This partnership aims to create a European IT services company that will support industrial clients in addressing the challenges of their Industry 4.0 journey.
Founded in Lyon in 2005 by Stéphane Lusoli, Sofyne Active Technology is a trusted leader in MES/MOM/PLM software integration. This expertise enables it to support major international industrial groups in the luxury goods, automotive and energy sectors in their digital transformation towards Industry 4.0. With a presence in six European countries (France, Switzerland, UK, Portugal, Sweden, Poland), Sofyne Active Technology is currently the number one workforce for Dassault Systèmes' DELMIA APRISO software in Europe. Sofyne Active Technology has been experiencing significant growth and expansion for several years.
AG Solution, founded in 2007 in Antwerp by Eric Billiard and Guy D’haese, brings its expertise in automation systems, process control, data management, operational intelligence, MES/MOM solutions, Artificial Intelligence, ICT infrastructure, and OT security to industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, waste-to-energy and food & beverage. The company has thirteen offices, including eleven in Europe (Belgium, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, Portugal) and two in the United States (New York, Houston).
Through this major European partnership, the two companies, now united under the SAPHIR entity, share a common ambition: establish a leading Industry 4.0 group by 2030. The newly formed group plans to accelerate its international growth and carry out further external expansion initiatives.
"Six months after Waterland’s involvement, we’re marking a significant milestone in our journey to become a pan-European leader in industrial digital transformation. With a combined team of 400 engineers and consultants, renowned for their excellence, Sofyne Active Technology and AG Solution will be well-equipped to tackle the increasingly complex challenges of Industry 4.0 by offering high-level expertise, consultancy and services to their clients," said Stéphane Lusoli, CEO of Sofyne Active Technology.
"Following our successful MBO two years ago, this merger with Sofyne Active Technology is a key step in achieving our 2030 vision. It will allow us to provide even more high-value-added services in the MOM space to our industrial clients. We will also complete Sofyne Active Technology’s offering to its clients with automation, operational intelligence, and MES/MOM Cyber security solutions," said Eric Billiard, CEO of AG Solution.
"We are convinced of the strategic importance of this partnership, and that’s why we’re committed to supporting Sofyne Active Technology, AG Solution, and their leadership teams at every step of this transformative project. The merger will deliver increased value, expertise, and new service offerings to the clients of both companies, addressing the demands of industrial digital transformation," commented Louis Huetz and Pierre Naftalski, partners and investment directors at Waterland.
Advisors for Waterland/SAPHIR
- Legal Counsel: Argo (Henri Nelen, Thomas Van Hoornyck, Lena Pepa), AVA Law (Nicolas Valluet, Emeline Pilon), McDermott & Emery (Herschel Guez, Julien-Pierre Tannoury, Grégoire Andrieux), Mayer Brown (Patrick Teboul, Marion Minard, Antoine Buisson), Levine Keszler (Serge Levine, Rebecca Zbili), Chevez, Ewin Coe (Alexandre Terrasse)
- Financing Advisory: 8advisory (Pieter Wygaerts, Gijs Kriger)
- Financial Due Diligence: 8advisory (Christian Van Craeyvelt, Bram de Roo)
- Commercial Due Diligence: Roland Berger (Marie Lê de Narp, Dimitri Pierre-Justin)
- Financing: AccessFi (Julien Pilet)
