BDA advises AXA Private Equity and other shareholders on divestment of Aixam Mega to Polaris

BDA is pleased to announce that, along with its co-advisor in France, Easton Corporate Finance, it has advised Aixam Mega’s shareholders, including the majority shareholder AXA Private Equity, on the disposal of Aixam Mega Group, the European leader in the light quadricycle market, to Polaris Industries of the US, a manufacturer of snowmobiles and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles). Despite a challenging economic environment in Europe, BDA and Easton mobilised their international teams to identify, access and motivate potential industrial buyers and thus offered Aixam’s shareholders a choice between several offers coming notably from North America and Asia.

For more than 25 years, Aixam Mega Group has been the European leader in the light quadricycle market with sales of about 8,000 vehicles and €90m in 2012. Created in 1983, the Group distributes two brands: Aixam, dedicated to passenger quadricycles, and Mega, a commercial and electrical quadricycles range. The Group benefits from a unique distribution network in Europe with up to 600 retailers both under Aixam and Mega brands in around twenty countries. Aixam and Mega vehicles are produced in two manufacturing facilities in France (Aix-les-Bains and Chanas).

Following the transaction, Polaris Industries, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (2012 sales: US$3.2bn, market cap.: US$6.2bn), will own 100% of Aixam Mega Group’s shares.

About BDA
Business Development Asia LLC (“BDA”) is a leader in cross-border investment banking in Asia. BDA advises on M&A, capital raising, and restructuring. BDA has been consistently owned and managed by the same team since 1996. BDA has a track record of providing independent advice to blue-chip corporate and financial sponsor clients from North America, Europe and Asia. BDA was named Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor in both 2012 and 2010. BDA is headquartered in New York with offices in London, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Bahrain, Seoul and Tokyo. Further information is available at www.bdapartners.com

For more information regarding this transaction, please contact Andrew Huntley in London at +44 20 7182 4518.