MPcroissance et al. invest €10m in Ermic

Management from the group's subsidiaries have also entered Ermic's shareholding as part of the transaction.

Some of the funds will be used by Ermic to bolt on French mechatronics specialist Noval.

The remaining capital will be used to accelerate the organic growth of the company, namely by increasing its research and development efforts and strengthening its position in international markets.

According to the company, it is on the brink of securing major contracts in emerging markets Russia and Brazil as part of its plans to expand outside of its current markets in Europe.

Noval is based in Auterive and generated turnover of around €5.4m in 2013. The company specialises in the study and design of mechatronics (mechanical engineering and electronic control).

The company designs products within four areas: street automation, such as outdoor advertising products; home automation, including motor systems for pools and sliding bay doors; yacht automation such as automated opening sunroofs; and industrial automation.

Company
The Ermic group is made up of three businesses: Sterala, Survision and AFS2R.

Sterala, founded in 1980, is the core division of Ermic. The company provides research and consultancy services to companies that manage technology engineering projects. Clients include Meteo France, Airbus France and Orange (formerly France Télécom).

Sterala acquired Survision in 2012, thus forming the Ermic group. Survision, founded in 2001 and based in Rueil-Malmaison, is a specialist in video-based vehicle detection and identification. Its products are designed for use by security forces, car park management firms and local authorities. On its own, the division employs 28 staff and generates €9m in turnover.

AFS2R, which joined the Ermic group last year, is headquartered in Lyon. The division offers a road network security service for public and private managers.

Founded in 1980, Ermic is headquartered in Toulouse with additional offices in Paris, Angers, Lyon and Rueil-Malmaison – the headquarters of its Survision unit.

Ermic employs 124 staff across its three divisions. Total turnover for the group sits at €23.5m.

People
Robert Bousquet is the president of Ermic, while Raphaël Potier is the president of Noval. Associate director Jean-Luc Rivière and Hasnaa Hafid worked on the deal for Ixo, while associate Marc Bres-Pintat represented Irdi, director Jean-Bernard Saucede and Sophie Juery represented MPcroissance, while Thierry Decker and investment director Christine Busque acted for BPI.

Advisers
Equity – Bruno et Associés, Jean-Manuel Bruno, Stéphanie Cramaregeas (Legal).

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