Omnes Capital exits

Sector

Hardware

Entry Date

2005

Exit Date

2013

Buyer

Samsung

Business

Venture Capital

Novaled

www.novaled.com

Doping materials for organic materials

German company Novaled has developed a new structure and new doping materials curbing power consumption and extending the life of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). At the time of the sale, the company owned more than 400 patents.

Read the business case

“Omnes Capital placed its trust in us and was patient.”

GILDAS

SORIN

Chief Executive Officer

of Novaled AG

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Novaled AG

Project Company INTERVIEW

Good things come to those who wait…

Time has proved Omnes Capital right, as it saw Novaled AG’s potential very early on.

In 2005, Omnes acquired an interest in its capital as lead investor for €4 million as part of a €15 million funding round, before injecting another €1.5 million in 2008. This bet paid off handsomely. Since 2009, materials developed by Novaled AG have been used in displays for the Samsung Galaxy, one of the world’s top-selling smartphones.

The German start-up, which was acquired by the Samsung group during the summer 2013, has pioneered OLED technology, which will revolutionise the world of displays and lighting.

SORIN GILDAS

Chief Executive Officer of Novaled AG

Grow up with Samsung

OLED diodes illuminate surfaces using thin layers of organic composite semiconductors. Unlike LCDs, they do not need backlighting, which also reduces their power consumption.

The integration of flexible materials such as plastics has opened the way for the development of thin and flexible displays and lighting solutions. Provided that the plastics used could be made better conductors.

And that is exactly what the innovation and technology developed by Novaled do.
They enhance the organic material, extending its life and reducing its power consumption.

GILDAS

SORIN

Chief Executive Officer

of Novaled AG

Novaled AG has demonstrated that technology ventures can be a success in Europe...

Definitely. If you have the right products and if you adopt a good quality strategy, you have every chance of success! Novaled AG is a prime example of this. A giant like Samsung chose us as a supplier because we had products that matched its needs. Despite tough negotiations, it immediately showed its confidence in Novaled. Samsung agreed that we should be its only supplier of certain materials used in Galaxy smartphones. This represents a tremendous vote of confidence given its production imperatives.

Why did you choose Omnes Capital as a partner?

Right from the start, we felt that we were on the same page as Omnes Capital. Its teams had confidence in our management and showed a great deal of patience. At the time, there was no certainty that we would become what we are today. They played a full part on our Supervisory Board, respecting our management team and its responsibilities, without ever getting in its way. They have always been there for us when we needed them – both in good times and in more difficult ones.

What challenges lie ahead for you?

With the OLED market expected to consolidate, it is crucial to build partnerships with materials manufacturers. The acquisition by Cheil Industries represents a step in this direction and will give us the benefit of the group’s investments in the next generation of materials. We look at the future with real optimism, especially since OLED TVs are currently arriving on the market. That should provide a boost to our growth.

novaled-ag

Sector

Retail & Distribution

Entry Date

2010

Exit Date

2013

Business

Co-Investment

Leading cinema operator in Europe

Headquartered in the United-Kingdom, the company is one of the largest operator of multiplex in Europe.

Sector

Retail & Distribution

Entry Date

2006

Exit Date

2013

Buyer

Equistone

Business

Mezzanine Buyout & Growth Capital

Bretèche Industrie

www.breteche.com

Specialist manufacturer of equipment for the agrifood industry

Bretèche Industrie is an industrial group supplying equipment used in the manufacture of food, chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Sector

Consumer goods

Entry Date

2001

Exit Date

2013

Buyer

OPRA

Business

Mid-Cap Buyout & Growth Capital

Orchestra

www.orchestra.fr

Fashion brand and products for children

Founded in 1995, Orchestra is a brand that sells childrenswear and products for children in 20 countries through a network of branches, franchised stores and multi-brand retail outlets. In 2001, Orchestra and Kazibao (the leading online forum for French speaking children) merged to form a major player in the kids universe.

Sector

Medical devices

Entry Date

2007

Exit Date

2013

Buyer

IPO

Business

Venture Capital

EOS imaging

www.eos-imaging.com

An entirely new concept of imaging for orthopaedics

EOS imaging is a medical imaging company that is revolutionising the treatment continuum for the most common osteoarticular conditions (hip, knee and spine) and associated orthopaedic surgeries. Its EOS® product is an offshoot of the work by Georges Charpak, a Nobel laureate for physics.
The group has obtained marketing approvals in 32 countries, including the United States (FDA), Canada, Australia and the European Union (CE). The group is headquartered in Paris and has four subsidiaries: in France (Besançon), the United States (Cambridge), Canada (Montreal) and Germany, as well as an office in Singapore.
June 2012: EOS imaging (EOSI) successfully completed its IPO, raising €38 million.
Market capitalisation at IPO date: €120 million

Sector

Business services

Entry Date

2005

Exit Date

2013

Buyer

Autodesk

Business

Small-Cap Buyout & Growth Capital

Graitec

www.graitec.com

Software vendor

Vendor and distributor of 3D digital mock-up software for buildings

Sector

Retail & Distribution

Entry Date

1999

Exit Date

2013

Buyer

Fondateurs

Business

Mid-Cap Buyout & Growth Capital

Thalgo

www.thalgo.fr

Manufacturer of beauty products based on natural extracts from marine products

Founded in 1964, Thalgo manufactures and distributes beauty and skincare products from natural extractions from marine products, including its patented micronised marine algae. Thalgo sells its products in over 65 countries to thalassotherapy centres, spas, fitness centres and beauty institutes.

Sector

Industry

Entry Date

2000

Exit Date

2013

Buyer

Cession de titres

Business

Mid-Cap Buyout & Growth Capital

Dynaction

www.dynaction.fr

Fine chemicals specialist

Dynaction is an industrial holding company that has focused since December 2005 on a single avenue of expansion–specialty fine chemicals, the business operated by its PCAS subsidiary in which it held a 68% shareholding.

Sector

Mobile

Entry Date

2009

Exit Date

2012

Buyer

Groupe Rakuten

Business

Venture Capital

Aquafadas

www.ave-comics.com

Software dedicated to digital photo and video publishing

Founded in January 2006 and headquartered in Montpellier, Aquafadas markets software dedicated to digital photo and video publishing. It has positioned itself as a leading European player in the digital comic book publishing. In 2009, Aquafadas launched its digital comic book platform, Ave!Comics. A digital comic book merchant and download platform, Ave!Comics holds the rights to the digital version of blondes, the latest Lucky Luke, etc.

Sector

Independent power producer

Entry Date

2006

Exit Date

2012

Buyer

JMB

Business

Renewable Energy

Aérowatt

www.aerowatt.fr

Design, development, financing, construction and operation of wind farms

Aérowatt is an independent player in the wind energy market in France and French overseas departments and territories. Since 1992, Aérowatt has specialised in the design, development, financing, construction and operation of wind farms.

Omnes Capital's exits

Novaled

Good things come to those who wait…

Grow up with Samsung

Bretèche Industrie

Orchestra

EOS imaging

Graitec

Thalgo

Dynaction

Aquafadas

Aérowatt

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