Groupe Atlantic, one of the European leaders in thermal comfort, acquires 70% of the capital of Thermic Energy

Paris (France), 25 October 2021,

Financière de Courcelles is once again advising Groupe Atlantic, a major European player in thermal comfort, on the acquisition of Thermic Energy, a German company specialising in hot water storage tanks.

Groupe Atlantic, a European leader in thermal comfort, acquires 70% of Thermic Energy

ounded in 2005 and based in Borna (Saxony), Germany, Thermic Energy develops and manufactures primary storage tanks and hot water tanks, which are sold mainly in Germany and throughout Europe. In line with its motto "innovative and renewable" aimed at decarbonising the building sector, Thermic Energy is increasingly integrating its solutions into heating and hot water systems using renewable energies (heat pumps, solar thermal, biomass...). Thermic Energy has experienced strong growth since its creation, reaching €25 million in turnover and more than 150 employees in 2021 thanks to the recognised quality of its products ("Made in Germany").

Originating from La Roche-sur-Yon in Vendée (France), the Atlantic Group is a large, innovative industrial company that has built its growth on a solid foundation of family values. A specialist in thermal comfort (boilers, water heaters, radiators, heat pumps, etc.), the Group has a vast portfolio of leading brands such as Atlantic, Ideal, Thermor, Sauter, etc. With more than 10,300 employees and 28 production sites worldwide, the Atlantic Group achieved a turnover of more than €2.2 billion in 2020.

International development, and in particular in the DACH region, is a priority of the Atlantic Group's strategy. The acquisition of Thermic Energy allows the Group to strengthen its industrial capacities in Germany in a fast growing segment. The founder-manager of Thermic Energy will remain a shareholder and Managing Director of the company.

Damien Carroz, M&A Director of the Atlantic Group: "Thermic Energy is a key player in an exciting and growing market. This acquisition provides our Group with additional industrial capacity, in a cost competitive environment, and significant market share. We look forward to the R&D, cost and supply chain synergies with our existing businesses, which have a similar growth trajectory".

Rafael Zeller, CEO of Thermic Energy: "The Atlantic Group's commercial presence and industrial skills will enable us to accelerate the development of Thermic Energy in Europe very quickly. Our current expansion project of several million euros is thus confirmed and even validated by our integration into the Atlantic Group".

This is the second acquisition advised by FDC in 2021 on behalf of Groupe Atlantic after the acquisition last July of Hautec, a heat pump specialist. This transaction illustrates FDC's know-how in advising large groups on cross-border transactions involving a number of players from different countries in a context of regulations specific to each country. With its expertise in Augmented M&A®, FDC is one of the only French investment banks capable of setting up tailor-made solutions (multi-country and multi-expertise) to support SMEs, ETIs and large companies in their growth, particularly internationally.

 


Ecole Multimédia, a school specialised in Web and Digital trainings, joins Galileo Global Education

Paris (France), October 21st, 2021,

Financière de Courcelles advised the shareholders of Ecole Multimédia, a pioneering school specialised in Web and Digital, founded in 1996 by Remy Galland, in its merger with Galileo Global Education.

Galileo Global Education has announced that it is strengthening and diversifying its training offer for digital professions by integrating Ecole Multimédia into its network. A pioneer in education and training for Web and digital professions, founded in 1996 by Remy Galland, the Ecole Multimédia is continuing its development in France and Africa, based on a hybrid and professionalizing student experience and teaching methods. Today, the school offers 15 specialised courses, in apprenticeship or in Executive Education, all leading to a diploma registered in the Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles (RNCP).

Supported by Entrepreneur Invest in its capital since 2015, Ecole Multimedia has invested heavily over the period to set up a hybrid training model, but also to propose its offer internationally.

