DEALS

EDEIS takes control of ENALIA

Enalia, a delegate for energy savings certificates (CEE) and a French leader in business services in the field of energy efficiency, is ceding control to Edeis.

Edeis, a French group dedicated to engineering and managing complex infrastructures, construction services, and technical services, is notably an experienced concessionaire of airport concessions.

Enalia generates a turnover of €110 million, while Edeis generates €170 million.

Edeis’s engineering branch (with 14 offices in France) aims to leverage this acquisition through a synergistic approach to its activities in the « healthy building » sector, for which the group has recently created a label.

Enalia was advised by LL Berg (Olivier Abergel, Julien Carrascosa, and Léonie Bontoux) and Auguste Debouzy (Laurent Cottret). Edeis was advised by Change (Géraud Riom and Quentin Lagier).

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Telenco enter into partnership with Ergon Capital

Telenco, a leading French player in passive telecom equipment for fiber optic networks, announces having entered into partnership with the pan-European investment firm Ergon Capital Partners (1 billion under management) regarding its investment in the Group alongside the founders/managers, to further accelerate Telenco’s growth in France and internationally.
Founded in 1999 and located near Grenoble, Telenco is a leading player in the manufacturing and distribution of passive telecommunication and technician equipment principally used in the deployment of fiber optic networks. The deployment of such next generation networks has experienced significant growth throughout the world in recent years.
The Group has a worldwide presence, selling its products in over 50 countries and realizing €120 million of turnover.

LL Berg (Olivier Abergel, Gaëlle Quillivic, Julien Carrascosa, Houzefa Moula Mamoudjy and Joséphine Combret) advised Founders and Management on this Buy-Out.
Deloitte Corporate Finance (Stéphane Villard and Nicolas Vergnaud) acted as M&A advisors.
De Pardieu Brocas (Cédric Chanas, Anne Febvre and Mathieu Retiveau) advised Ergon Capital.

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Apax supports the increased equity ownership of the Management of Rayonnance

Groupe Rayonnance has control of its entire mobility value chain and can provide assistance for a specific issue as well as throughout all phases of a project, from the custom design of mobile applications to the supply of hardware and associated services. The company makes its own middleware platform, Harmonie, available to customers for their mobile device management.

Its executives are increasing their equity ownership, while maintaining their close partnership with the Econocom group, which is remaining invested in the company.

With the support of Apax Partners Development, the group will pursue and accelerate its organic growth by seizing market opportunities for mobility and omnichannel solutions, while expanding its range of products and services through targeted acquisitions.

LL Berg and Eurvad acted as Advisors of the Management.

Hogan Lovells advised Apax.

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Parella accelerates its development with Qualium Investissement

Parella, a leading corporate real estate advisory and Design & Build fit-out specialist, announces the forthcoming acquisition by Qualium Investissement alongside managers and employees. This partnership will enable Parella to accelerate its growth in France and abroad and consolidate its status as a key player in the commercial real estate consulting exclusively dedicated to tenants and other end users of real estate.
Authorized by the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF), Qualium Investissement manages capital for third-party investors in France and other countries. Specializing mainly in majority control buyouts, it invests primarily in French medium-sized companies. Since its creation in 1998, Qualium Investissement has raised nearly €2 billion in funds provided by its sponsor the Caisse des Dépôts and over 40 French and foreign third-party subscribers.
LL Berg (Olivier Abergel, Julien Carrascosa and Yohan Jabbour-Gédéon) and Cambon Partners (Guillaume Teboul) advised Parella shareholders.
Mayer Brown (Guillaume Kuperfils, Hadrien Schlumberger) advised Qualium.

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LL Berg advises Management on the sale of Trèves Textiles & Seat Components

Trèves TSC takes its independence after 60 years in family groups, the automotive supplier Trèves and the group Chomarat, specialized in technical textiles.

Trèves TSC, which specializes in the production of automotive textiles and seating equipment, employs around 2,200 people and is expected to achieve a turnover of € 180 million in 2016. The company wants to keep pace with its growth, particularly internationally by implanting in North America.

LL Berg (Grine Lahreche, Christophe Bornes, Bengu Sulusoglu) accompanied the TSC Management of TSC during this operation.

Jeausserand Audouard (Tristan Audouard) also advised Management.

