Gimv acquires a controlling interest in the specialised and fast-growing Belgian staffing agency IMPACT and Nova Engineering. This transaction reflects the group’s move towards autonomy and the desire to further increase its office network, as well as a potential international expansion. Central to IMPACT’s growth strategy are its proximity, a personal approach and a focus on specialised technical, construction and office positions for mid-sized growth companies. Gimv will acquire a majority stake alongside the management.

IMPACT (www.impact.be) was founded in 1999 and was owned by the Dutch Humares Group since 2006. As a provider of professional services, the group focuses primarily on technical and construction jobs as well as bottleneck functions in the administrative segment. Clients are typically industrial firms whose ambitious plans require a modern HR policy with a mix of solutions (specialised technical profiles, appropriate training, digitalisation). IMPACT and Nova act as focused partners providing them with the right people, recruiting both locally and internationally. With a focus on quality and their recruiters’ technical roots, IMPACT and Nova provide a competitive edge. The company currently has 17 locations (mainly in business parks) and 100 employees realising a turnover of EUR 67 million (2017). With the aid of a well-defined expansion strategy, the company aims to almost double its turnover over the next five years.

“Our past course, specialising in technology, construction and office jobs, has clearly proved itself very successful. The human dimension of our company, the commitment of our teams in combination with our quality approach and focus enables us to find the right candidates, either in Belgium or abroad. The partnership with Gimv will provide us with the autonomy and means to realize our ambition to be recognized as the leading technical player, both in Belgium and abroad,” says IMPACT CEO Eric Dantinne.

Dirk Dewals, Head of Gimv’s Connected Consumer team, on this transaction: “In our portfolio we are consistently confronted with the need for specialist staff at innovative, export-oriented growth companies. IMPACT fills this gap by focusing specifically on this segment, with personal proximity and relevant sector expertise, thereby accommodating the growth of its mid-market clients.” 

He adds: “For us, as Connected Consumer team, it was equally important to notice IMPACT’s differentiation towards the candidate workers. Nowadays potential employees do not expect a long list of generic vacancies; they want tailor-made advice. This advice should consider their individual skills, values and aspirations, both short and long-term, including the possibility of permanent employment. Needless to state that we are very pleased that IMPACT’s management team has chosen to partner with Gimv for their next growth phase. We aim to support IMPACT’s ambitious expansion plans by leveraging our prior experience with the temping sector and digital service models.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the competition authorities. No further financial details on the transaction will be announced.

7 February 2018, Paris – Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, today announces that it is acquiring a stake in SFAM, the leading European broker of smartphone and multimedia insurance. In addition, ICG, the specialist asset manager, is underwriting a bond issue, while Winch Capital 3, managed by Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP), a shareholder of SFAM since 2016, is selling a portion of its stake.

Founded in 1999 by Sadri Fegaier, SFAM is a major European player in the distribution of extended warranty products, specialising in particular in the fast-growing portable products market. SFAM designs, sells, and manages a line of premium insurance products for mobile phones and multimedia devices with extended warranties. With 1,300 employees, SFAM expects to achieve €500 million in gross sales in 2018.

SFAM is aiming to continue its rapid growth (+2,500% in five years) and accelerate its entry into international markets. SFAM already has operations in France, Belgium, Spain, and Switzerland and is considering expanding into Portugal, the Netherlands, and Italy. SFAM also intends to continue diversifying its insurance services for portable and multimedia products and its cash-back programmes, and will launch a new online service in 2018, under the brand Hubside.

Sadri Fegaier, Founding Chairman of SFAM, said: ”We are thrilled to welcome Ardian as a shareholder of our company and for them to accompany us as we enter a new phase in our development. Having this high-value partner is important as it provides the company with both financial and human resources so that we can continue our rapid growth. We will continue to focus on maintaining the satisfaction of our distributor partners, insurers and customers, while also looking into opportunities for external growth.”

Yann Bak, Managing Director at Ardian Buyout, added: “SFAM’s exponential growth is remarkable and we are looking forward to being able to support the company as it continues along this path. SFAM has a unique position thanks to its great capacity for innovation, its operational excellence, and the quality of its services. We would like to thank Sadri Fegaier and his team for their confidence in Ardian.”

Sylvain Charignon, Partner at EdRIP, added: “Since our investment in January 2016, SFAM has significantly developed its business, combining strong strategic vision and impressive quality of execution. We wanted to thank Sadri Fegaier for this successful pace and to welcome Ardian, which will contribute to the long-term development of the Group.”

ABOUT SFAM

SFAM, founded in 1999 and based in Romans-sur-Isère (France), is the European leading broker in smartphone and multimedia insurances. SFAM began its activity by marketing its insurance products from its own sales points. In 2010, SFAM launched its products on the national market and became the first broker to offer an all risk insurance (covering all causes of loss and breakage) combined with a smartphone recycling service. By relying on its motivated and loyal staff, all experts in their own fields, SFAM proved to be a real success with over 4 million customers and 2,500 partners in Europe. Drawing on its extensive experience in insurance distribution, the SFAM Group has expanded its activity in Europe while innovating its insurance products and additional services and the recycling of technical products. SFAM is also present in Belgium, Switzerland and Spain.

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$66bn managed or advised in Europe, North America and Asia. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base.

Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardian’s activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world.

Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 480 employees working from twelve offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), North America (New York, San Francisco) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore). It manages funds on behalf of 650 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Private Debt.

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