TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P. (“TowerBrook”) and Apax Partners SA (“Apax France”) announced today that TowerBrook has signed a definitive agreement, together with management and Infopro’s founder and Executive Chairman Christophe Czajka, to acquire Infopro Digital SAS (“Infopro”, the “Company” or the “Business”) a French business-to-business (“B2B”) professional information services provider.
TowerBrook originally co-founded Infopro in 2001 with Christophe Czajka. The Company’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. The Company is active in three divisions: (i) Software, Data & Leads, which provides tailor-made information and decision-making tools delivered through software packages and digital platforms; (ii) Knowledge & Networking, which produces and delivers industry-specific content and solutions (subscriptions, training, events, etc.); and (iii) Global Trade Shows, which organises industry-specific exhibitions for professionals. In 2015, Infopro generated sales of €300m.
Since the disposal of Infopro by TowerBrook in 2007, the Company has delivered a number of initiatives under the guidance of Apax France which have further transformed the Business into a more efficient, diversified and resilient platform while growing the size of the Company fivefold. Specifically, Infopro has successfully acquired and integrated 12 companies during this time, including the transformational acquisitions of GISI in 2007 and Groupe Moniteur in 2013, while successfully managing the evolution from print to digital across its portfolio of information brands.
The acquisition by TowerBrook is an exciting opportunity for Infopro as it enters its next phase of growth. TowerBrook will work closely with Infopro’s CEO Julien Elmaleh, Christophe Czajka and the rest of the management team to continue to support the Company’s successful strategy of pursuing value-added M&A and developing its portfolio of brands to capitalise on new growth opportunities.
Christophe Czajka, founder and Executive Chairman of Infopro said: “I am delighted to once again partner with TowerBrook on this next stage of Infopro’s development. Our ambition is to continue the Company’s successful build-up strategy with a particular focus on expanding our international presence, while leveraging TowerBrook’s deep expertise and strong network in the markets that we serve.”
The transaction is expected to complete in the second quarter of 2016 following customary competition filings.
Advisers to TowerBrook included Messier, Maris et Associés and BNP Paribas (M&A), Weil, Gotshal & Manges (legal), and Ernst & Young (accounting, tax & market).
Advisers to Apax France included Rothschild (M&A), Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier (legal), PwC (accounting) and BCG (commercial).