Hogan Lovells (Xavier Doumen, Mathieu Frick) advised the consortium.

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Ardian signs a agreement to acquire a stake in Grand Frais

Ardian announces the signing of a deal to acquire a majority stake in Grand Frais the quality fresh food retailer.

Denis Dumont, founder, will reinvest alongside Ardian, as well its management team.

The group, which today operates over 185 stores and has a turnover exceeding one billion euros, has established itself as France’s preferred specialised food retailer (OC&C study, 2016).

Nathalie Jacquart, Head of LL Berg Tax department, advised the founder in this LBO.

DLA Piper, Ayache Salama and IXA were also involved in this transaction.

 

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LL Berg advised Meeschaert Capital Partners’ management on the acquisition of the TCS Group

Meeschaert and an investor consortium (SWEN Capital Partners, IDIA Capital Investissement and two other Credit Agricole Group entities) confirmed their intention to acquire TCS group, a reference player in the market for mails and small packages, supported by Cobalt Capital since 2009 and generating 93 million €.

The operation that has just been signed should be finalized in the coming weeks after approval by the competition authorities.

LL Berg (Grine Lahreche, Christophe Bornes, and Nathalie Jacquart) advised the TCS Management during this operation on the transactional and tax aspects.

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CEP, supported by JC Flowers, acquires ACE Credit

Founded in 1995, ACE is one of the leaders in the French brokerage market with 3.1 billion loans concluded in 2016, for 300 employees. The group will be integrated into Compagnie Européenne de Crédit, a credit brokerage business unit of Financière CEP created in 2015, gathering Ceprima, Empruntis and Immoprêt. Last year, the brand distributed 6 billon of credits via a multi-brand network composed of 200 outlets.

As a result of the merger, Compagnie Européenne de Crédit ranks first of the credit brokers in France.

The transaction has been processed by Raphaël Financial Advisory (Benoît O’Mahony).

LL Berg and Delaby Dorison advised the transferors (the founder and Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners).

Freshfields and De Pardieu Brocas advised CEP Financial.

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Omnes Capital completes primary LBO of the Geoxia Group’s brands

Omnes Capital, has conducted the spin-off of the Geoxia Group’s brands in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region owned by LBO France, via a primary LBO.

InCa is one of the regional leaders in the construction of built-to-order single-design detached homes, with three strong brands.

The national underlying-end market for the construction of built-to-order single-design detached homes is structurally supported by the need for housing. Through a natural and strong consolidation, it is experiencing a significant rebound, boosted locally by the opening of the new TGV line linking Paris and Bordeaux in two hours from the start of July.

The aim of this transaction is to support the Group’s growth in three key areas: organic growth with the opening of new agencies in Aquitaine, an active and selective acquisitions policy and a commercial system reinforced by the development of innovative digital solutions.

LL Berg advised Omnes Capital with Olivier Abergel, Gaëlle Quillivic, Nathalie Jacquart, Julien Carrascosa, Olivier Legrand and Yohan Jabbour Gédéon.

Mayer Brown advised Geoxia.

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House of HR and Bain Capital take control of ABMI

After 4 years of supporting the consulting firm in engineering and industrial innovation, Omnes sells ABMI to House of HR supported by Bain Capital.

During its partnership with Omnes, ABMI’s target was to increase its activity by 50%, but above all has favored the transformation of its model which has contributed to multiplying by 3 its Ebitda margin to 12% in 2022.

At the same time, Omnes partially reinvests alongside Bain Capital in House of HR.

As a result, the group will form a set of 280 M€ in turnover for 3,200 employees.

Omnes (Frédéric Mimoun and Pauline Chetaille) was advised by LL Berg (Gaëlle Quillivic, Julien Carrascosa and Nicolas Pegou) and Cambon Partners (Guillaume Teboul, Jonathan Journo, Samuel Koubi and Côme Mulle).

Management was advised by Orsan (David Sebban and Thomas Meric) and Keels (Laurent Partouche and Pierre-Olivier Madelon).

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FCDE and BPI sell their stake in NES to SERMA Group, supported by Checkers

The FCDE and BPI announce they have sold their stake in NES, of which they had been shareholders since 2016, to the SERMA Group. NES is a recognized as a pure player in cybersecurity. SERMA Group is one of the French independent leaders in expertise and consulting services in the fields of technology, electronic systems and information systems. With more than 1,000 engineers and technicians, the group is established on 12 sites in France and Germany and achieves a turnover of 100 M€.

