Brussels, 1 September 2022 – The Belgian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (BVA) and BNP Paribas Fortis are organising the fifth edition of the prestigious Private Equity Awards. The nine nominated finalists were selected based on criteria such as overall evidence of sustainable growth, authentic leadership and active ownership. The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday 12 October 2022.
The finalists are divided in three award categories, ‘venture capital’, ‘growth’ and ‘buy-out’ company of the year. For each category the jury has selected three nominees out of a list made by the Belgian private equity and venture capital community.
The aim of the Private Equity Awards is to reward and celebrate high-performing Belgian companies that are backed by a private equity or venture capital investor, highlighting private equity as an asset class supporting the development and growth of businesses.
The nominated companies demonstrate the strong growth the private equity sector has experienced in recent years. The most recent figures of Invest Europe also demonstrate this: in 2021, a record amount of EUR 4.007 million was invested by private equity and venture capital funds in 415 Belgian companies.
The growth in investments is reflected in three segments: Venture, Growth and Buy-out. Especially the investments within the Growth segment stand out with an amount of EUR 1.1 billion. With these figures, measured as a percentage of the GNP, the Belgian market scores above the European average, close to the Netherlands and France.
“The Private Equity Awards form an integral part of the Belgian private equity landscape, and this anniversary edition proves once again that successful Belgian entrepreneurial stories continue to attract the attention of investors. The partnership between entrepreneurs and private equity investors works and the investments in growth and innovation directly contribute to the creation of employment and economic growth,” explains Sabine Vermassen, chairwoman of the BVA.
“BNP Paribas Fortis is proud to host and organise with BVA this fifth edition of the Private Equity Awards. Private equity has proved to be a financing instrument perfectly suited to boost innovation and sustainable growth. This year the jury has once more selected outstanding nominees; companies where management teams – with the support of a private equity investor – have demonstrated a remarkable track record. We look forward to welcoming you in our auditorium and to celebrating the winners”, states Raf Moons, Head of BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity.
The 2022 nominees
Venture
- Aerospacelab
Aerospacelab is a Belgian scale-up founded in 2018 and located near Louvain-La-Neuve.
With a unique vertically integrated approach, Aerospacelab is specialised in satellite platforms and geospatial intelligence. It designs, manufactures and operates a constellation of remote sensing satellites, empowering intelligence and insights by its proprietary satellite data.
In June 2022, Aerospacelab proudly unveiled its satellite “megafactory” commitment, with a yearly production capacity of 500 satellites, making it effectively the largest satellite manufacturing plant in Europe.
The company currently employs more than 140 full-time employees and is aiming for 100 additional hires before the end of 2023. The manufacturing plant in Charleroi is expected to be functional by 2025, creating added working opportunities.
- Precirix
Precirix is a private, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2014 as a spin-off from the VUB, dedicated to extending and improving the lives of cancer patients by designing and developing precision radiopharmaceuticals, using camelid single-domain antibodies labelled with radioisotopes.
The company has a broad pipeline with one product candidate in a Phase I/II clinical trial and two in advanced preclinical stage. Precirix’ technology also allows for a theranostic approach, where patients can be selected using a low dose/imaging version of the product, followed by a therapeutic dose for treatment.
- Qover
Qover was founded in March 2016 by Quentin Colmant (CEO) and Jean-Charles Velge (CMO). Its vision is to become the leader of embedded insurance orchestration.
Qover enables any digital business to embed insurance into its value proposition at a global level – helping them reach their strategic goals in terms of revenue generation, customer acquisition/retention or building a unique value proposition to differentiate themselves in the market.
To that end, Qover built a tech platform that can launch any insurance product into any market, in any language and in any currency in a matter of days. This platform allows third-party businesses to integrate their insurance proposition through open APIs or a white-label solution.
The following companies are clients of Qover at a local or global level: Revolut, InsureMyTesla (official Tesla programme), Deliveroo, Glovo, Wolt, Getir, Cowboy, Immoweb, BNP Paribas Cardif, Decathlon, Giant, Canyon and many more.
Qover has around 110 FTEs and operates in the entire EEA + the UK (32 countries) and has registered offices in Brussels and London.
