Grenoble, September 16th, 2021 – Yotta Capital Partners, through its Yotta Smart Industry fund, takes a majority stake in AET Technologies, ensuring the managerial continuity of the French SME.
Founded in 1994 and taken over in 2003 by Jean-Yves Poriel, the AET Group has secured a solid reputation as a key industrial player in thermal engineering. The company designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of customized and standard industrial furnaces for strategic industries – microelectronics, energy, research, metallurgy.
After dedicating more than 18 years to the development of the Group, Jean-Yves Poriel, advised by Oaklins, has decided to hand over his company with the intention of maintaining its independence. He will remain a shareholder in the company along with the key managers,.
After significant international management experience with Grundfos and Carrier, Guillaume Allary (50) will take over as new CEO. Together with Yotta, Crédit Agricole Alpes Développement and private investors, Guillaume Allary invests in the Group in order to execute an ambitious development strategy combining innovation, growth and profitability, while pursuing the objective of improving the company’s carbon footprint. In his mission, he will benefit from the active support of Philippe Bensussan, Chairman of the strategic committee and former President of Lynred.
The decarbonation objective, which is at the heart of Yotta’s investment strategy, will be achieved by improving the climate performance of the company’s industrial processes, its procurement policies, and its daily operations.
A state-of-the-art technology deployed in manufacturing of equipment for facial recognition, autonomous vehicles, and other emerging applications
The reorganization of its capital and management boosts the Group’s capacity to serve growing demand from French and international customers. Its innovation potential, demonstrated with the launch of Aloxtec in 2018, will fuel future development. Aloxtec designs and manufactures state-of-the art thermal oxidation equipment for laser diodes (VCSEL), which will see considerable demand for applications in facial recognition or autonomous vehicles (lidars).
Benoît Perrot, Founding Partner of Yotta Capital Partners : « We have been strongly impressed by the company’s expertise and continued quest for innovation, enabling it to address new high-potential markets. Guillaume Allary’s commercial dynamism and proven industrial and international experience are key assets for this new phase of growth while targeting an ambitious carbon emissions reduction.”
Jean-Yves Poriel, former CEO of AET Technologies and shareholder : « Choosing Yotta to take over the company quickly became obvious : their entrepreneurial approach and detailed knowledge of the industrial ecosystem in which we operate was a key factor in our decision. As a shareholder and member of the strategic committee, I will actively support Guillaume and the entire AET team according to their needs during this new phase of growth.”
Guillaume Allary, new CEO of AET Technologies and shareholder : « Taking the helm of AET Technologies Group quickly became an evident entrepreneurial opportunity. The quality and technical expertise of the team, the position on the French market and the many growth perspectives are bright. I am proud and excited to join AET, and ready to focus on technological development and environmental performance improvement.”
Charles Fougerat, Investment Manager at C2AD/Casra Capital : « The AET Technologies Group has a renowned know-how. Its development and structuration around key abilities provide safe growth opportunities. Being part of this managerial transmission alongside Yotta Capital Partners and Guillaume Allary enhances CASRA Capital’s mission of supporting high-potential SMEs in our regions.»
Véronique Roth, Senior Advisor at Oaklins France : « We are extremely proud to have assisted Jean-Yves Poriel in his transmission of this French industrial gem. In addition to preserving the company’s know-how and finding a new environment fostering the innovation capacity, we wanted to contribute to the pursuit of a human adventure. Yotta Capital Partners quickly stood out. »
About AET Technologies AET Group is a key industrial partner for its clients in the niche segments of thermal equipment and furnaces for strategic industries. AET and Pyrox TM – acquired in 2008 – are specialized in customized and standard industrial furnaces, and cover the entire value chain (engineering, design, manufacturing, distribution, maintenance and reselling). Aloxtec, created from in-house R&D in 2018, is focused on the production and maintenance of wet thermal oxidation equipment for VCSEL. For more information: www.aet-technologies.fr
About Yotta Capital Partners Yotta Capital Partners is the first French private equity investor dedicated to smart industry. With more than 25 years of experience, its hybrid team is made of operational and private equity experts. With a strong engagement for sustainability, Yotta’s mission is to finance French-based industrial SMEs and support their growth and modernization while reducing carbon impact. Yotta Capital Partners is a member of IC20 and has earned the “Label Relance”.
For more information: www.yottacapital.fr
About CASRA Capital CASRA Capital is one of the funds of Crédit Agricole Alpes Développement (C2AD). A subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole Sud Rhône Alpes and Crédit Agricole des Savoie regional banks, C2AD is a local investor supporting SMEs and SMIs in the Alps.
Strongly involved in the development of its territories, C2AD supports more than 150 companies in their growth, transmission and capital reorganization projects. For more information: www.ca-alpes-développement.fr
About Oaklins France Founded 17 years ago by Éric Félix-Faure & Thibaut de Monclin, Oaklins France has now 35 experts in M&A, LBOs, fundraising, etc. With more than 450 transactions, Oaklins France is today one of the leading independent investment banks in the mid-cap segment. Oaklins France benefits from the support of 850 professionals around the world, with 70 offices in 45 countries on 5 continents, and in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse in France.
Grouped into 15 sector divisions, the Oaklins teams have together completed 1,700 transactions over the past 5 years, more than half of which were cross-border. For more information: www.oaklins.com
Press Release Contact Oaklins France:
Anne-Laure ALLAIN | +33 1 43 12 32 13 | +33 6 19 31 71 48 | al.allain@fr.oaklins.com
