Carlyle Group acquires Spain's Digitex in SBO

Digitex's management team took a 10% minority stake. The transaction marks the third acquisition in the sector for Carlyle, after Italy-based Comdata in December 2015 and UK-based PA Consulting in September 2015.

Speaking to unquote", Carlyle confirmed its aim to create a global group in the BPO business, leveraging the three platforms in their markets, both in Europe and the Americas. The GP does not plan to implement cost synergies but will rather focus on commercial synergies.

The capital came from Carlyle Europe Partners IV, which reached a final close on its €3.75bn hard-cap in July 2015. The vehicle focuses on the upper-mid-market in Europe.

The acquisition will allow Digitex to expand in South-America, where Digitex has been bolstering its presence since its acquisition in 2009 by Peru-based private equity firm Altra Investments.

Previous investments
Altra took a controlling stake in Digitex in 2009. Since then, the company has posted a 9.1% increase in revenues and a 13.8% increase in EBIDTA, unquote" understands.

Company
Madrid-headquartered Digitex was founded in 1989 and now employs 16,000 professionals across Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Guatemala and El Salvador. It operates in the integrated management, business processes, customer care, back-office support and IT process consulting segments. In 2015, the business generated a turnover of €177m and EBITDA of €20m.

People
Carlyle – Marco de Benedetti (managing partner).
Altra Investments – Dario Duran (founding partner).
Digitex – Angel Parra (CEO).

Adviser
Equity – Latham & Watkins (legal); BTG Pactual (M&A).
Company – Garrigues (legal).

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

• Topics
• Buyouts
• Support services
• Southern Europe
• Exits
• Spain
• Carlyle Group
• Secondary buyout