Founded in Castres in 1997 when the telecoms market was opening up to competition, IMS NETWORKS was the first regional company in France to design, deploy and operate a very high speed fibre optic network. IMS NETWORKS currently helps its 350 customers in and beyond France to address network issues (choice of infrastructure, interconnection of sites, IT facilities management, etc.) and tackle cybersecurity challenges.
More recently, the Group expanded its range of services with the launch of a cybersecurity audit & consulting activity via its subsidiary CYBLEX CONSULTING. It is also developing Custocy, a Network Detection & Response solution that detects and provides real-time 3D visuals of cyber attacks on customers' networks.
Following a competitive process managed by ADVISO PARTNERS, CAPITAL CROISSANCE has become the majority shareholder of IMS NETWORKS through an MBO/private equity transaction to support the Group’s development and empower its management team, led by Thierry BARDY. The deal also provided an opportunity for BPIFRANCE to acquire a stake and for MULTICROISSANCE and the historical shareholders to reinvest in the company. In addition, the expanded management team has collectively invested in the project.
The deal is also intended to support the Group's growth ambitions by bolstering its financial resources in order to accelerate its commercial strategy and further the development of its cybersecurity technology, Custocy.
The capital restructuring was financed by debt from BANQUE POPULAIRE OCCITANE and CREDIT AGRICOLE NORD MIDI-PYRENEES.
“Together with Thierry Bardy, the Group’s Chairman, we are very pleased to join forces with CAPITAL CROISSANCE, whose entrepreneurial DNA, expertise and active support made all the difference during the process implemented by ADVISO PARTNERS. This support, together with that of our other shareholders, will help us to accelerate our development in France and internationally.” - Muriel BOUYSSIERE, CFO of IMS NETWORKS.
“We are very pleased with the trust placed in us by Thierry BARDY and his management team, and are keen to support the Group in its growth projects. We were won over by IMS NETWORKS’ value proposition, with its positioning in both networks and cybersecurity, and by the development of an innovative technology like Custocy.” - Julie MASSON and Fabrice FLEURY, Partners at CAPITAL CROISSANCE.
“ADVISO PARTNERS is proud to have supported founding manager Thierry BARDY, along with his majority shareholder, the semi-public company (SOCIETE ANONYME D’ECONOMIE MIXTE – SAEM) IMS GROUPE and longstanding minority financial partner MULTICROISSANCE, in this MBO/private equity transaction that has enabled some twenty executives to increase their stakes in the company. Given its positioning and historical know-how as a telecommunication operator, IMS NETWORKS has exceptional network expertise. With the addition of cybersecurity services, it can now position itself as a strategic player in SASE convergence. Thanks to this new shareholder structure that sees new investors welcomed alongside its historical partners, the Group has the financial and human resources it needs to implement its ambitious development strategy and seize targeted opportunities for external growth.” - Romain MASSIAH, Partner at ADVISO PARTNERS