategy.

Based in Paris, Clever Age generates a turnover of €30m through its French operations and its subsidiaries in Asia and North America. It employs almost 250 people.

People
Clever Age – Frederic Bon (president).
Ardian – Geoffroy de La Grandière (director, Ardian Growth).

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

• Topics
• Buyouts
• France
• Industrials
• France
• Owner buyout
• Ardian (formerly Axa PE)