Investcorp agrees to sell software vendor Contentserv for €220 million - Middle East Business News and Information
Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, today announced that it has agreed to sell its majority stake in Contentserv (or 'the Company'), a leading provider of AI-fueled Product Information Management (PIM) and Product Experience Management (PXM) solutions, to US-based Centric Software, a subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA).
Headquartered in Germany, the Company enables fast-moving consumer goods and other companies to create and manage product content intuitively and effectively by means of AI to optimize consumer experiences across all digital sales channels. With Contentserv solutions, retailers, brands and manufacturers are able to execute strategies such as more or simply better product offers, regions and sales channels for increased product sell-through. Contentserv users have reported ROI such as a 30% reduction in time to market, 70% faster catalogue creation, 75% more accurate product information and increased sales channel coverage in more languages.
Since Investcorp's acquisition in 2019, the Company has grown its recurring revenues approximately sixfold and today serves over 1,600 customers in 90 countries globally. In 2023, Contentserv completed the strategic add-on acquisition of Shoppingfeed in France, which significantly bolstered its European presence and expanded its product capabilities into the complementary feed management category, which has been very well received throughout its customer base.
Yusef al Yusef, Global Head of Distribution, Investcorp, said: 'Investcorp has extensive experience in supporting technology businesses in Europe and across other key markets. Contentserv is a dynamic business which has seen robust growth, becoming a leader of AI-fueled PIM and PXM solutions and we look forward to seeing their progress in the future. In the technology sector, we continue to see substantial opportunities to support promising companies in accelerating their growth.'
Georg Knoflach, Managing Director, Investcorp, said: 'Our investment in Contentserv builds on a tradition of supporting fast-growing technology businesses in the DACH region, to accelerate growth, internationalize and expand into new product categories, both organically as well as through M&A. Over the last five years Contentserv has grown rapidly and developed a market leading product offering, and we are delighted to see it well prepared for its next chapter with Centric Software.'
Michael Kugler, CEO, Contentserv, said: 'Investcorp has been a wonderful partner for Contentserv's growth over the last five years, helping us to continue our international expansion, to where we now stand as a global company. Thanks to their support, we feel like we are in a stronger position as we join Centric Software, to double down on our product strategy and continue to the next, exciting chapter of Contentserv.'
Investcorp has a long history of investing in and supporting technology-enabled businesses, with notable investments including VEDA, NetRom Software, Zift Solutions and HWG Sababa. The sale of Contentserv follows previous successful exits in other DACH headquartered software companies, including Avira (sold to NortonLifelock) and Softgarden (sold to Grupa Pracuj).
The transaction is expected to close by the end of Q1 2025 and is subject to customary regulatory and other closing conditions.
About Investcorp:
Investcorp is a global investment manager specializing in alternative investments across four asset classes: Private Equity (Mid-Market Buyouts, Growth Investments, and GP Staking), Real Assets (Infrastructure and Real Estate), Credit (CLOs, Broadly Syndicated Loans & Structured Credit, and Middle-Market Direct Lending), and Liquid Strategies (Absolute Return Investments and Insurance Asset Management).
Since our inception in 1982, we have focused on generating attractive returns for our clients and seeking to create long-term value in our portfolio companies by adopting a disciplined investment process, employing talented professionals, and utilizing the resources of a global institution with an innovative approach.
We invest capital in our products and strategies, aligning interests with our clients and other stakeholders. We pursue sustainable value creation through our investments and in the communities in which we operate and take pride in partnering with clients to deliver tailored solutions for their needs.
Today, Investcorp manages approximately $53 billion in assets, including assets managed by third party managers. Investcorp has 14 offices in the US, Europe, GCC and Asia, including, India, China, Japan and Singapore and employs approximately 500 people from 50 nationalities globally.
About Contentserv:
Contentserv is the leading provider of a Product Information Management (PIM) and Product Experience Management (PXM) cloud. The company enables brand manufacturers and retailers to manage their product content intuitively and efficiently by means of AI and to optimize the customer experience across all digital sales channels. Contentserv's cloud solution ensures more traffic to product detail pages, higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction, improved time-to-value, and optimized ROI. More than 1,600 brands in 90 countries trust Contentserv with their product content. Contentserv GmbH was founded in Germany in 2000 and is headquartered in Munich. With 14 global offices in Europe, the USA, and Asia, 250 employees, and industry-leading partners, the company continues to expand. Contentserv was recognized in The Forrester Wave Q4 2023: Product Information Management as a Strong Performer and included as a top 20 vendor in Gartner's 2025 Market Guide for PIM solutions.
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