Context
Founded 20 years ago, Advens is the leading French pure player in cybersecurity with 300 employees throughout France and over EUR 30m net sales expected for 2021, up 30% compared to 2020
Backed by ISAI since 2016, Advens offers a comprehensive cybersecurity package that combines high value-added services with an innovative Security-as-a-Service model to meet the growing needs of companies, regardless of their specific sector or business. Advens has thus developed an operational security centre ("Security-as-a-Service Factory") unique in France, which takes advantage of the best technologies, Artificial Intelligence and human expertise to provide efficient and proven protection against cyberthreats
As attacks continue to grow in intensity and complexity, Advens was seeking new financial partners to accompany its ambitious organic and external growth plan. With the support of its new shareholders (Capza and Parquest Capital), and by capitalizing on the very strong loyalty of its teams and clients, Advens' ambition is to become a leader in cybersecurity and the first SOC-as-a-Service provider in Europe
About Parquest Capital
Created in 2002, Parquest Capital is an independent investment firm with a well-established franchise on the French mid-market segment. Parquest Capital invests in French mid-size companies and focuses on long term growth projects in France and abroad, together with the management teams. At the heart of Parquest Capital's strategy is the ambition to build an effective, strong, trustworthy partnership with the management teams of its portfolio companies focusing on three privileged sectors: B-to-B services, consumer goods/ retail, healthcare.
About Advens
Advens, which literally means Together & In Advance, was created in 2000 in France. Advens’ goal is to help our clients generate value thanks to cybersecurity and at the end of the day make the digital era an opportunity for a better world. With 300 people based in Lille, Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Nantes, 30% annual growth and more than 300 active clients in France and abroad, Advens is the first French pure player in cybersecurity.
Deal Team
Should you want to know more about this transaction, you can contact one of the team members above
Bryan, Garnier & Co acts as Sole Financial Advisor to Parquest Capital on its minority investment in Advens
Bryan, Garnier & Co acted as Sole Financial Advisor to Parquest Capital in the context of the acquisition of a minority stake in Advens alongside Capza and Advens’ Management & Employees
This is a major operation – which would value Advens at more than EUR 100m – and above all, unprecedented. Indeed, in addition to the company’s growth and development objectives, the management and shareholders have chosen to place societal impact at the heart of Advens’ business model. On this occasion, up to 40% of the company’s financial value will be distributed in the coming years to an endowment fund to support initiatives with a societal impact, in particular to promote the inclusion and education of the younger generation. Ultimately, it could be the largest endowment fund in Europe on this theme
This marks another landmark transaction for Bryan, Garnier & Co’s Technology practice and continues to demonstrate its expertise in cybersecurity services. Other transactions in the sector notably include the EUR 20m Private Placement of ElecticIQ, the sale of Metsys to European Digital Group, the sale of Lexsi to Orange and the acquisition of Codenomicon by Synopsys
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