AXA Investment Managers announced that its asset management subsidiary, AXA Investment Managers (“AXA IM”) has received an irrevocable offer from an investor group for its entire stake in AXA Investment Managers Private Equity SA (“AXA Private Equity”).
The proposed transaction would be structured with a view to protecting AXA Private Equity’s investment expertise and performance-driven culture, and to ensuring that its clients continue to benefit from the outstanding service and performance they have enjoyed over the past several years. The transaction would enable AXA to monetize its interest in AXA Private Equity, a business successfully developed by the Group since 1996, and would provide a strong foundation for the next growth phase of one of Europe’s leading private equity firms.
The acquiring investors would be composed of AXA Private Equity’s senior management, led by Dominique Senequier, a group of institutions and French family offices and AXA Group. AXA Private Equity’s 298 employees would be given the opportunity to participate in the transaction through a dedicated vehicle.
Upon the completion of the proposed transaction, AXA Private Equity’s voting share capital would be held as follows:
- AXA Private Equity’s management and employees: 40.00%
- External investors: 33.14%
- AXA Group: 26.86%
The proposed transaction would enable AXA Private Equity to become an independent private equity firm, with a powerful international network and reach. With USD 31 billion (or Euro 24 billion) assets under management raised from investors worldwide, the firm would offer its 255 investors a broad spectrum of asset classes: Funds of Funds, Direct Funds (comprising 160 portfolio companies), including Mid and Small Market Enterprise Capital, Infrastructure, Innovation & Growth, Co-Investment and Private Debt.
The proposed transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the completion of the works council consultation process and obtaining required regulatory approvals and should be finalized before the end of Q3 2013.
The transaction would value AXA Private Equity at Euro 510 million for 100%. The sale of AXA IM’s entire stake would result in AXA IM receiving a total consideration up to Euro 488 million. The consideration would be divided into an upfront payment of approximately Euro 348 million and deferred consideration up to Euro 140 million, to be paid in installments subject to achieving certain targets and meeting certain conditions.