Vision Systems announces today that it is accelerating its innovation efforts as well as its international expansion plans. Vision Systems is a tier-one system supplier designing, developing and manufacturing complete and tailored solutions for the aeronautic, land transport and marine markets. Vision Systems is joining forces with Idinvest Partners to support their strategy which will be acquiring a 20% stake in the company. Vision Systems leadership team Carl Putman, CEO, and Catherine Robin, Executive Vice President, have taken this opportunity to increase their shareholdings and now own 80% of the company. Idinvest Partners will be replacing A Plus Finance, which had provided equity financing to Vision Systems since 2013.
This transaction is accompanied by an issue of convertible bonds underwritten by Idinvest Partners and the arrangement of a senior debt funding line with a longstanding banking pool coordinated by CIC and also including BNP Paribas and Crédit Coopératif as members.
This year, with major industrial rollout plans for its new products, the opening of a new foreign subsidiary, and a new corporate headquarters, Vision Systems is set to embark on a major phase in its development as global technology leader. Vision Systems is headquartered near Lyon, with a production and sales unit in Florida, USA, and two trade offices in Singapore and Dubai. "Thanks to its technological expertise and its constant focus on innovation, Vision Systems has achieved uncontested leadership positions in nearly all of the niche markets it serves," said Emmanuelle Pierret, Investment Director at Idinvest Partners, who is coordinating this partnership. "Today, the company offers disruptive technologies which are genuinely able to change customer usage patterns. We are pleased to be lending our support to Catherine Robin, Carl Putman and their team through this next phase of growth towards an exciting future."
"This partnership forged with Idinvest Partners allows us not only to strengthen the company's governance for the coming years, but also to bolster the growth of our three business units, our subsidiaries, and our innovative products," added Carl Putman, CEO of Vision Systems.
Recognized as a 'best in class' supplier by its customers, Vision Systems' flexibility and responsiveness constitute considerable assets in a challenging market environment. The firms unique window shading solution have pioneered the next generation of solar protection systems in the aviation, marine, and rail sectors. As a result, Vision Systems already boasts some of the leading names in these markets among its customers and a number of new, large-scale projects are in preparation.
Vision Systems has also set itself apart as a pioneer in driver assistance systems thanks to two world firsts: the mirrorless rearview system (Smart-Vision) and the solution for frontal blind spot areas (Savety-Front). Its rear-view solution employing a video camera without a rear-view mirror, the company is at the forefront of a technological revolution in its longstanding market segments: buses, coaches and motor homes.
Vision Systems is also an innovator in high-end composite solutions for its target markets, and in the application of a cash-based media server business model for entertainment solutions on aircraft, coaches and trains, offering a strong return on investment for operators.
About Vision Systems
Headquartered near Lyon, France, with a US-based production and sales unit in Florida and trade offices in Singapore and Dubai, Vision Systems is a best-in-class system supplier designing, producing and delivering comprehensive and customized solutions for specific segments of the aviation, land transport and marine industries.
About Idinvest Partners
With close to €9 billion under management, Idinvest Partners is a leading pan-European private equity firm focused on the middle-market segment. Idinvest Partners has developed several complementary areas of expertise including growth capital investments in innovative European startups; middle-market private debt (unitranche, senior loans and subordinated financing); primary and secondary investments in unlisted European companies; and private equity consulting. Founded in 1997, Idinvest Partners was formerly part of Allianz before becoming an independent firm in 2010.
