Arpson opens its capital to AXA Private Equity Paris, 14 Septembre 2005.

Arpson, one of the leading financial management packaged software players, opens 28% of its capital to AXA Private Equity.

Established in 1996 by founder and manager Franck Giuly, Arpson has in a few years developed into a major player in the field of editing dedicated packaged software for the financial market. Its offer Arpson Office covers all the needs relating to asset management, market operations, and cash position. Additionally, Arpson Office covers all financial instruments (Change, Titles, Futures, Options, Rates) based on the complete management organisation (Back-Office, Middle-Office, Front-Office) in a homogeneous way. With over 70 references, the reactivity of its teams and the technical management level of its solution have positioned Arpson heading a new standard of integrated packaged software.

The financial packaged software industry is characterised by significant operational margins, strong recurring revenues resulting from the licensing business models, and a high level of transformation of the margin into cash. This relatively mature software edition sector is traditionally segmented between historic players positioned on one type of business of instruments. Arpson distinguishes from its historic competitors by offering the first homogeneous Front-to-Back system, with an exhaustive covering of the major financial instruments, and an aggressive development policy of its solutions.

Laurent Foata, Senior Investment Manager with AXA Private Equity says: “We have been convinced by Franck Giuly’s market vision; he managed to position Arpson as a referenced player within less than five years. The market is waiting for alternative solutions that are cheaper and faster to deploy. Arpson’s technological progress and the quality of the product offer demonstrate a growth potential we wish to materialise in time”. In particular AXA Private Equity will contribute to the company’s international expansion making the Arpson solution the European leader.

Franck Giuly concludes: “Today we have a first-class development architecture, a clear business model, and we are determined to dedicate our performance spirit to our clients. The introduction of AXA Private Equity, through its AXA Venture Fund IV fund, into Arpson will favour the conjunction of all these elements”.

Contact AXA Private Equity

20, Place Vendôme
75001 Paris
Tel: +33 1 44 45 92 20
www.axaprivateequity.com

For more information about Arpson:

Franck Giuly
f.giuly@arpson.com
176, avenue Charles de Gaulle
92200 Neuilly sur Seine
Tel: +33 1 46 43 91 91
www.arpson.com

Players

AXA Private Equity: Laurent Foata

Advisors of AXA Private Equity:

Legal advisors: Weil, Gotshal & Manges (Frédéric Cazals, Julien Sichel)

Accounting and financial due diligence: Fiduciaire Leydet (Didier Amphoux, Cédric Bruguiere)