On this occasion, the FCDE and BPI invested alongside Checkers Capital in the SERMA Group to support the project. The acquisition of NES complements the current SERMA Safety & Security offering – known as S3.

LL Berg (Julien Carrascosa and Gaëlle Quillivic) advised FCDE (Benoît Sellam and Réjean Guern) and BPI (François Picarle).

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DE BUYER Industrie takes control of N2J

LL Berg represented sellers in connection with the sale of SAS N2J and its brand Pebbly to DE BUYER Industries & Edify.

Pebbly is a kitchen ustensils brand committed to an eco-responsible approach created in 2004. Founded in 1855, Edify is a company that emerged from the industrial history of the Groupe Damartex and Somfy groups.

N2J and the management was advised by LL Berg (Olivier Abergel, Julien Carrascosa et Nicolas Pegou).
Lenzo Partners (Ariel Roskis) acted as financial adviser.

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Protectim accelerates its development with Dzeta

In the context of an LBO, Dzeta has taken a minority stake in Protectim in order to allow the group to strengthen its independence and its leader position.

Protectim is a leading company dedicated to security (110M€ of turnover and 4500 employees).

LL Berg and Cambon Partners acted as founder advisors.

Jeantet represented Dzeta.

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IK Investment enters into an exclusivity on the acquisition of Mademoiselle Desserts

IK Investment Partners entered into exclusive negotiations with Equistone Partners Europe to take majority control of Mademoiselle Desserts.

Founded in 1984, Mademoiselle Desserts, European leader in industrial bakery, has developed thanks to external acquisitions in the United-Kingdom and in the Netherlands.

The company now generates € 350 million and employs 1.500 people at 9 production sites.

LL Berg (Olivier Abergel and Gaëlle Quillivic) advised the Management of Mademoiselle Desserts.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (Eduardo Fernandez) represented IK Investment Partners and Goodwin (Thomas Maitrejean) represented Equistone Partners Europe.

Delaby & Dorison Avocats (Emmanuel Delaby) advised the Management on the tax aspects.

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Oodrive raised 65 million euros

The publisher of backup and file sharing solutions, employing 350 people spread over France, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Germany raises 65 million euros from Tikehau Capital, Matignon Investissement and Nextstage.
This transaction is the largest fundraising for an unlisted French software publisher. The purpose is both to finance the exit of Keensight Capital and the development of the group.
The company was advised by LL Berg (corporate: Grine Lahreche and Christophe Bornes, taxation: Nathalie Jacquart) and DC Advisory. Paul Hastings advised the investor.

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LL Berg intervened on the merger between Coralis Harle & Phelip and Jacobacci & Partners

Intervening for a hundred years in intellectual property consulting, Coralis Harle & Phelip is getting closer to the Italian group Jacobacci & Partners.

Coralis Harle & Phelip is deployed at four sites (Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux and Lyon) and earns 30% of its revenues from groups of the CAC 40. Thus expanding its European network, Jacobacci & Partners was founded in 1872 and now has eleven offices and totaled € 60 million in sales in 2015.

Sellers advisors: LL Berg (Grine Lahreche, Christopher Bornes, Anne Pelletier)

Financial advisors : CM-CIC SME Transactions (Franck Monnot)

Tax advisors : Jeausserand Audouard (Jérémie Jeausserand, Tristan Audouard and Carole Furst)

Purchaser advisors : Altana (Jean Nicolas Soret)

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Hygeco does its MBO with Abénex

The group specialized in the post-mortem solutions, held by the Dutch De Facultatieve for ten years, is bought by its management team. To do so, the management team relies on Abénex, which takes a majority share, to accompany it in a new stage of development of its activities in France and internationally.

Hygeco is a group of 340 employees, which generates almost two-thirds of its € 31m in revenue in France in 2016. Hygeco also has a few locations in Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy : a presence in Europe that the new management now wants to strengthen.

LL Berg (Grine Lahreche, Nathalie Jacquart, Christophe Bornes and Bengu Sulusoglu) advised on the transactional and tax aspects on behalf of the Management.

VVG (Frédéric Grillier and Frédérick Wlodkowski) advised Abénex.

