Isagri, a family-owned business based in Beauvais and a leading provider of agricultural software solutions, is pursuing a growth strategy. It has acquired the Spanish company Top 1 Nuevas Tecnologías and its Bacosoft software. The experts at AURIS Finance, a consultancy specialising in mergers and acquisitions, provide a detailed analysis of this latest market move.
This latest acquisition puts Isagri in a strong position in the Spanish market. The French company has acquired Top 1 Nuevas Tecnologías and its Bacosoft software through its local subsidiary. The publisher of the Bacosoft platform, which is dedicated to managing legal and regulatory declarations, is a market leader in Spain, particularly for wineries (bodegas). This new alliance will enable Isagri Spain to consolidate its position as market leader in the software sector, with a solution that now covers more than 30% of Spanish winegrowers. The consolidation of resources has markedly accelerated Isagri’s offering for winegrowers, who now enjoy an automated solution that integrates security and compliance, and accounts for the distinct legal requirements of each region. Bacosoft, a company with seven employees and an annual turnover of €1 million, serves 500 customers.
A niche market
The company, which was established in 1983 and is headquartered in Tillé (60), was created with the objective of assisting farmers in optimising their business operations through the utilisation of IT. Isagri then extended its offering to include management solutions for accountants and businesses. Over the years, Isagri has established itself as a leading provider of IT solutions for the agriculture, winegrowing and accountancy sectors in Europe, under the AGIRIS brand. In the early 2000s, the group expanded its reach to include the press with the launch of Terre-net, an agricultural internet portal. In 2011, the group acquired France Agricole, the leading press group specialising in agriculture. Isagri currently supports 140,000 farmers and operates mainly in Europe via some thirty subsidiaries specialising in digital publishing.
Offensive growth
In its latest strategic plan, Horizons 2028, Isagri has set itself the ambitious goal of achieving sales of one billion euros and becoming one of the top five French software publishers by 2035. The stated aim is now to become the global leader in IT and to significantly increase the number of employees. To achieve this, the group proceeded through organic growth and targeted acquisitions. Isagri has completed a significant number of mergers and acquisitions, with almost forty completed over the past 40 years. This has positioned the company as a leading expert in the agricultural sector while also expanding its reach to a broader customer base. In August 2023, Isagri acquired Factomos, a publisher of SaaS invoicing platforms. The group has recently expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Bobbee, a digital accounting management platform start-up. Crisalid, a specialist in cash management for the bakery and catering industries, was also acquired by Isagri.
Our experts at your service
Originally a highly specialised group, Isagri has evolved over the years to offer broader solutions. Its undisputed status as a sector expert has facilitated expansion into other business areas through strategic acquisitions. The group’s robust growth aspirations are poised to drive acquisitions of other software entities in the forthcoming months. The Auris Finance team comprises sector-specialised experts. Our teams are available to advise and support you in strategic thinking and equity transactions, including disposals, acquisitions, capital restructuring and fundraising.
