Written by Parabellum Investments
15 Jun
• Rami Cassis, an international growth investor and founder of Parabellum Investments, has significantly grown his portfolio company, advanco.
• Advanco has acquired Vantage Consulting Group, a US-based manufacturing automation firm specialising in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
• Advanco has become the world’s largest independent pharmaceutical serialisation solutions provider after serialising over 2 billion units of medication.
• The acquisition is part of Cassis’ strategy to scale his portfolio companies organically and through acquisitions.
Rami Cassis, an international growth investor and founder of Parabellum Investments, has announced the significant expansion of his portfolio company advanco, further enhancing the firm’s reputation as an international serialisation specialist.
Advanco has acquired Vantage Consulting Group, a US-based manufacturing automation provider, at a time when serialisation and automation services have become increasingly important amid the growing threat of counterfeit medicines.
This acquisition enables advanco to support every facet of the manufacturing process throughout the entire supply chain, ranging from efficient raw material handling to seamless distribution and warehousing, while adhering to the latest geographical regulatory requirements.
The deal makes advanco the world’s largest specialist in open level-3 track and trace solutions for the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector.
Cassis made the deal through his private family office, Parabellum Investments, to scale its existing portfolio through international acquisitions, strategically expanding in the US and signalling intention to expand further into North America.
The deal is the latest in the ongoing expansion of Cassis’ portfolio. In January 2023, his business services firm Parseq announced the acquisition and integration of The TALL Group and Column Software Solutions.
The Vantage deal is expected to bring about a revolution in serialization technology, anticipated to be widely adopted across various industries to address continued supply chain instability.
Rami Cassis, the founder and CEO of Parabellum Investments, said: “We continue to diversify and scale Parabellum’s portfolio, and the acquisition of Vantage is a key part of our strategy to expand into the United States.
“Advanco has seen an impressive trajectory over recent years and we’re proud to set the industry standard. This deal gives us a platform to launch a more vigorous strategic focus on North America, which is a key to scaling in the serialization market.
“Vantage was a natural fit for advanco and the deal greatly expands the services it can provide, further strengthening its position as the world’s largest serialization provider.”
Advanco is the leading provider for Levels 2 to 5 Item Level Serialization. advanco has been offering extensive, holistic and mission critical solutions in the fields of supply chains and track and trace since the early 1980s. In addition to serialization, advanco covers all aspects of the manufacturing consulting process across the entire supply chain, including everything from raw material handling to process flow and equipment specification right through to the distribution and warehouse stage.
Advanco’s industry-leading software platform is known as ARC. This end-to-end solution works seamlessly through manufacturing, packaging, and along the entire supply chain, featuring track and trace.
Vantage offers project management, engineering consulting, and professional technical services for all areas of the manufacturing process. From raw material handling through finished product distribution and logistics, manufacturing consulting services cover raw material handling, process flow and equipment specification, bulk filling, product packaging, facility support, utility support, building management systems and distribution and warehouse.
Alf Goebel, CEO of advanco, said: “advanco’s acquisition of Vantage is a strategic move, designed to offer clients a sophisticated suite of products and services across the full spectrum of the supply chain. Advanco’s established ARC platform, and software expertise, is now fully bolstered by the design, implementation, and validation expertise offered by the team from Vantage.
“At a time when the global supply chain is coming under intense pressure, thanks to ongoing supply issues, a fluctuating economy and a post-Covid hangover, clients can now benefit from multiple efficiency opportunities offered by technology and automation. Furthermore, other sectors are learning from the pharma industry and are looking to incorporate serialization as a key function. There are many opportunities ahead – and advanco is now perfectly positioned to help clients to thrive in the years to come.”
