OVH Partners with KKR and TowerBrook for Further Global Expansion Back to Press Releases

OVH Partners with KKR and TowerBrook for Further Global Expansion

October 7, 2016

KKR & TowerBrook become first outside investors to partner with OVH

Investment will support OVH in capitalising on the rapidly growing demand for cloud infrastructure

ROUBAIX, France & LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– OVH, a leading provider of cloud infrastructure, telecommunications and web hosting services, today finalised a partnership with KKR and TowerBrook Capital Partners (TowerBrook), two leading global investment firms, to further its global expansion. KKR and TowerBrook will acquire a minority stake in OVH for €250 million of growth capital that will allow OVH to take advantage of the rapidly expanding market for cloud and internet infrastructure services, while also broadening its customer base and services in new geographies. The Klaba family will retain the majority stake in the company and will continue, together with OVH management, to lead the company, its strategy and operations.

The Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) markets are expected to continue to grow rapidly, driven in large part by the exploding demand for cloud services. With its hybrid cloud product portfolio, including both private and public cloud infrastructure and strict data protection policies in line with European standards, OVH is perfectly positioned to take advantage of this growth. This is supported by its reputation for excellent performance, innovation and strong customer service.

Founded in 1999 by Octave Klaba, OVH has grown rapidly to become the leading provider of dedicated cloud infrastructure in Europe with a total of 250,000 servers across 17 data centres in France and Canada. The company provides services to a million customers globally, and it boasts a long track record of technological innovation driven by a team of 400 dedicated research & development engineers. OVH’s turnover for FY 2016 stands at €320 million.

KKR has an extensive track record of partnering with entrepreneurs and family-owned companies in Europe to deliver growth, international expansion, and value creation as well as expertise in supporting fast-growing European technology companies in developing their global presence. This includes the recent investments in Webhelp, Fotolia, SoftwareONE and Darktrace.

TowerBrook’s extensive transatlantic network enables it to successfully partner with entrepreneurial businesses to open up new opportunities and create market-leading companies. This partnership approach fits well with founder-led businesses and has delivered real value to French companies as diverse as Infopro, Autodistribution and Kaporal.

Octave Klaba, Founder, Chairman and CTO of OVH, said: “KKR and TowerBrook are the perfect partners for OVH as we look to take the next step in our development into a truly global technology company. With their support, we are looking forward to scaling our company into new markets, while remaining completely committed to delivering excellence in security, service and innovation that our current customers expect.”

Laurent Allard, CEO of OVH, said: “This capital increase will allow us to invest €1.5 billion over 5 years. The aim is to provide ourselves with the means to consolidate our leading position in Europe and become a key global player in the cloud market. OVH already has strong assets (one of the largest server farms worldwide, 17 datacenters, record energy efficiency indicators…), as well as an ambitious development plan for the next five years. Besides capital, TowerBrook and KKR will bring substantial operational expertise. Both firms have a successful track record in supporting entrepreneurs to grow their business to the next level.”

Jean-Pierre Saad, Director at KKR EMEA said: “Over the past 17 years, the Klaba family has built OVH into a true European technology champion. We are excited to be supporting the company in the next phase of its global expansion, particularly in the US market and Asia and look forward to continuing our strong track record of partnerships with successful European entrepreneurs.”

Karim Saddi, Managing Director at TowerBrook, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Klaba family who have great ambitions for the further expansion of their successful business. We believe our expertise in France together with our transatlantic network will enable them to achieve their goals. We very much look forward to working with them to deliver even greater success.”

BNP Paribas Corporate Finance acted as financial advisor to OVH and Linklaters LLP as its legal advisor

– ends –

About OVH

Specializing in cloud and internet infrastructure, OVH offers innovative products and services evolving around three universes: Web, Dedicated and Cloud. Since being founded in 1999, the company has become an established partner for hundreds of thousands of professionals worldwide. OVH owes its success not only to a development model built on innovation but also to keeping full control over the supply chain, from server manufacturing and in-house maintenance of their infrastructure, right down to customer assistance. OVH is able to ensure stable and reliable product and service offerings to all clients across all its brands while also providing the best price quality ratio.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages investments across multiple asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world‐class people, and driving growth and value creation at the asset level. KKR invests its own capital alongside its partners’ capital and brings opportunities to others through its capital markets business. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE:KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

