Press & news
]init[ wins Gilde Buy Out Partners as a further shareholder in addition to EMERAM Capital Partners
- Strategic power for further expansion in national and international markets strengthened
Munich, 1 December 2021: ]init[ AG für digitale Kommunikation strengthens its shareholder base with Gilde Buy Out Partners. Funds advised by Gilde Buy Out Partners ("Gilde") have agreed to purchase a minority stake (signing). Funds advised by EMERAM Capital Partners ("EMERAM") will maintain their shares in ]init[ at the same level as Gilde, once the partial sale is completed. Dirk Stocksmeier, founder and chairman of the supervisory board, as well as the management, remain further shareholders of the Berlin-based digital company.
The goal of the newly-formed group of shareholders is to expedite ]init['s growth trend further. Jointly, strategic opportunities shall be seized, the company's international focus expanded and acquisitions realised.
Founded in 1995, ]init[ AG für digitale Kommunikation is considered one of the leading project service providers in the field of digital transformation. The company currently consists of six locations with a total of 800 employees. Its numerous clients include both the public sector and well-known industrial companies.
Matthias Wilcken, Partner at Gilde: "]init[ has a strong market position in Germany and achieves impressive growth rates. We are looking to expand on this. Together, we want to develop the company strategically. We see considerable opportunities both organically and inorganically. ]init[ will benefit significantly from our international orientation, our long-standing experience as well as our financial strength."
Dirk Stocksmeier, founder and chairman of the supervisory board of ]init[: "With the newly-formed shareholder group, we are leading ]init[ into a new phase of corporate development. We are increasing expertise, technology portfolio, network and financial scope. ]init[ is looking forward to implementing our ambitious growth strategy, which will lead us back into international markets in the future - benefiting our clients and employees alike."
Dr. Christian Näther, Managing Partner of EMERAM Capital Partners: "In our role as business development partner, we have supported ]init[ in their successful growth path. This enabled ]init[ to further boost its positioning as a full-service digitisation provider for the public sector, while at the same time acquiring well-known customers in the industry. The further growth in ]init['s strength since EMERAM’s share acquisition in 2019 is reflected, among other things, in the significant increase in average project volumes and sales per employee. We now intend to continue this success story together with Gilde Buy Out Partners as a renowned, pan-European shareholder."
The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price of the transaction. The transaction is subject to standard conditions, including approval by the competition authorities. The transaction is expected to close in January 2022. EMERAM was advised by GCA Altium (M&A), Noerr (Legal, Tax), Strategy& (Commercial), and PwC (Financial), Gilde by Clifford Chance (Legal), Deloitte (Tax, Financial), and Boston Consulting Group (Commercial), and Founders and Management by Taylor Wessing (Legal, Tax) and Drake Star Partners (M&A). Shearman & Sterling was mandated on behalf of all shareholders (legal debt financing advisor).
]init[ AG for digital communications is a leading provider of digital transformation solutions for the public sector and industry. ]init[ pursues a full-service approach along the digital value chain: development and implementation of digitalisation strategies, design and operation of websites and portals, IT strategy/IT security consulting, and operation of customer platforms in dedicated data centres.
EMERAM is one of the leading investment companies for medium-sized companies in the German-speaking region. Funds advised by EMERAM currently provide 400 million euros of capital for the development of companies. The portfolio includes companies from the Technology/Software, Value-added Services und New Consumer Staples sectors.
EMERAM acts as a long-term business development partner for its companies and supports the sustainable growth (organic and inorganic) of its portfolio companies. Currently, the portfolio contains six platform investments, which generated continuously double-digit organic sales growth rates. Additionally, through more than 20 add on acquisitions significant in-organic growth and international expansion came on top.
Gilde Buy Out Partners is a leading European private equity investor in mid-market transactions with operations in the DACH region, in the Benelux, and in Italy. Gilde manages funds in excess of Euro 3 billion and has offices in Frankfurt, Zurich, Utrecht, Brussels, and Milan. Since its inception in 1982, Gilde has supported more than 250 companies to realize their growth ambitions.