Volt (Alexandre Tron and Anaïs Borel) advised the banks involved in the financing of the operation.

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LL Berg advised Bien à la maison, #2 in France for home care

Bien à la Maison, a private provider of home services for seniors and dependents, is in the process of becoming an ETI, following the acquisition of 100% of the capital of its competitor Domifacile.

The newly formed entity has a turnover of approximately 50 million euros and an EBITDA margin of between 8% and 10%, achieved by 49 agencies in France and approximately 3,000 employees.

This external growth operation was financed with the support of the listed vehicle Turenne Investissement, and a line of debt raised from Neuflize OBC, Caisse d'Epargne and CRCA Loire-Haute-Loire.

At the end of this operation, Bien à la Maison becomes the first independent, integrated and national operator: www.bienalamaison.com

LL Berg (Olivier Abergel, Gaëlle Quillivic, Christophe Bornes, Julien Carrascosa and Sophie Plassart), advised the Group.

DC Advisory (Arnaud Dubois) and Delsol Avocats (Emmanuel Kaepplin) advised the sellers

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Dzeta Group acquires a majority stake in ProDirect Expérience

Previously owned by its founders ProDirect Experience sells 60% of its capital and comes under the control of Dzeta Group.

Founded 30 years ago, the marketing and communication agency dedicated to customer relations employs 400 people through its 3 branches (Marseille, Paris and Toulouse).

Currently established in the banking, insurance and real estate sectors ProDirect Experience wants to develop in the automotive or tourism market.

LL Berg (Olivier Abergel, Julien Carrascosa) advised the Management of ProDirect Expérience.

Cohen & Gresser (Muriel Goldberg-Darmon) advised Dzeta Group.

Cambon & Partners (Guillaume Teboul) was the financial advisor.

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Mon Véto, the leading French veterinary group, team up with Ardian

Ardian announces its investment in Mon Véto, the leading independent group of veterinary clinics in France and the second largest player in the market. This minority investment will consist of a €100 million capital increase to support and accelerate the Group’s development in France and Europe.

Barings, which has been financing Mon Véto’s debt for a year, will also increase its exposure in several tranches, up to €500 million, while maintaining a healthy balance sheet structure.

Mon Véto now operates 268 clinics across all French regions and Belgium, and employs nearly 1,800 staff and vets.

LL Berg (Olivier Abergel, Gaëlle Quillivic, Leslie Batazzi, Nicolas Pegou and Emilie Cohen) advised the majority stakeholders.

 

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Little Worker raises €10M from Aquiti Gestion

Little Worker – Winner FT120 – raises €10M from AQUITI Gestion’s Large Venture fund and its historical investors (including 50 Partners).

Having supported 700 projects last year with its 160 employees, Little Worker plans to work on 4,500 properties per year by 2025 as part of its property hunting and urban housing renovation offering, in support of proprietary technology.

LL Berg (Julien Carrascosa) advised Little Worker – FT120 Winner in the context of the negotiation and structuring of this €10M serie A.

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Quantum Pacific takes control of ekWateur

ekWateur, a green energy supplier with a turnover of €210M, is entering a new stage with a majority fund, the British group Quantum Pacific, active in the energy sector, which is taking the majority of the capital.

Quantum Pacific is investing €70 million, including €40 million to buy back all the shares in Aster, BNP Paribas Développement, Bouygues Telecom Initiatives and Mantu.

Julien Tchernia, co-founder in 2015 alongside Jonathan Martelli, remain in the capital and retain the reins of ekWateur.

LL Berg (Julien Carrascosa, Loïc Bustos, Nicolas Pegou) advised ekWateur and Management during this operation.

Gide advised Quantum Pacific.

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NACE SCHOOLS, European leading school group & Providence Equity are continuing their investments

The NACE Schools, the leading European school group with 50 schools in 10 countries and 25,000 students on 3 continents, now recognised as one of the world leaders in bilingual and international education, has just concluded a strategic partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Nice Côte d’Azur, in order to accelerate the development of the International School of Nice (ISN).

This operation is part of a process aiming at expanding the group in this area and follows the partnership with EBICA, carried out a few months ago by NACE Schools (with the assistance of LL Berg).

