The appointment in summer 2006 of a new team led by Michel BERJAMIN assisted by Christophe DEMARE was aimed at accelerating the re-engineering plan and the transfer of ARES to IT services activities.
The strategy and M&A consulting firm, PAX CF, advised this new management team in the recovery of the group, in particular the decision to increase the capital by issuing ABSAs and to divest the distribution activities of IT “commodities”.
The successful €5.4m capital increase was aimed at accelerating ARES’ re-engineering plan and increasing its financial flexibility.
The divestment of the “commodities” distribution activities (PCs, printers, etc.) was intended to accelerate ARES’ refocusing on value infrastructure distribution and services activities. On the other hand, this sale enabled the Group to significantly reduce its working capital requirements while improving its margins.
During the 2005/2006 financial year, the activities sold to Inmac Wstore represented a turnover of approximately 76 M€.
Created in 1986, ARES occupies a unique position on the IT market combining comprehensive know-how in the field of infrastructure services and expertise in application solutions. Today, the Group has 2,000 employees, including 1,400 engineers and technicians.
Listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris (Compartment C / NextEconomy) since March 1999, ARES is the leading independent infrastructure integrator in France.
