Carlyle will acquire AutoForm , an engineering software for sheet metal forming simulation, primarily used in the automotive industry, from Astorg.
Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, AutoForm provides software solutions for sheet metal forming simulation and Body in White (BiW) assembly simulation, mainly for the automotive industry. Its product suite is highly valued by its longstanding blue-chip customer base which includes the leading automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) and suppliers. The company employs approximately 400 people – of which 140 in R&D - and is present in more than 50 countries, across EMEA, Asia and the Americas.
Olivier Leteurtre, CEO of AutoForm, said: “We thank Astorg for the successful partnership and their outstanding involvement in Autoform’s transformation. We are excited to welcome Carlyle as our new partner. Their extensive understanding of the automotive industry and a breadth of experience in scaling vertical software companies will provide significant support to AutoForm’s growth plan, driving the business to consolidate its leading position in sheet metal forming and BiW assembly, globally.”
Benjamin Deshayes, Managing Director, Carlyle, added: “We have long been attracted to AutoForm’s highly differentiated solutions and continuous performance track record. We believe its deeply rooted culture of innovation through sustained R&D investments is a distinctive attribute that positions the Company very well for future growth. This acquisition underpins our strategic commitment to the European technology sector, and we look forward to partnering with Olivier and the AutoForm team, leveraging our significant expertise and global network.”