NACE Schools (Gaspard Biberson and Jérôme Vain) and Providence Equity Partners (Dany Rammal and Sofian Lignier) were advised by LL Berg (Gaëlle Quillivic, Olivier Abergel and Houzefa Moula-Mamoudjy).

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Ardian takes control of DRT

In the context of an LBO valued at around €1 billion , Ardian has taken a majority stake in DRT in order to allow the group to strengthen its independence and its leader position.

Founded in 1932, DRT is a world leader in the production of ingredients derived from plant chemistry. At this time, the company generates € 500 million in sales (of which 80 internationally) and employs 1 300 people.

LL Berg (Olivier Abergel et Gaëlle Quillivic) have been involved as advisers fouding, who sold and reinvested part of their stake in the LBO.

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LL Berg intervenes in the creation of an investment fund « Infrastructure » by Galaxy

The Galaxy investment fund, supported in particular by Caisse des Dépôts and its European counterparts, has just created, under the leadership of Philippe Mangeard (director of Ubifrance and the transport manufacturer Modalhor) an investment fund dedicated to infrastructure transport.

The creation of this Private Equity fund was strongly encouraged during the Grenelle de l’Environnement.

LL Berg (Olivier Abergel) advised the management on the structuring of this fund.

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Colisée and BALM, ETI leaders in Seniors’ Aid, are getting closer

Colisée, supported by Eurazeo, acquires Bien à la Maison, the French leader in home care for Seniors with an integrated network of 50 branches and 3,000 employees.

Colisée is a reference operator in the global care the elderly and the dependency. Its network includes 76 nursing homes in France, Italy and Spain, and nearly 70 home care agencies in France. In these two branches of activity, Colisée employs more than 6,200 employees.

LL Berg (Olivier Abergel, Gaëlle Quillivic, Nathalie Jacquart and Olivier Legrand) advised BALM shareholders on the transactional and tax aspects.

Paul Hastings (Guillaume Kellner, Claudia Wagner and Antoine Ricol) advised Colisée.

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TVH Consulting Welcomes Pragma Capital as Major Shareholder

TVH Consulting, leader in the development and integration of ERP solutions, welcomes Pragma Capital as the new majority shareholder alongside the management team through a Management Buy Out transaction.

TVH Consulting has an international network in some 30 countries, and works for customers in the life sciences (Pierre Fabre, Laboratoires Aguettant, Laboratoires Septodont), the agri-food industry and cooperatives (Fleury Michon, Florette, Acolyance, Cap Seine), retail or omni-channel distribution (Saint Maclou, RAJA, Société des Bains de Mer).The arrival of Pragma Capital as a majority shareholder will enable this leader in the development and integration of major ERP solutions to carry out its external growth projects in France and abroad.

LL Berg (Grine Lahreche, Nathalie Jacquart, Christophe Bornes and Bengu Sulusoglu) intervened on the transactional and tax aspects on behalf of the majority shareholder and the Management.

Marvell (Jean-Louis Lasseri, Anne Ducros and Anna Lasseri) advised Pragma Capital.

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Antin enters into exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake in Almaviva Santé

Antin Infrastructure Partners announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake in Almaviva Santé, the fifth-largest private hospital group in France.

Almaviva Santé is a private health group created in 2007 by its CEO Bruno Marie. Thanks to an external growth strategy focused on the development of regional clusters of medical excellence, Almaviva has over the past 10 years become a group comprising of 30 private clinics with a strong local presence in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region – where it is the leading private hospital group – and in the Ile-de-France region surrounding Paris, two particularly dynamic regions.

Almaviva stands out in many surgical fields, particularly in orthopedics, ophthalmology, cardiology and urology. The company manages 2,700 beds and available spaces, 190 operating and examination rooms, and employs 3,300 staff and 1,100 private practitioners. Almaviva expects to generate revenues above €300 million in 2017.

LL Berg advised the Management in this transaction.

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Keensight invests in Cyber Security via I-Tracing

The service provider in Cybersecurity continues its growth in the Keensight Capital portfolio, up 34% through an OBO transaction.

Since its creation, I-Tracing has a 40% average annual growth, especially 45% for the last year. With its new shareholder, I-Tracing is on a five-year business plan track to reach € 70 million in 2022. The workforce would thus count 350 engineers versus one hundred today.

LL Berg advised Keensight on this legal and tax transaction.

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