Smart Industries

Digital & Industrial are the keywords that will make the difference tomorrow and what we are doubling down on with Smart Industries.

The Smart Industries team believes in and invests in a winning formula based on entrepreneurs and management teams that combine deep technical and technological knowledge with sound business acumen. The technology/digital landscape is only going to become increasingly complex and evolve at a rapid pace. Companies are increasingly looking for targeted solutions or expert partners to support them. Manual or analogue business processes are being fully automated or digitized.

Companies are rethinking how they produce and where best to locate their operations at a time when the industrial and logistics supply chain is under pressure from scarcity or rising energy and labour costs, and when companies are increasingly accountable for their emissions and carbon footprints. Those that can ensure efficient, secure and sustainable supply, or partners who can help, have an advantage.

Nowadays, most resilient industrial companies design products and/or services with a digital edge. Blending industrial expertise & digital expertise grants companies leverage to success. Smart Industries is fully committed to leading growth companies positioned at the intersection of digital and industrial, fusing both areas of expertise to offer total solutions.

Interested in our buy-in opportunities?

Why Gimv Smart Industries?

Growth
Buy-and-build, organic growth through international expansion, capacity expansion or strategic partnerships, strategic repositioning, etc.
Finance excellence
Capital allocation, refinancing, reporting & KPI setting, working capital management, etc.
Human capital development
Board & management capabilities, succession planning, recruitment & retention of
service delivering staff, etc.
Operational excellence
Production automation, IT upgrades & digitalisation, trainings, etc.
Sustainability maturity
Decarbonisation, energy efficiency, waste management, etc.
Exit readiness
Preparing the business model to be future proof

Investment focus

Digital / Tech
Companies developing software or offering value-added ICT services
Digital Industries
Companies that combine hardware and software technologies to develop and market digitalisation and automation solutions
Industries
Companies that stand out for their remarkable process expertise, advanced manufacturing, logistic capabilities and market positioning

Investment criteria

Ambitious and innovative companies with a solid market position and strong growth potential.

Small to medium-sized companies with capital requirements of up to EUR 150 million.

Companies headquartered in the Benelux region, France or DACH countries.

Companies with strong management and a clear corporate vision of social added value.

Building a European leader in perimeter protection

Picot

Picot is a European perimeter protection group offering fencing, gates and access solutions across industrial, logistics, public and residential sectors. Originating from Dirickx, the market leader in France, the group has significantly expanded since Gimv’s investment in 2022 through an active buy-and-build strategy. Picot has more than doubled in size and profitability while establishing a geographically diversified European footprint. By strengthening coordination across manufacturing, distribution and installation, the group has achieved a balanced and integrated operating model, driven by strong industrial execution, reliable logistics and continued professionalization.

Buy-and-build remains at the core of Picot’s growth strategy, supported by close collaboration between management and shareholders. Through targeted acquisitions across multiple countries, the group has broadened its end-markets, enhanced its product offering and expanded its access technologies. At the same time, Picot maintains a strong focus on integration, operational discipline and preserving the entrepreneurial strength of its local businesses. This combination of scale, local responsiveness and operational coherence positions Picot to further strengthen its market leadership and continue its growth trajectory across Europe.