Providence Acquires d&b Group from Ardian
Providence Equity Partners ("Providence"), a premier private equity firm specializing in
growth-oriented investments in media, communications, education, and technology, announced its
acquisition of a majority interest in d&b Group ("d&b") on 10 July 2023 - with the registered
name
of Cubes Holding GmbH - from Ardian. The existing management team is re-investing and will continue
to lead day-to-day operations following completion. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Backnang, Germany, d&b is one of the world's leading providers of professional
audio technology and end-to-end Audio, Video, Light & Media ("AVLM") solutions for live
entertainment. d&b operates through d&b audiotechnik, which offers high quality audio systems for
installation projects and rentals, as well as d&b solutions - which offers comprehensive service
solutions across audio, video, lighting, and extended reality.
In the last 10 years, d&b has evolved organically and through acquisitions from a loudspeaker
manufacturer to a premier event technology company with over 1,000 employees globally. Select global
customers include the Sydney Opera House, Amsterdam Arena, Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, BBC,
and ITV Sport.
Providence has prior experience partnering with innovative businesses specialising in technology and
live entertainment solutions in Europe and North America.
The transaction is expected to close by October 31, 2023, subject to necessary and customary closing
conditions.
Robert Sudo, Managing Director at Providence, stated, "In our view, d&b bears the hallmarks
of a
classic Providence investment - it is a business with innovation at its core, market leadership and
loyal customers. d&b's passionate team has advanced and defined industry standards and exceeded
client expectations for the last four decades. We believe d&b can continue its growth trajectory by
delivering spectacular experiences to audiences across the globe. With our prior experience
investing in live entertainment and technology companies, we believe Providence is the ideal partner
to support d&b and we look forward to working with Amnon and his hugely talented team to execute our
shared vision for the business."
Andrew Tisdale, Senior Managing Director at Providence, added, "The needs of customers in live
entertainment are becoming ever more complex, which has expanded d&b's addressable opportunities. We
were impressed by d&b's passionate management team, and, with Providence's resources and network, we
are committed to supporting d&b's strategic plan."
Amnon Harman, Chief Executive Officer of d&b, said, "The global growth trend for events, concerts
and major events has continued unchanged after a forced break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is
accompanied by the increasing professionalization and digitization of these events and thus an
increasing need for professional event technologies. As one of the world's leading system providers
for audio technology and integrated audio, video, light and media solutions (AVLM) with a
comprehensive portfolio of hardware and software technologies, we are perfectly positioned to gain
further market share.
Ardian has proven to be a reliable business partner over the past few years. Thanks to their
unwavering support, especially during the pandemic, we have been able to innovate during this period
of crisis and to emerge stronger from it. We look forward to continuing our successful journey with
Providence and cementing our global position as a leader in professional audio and integrated AVLM
solutions."
Dr. Alexander Friedrich, Managing Director of Buyouts, and Stefan Kappis, Director of Buyouts at
Ardian, said, "We would like to thank Amnon Harman and his team for their hard work, unwavering
commitment and, above all, the trust they have placed in us over the past seven years. d&b has an
outstanding corporate culture that is embodied by each and every employee. The contribution of all
d&b colleagues has been essential to the Group's success, including significant growth, a strategic
transformation and strong international positioning. We are proud to have accompanied d&b on this
journey together and we wish the entire team and Providence the very best for the next chapter in
the company's history."
Alantra and Unicredit served as financial advisors to Providence, and White & Case and Allen & Overy
as legal counsel. Intermediate Capital Group arranged financing.