Ardian agrees to buy 72% stake in RGI Group

Ardian has agreed to buy a 72 percent stake in RGI Group, an Italian provider of software products and technology to the insurance industry. The stake was acquired from private equity fund 21 Investimenti and other investors. As part of the deal, RGI Group’s Paolo Benini will keep an about 20 percent stake in the company. The remaining 8 percent stake will be held by management.

Press Release

Ardian, the premium independent private investment company, today announces that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire 72% stake in RGI Group, Italy’s leading provider of software products and technology services to the insurance industry. The stake was purchased from private equity fund 21 Investimenti and other investors.
After the closing of the transaction, RGI Group’s founder Paolo Benini will retain a stake of around 20% in the company. The remaining 8% will be held by the management, including RGI Group CEO Vito Rocca.

Founded in 1987, RGI Group specializes in software development for insurance companies, covering the entire spectrum of insurance policy management through the provision of software and advisory services. The Group has a leading position in the Italian market and its solutions and technological services are used by some of the world’s most prominent insurance companies. RGI Group reported a turnover of €50 million in 2013, 90% of which was generated in Italy. The company has 630 employees in Italy and abroad and this is set to increase in 2014 as it expands in Italy and more broadly in Europe.

Paolo Benini, Founder of RGI, said: “As it happened in other moments of RGI’s story, the acquisition of a stake by an international high profile partner like Ardian gives a further acceleration to our group’s development abroad. I’ll keep on supporting our managements’ team with the same passion and determination. I’m sure they’ll demonstrate also in the future their strong commitment to hit new and important achievements.”

Vito Rocca, CEO of RGI, added: “We were looking for an international financial partner with whom to share the project of Global Company outlined in our strategic plan and we believe Ardian has the right characteristics to make this journey together. Moreover, the high interest shown in the last months by some international private equity funds and by Ardian in particular, is the acknowledgement of the work we did so far. We expect also for 2014 a growth of revenues of over 10% compared to 2013, with a very significant increase of our presence in foreign markets.”

Dominique Gaillard, Managing Partner of Ardian, said: “Information and communication technology is a particular and potentially full of opportunities sector, where Rgi is a key company, which we believe could continue its growth outside Italy. Thanks to our long term perspective, we will provide RGI the necessary stability to achieve an international success. We strongly believe in the great potential of the company’s management and we will support Paolo Benini and Vito Rocca in this exciting journey of growth.”

ABOUT RGI GROUP

Founded in 1987 by Paolo Benini, RGI Group is an Italian provider of ICT solutions for the insurance industry. RGI covers the entire process of insurance policy management by providing software and advisory services. The Group has a leading position in the Italian market and its solutions and technological services are used by some of the world’s most prominent insurance companies as Reale Mutua Assicurazioni, Cattolica Group, Europ Assistance and Direct Line. The company has more than 600 employees in Italy and abroad and posted a turnover of around 50 million euro in 2013. Its International expansion began in 2008 with the creation of new subsidiaries in Dublin, Paris, Frankfurt, Würzburg and Tunisia.

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian, founded in 1996 and led by Dominique Senequier, is a premium independent private investment company with assets of US$47bn 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 330 employees working through ten offices in Paris, London, New York, Beijing, Frankfurt, Jersey, Luxembourg, Milan, Singapore and Zurich. The company offers its 300 investors a diversified choice of funds covering the full range of asset classes, including Fund of Funds (primary, early secondary and secondary), Direct Funds including Infrastructure, Expansion, Mid Cap Buyout, Ardian Croissance, Co-Investment and Private Debt.