Arkadin, the global collaboration services provider, has acquired Novasight, a company founded and managed by Philippe Decaesteke specialising in video conferencing services.
Through this acquisition, Arkadin will reinforce its video conferencing offer (from the video-as-a-service to managed services) while boosting its development to Unified Communications, solutions which gather all the communication tools within a single interface.
Novasight will be able to use Arkadin’s global network to accelerate its own growth. Arkadin will also be able to offer its 25,000 B2B clients the knowledge and expertise of Novasight’s teams and technological partnerships, which the company has built since its creation in 2001 (Cisco-Tandberg, Polycom, Radvision).
Arkadin has 1,000 employees in 31 countries and is expected to achieve a turnover of EUR185m in 2012 – an increase of 45 per cent on last year – and aims to double the turnover of its video business in 2013.
AXA Private Equity, the main shareholder of Arkadin since August 2012, will help the management team integrate Novasight’s skills while continuing to provide experience and geographical reach.
Olivier de Puymorin, founder and chief executive of Arkadin, says: “We are delighted to integrate Novasight’s expertise into our company as it offers major growth opportunities. This acquisition allows our company to grow its offer and asserts our presence across the value chain of Unified Communications.”
Philippe Decaesteke, founder and chief executive of Novasight, says: “This acquisition will allow Novasight to enter a new stage in its development. The technological expertise of our teams, plus the market know-how and international presence of Arkadin, constitute the key elements of a successful combination.”
François Jerphagnon, managing director small market enterprise capital at AXA Private Equity, says: “The acquisition of Novasight represents an important stage in Arkadin’s growth, reinforcing its presence in the high growing market of video conferencing services. Novasight’s expertise strengthens the distinctive positioning of Arkadin compared to its competitors.”
