Clairfield advises ADB Safegate management on sale to the Carlyle Group

Carved out from Siemens in 2009, ADB Airfield Solutions, renamed ADB Safegate after the acquisition of its Swedish competitor Safegate in 2016, is the worldwide leader in airport solutions for airfield ground lighting, aircraft docking guidance, and air traffic control. The company’s products address challenges including congestion, operational complexity, environment and sustainability issues, and digital disruption. ADB Safegate serves more than 2500 airports in over 175 countries, with more than 900 employees, production facilities in Belgium, Germany, the US, and China, and software development center in Austria. ADB Safegate generated approximately EUR 400 million in consolidated revenues in 2016.

PAI Partners is a major European private equity house and is the leading private equity investor in France. PAI acquired ADB Solutions from Montagu in 2013 and created the expanded business by bolting on Safegate International.

The Carlyle Group, based in Washington DC, is one of the largest private equity funds worldwide, managing USD 162 billion and a combined portfolio of about 170 investments. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including aerospace. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1550 people in 31 offices across six continents.

Clairfield International was the preferred advisor of ADB in three previous transactions. In 2013, Clairfield advised the LBO of ADB with PAI Partners, alongside management. In 2014 Clairfield advised the company on the acquisitions of Lucebit Group and of Erni in Germany and Switzerland, propelling the company to an expansion phase that encompassed both new technologies and strengthening of regions.