Advantech aqcuires Aures

This strategic acquisition is poised to strengthen Advantech's worldwide presence in smart retail products and services. Advantech will acquire Aures through transactions with the major shareholder and public tender offer, at a price per share not exceeding 6.7 euros (with a total of 3,938,173 outstanding shares), with the potential to acquire up to 100% equity.

MC Chiang, Vice President of Advantech Service-IoT Group, highlighted the profound challenges the global retail industry has faced in recent years, including the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, global inflation, and interest rate hikes. Concurrently, the emergence of AI and shifts in consumer behaviour have catalysed industry transformation and consolidation trends.

In response, Advantech has deepened its footprint and expanded its hardware and software product portfolio. Aures, with its distinguished brand in the western market and commendable design and development capabilities in POS and KIOSK products, is a fitting partner. Leveraging Advantech's robust expertise in intelligent systems and global logistics network, the collaboration of Advantech and Aures (A+A) holds promising prospects for both entities, their employees, customers, partners, and the global smart retail sector at large.

Patrick Cathala, Founder and Chairman of Aures, expressed confidence in Advantech's profound product technology, globally streamlined operation, manufacturing system, and reputable brand, which were instrumental in the partnership decision. He believes that Advantech can empower Aures to extend its accumulated brand heritage and value proposition, thereby jointly creating superior solutions.

K.C. Liu, Chairman of Advantech, emphasised the company's proactive approach to its third transformation in recent years, adopting a sector-driven strategy. Smart retail, identified as a market with significant potential, aligns with this strategy. The synergies between Aures and Advantech in regional coverage, product portfolio, and organisational capabilities are striking. This acquisition reflects Advantech's shift towards a deeper presence and operations in sector-focused strategies, moving away from a traditional product-driven approach. With the core direction of "AIoT+ Edge computing," Advantech aims to generate more profound impact and value in the future.

As a publicly listed entity in France, Aures has established a strong presence for its POS equipment across Europe, Australia, and the United States, boasting high brand recognition and a sturdy sales network. Through this merger, coupled with Advantech's longstanding commitment in the smart city and retail sectors, A+A's global presence in the sector is set to be significantly enhanced.

In the future, Advantech and Aures will leverage each other's strengths and business foundations to actively propel global business expansion and upgrade product offerings, striving to become leaders in global integrated smart retail solutions and services. Following the acquisition, Aures will maintain independent operations, while Advantech will assist in optimising its management system, fostering synergies through product roadmap integration, technical support, and cross-selling initiatives.