Wednesday, 24 February 2016

Rhône Capital to Acquire a Minority Stake in GardaWorld

Garda World Security Corporation (“GardaWorld”), the world’s largest privately owned security and cash services provider, announced today that investment funds affiliated with Rhône Capital (together with its affiliates, “Rhône”), a global private equity firm, have entered into an agreement to acquire  forty-five percent (45%) of the outstanding shares of a parent company of GardaWorld from a subsidiary of funds advised by Apax Partners (“Apax”) and certain management stockholders of GardaWorld. Closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and is expected to occur in the quarter ending July 31, 2016.

Immediately following closing of the transaction, Apax and Stephan Crétier, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GardaWorld, will continue to hold a majority of the shares of GardaWorld’s parent company and appoint sixty percent (60%) of the Board of Directors. GardaWorld’s Board of Directors following the closing will remain unchanged. Each party will be subject to customary shareholder provisions for an investment of this type.

With 20 years of investing experience, Rhône is a global private equity firm with a focus on investments in market leading businesses with a pan-European or transatlantic presence and expansion prospects. Rhône, currently investing capital from its fifth private equity fund, has prior experience in the business services, chemicals, consumer products, food, packaging, specialty materials and transportation sectors, with a record of adding value in companies as a minority investor.

For more information please contact us.