LMS, the engineering innovation company, announces today that its principal shareholders have agreed to repurchase the equity participation held in LMS by GIMV, Belgium’s leading venture capital provider. GIMV has been a long-standing investor in LMS and has supported the company since 1991 in its successful strategy to become the global leader in physical prototype testing as well as its expansion in the strong growing market of digital prototyping and simulation. NPM Capital, the oldest venture capital provider in the Netherlands, has supported LMS’ principal shareholders in the buy-out and as a result holds a minority stake in LMS.
“We strongly value GIMV for its long-standing commitment to LMS”, commented Dr Urbain Vandeurzen, LMS Chairman and CEO. “GIMV fully supported us in our long-term investment strategy of developing new technologies, entering and developing new markets and building strategic customer relationships. We are delighted to welcome NPM Capital as a new shareholder and we are confident that this strategic relationship represents an outstanding opportunity for LMS as we move into our next phase of growth”.
“GIMV is delighted with LMS’ successful track record in turning a promising company vision into a successful business strategy, strong market leadership and a consistently strong financial performance”, commented Dirk Boogmans, GIMV CEO. “It was a privilege for GIMV to give LMS all the necessary support to grow into one of the most successful high-tech companies in Flanders”.
“With an attractive and highly scaleable business model, a solid portfolio of products and services, and a premium customer base, LMS has tremendous potential for further growth”, concluded Roelof Prins, Director of NPM Capital. ”NPM Capital highly rates LMS’ capabilities to understand its customers’ challenges, anticipate their future needs and respond with innovative solutions. We are excited to partner with this truly innovative company and look forward to working closely with CEO Dr. Urbain Vandeurzen and his strong management team”.
About LMS International
LMS is an engineering innovation partner for companies in the automotive, aerospace and other advanced manufacturing industries. LMS enables its customers to get better products faster to market, and to turn superior process efficiency to their strategic competitive advantage. LMS delivers a unique combination of virtual simulation software, testing systems, and engineering services. We are focused on the mission critical performance attributes in key manufacturing industries, including structural integrity, handling, safety, reliability, comfort and sound quality. Through our technology, people and over 25 years of experience, LMS has become the partner of choice for most of the leading discrete manufacturing companies worldwide. LMS, a Dassault Systèmes Gold Partner, is certified to ISO9001:2000 quality standards and operates through a network of subsidiaries and representatives in key locations around the world.
