Anti-collision systems manufacturer SK Group of France is growing quickly with backing from venture capitalists.
Founder and chief executive Severin Kezeu sold a ‘significant minority share’ in the business in November 2000 for E1m to Initiative et Finance, the venture capital arm of Banc Populaire. This has enabled the company to grow from seven employees to 30. Office and production floor space has also grown fourfold to 1,000m2.
The ambitious young company is mainly active in France but is now looking to develop an international distribution network. Commercial director Didier Huth said that SK Group was in talks with potential distributors and hoped to be able to reveal details next month.
SK Group was founded in 1998 by Severin Kezeu who, back in 1991, had won first prize in a national invention and innovation competition for his initial anti-collision software. The company’s sales were just over E1m in 2000 and sales this year are forecast to be E5.5m.
