- Digital Experiences Group, the parent company of Ergosign, acquires a majority stake in SMAL.
- SMAL Founders Sahar Azghandi-Daoutis, Oliver Lang and Andreas Daoutis remain shareholders.
- Managing Directors of SMAL remain unchanged.
- Management of DEG will from now on include Sahar Azghandi-Daoutis (CEO of SMAL).
- This complementary, strategic addition will support the growth and internationalization of both companies.
The Digital Experiences Group GmbH ("DEG"), parent company of Ergosign GmbH (“Ergosign”), has acquired a majority stake in SMAL GmbH (“SMAL”) in August 2022. The acquisition was supported by Harald Quandt Industriebeteiligungen GmbH (“HQIB”) as majority shareholder of DEG.
As a full-service design and development agency, SMAL has been creating unique brands, products, and services in the physical and digital space since 2011. With offices in Munich, Amsterdam and San José, SMAL strengthens DEG’s internationalization and complements the group’s service portfolio, especially in the B2C environment. The management of SMAL remains unchanged. The founders Sahar Azghandi-Daoutis, Oliver Lang and Andreas Daoutis remain shareholders whilst Sahar Azghandi-Daoutis also complements the Management of DEG.
SMAL and Ergosign will remain independent companies, working collaboratively, strategically, and operationally as parts of the corporate group DEG. The long-term partnership with HQIB’s sustainable investment approach strives for further organic and inorganic growth of the group. The parties have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction.
"With the foundation of DEG last year, we intended to further develop Ergosign as the core of a group of companies, to promote internationalization and grow in strategically important areas. We are pleased to have found a strong, internationally active partner in SMAL who complements our competencies further. Furthermore, we are happy that Sahar complements the management of DEG, and look forward to working with her and the entire SMAL team," so the founders and managing partners of Ergosign, Dr. Marcus Plach and Prof. Dr. Dieter Wallach.
"In Ergosign, the market leader for user experience design in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), we have found the perfect partner to provide our customers with even more specific and sustainable support in digitalization and innovation. With the complementary service portfolio of Ergosign and SMAL, both companies can emerge even stronger and drive growth and internationalization together. With ten locations worldwide and over 250 experts, we are pleased to support our national and international customers in an even more targeted and sustainable manner", say the founders of SMAL, Sahar Azghandi-Daoutis, Oliver Lang and Andreas Daoutis.
"We are very happy to strategically expand DEG with the SMAL transaction. In particular, the strong focus on B2C as well as the international footprint with locations in the US and the Netherlands ideally complement DEG. We are optimistic that we will be able to continue the very attractive organic growth path of both companies and are looking to further complement the group with attractive investment opportunities," says Matthias Weigend, Principal of HQIB.
About SMAL
SMAL is an international full-service design and development agency based in Munich, Amsterdam and San José. Since 2011, SMAL has been developing iconic brands, products, and services in a holistic consulting approach, in which all services come from a single source. The international and passionate team of thinkers and makers help clients innovate and design authentic experiences that put the customer first. SMAL serves clients regardless of industry or size and faces each challenge with a common goal in mind: it’s the SMAL details that matter most.For more information, please visit www.smal.de
About Harald Quandt Industriebeteiligungen
Harald Quandt Industriebeteiligungen GmbH is the principal investment firm of the family Harald Quandt, joined by a small, select number of (industrial) families and partners. HQIB invests in small and medium-sized companies within the Germanspeaking region that are leading in established and technologically sophisticated market niches with attractive growth potential. As an industrial holding company, HQIB pursues a long-term, sustainable investment approach and is not subject to any time restrictions or limited investment periods. For more information, please visit www.hq-ib.com
A digital agency focusing on user experience, Ergosign believes that digital products should support people in their work and enrich their lives. With a full-service approach, Ergosign employs a human-centered, goal-oriented and collaborative mindset and supports clients from a wide range of industries and business sectors.
As a DACH market leader in user experience design, the over 200 employees across seven sites in Germany and Switzerland boast comprehensive digitization experience from 4,000 projects. Ergosign has been present on the Chinese market since 2019, thanks to joint venture YIGU. Recognized with multiple awards, such as the Red Dot Design Award, the team regularly puts their creativity and quality awareness to the test for the client.
For more information, please visit www.ergosign.de/en
Ergosign GmbH
Europaallee 20a
66113 Saarbrücken
Telefon: +49 (681) 988412-0
Telefax: +49 (681) 988412-10
http://www.ergosign.de
Head of Corporate Communication
E-Mail: christine.gottlieb@ergosign.de
Managing Director
Telefon: +49 89 8630 6400
E-Mail: hello@smal.de
Prokurist
Telefon: +49 6172 59519-88
E-Mail: mw@hq-ib.com