Growth
- Efficy
The Efficy group was created in 2005 by Cédric Pierrard and Robert Houdart, with the aim of launching a complete and highly customisable SaaS CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solution.
Based in Brussels, the group is present in 15 countries, has more than 550 employees, nearly 13,500 customers and 330,000 daily users.
With double-digit growth, Efficy launched its 5³ strategic plan in 2019. The goal is to multiply the company’s size by five to represent 5% of the independent CRM market in Europe, all within 5 years. To achieve this, the group is committed to an ambitious strategy of organic growth and buy-and-build.
- Fedrus International
Fedrus International is a Belgium-based international building materials group, active in the production and distribution of roof & façade materials and services with a focus on EDPM-rubber and zinc.
The group has built up unique experience and know-how, by constantly striving for quality and with a strong will to keep innovating, enabling the different business units to become market leaders in their field. The Fedrus mission: being the preferred partner for the roof and façade professional.
Fedrus International realises a total revenue of about EUR 750 million and provides employment to over 1,550 employees.
- Lansweeper
Lansweeper is an IT Asset Management platform provider helping businesses better understand, manage and protect their IT devices and network. Lansweeper helps customers minimise risks and optimise their IT assets by providing actionable insights into their technology assets at all times, offering trustworthy, valuable, and accurate insights about the state of users, devices, and software.
Since its launch in 2004, Lansweeper has been developing a software platform to discover and inventory all types of technology assets, installed software, and users – allowing organisations to centrally manage their IT.
Buy-out
- Baobab Collection
Baobab Collection first saw the light of day in 2002, in the enchanting landscape of Tanzania, a country rich in intense colours and bewitching perfumes. The company was transferred to Belgium in 2004.
Baobab Collection offers an array of diffusers and candles, made of either hand-blown glass or metal upholstered in precious leather.
The Belgian brand stays true to its values of craftsmanship and excellence by supporting European expertise and craftsmen.
From the flagship stores in Brussels, London and Antwerp to the most prestigious department stores, the brand can be found in more than five hundred locations worldwide.
- Sylphar
Sylphar is a Belgium-based company developing and marketing OTC products worldwide. Sylphar focuses on bringing innovative and consumer friendly products to the global market.
The company offers teeth whitening products, an innovative range of solutions for specific skin conditions, a 100% vegan range of food supplements, a brand of superfood elixirs, vegan nutrition and food supplements, a therapeutic solution for people affected by hyperhidrosis, oral therapeutics and skin, hair & body care products.
The Sylphar brands are distributed in more than 50 countries worldwide with the support of local distribution partners and/or through online platforms. The major markets of the company include Spain, UK, Germany, France, Italy and Eastern European countries.
- House of HR
House of HR is a leading European HR service provider focused on Specialised Talent Solutions and Engineering & Consulting. Their goal is to connect people’s talents and dreams to successful companies. Thanks to their HR services, both big and small organisations are able to lead and succeed across many industries.
In 2021, House of HR realised a turnover of EUR 2.2 billion and EBITDA of EUR 262.7 million. The group provides work to almost 60,000 people every month and has 4,300 employees spread over more than 600 offices in Europe.
About BVA
The Belgian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVA) is the industry body and public policy advocate for the private equity and venture capital industry in Belgium. The BVA was founded in 1986 and comprises 152 institutions: 86 full members, representing most of the private equity firms active in Belgium and 66 associate members, law firms and consulting companies as well as banks cooperating with the PE/VC industry. Our aim is to aid public understanding of our members’ activities and to promote our industry to policy makers within government, the EU, media and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bva.be.
About BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity
BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity (https://companies.bnpparibasfortis.be/PrivateEquity) is the risk capital company of BNP Paribas Fortis and has been operating in the private equity market in Belgium since the 1980s. BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity currently acquires minority stakes and provides mezzanine financing to high-performance medium-sized companies. BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity also invests in specialised venture capital and private equity funds in the Belgian market. Direct holdings of BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity include Studio 100, JAC, AstriVax, Konings, Penne, Quality Assistance and PointChaud.
For more information, please contact BVA secretary general Pierre Demaerel on +32 475 62 80 27.
