Acquisition of a majority stake in Forsk by IDI
FR
Sycomore Corporate Finance acted as exclusive Financial Advisor to IDI
On June 30th, 2025, IDI, a leading private equity firm in France, announced it has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Forsk, a French software provider specializing in mobile network planning and optimization.
Rationale
IDI has acquired a majority stake in Forsk, a leading French provider of software solutions for mobile network planning and optimization, through a primary LBO transaction. This acquisition marks a new chapter in the company’s development and underscores its ambition to support telecom operators in the evolution and automation of their mobile networks.
Backed by IDI, Forsk plans to accelerate the commercialization of its cloud-native platform Naos and broaden its solution suite with the development of new modules — including indoor mobile networks, private mobile networks, AI-based functionalities, and 6G capabilities. Growth will be pursued through a combination of organic initiatives and selective acquisitions, both in France and abroad.
Founders Bruno Ollivaud and Philippe Dumortier, together with Chairman Benoît Guy, are reinvesting in the company. Their continued involvement reflects a strong alignment with IDI’s long-term investment philosophy and a shared strategic vision for Forsk’s future development.
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Blagnac, France, Forsk develops and markets software solutions for radio access network (RAN) planning and optimization. The company serves many of the world’s leading telecom operators through its two globally recognized software platforms: Atoll, a multi-technology wireless network design and optimization tool, and Naos, a cloud-native automation platform enabling large-scale deployment and the automation of planning and optimization tasks.
Forsk is widely acknowledged for its technical expertise and strong capacity for innovation. The company has built long-standing relationships with a broad, loyal, and international client base — with over 500 active customers, more than 275 recurring clients, and 85% of revenue generated outside France, across 150+ countries. Forsk is among the global leaders in its field, with an estimated 60% market share worldwide, addressing the growing demand from telecom operators for efficient 4G and 5G deployment.
In addition to its headquarters in Blagnac, Forsk operates three offices and technical support centers through subsidiaries in the United States (Chicago), China (Canton), and Hong Kong. In 2024, the company generated €32 million in revenues and employs approximately 140 people, including more than 60 R&D engineers.
IDI is one of France’s leading listed private equity firms, with over 50 years of experience supporting small and mid-sized businesses. Listed on Euronext Paris since 1991, IDI combines the stability of a permanent capital structure with the flexibility and responsiveness of an entrepreneurial investor. IDI is known for its ability to structure tailored, long-term partnerships, act as a trusted shareholder alongside management teams, and support companies at every stage of their transformation, both in France and abroad.
The firm invests directly in equity in French and European SMEs and mid-cap companies, through both majority and minority transactions. As a generalist investor active in both LBO and growth capital, IDI typically commits between €25 million and €70 million per transaction, and up to €100 million with co-investors.
With approximately €700 million in Net Asset Value, IDI supports profitable and growing companies across a wide range of sectors, with a long-term approach focused on value creation, organic development, and external growth.