Equistone Partners Europe sells call centre operator avocis to Capita plc

PREMIUM Communications Holding AG, in which funds managed by Equistone Partners Europe Limited (“Equistone”) have a majority shareholding, has sold avocis (“the Company”), to Capita plc. avocis is a leading provider of customer contact management services in the DACH region.

 

• ​Strong market position built up in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
• Organic and acquisition-related growth achieved since 2007

Based in Tägerwilen, Switzerland, avocis operates 16 sites across Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The Company’s services are largely focused on the telecommunications, financial services, energy and pharmaceutical industries. Equistone acquired avocis in a management buyout in 2007; since its investment, the Company has grown into a leading service provider across three countries, with an annual turnover of €210 million (2014).

Dirk Schekerka, Partner of Equistone Partners Europe in Germany, commented: “Right from the beginning we invested in a clear growth strategy. Our aim was to secure and expand organic and acquisition-related growth in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in a sustainable manner. Together with avocis’ strong management team, we have achieved these milestones.”

Marcus Meloni, CEO of avocis, added: “Following the management buyout in 2007, we were able to expand our multi-lingual services and drive forward the international growth of the Company. We are extremely grateful to the Equistone team for their support and partnership over recent years, without which we could not have achieved this growth.”

The transaction was led by Dirk Schekerka and Oskar Schilcher from Equistone.

Equistone was advised by Robert W. Baird (M&A), Bär & Karrer (Legal), KPMG (Financial) and PwC (Commercial).