Sebia

Client: Montagu Private Equity

Assignment: We supported Sebia, an innovative French manufacturer of reagents and automated diagnostic equipment, with succession planning ahead of the departure of its founder.

Process: Skillcapital worked closely with Montagu to find a board member who would become the new Chief Executive, rapidly executing the project.

Result: Benoit Adelus, formerly CEO of Biomerieux, a provider of diagnostic solutions in the healthcare industry, joined Sebia's board in February 2008, and became its new CEO shortly afterwards. Benoit Adelus and Montagu Private Equity asked Skillcapital to recruit a new CFO to improve the company's finances and cash management further. Jean-Louise Bernet, formerly Finance Director of Corus Rail, joined Sebia as CFO.

Postscript: Sebia is today considered to be one of the most successful investments in the French healthcare sector. In March 2010, it was bought from Montagu by Cinven, a leading European private equity firm, in a tertiary buyout.