At the beginning of 2022, ARMOR-IIMAK and Astorg announced the signing of an exclusive negotiation agreement, where Astorg acquires approximately 40% of ARMOR-IIMAK’s capital.
The new ARMOR-IIMAK entity was formed in October last year and was said to have consolidated revenues of more than €322 million ($400 million) and employ over 1,650 people who produce over 2.5bn m² of thermal transfer ribbon. Establishing it as the global market leader in the design and production of thermal transfer ribbons with a combined market share with a 40% combined market share.
Hubert de Boisredon, Chairman and CEO of the ARMOR Group, will overlook the strategy and leadership of ARMOR IIMAK, as well as cultivate the future partnership with Astorg. Christian Lefort, CEO of ARMOR-IIMAK, who joined the ARMOR Group last August, will be responsible for the operational development of ARMOR-IIMAK.
Hubert de Boisredon, Chairman and CEO, ARMOR Group and Executive Chairman, ARMOR-IIMAK: “On behalf of ARMOR Group, I am looking forward to partnering with Astorg. This merger represents a new beginning for the shareholders and strengthens ARMOR-IIMAK’s position in the field of traceability.”
Lionel de Posson, Managing Partner, Mid-Cap, Astorg: “We are delighted that Hubert de Boisredon and the ARMOR-IIMAK management team have chosen Astorg as their partner, and we look forward to contributing to ARMOR-IIMAK’s growth. Its global leadership position, unique technology and know-how, and impressive ESG scores (e.g. EcoVadis Gold Medal) make it an ideal partner for our Astorg Mid-Cap investment strategy.”
Astorg’s capital contribution will help launch a four-year investment plan (2022-2026) of around €150 million ($170 million). Furthermore, IIMAK’s industrial equipment will be upgraded through ARMOR’s robotic and automated techniques. Lastly, collective actions will be undertaken, in the effort to smoothly integrate IIMAK into the group.
Hubert de Boisredon, Chairman and CEO, ARMOR Group and Executive Chairman, ARMOR-IIMAK: “Having a significant minority shareholder join the group is an essential step towards its development and growth. It will facilitate IIMAK’s integration and development and create liquidity for the initial financial shareholders. A significant portion of the funds will be used for growth investments and new acquisitions, particularly in Asia. Most importantly, our investment plan will allow us to provide better offers and services for our customers.”
Traceability has become extremely important and has expanded into a growing market due to an increased awareness and demand for product safety and compliance. For example, global revenues for food traceability alone, are expected to increase from $4.54 billion (€3.99 billion) in 2020 to $9.75 billion (€8.57 billion) in 2021. Consequently, Thermal Transfer printing technology has become the method of reference for traceability, especially in the food, pharmaceutical and industrial markets.
Hubert de Boisredon, Chairman and CEO, ARMOR Group and Executive Chairman, ARMOR-IIMAK: “As a global leader in its industry, ARMOR-IIMAK is making every effort to follow this growth curve thanks to its 1,600 employees worldwide, 8,200 km of Thermal Transfer ribbons coated every day and 33 subsidiaries, including 17 cutting centres, spread over four continents. In this growing market, our projections for growth and value creation are significant. The capital partnership we are about to enter into with Astorg will allow us to further develop our global leadership strategy, particularly in Asia. We are all very excited.”
The amount of the capital contribution remains confidential. The negotiation agreement is being supervised by the investment banks, Natixis Partners and Equalis Capital, and the consulting firms PwC and Jones Day.
