Germany’s AEC SaaS leader think project! expands into the French collaboration market, acquiring a majority stake in PLM specialist Lascom AEC.
Munich, Germany-based construction collaboration Software-as-a-Service technology provider think project! has acquired a 60% stake (deal value not disclosed) in Lascom AEC – said to be France’s market leader in product lifecycle management (PLM) and cross-enterprise collaboration (CEC).
According to think project!’s news release, Lascom AEC – based near Versailles, just outside Paris (but with a US office in California too) – has a strong customer base and growth position in France, delivering its PLM and CEC solutions to construction companies, private and public asset owners, as well as engineering companies. Customers with major projects in France and abroad include Vinci, Alstom, Eiffage, EDF, Technip, Setec, Lanxess and RATP.
Think project! to date has focused mainly on the central European market (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) where it has developed a strong domestic market position, competing mainly against Conject, and grew its revenues 13% in 2014 (post) and 17% in 2013 (post). It has been developing building information modelling (BIM) capabilities (launched in July 2015), and the Lascom deal will help expand its PLM know-how while giving Lascom the benefit of the think project! group’s experience in BIM and mobile solutions.
Lascom AEC will remain an independent company within the think project! group and retain its own brand and technology base.
Think project! CEO Thomas Backmaier says:
“France is the second-largest economy in Europe with leading companies in construction and significant clients. Entering the French market with Lascom AEC is a major cornerstone in the international growth strategy of think project! We are very confident that Lascom AEC will contribute to the Group’s continued growth and plan double-digit growth in France in coming years.”
“France is the second-largest economy in Europe with leading companies in construction and significant clients. Entering the French market with Lascom AEC is a major cornerstone in the international growth strategy of think project! We are very confident that Lascom AEC will contribute to the Group’s continued growth and plan double-digit growth in France in coming years.”Jean-Louis Henriot, president of Lascom AEC says:
“We are delighted to become part of the think project! Group. It gives us the opportunity to strengthen our AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) focus. Furthermore, we can benefit from the experience and structures of the international project business of think project!”
French AEC SaaS collaboration market
Conject has also expanded into France through acquisition, buying AEC mobile specialist Wapp6 in late 2013 (post).
Historically, another key player in the French collaboration market has been idox plc subsidiary McLaren Software. It built a strong SaaS base as BuildOnline, Sword and later, 2011, CTSpace – post – but has been rather quiet since it launched its business intelligence portal and rejigged its marketing team last year. It also acquired a French business, Artesys, in 2013, but its SaaS offering seemingly only forms a small portion of a largely on-premise engineering information management, EIM, product portfolio.
The mobile AEC BIM market is also being targetted by the expanding Finalcad business (post) and by London-based but French-accented Cadbeam (post). Both of these also list Vinci as a client.
