3rd round of capital investment: Eptica raises 2 million €uro for its international expansion

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Date : 08/30/2005

3rd round of capital investment: Eptica raises 2 million €uro for its international expansion

Paris, August 29th, 2005 - Eptica, an e-CRM software editor specialised in providing incoming email management and Internet Contact Centre solutions - has announced its third round of funding.

New investors include XAnge - XAnge Capital and Private Equity (on behalf of FCPIs)- and a Business Angel based in London. Crédit Agricole Private Equity, an existing investor of Eptica, equally participated in this round.

Created in 2001 by Olivier Njamfa and Thierry Gandilhon, Eptica has positioned itself on the growing ERMS market with an open solution that can be easily integrated into the company's existing IT environment. Indeed, in recent years the email channel has boomed. In 2001, it represented only 5% of customer contacts but in 2004, this figure had already increased to 20%. The proportion telephone/email will continue to change as Datamonitor predicts that by 2007, 25% of all customers contacts will be done by email.

To help companies leverage this new and cost-effective communication channel (the cost of processing an email is 60% cheaper than that of a phone call) and equip their internal or externalised (outsourcing) Contact Centres, Eptica offers a comprehensive range of ERMS solutions.

Eptica Enterprise Suite enables companies to establish an interactive dialogue with their customers via e-mail, chat or co-browsing. Easily integrated into the company's existing IT environment, it manages all email interactions between the company's various departments (sales, marketing, purchases, etc…) and its customers. It ensures that email management service levels are in line with phone service levels and that a personal relationship can be established with each and very customer thanks to an in-depth knowledge of their behaviour patterns, expectations and specific needs.

"XAnge entry into the company's capital, along side existing investors, will enable Eptica to first focus on the United Kingdom, and then Spain and Benelux." comments Olivier Njamfa, President and Co-founder of Eptica.

"In less than four years, Eptica has positioned itself as the leader in its market and we believe it is capable of rapidly expanding internationally", highlights Hervé Schricke, XAnge's CEO. "In addition to its innovative customer relationship management solutions, the company is spurred on by a solid and visionary team. This investment is in line with our industrial vision and our vocation as investors in the 'world of exchanges'".

According to Nicolas Gagnez, Investment Director at Crédit Agricole Private Equity, "We did not once hesitate to renew our confidence in Eptica. We have backed this company for the past two years and we have been delighted by its development".

Founded in 2001, Eptica, a spin-off of the EADS group counts 30 employees, among which 21 are in France and 9 abroad. Since 2001, Eptica equips the Contact Centres or Call Centres of prestigious customers such as PPR Group, Crédit Agricole or INSEE. The editor realised a first round of investment in early 2002 and then opened its capital to one of the major French Venture Capitalists, Crédit Agricole Private Equity (ex Crédit Lyonnais Private Equity) in July 2003. This round of funding is Eptica's third round of capital investment.

Advisory services involved in this operation were for XAnge, Boisséson & Associates for the legal aspects of the investment and Tuillet & Associates for the audit. Eptica was advised by the law firm SRBH.

About Eptica

Eptica is a leading provider of e-crm software solutions enabling e-business orientated companies or companies who want to take full advantage of their web site, to create, develop and manage in real-time their relationship with clients, suppliers or partners via the Internet. A spin-off of the group EADS, Eptica offers an innovative range of e-CRM solutions entirely conceived to enable companies reach two crucial objectives:

  • Offer live interactive customer service and support over the Internet using e-mail, chat, co-browsing or form-sharing
  • Build long-lasting personalized relationships with their clients thanks to an in-depth understanding of their expectations and specific needs

Eptica's comprehensive suite, the Eptica Enterprise Suite, is distributed through its international network of partners, VARs and consultants such as Capgemini, Steria, Accenture, Bull, Atos Wordline, Valoris, JP Technologies, Altrasoft, JetMultimedia, AmecSpie, Newpoint, FrontCall, Callone, IMC in France. And internationally, Smartcall(UK), JEM Technologies (UK), Green Meadows (Benelux), Business&Decision (Spain). Some of our clients in France are Crédit du Nord, Sofinco, IONIS, Cofinoga, ING Direct, Crédit Agricole, Médiatis… in the Financial Sector; INSEE, CPAM, CNED, Chamber of Commerce Nice Côte d'Azur, Net-entreprise.fr, SACEM, Pas de Calais Habitat… in the Public Sector; La Redoute, FNAC, France Loisirs, Marionnaud Parfumeries, EDITIS (Bordas, Nathan…), Verbaudet, Daxon and Somewhere (PinaultPrintempsRedoute Group), Club Dial and Musicandfilm.fr (Universal Group), Mistergooddeal, Eveil et jeu, Prisma Presse… in the Retail Sector; LaSer, Sitel, Arvato services, Acticall, Nemesis, Action Market … as Outsourceurs; UCPA, Voyage Loisirs, Viva Vacances, France Billet, Locafilm.com, Nouvelles Frontières… in the Tourism & Leisure Sector ; Prisma Press, Gandi, Les Taxis Bleus, Club Internet, Meetic, Tir Groupé… in the Services Sector. And internationally, DealTime (USA), Peace Systems Integration (Taiwan), Mundoviaje.com & Inmopolis (Spain)…

About XAnge Capital

XAnge Capital, a venture capital company with an industrial focus, founded in April 2003 by the Groupe La Poste, which holds a 34% share of capital, is also backed by a pool of eight industrial and corporate investors (AGF, Alten, la Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, CNP Assurances, Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance, GMF, Laser-Cofinoga and Néopost). XAnge Capital is a very active investor in business sectors related to the Post Office likely to produce synergies and partnerships (electronic exchange and commerce, transaction security, customer relationship management and direct marketing, document processing, logistics, etc.). Since its creation, XAnge Capital has closed six investments, all as lead investor (Kiala, Dolphian, Etiam, Ecensity, KXEN Vision Objects, UCOPIA Communication, Sefas).

About XAnge Private Equity

XAnge Private Equity, a portfolio management company specialized in Private Equity, was founded in July 2004 by the Groupe La Poste and the ABN AMRO Group in France. XAnge Private Equity is a manager of FCPI funds totaling more than €100 million to date; it invests in companies that meet innovation criteria while respecting a multi-sector approach. It advises the €50 million venture capital company XAnge Capital, whose purpose is to invest in companies whose activities are related to the businesses of La Poste; it can then also operate as a co-investor on behalf of FCPIs. XAnge Private Equity's team of a dozen employees work amongst recognized professionals.

About Crédit Agricole private Equity

Crédit Agricole Private Equity is the asset management company of Crédit Agricole S.A., dedicated to private equity investments in unlisted companies. 35 professionals specialising in four activity segments (Expansion Capital & LBO, Venture Capital, Secondary Market, Mezzanine) manage €1,050 billion under French private equity mutual funds (FCPR and FCPI) and private equity companies (SCR). Crédit Agricole Private Equity advises business managers on their growth plans.