9 Apr 2008
Investcorp, a leading global provider and manager of alternative investment products, today announced that it has agreed to acquire Asiakastieto, Finland’s biggest business and credit information company. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Asiakastieto will be acquired from GMT Communications Partners III LLP, the private equity investment fund of GMT Communications Partners LLP, with the current management team also reinvesting in the company.
Based in Helsinki, Asiakastieto has a 74 per cent share of the Finnish credit information market, within which it is the sole personal credit information database owner. It has four main business areas: risk management and credit information services, basic company and personal information, sales and marketing information services and customers’ own information and other services.
At the core of Asiakastieto’s services are databases that consolidate data gathered over several decades from multiple sources to provide Finland’s most extensive and comprehensive business and credit information database. Founded in 1961 by a group of Finnish banks, wholesalers and retail chains, Asiakastieto had approximately 23,000 customers as at 31 December 2007. These include financial institutions, telecoms operators, consumer credit companies, wholesalers and retailers as well as debt collection agencies. Net sales for 2007 were Euro 25.7 million, up 24 per cent on the previous year.
Thilo Sautter, Managing Director in Investcorp’s private equity team, commented: “Asiakastieto has built a leading market position in Finland with deeply entrenched customer relationships, as well as strong connections with key public authorities and data providers. We look forward to supporting Asiakastieto’s very experienced management team to make the most of the continuing organic growth potential it can achieve in Finland, as well as extending its tailored risk management packaged data offerings, and exploring opportunities for international expansion and consolidation.”
Mikko Parjanne, Managing Director of Asiakastieto, added: “Investcorp has a long track record of being a supportive, value-added investor in mid-market companies in Europe, including the Nordic area, and North America. It is a strong partner to work with us over the next stage of Asiakastieto’s growth, as we continue to excel in our core business, build out related products and expand internationally, both organically and through potential acquisitions.”
The transaction is expected to close in May 2008.