SCIO gains AEA Investors as additional investor

International automation platform SCIO Automation Holding GmbH (“SCIO”) has attracted AEA Investors (“AEA”) as a new majority shareholder. The transaction was signed on 06 July 2023, with closing subject to approval by the respective antitrust authorities.

Founded in 2019 by the merger of VESCON Gruppe und Schiller Automatisierungstechnik, SCIO has become a leading industrial automation company. With the strategic and financial support of the Quadriga Capital Funds as a majority shareholder, SCIO has grown organically and through strategic acquisitions. Today, the automation system integrator is active in automated intralogistics, discrete and process automation and innovative services with a differentiated tech stack and own products ranging from digital twins, industrial software, proprietary cobot technology and semiconductor intralogistics. In 2022, SCIO achieved revenues of over USD 200 million and employed more than 1,100 people, serving a variety of end-markets such as automotive, food & beverage, industry, e-commerce & cargo, environment, life science and technology. 

“Our goal remains to globally scale our platform organically and through acquisitions to enable us to further expand and strengthen our product- and service offering for international blue-chip clients. For our international growth aspirations, particularly in the North American market, we are pleased that AEA, with their experience in the industrial automation market, will be joining SCIO as a majority shareholder”, says Michael Goepfarth, CEO of SCIO. 

Headquartered in New York and with offices in London and Munich, AEA has developed a strong expertise in the industrial automation sector, including through investments in Dematic, ProMach and Burke Porter Group.

“The industrial automation market is growing rapidly, driven by the megatrend of Industry 4.0 / IoT solutions, big data and generative AI. We are excited about our investment in SCIO given its strong positioning as an end-to-end automation solution provider as well as its customized and innovative solutions. We look forward to supporting SCIO on its next evolutionary steps in the global automation market with AEA’s resources, capital and know-how”, says Ramzi Gedeon, Partner at AEA. 

Quadriga Capital Funds will continue to support SCIO, now via Fund VI. “In the last years, SCIO has successfully acquired eight high-tech automation companies, fully integrating them into the divisional group structure”, complements Jörg Mugrauer, Managing Partner of Quadriga Capital Eigenkapitalberatung GmbH. “We are thrilled to continue supporting SCIO’s success story together with AEA, a strong partner with extensive automation expertise.”

SCIO’s system integration services now cover the entire automation value chain thanks to its holistic automation programming, integration and software capabilities. “With our strengthened shareholder base, SCIO intends to accelerate its international growth path through our dedicated M&A strategy. We are actively looking to team up with innovative automation solution providers to shape the future of the global automation industry”, concludes Michael Goepfarth.

Please find the press release for download here.