Herter & Co. has advised private equity group Ardian on the financing of its acquisition of d&b audiotechnik („d&b“), a company specialised on professional acoustic systems with worldwide operations (sales of c. €94m in 2015), from investment companies Odewald & Compagnie and COBEPA.
Herter & Co. coordinated a financing package of more than €100m underwritten by banks and debt funds. The acquisition is still subject to approval of antitrust authorities.
d&b, which was founded in 1981 and is based in Backnang, Germany, is one of the world’s leading providers of professional premium audio technology. The company develops and produces high-quality sound systems for mobile and permanently installed applications. The spectrum of venues ranges from large stadiums and concert halls to theaters, opera houses, convention centers and cruise liners. With its systemic approach based on the interaction of amplifiers, speakers, accessories and interlinked software solutions, combined with dependable worldwide service and an exceptional training and support offering, d&b isuniquely positioned in the marketplace
„Herter & Co.’s successfully executed financing strategy provided us not only with the necessary financing at attractive terms but also with an important advantage in a highly competitive auction and ambitious timeframe.“ said Fabian Wagener, Director of the Mid Cap Buyout Team at Ardian.
Herter & Co. acted as Sole Debt Adviser to Ardian.
Ardian, founded in 1996 and led by Dominique Senequier, is an independent private investment company with assets of US$55bn managed or advised in Europe, North America and Asia. The company, which is majority-owned by its employees, keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and delivers investment performance to its global investors while fuelling growth in economies across the world. Ardian’s investment process embodies three values: excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship. Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 410 employees working through twelve offices in Paris, London, Frankfurt, Milan, Madrid, Zurich, New York, San Francisco, Beijing, Singapore, Jersey and Luxembourg. The company offers its 470 investors a diversified choice of funds covering the full range of asset classes through Ardian Direct Funds (comprising Ardian Mid Cap Buyout, Ardian Expansion, Ardian Growth and Ardian Co-Investment), Ardian Infrastructure, Ardian Funds of Funds (comprising primary, early secondary and secondary activities), Ardian Private Debt, Ardian Real Estate and customized mandate investment solutions with Ardian Mandates.