WEDIA raises 2.6 million euros to accelerate its growth in the market for cross-media publishing software
Paris, 24 June 2009 - WEDIA, a software content management and cross-media publishing company, announced a fundraising of 2.6 million euros. Achieved with BNP Paribas Private Equity and X-Ange, a historical partner of WEDIA, this fundraiser is designed to accelerate the development of new offerings around SaaS model (Software as a Service), and to pursue WEDIA external growth.
In the era of media convergence, content publishing is becoming a strategic issue for companies and media groups, as they can reach their customers and readers via numerous media (paper, web, mobile, e-paper ... ). To enable them to increase the impact of their publications to all these media, WEDIA proposes Open4, the solution of content management and cross-media publishing (multichannel editorial systems for the Press, communication cross-media platforms, solutions for operational multichannel marketing).
With this positioning, WEDIA meets a great success today with Communications and Marketing Directions and the Press, and is one of the main players in this sector with over 100 references (large accounts and newspaper groups), a turnover of 6.5 million Euros in 2008 and net income increased by 4 over the same period.
In this context, this fundraiser helps to speed up two main areas of development:
- SaaS offer (Software as a Service) to meet market demand in a logic of rationalization of projects and rapid return on investment solutions in place;
- External growth (web-to-print players, mobile technology, international competitors).
"In a difficult economic context, the entry of BNP Paribas Private Equity to our capital and the renewed confidence of XAnge with us for over 2 years reflect the relevance of our positioning and of our growth potential in the cross-media publishing market. We believe that the 2009 year is ideal for launching new offers and new approaches (SaaS) in the market, while refining our offering to our customers large accounts and newspaper groups,"says Nicolas Boutet, CEO of WEDIA.
"We are particularly keen to accompany WEDIA - a pioneer in cross-media offerings – for a new stage in its development. Having conquered many renamed large accounts with its software offer, we firmly believe that SaaS will offer a growth accelerator for WEDIA, while responding to a clearly identified and real market need. We have confidence in management team who has already proved its worth in the past, to carry out this new phase in the life of WEDIA" said Nicolas Vaillant, director of investment at BNP Paribas Private Equity.
Dominique Agrech of X-Ange Private Equity, said: "After a very good route from our entry to the capital WEDIA at the end of 2006 and two years marked by the growth of business with clients in industry and commerce services, WEDIA has a way to accelerate and achieve a new stage in its development on a fully confirmed position of its bid."
Investors:
BNP Paribas Private Equity (Nicolas Vaillant, Laurent Baudino)
XAnge Private Equity (Dominique Agrech)
Advisers:
Financial Advisor
Capital asset: Rodolphe Ossola
Legal Advisers
Company Adviser: Cabinet Roland and Dujardin (Marc Dujardin)
Investors Adviser: Cabinet Alérion (Pierre-Olivier Brouard, Jérôme Werner)
Financial Audit
Fischbach and Associates (Martin Fischbach, Frédéric Girault)
PRESS CONTACT - Amalthea
Floriane Gouache - Tel: 04 26 23 41 46 - Email: fgouache@amalthea.fr
Julie Barbaras - Tel: 04 26 23 41 48 - Email: jbarbaras@amalthea.fr
About BNP Paribas Private Equity - www.bnpparibas-ip.com
BNP Paribas Private Equity brings together teams of private equity on behalf of third parties of BNP Paribas Investment Partners. At 31 December 2008, this activity represents a total of assets under management and advice of € 842 million Euros, spread over five ranges of vehicles: Funds of funds and management authority, High-tech Mutual Fund, unquoted "small caps" funds, and the feeder funds. These management activities are complemented by (i) a strategy and development division dedicated to the creation of new activities both in France and abroad based on the global network of BNPP IP, and (ii) a comprehensive range of funds administration services.
About XAnge Private Equity - www.xange.fr
Initiated in 2003 with XAnge Capital, strengthened in 2004 with XAnge Private Equity, XAnge now has a management portfolio corporation - XAnge Private Equity - and venture capital company for industry, XAnge Capital, demonstrating the involvement of La Poste group in capital investment. After resuming in 2004 High-tech Mutual Fund management that were previously provided by ABN Amro Capital France, XAnge Private Equity is a subsidiary of La Banque Postale; management is associated with its capital. XAnge Private Equity manages 10 High-tech Mutual Funds with general purpose which received a total of subscriptions of more than € 150 million.
It advises XAnge Capital, with € 65 million, which is designed to invest in companies whose activities are related to the postal business. The capital, built around the La Poste Group, is divided between industrial and service companies for 55% - Doc @ post, Alten, Deloitte, Laser-Cofinoga (Groupe Galeries Lafayette) and Neopost - and institutional investors for 45% ( AGF, GMF, CDC and CNP). When the investment criteria meet, Venture Capital Company and High-tech Mutual Fund co-invest in companies. XAnge covers development capital and undertaking transfer with its first Venture Capital Mutual Fund, named XPANSION, amounting to 50 million Euros.
XAnge benefits from the expertise the shareholders networks of its various entities and develops a close relationship with them, as well as a high quality international opening. XAnge Private Equity in early 2008 established a branch in Munich and started its business in Germany with a mission to provide advice for the management of 8 lines of the Fund VCG III under a contract signed with DVC Board, Deutsche Bank Group. The German team advises XAnge and vehicles for their investments in Germany.
About WEDIA - www.wedia.fr
WEDIA provides solutions for content management and cross-media publication for communication, marketing and media Directions (print editorial systems, web content management and e-commerce). Its complete line of software and services is based on an experience of over 25 years in the field of editorial systems for the Press and nearly 10 years in the areas of web content management and e-commerce. The newest WEDIA solutions, Open4 software suite, is the first integrated platform for content management and cross-media publishing designed to manage, repurpose and promote print, web, e-paper or mobile content.
WEDIA solutions are used by major players in the French Press: Aujourd’hui en France, Les Échos, L’Équipe, L’Humanité, La Tribune, L’Alsace, Le Dauphiné Libéré, L’Est Républicain, Le Groupe Centre France, Midi Libre, La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest, La Presse de la Manche, La Provence, Le Télégramme, L’Yonne Républicaine, L’Étudiant, Le Groupe France Agricole, Future France, Le Groupe Moniteur, Motor Presse, Groupe Revue Fiduciaire, Sport, TV Mag, L’Usine Nouvelle, GISI...
WEDIA also assists companies in their projects and its clients include many large accounts such as Accor, Air Liquide, Amaguiz, Banque Accord, Barclays Bank, Cofidis, Crédit Mutuel, Dexia Sofaxis, Général Electric, Groupama, Groupe BEL, Guerlain, La Française des Jeux, L’Oréal, Lucien Barrière, LVMH, MACSF, le Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances, Nouvelles Frontières, Pôle Emploi, Prévadies, SFR, Société Générale ...
With 55 employees spread between Paris and Montpellier and sustained growth for 5 years WEDIA is positioned as the partner of media groups and companies that want to optimize their publications, whether paper or digital, and to make media convergence a reality.
WEDIA is backed by OSEO Anvar and received the 01 Informatique Prize as best High-tech startup of the Year in 2001. Its offer was also a prize-winner in the National Contest for Innovative Technology Companies, sponsored by the French Ministry of Research.
