Supported in minority by CM-CIC Investissement and Unexo, the electronic communications operator is refocusing on very high speed wireless broadband after the sale of its installation subsidiary Infratel, which generates €4 million in revenue to the integrator Sogetrel.
Nomotech is implementing a strategy to refocus on its core business. Supported in minority by CM-CIC Investissement and Unexo since 2014, the electronic communications operator is selling one of its subsidiaries, Infratel. The new owner, the Sogetrel group – with which it had business relations – has just structured a fourth LBO around Latour Capital as lead, alongside Bpifrance, Paluel-Marmont Capital and BNP Paribas Développement for a valuation of around €170 million. PAX Corporate Finance teams assisted the seller in this transaction, which was carried out without an auction process. Based in Poilley in the Messina region, Infratel specialises in the deployment and maintenance of Nomotech’s radio networks as well as other players such as Circet. It has five offices in France, including an engineering office. Last year, its turnover amounted to around €4 million for 50 employees.
A more global partnership
Apart from this asset sale, the refocusing strategy led to the sale by Ozone, a Nomotech subsidiary and Internet service provider in radio technologies (fifth largest French player), of its Satellite business to Nordnet, an Orange subsidiary. At the end of these various operations, the electronic communications operator is mainly active in wireless broadband for white areas via radio sites in France and abroad. Still owned by its management team, Nomotech is taking advantage of this transaction to establish a partnership with Sogetrel, which will be in charge of all maintenance and deployment services for radio networks. As a reminder, last year the seller generated a turnover of approximately €45 million. On the buyer’s side, the acquisition of Infratel allows it to gain market share and diversify its offer. Since the change of shareholder, Sogetrel has carried out two external growth operations, including Aubelec’s telecom activity. Chaired by Xavier Vignon, the communications network and systems integrator saw its revenue grow by more than 26% to €480 million last year.
By JEAN-PHILIPPE MAS – 29/01/2019
