Software provider Nemetschek AG has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of Solibri Oy, based in Helsinki, Finland. Nemetschek was able to successfully beat several potential buyers because of its group structure with an independent brand offering.
Solibri is a globally leading and internationally aligned provider of software solutions for the quality assurance and quality control of Building Information Modeling (BIM), the digital work method for designing, constructing and operating buildings. The “Solibri Model Checker” validates that BIM models in particular are compliant in terms of integrity, quality and country-specific standards throughout the whole design and building processes. The evaluation of entire projects according to logical analysis rules which detect errors is unique worldwide. Solibri – like all the brands of the Nemetschek Group – is a proponent of open standards (Open BIM) and enables the application of building-relevant information via open interfaces across all stages in the building process.
Solibri was founded in 1999 and has around 35 employees. In addition to its headquarters in Helsinki, the company has branches in the US and UK and sales organizations in Spain and Germany. For the 2015 financial year, Solibri anticipates revenue amounting to just under EUR 5 million, an increase of more than 50% compared to the previous year. An operating margin (EBITDA margin) of more than 20% is expected for 2015.
The fixed component of the purchase price of the acquisition amounts to EUR 32 million. Financing is through the taking out of a loan. This is supplemented by earn-out components, which are linked to the increase in revenue and to profitability in the financial year of 2017. According to today’s perspective, earn-out payments amounting to approx. EUR 13 million are forecast. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
Strategically, Solibri is very significant for the further development of the Nemetschek Group. The solutions are a perfect complement; they will have a central position in the Nemetschek Group’s solution portfolio and connect all brands and their products by means of an integrated and holistic workflow. In addition, Solibri already has a high degree of presence in the building sector, which will reinforce customer access for the Nemetschek Group in this strongly growing market. Solibri targets clients across the entire AEC industry life cycle, e.g. construction companies, general contractors, architects, engineers and building owners. Sales are made directly as well as via a network of resellers. Today the solutions are already being sold worldwide.
“The acquisition of Solibri has been consistent with our acquisition strategy in the AEC industry and greatly strengthens our global position as a leading provider of Open BIM solutions. With the support of the Nemetschek Group, Solibri will continue to pursue its international growth strategy and benefit from our global customer access,” comments Patrik Heider, CFOO and Spokesman of the Nemetschek Group. “In Solibri we see a strongly growing company which will strategically strengthen our solution portfolio.”
Solibri, in turn, will profit from a strong group with an international sales focus and direct access to a growing customer base with more than 1.8 million users worldwide. “Synergies with the Nemetschek brands pave the way for further successful growth. I am convinced that we are an excellent fit for the Nemetschek Group and that we will benefit considerably from one another and further reinforce our market position,” says Heikki Kulusjärvi, CEO of Solibri.
Adherence to BIM standards for publicly financed building projects is a much-discussed topic worldwide as compliance becomes increasingly required by governments and public authorities. With the comprehensive application of BIM regulations, the demand for Solibri solutions is growing since they perform the required quality checks and improve processes. This results in considerable advantages in terms of cost and efficiency as well as a high degree of design reliability and transparency.
