Sector-Autotech

Sector: Autotech M&A

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Autotech & subsectors

  • Enterprise Applications
  • Embedded Software and Systems
  • Internet Commerce and Content
  • Mobility and Fleet Management

Hampleton‘s Autotech practice is led by David Riemenschneider and a strong international team including Axel Brill, Michel Annink, Henrik Jeberg and Geoff Fletcher.

With our combined 70+ years in the industry, our team’s experience spans six continents with long-standing buyer relationships in the US, Brazil, the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Russia, South Korea, China, Australia and Japan, complemented by the industry’s broadest network of innovative vendors of relevant technologies such as autonomy systems, AV simulation, electrification, embedded systems, IVN testing & simulation, sensor fusion technology, vehicle dynamics simulation, as well as AI, AR/VR, data analytics, computer vision, and much more.

Hampleton’s Autotech team has executed dozens of transactions with the largest OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, insurers, data vendors, private equity investors and financial buyers; and led our automotive clients to success with industry leaders such as Ansys, Autodesk, Bosch, IAV, Ford, Luxoft (now part of DXC), Spectris, Zurich Insurance and many more.

Hampleton advised the shareholders of Bright Box, creators of the connected car SaaS platform, Remoto, in the sale of their company to one of the world’s largest insurers, Zurich Insurance Group. Traditional enterprises and industrial conglomerates are a major force in tech M&A. Finding a non-tech buyer for a technology vendor requires in-depth knowledge of the relevant industry and its ecosystem. The Bright Box / Zurich  transaction underscores Hampleton’s understanding, creativity and capabilities in finding the best matches in Autotech, Insurtech and SaaS.

Featured transactions in Autotech M&A

The sale of VI-grade to Spectris

Hampleton Partners advised VI-grade GmBH, a leading provider of best-in-class turnkey solutions for driving simulation, on its acquisition by Spectris Plc., a supplier of productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls. VI-grade provides simulation software and hardware for advanced vehicle dynamics simulation, including electric and autonomous vehicles, reducing the need for OEMs and T1s to build costly prototypes in early design phase.

The transaction offers Spectris an outstanding opportunity to provide its current and new clients with a complete turnkey simulation including hardware, software and services.

Featured transactions in Autotech M&A

The sale of Bright Box to Zurich Insurance

Hampleton Partners advised Bright Box on its acquisition by the leading multi-line insurer, Zurich Insurance Group. Bright Box is a global vendor of solutions and platforms for the connected car industry and the Connected Car platform from Bright Box is sold to automotive OEMs and dealerships from Europe through the Middle East to Asia.

Technavio announced Bright Box as one of the top five vendors in the Connected Car market from 2017 to 2021. The company is also recognised as one of the top 300 companies in the Internet of Things field according to Berg Insight.

This acquisition helps Zurich expand its focus on mobility through tailored services, enhanced by digital interactions with car drivers and closer collaboration with car dealerships, NSC and OEMs.

Featured transactions in Autotech M&A

The sale of Symtavision to Luxoft

Hampleton Partners advised on the sale of Symtavision, an automotive simulation company, to Luxsoft, an international custom software development company. Symtavision provides software and testing tools allowing T1s and OEMs to simulate load and response times for in-vehicle networks to ensure desired functionality is achieved. This is often a safety-critical task, especially for ADAS components as well as LiDAR/radar/camera signaling for autonomous driving.

This acquisition fits into Luxoft’s solution-based, end-to-end offering strategy and will help the company expand its embedded software expertise into the growing automotive segment.

David-Riemenschneider

Autotech Director

David Riemenschneider

David is our automotive sector expert. From Detroit, David has been in and around the industry working on several continents for nearly 30 years in leading roles at OEMs, T1s and business services suppliers.

Most recently, David has consulted a wide range of businesses in developing M&A strategy in the automotive IoT/M2M and data analytics space, while also working in an interim role to develop a telematics-based fault-driven vehicle service strategy for a global T1 supplier.

Contact David

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Autotech M&A report 1H2019

At a glance, 2018 showed activity in virtually every functional arm of the future car, from connectivity hardware to mobile parking and mobility apps. The broader automotive industry also experienced shocks that partially upended a few previously accepted truths about the sector. 

Read more
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2019
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Hampleton's reports have recently been featured in the Wall Street Journal and other media publications. 

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Backgorund
"Hampleton were creative - they didn't think in one direction, they thought about the whole ecosystem in order to find the right partner for us."
Ken Belotsky, Chairman at Bright Box
"It‘s not only about selling your company but thinking about the next strategic step. In this regard we had very strong support from Hampleton."
Gregor Walter, CEO at pixi*
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Ilkka Starck, CEO at Profit Software
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Rutger Hetzler, CEO at Tonbeller AG
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Gijs Hubben, CEO at BaseCase
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Dr. Eric Lindner, CEO at FBGS
“I was very impressed with Hampleton’s understanding of the high tech industrial products FBGS produces and their global network which enabled us to find our Munich based co-investor in California.”
Stephan Beier, Senior Investment Manager at bm|t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen
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Dr. Eric Lindner, CEO at FBGS
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Stephen James, CEO and Founder at SAGlobal
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Uwe Reissenweber, Gründer und Geschäftsführer von DOCUFY