About TowerBrook Capital Partners

TowerBrook Capital Partners, L.P. is an investment management firm with over US$7 billion under management as at June 30, 2016, and a track record of creating value for investors. The firm is based in Europe and the USA and focuses on making investments in European and North American companies through private equity and structured opportunities strategies, allowing it to access a range of opportunities throughout the cycle. TowerBrook private equity primarily pursues control-oriented investments in large and middle market companies, partnering with highly capable management teams and seeking situations characterised by complexity with a track record of creating value through growth, build-up and transformation strategies. TowerBrook’s structured opportunities strategy leverages its PE experience and expertise to invest in opportunities that fall outside the investment parameters of the PE strategy. Further information is available at www.towerbrook.com.

KKR:
UK
Victor Mallet
Finsbury
Phone: +44(0)20 7251 3801
Email: victor.mallet@finsbury.com
or
France
Olivier Blain
Adding Value Conseils
Phone: +33 6 72 28 29 20
Email: ob@addingvalueconseils.com
or
Towerbrook:
UK
Gill Ackers / Javier Agudo
Brunswick Group LLP
Phone: +44 20 7404 5959
Email: towerbrookcapital@brunswickgroup.co
or
France
Aurelia de Lapeyrouse
Brunswick Group LLP
Phone: +33 1 53 96 83 72
Email: towerbrookcapital@brunswickgroup.com
or
OVH:
France
Lorine Schieber
Phone : +33 09 74 53 08 57
Email : lorine.schieber@corp.ovh.com
or
Sophie Lavergne
Phone: + 33 09 74 53 35 05
Email: Sophie.lavergne@corp.ovh.com

Source: KKR


Download PDF

Back to Press Releases

Media Contacts

Americas

Kristi Huller
Miles Radcliffe-Trenner
Julia Kosygina
Telephone: +1 (212) 750-8300

Email: media@kkr.com

EMEA

Annabel Arthur
Telephone: +44 20 7839 9800

Email: kkrpr-uk@kkr.com

Asia-Pacific

Anita Davis
Wei Jun Ong
Telephone: +852 3602 7335

Email: media@kkr.com

Investor Relations

‍Craig Larson
Telephone: +1 (877) 610-4910
Outside US: +1 (212) 230-9410
Facsimile: +1 (212) 750-0003
Email: Investor-Relations@kkr.com

×

Listen to webcast

This presentation contains certain forward-looking statements pertaining to KKR & Co. Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively “KKR”), including certain investment funds, vehicles and accounts that are managed by KKR (each, a “fund”). Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The forward-looking statements are based on KKR’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to it. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to KKR or are within its control. If a change occurs, KKR’s business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, including but not limited to, assets under management, fee paying assets under management, after-tax distributable earnings, capital invested, syndicated capital, uncalled commitments, cash and short-term investments, fee related earnings, fee and yield segment EBITDA, core interest expense and book value, may vary materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to vary from the forward-looking statements: whether KKR realizes all or any of the anticipated benefits from converting to a corporation and the timing of realizing such benefits; whether there are increased or unforeseen costs associated with the conversion, including any adverse change in tax law; the volatility of the capital markets; the general volatility of the capital markets; failure to realize the benefits of or changes in KKR’s business strategies including the ability to realize the anticipated synergies from acquisitions or strategic partnerships or other transactions; availability, terms and deployment of capital; availability of qualified personnel and expense of recruiting and retaining such personnel; changes in the asset management industry, interest rates or the general economy; underperformance of KKR's investments and decreased ability to raise funds; and the degree and nature of KKR’s competition. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. KKR does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date on which such statements were made except as required by law. In addition, KKR’s business strategy is focused on the long-term and financial results are subject to significant volatility.

Additional information about factors affecting KKR, including a description of risks that may be important to a decision to purchase or sell any common or preferred stock of KKR & Co. Inc., can be found in KKR & Co. Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its other filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov.

I understand  |   Go back
×

Listen to Presentation

Before viewing this presentation, please acknowledge your understanding that it has been prepared for KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR) for the benefit of its public stockholders and is not intended to be a solicitation or sale of any of the securities, funds or services that it may discuss. Please click on "I understand" to view the presentation.

I understand  |   Go back