
BDC's Anaveo buys Azman from Initiative & Finance
French electronic security systems company Anaveo, backed by Bridgepoint Development Capital (BDC), has acquired security systems installer Azman, which was minority-owned by Initiative & Finance.
Anaveo was acquired by BDC, BPI France and LT Capital for around €70m in 2016. The SBO saw BDC become Anaveo's majority owner via BDC II, a €350m, 2012-vintage vehicle. LT, a minority shareholder alongside BPI France and the co-investing management team, drew equity from its second fund. LT and BPI France controlled similar stakes in Anaveo following the deal.
The SBO was supported with a unitranche facility provided by Permira Debt Advisers.
The SBO marked an exit for CM-CIC, ACG and Garibaldi Participations. The first two had been shareholders in Anaveo since investing in the company in March 2014, while the latter was an existing backer that reinvested to stay on board.
Founded in 1995, Anaveo provides video surveillance, security access control and intrusion detection services. It has now made five acquisitions since the 2016 buyout.
Previous funding
Initiative & Finance bought a minority stake in Azman Groupe as part of an owner-buyout transaction in late 2017. Founding owner Cedric Wizman retained a majority stake in the structure.
Equity for the investment was drawn from Initiative & Finance FPCI II, a €168m fund launched in 2015. The small-cap fund writes €2-15m tickets, with a sweet spot in the €4-10m range.
Company
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Maisons-Alfort, Azman provides security systems to businesses, including CCTV, alarms, biometric access control and cardiac defibrillator products.
People
Azman – Cedric Wizman (founder, owner).
Anaveo – Laurent Bellot (chair).
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