OREANDA-NEWS. Apax Partners and Altamir have signed a definitive agreement with TowerBrook Capital Partners to sell Infopro Digital, the French professional information services provider. 

Infopro Digital's mission is to provide professional communities with a full range of business solutions to help them be more efficient and generate better and growing sales opportunities, leveraging its expertise in managing data around its portfolio of leading brands across six key industry verticals. In 2015, Infopro Digital generated sales of €300m. 

Since 2007, the company grew fivefold and focused its growth strategy on three specific areas: digital transformation, build-ups, and internationalisation. Implementing these strategies was made possible thanks to the trust-based relationships between Christophe Czajka, Julien Elmaleh and the Apax Partners team. 

Digitalisation

Infopro Digital successfully managed the evolution from print to digital across its portfolio of information brands. 

Build-ups

Infopro Digital has successfully acquired and integrated 12 companies, including the transformational acquisitions of GISI in 2007 and Groupe Moniteur in 2013. Infopro Digital is now the undisputed French leader in the delivery of professional information. 

Internationalisation

In 2015, Infopro Digital completed the acquisition of EBP (€20m revenues) in Belgium, a provider of critical information to construction professionals in Belgium, France and Netherlands, presenting strong synergies with existing activities. This is the first significant international acquisition of the group. 

Christophe Czajka, founder and Executive Chairman of Infopro Digital said: "I have found at Apax Partners' people who are in complete agreement with our growth and media digitalization strategy. Their knowledge of this digital transformation allowed us to invest aggressively and achieve our objective to become the undisputed leader in our market." 

Thomas de Villeneuve, partner at Apax Partners added: "We are proud to have supported Infopro Digital in its fantastic growth and digital transformation as well as the strong relationship we have built with an exceptional team of entrepreneurs. » 

The transaction is expected to complete in the second quarter of 2016 subject to customary competition filings. 

Advisers to TowerBrook included Messier, Maris et Associ?s and BNP Paribas (M&A), Weil, Gotshal & Manges (legal), and Ernst & Young (accounting, tax & market). 

Advisers to Apax Partners included Rothschild (M&A), Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier (legal), PwC (accounting) and BCG. 

About Infopro Digital

Infopro Digital is a leading provider of professional information services in France (2,500 employees, €300 million in revenue). The group addresses several key sectors of the economy: construction, automotive, manufacturing, insurance and finance, retailing, and local authorities. It has developed a multimedia offering (software, databases, web services, trade shows, conferences, publications) that enables its customers to increase their sales and improve their productivity. 

About Apax Partners

Apax Partners is a leading private equity firm in French-speaking European countries. With more than 40 years of experience, Apax Partners provides long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. Funds managed and advised by Apax Partners exceed €2.4 billion. These funds invest in fast-growing middle-market companies across four sectors of specialisation.

About Altamir

Altamir (Euronext Paris-B, LTA) is a listed private equity company with more than €650m in assets under management.  The company invests via and with the funds managed or advised by Apax Partners France and Apax Partners LLP, two leading private equity firms in their respective markets. It provides access to a diversified portfolio of fast-growing companies across Apax's sectors of specialisation (TMT, Retail & Consumer, Healthcare, Business & Financial Services) and in complementary market segments (mid-sized companies in French-speaking European countries and larger companies across Europe, North America and key emerging markets).