"The Ecole Multimédia is one of the last independent schools in the web and digital trainings. By joining the Galileo network, it will be able to maintain its independence in the service of its students while benefiting from the support of the "platform" Galileo. It has perfectly anticipated the pedagogical transitions underway with its hybrid training model. Moreover, the quality of its training, its network of long-term partner companies and its portfolio of titles registered with the RNCP will create a great dynamic within Galileo," says Vanessa Diriart, President of Galileo Global Education France.

Remy Galland, until now President and founder of Ecole Multimédia, will remain at the head of the school and will continue to steer its growth projects in France and abroad. "After 25 years of independence, we are happy and proud to enter our next phase of growth within the leading group in Europe," says Remy Galland.

"We are delighted with the outcome of this entrepreneurial adventure, with the Ecole Multimédia joining one of the most demanding and prestigious private education groups in the world," say Bertrand Folliet and Marouane Bahri of the Entrepreneur Invest team.

The Education team at Financière de Courcelles is delighted to have supported the shareholders of the Ecole Multimédia in this industrial backing operation.

 

Sellers: Remy Galland, Entrepreneur Invest (Bertrand Folliet, Marouane Bahri)
Advisors to the Sellers
M&A: Financière de Courcelles (Martine Depas, Ambroise Boissonnet)
Legal: Bertrand Cayol, DIKAIS
Buyer: Galileo Global Education
Advisors to the Buyer
M&A : Sabbag Advisor (Florian Sabbag)
Due-diligences : ACA Nexia

MediaSchool pursues its development by joining forces with Groupe IFC, one of the main players in private Higher Education in South-East France

Founded in 1990 in Avignon, IFC is a French Higher Education group that has successfully developed its initial training offer (short professional training at Bac+2 level) with trainings at Bac+5 level. Eric Dupressoire acquired the Group in 2011 and iXO Private Equity took a majority stake into the company in 2014. The Group’s strategy consists in developing additional training levels to retain its students throughout their course (the launch of apprenticeship in 2019 has significantly accelerated its development). Thanks to its know-how and its 30-year relationship with local companies in the Southeast France, Groupe IFC has now more than 2,500 students in 8 cities. The Group is on track to reach a +€17m turnover in FY2022.

Eric Dupressoire (Chairman of the Group), together with his son Mathieu and his team, will remain in charge of the Group’s development. As part of this transaction, he became a shareholder of the MediaSchool Group while iXO Private Equity, the Group's majority shareholder since 2014, sold 100% of its shares.

The Education Team at Financière de Courcelles is delighted to have supported IFC Group in this sell-side transaction, thus emphasising its general expertise and leadership in Education.

 

List of advisors:

Sell-side:

  • M&A:Financière de Courcelles
  • Legal:BBLM Avocats, Sextant Avocats
  • Financial due diligence:Mortier & Associés

Buy-side:

  • Legal:De Pardieu Brocas Maffei
  • Financial due diligence:D’Ornano + Co.
  • Legal, tax and social due diligence:D’Ornano + Co.
  • Debt advisory:Volt Associés

Financing: CIC Private Debt & Eurazeo Private Debt

  • Legal:Nabarro Béraud Avocats

WebForce3, a key player in digital training, opens its capital to Weinberg Impact Dev

Paris (France), October 12th, 2021,

 

Financière de Courcelles advised the shareholders of WebForce3 – Alain Assouline (Founder & Chairman), Nicolas Chagny (CEO), the Management team and the PE funds Impact Partners & Odyssée Venture – in the sale of a minority stake to Weinberg Capital Partners.

Founded in 2014 by Alain Assouline, WebForce3 tackles challenges related to the digital transformation of companies through a network of more than 50 schools in France and 750 professional trainers.

WebForce3 offers training in digital professions based on innovative and physical or digital learning courses. The Group offers intensive, short, diploma and job-oriented training to all audiences regardless of background, age or diploma, and especially to so-called "vulnerable" groups or employees who need to acquire new skills to access to, retain or switch jobs. Historically based on a 100% bootcamp model (accelerated training), the Group has been offering work-study training since the end of 2020, with the ambition to quickly reach 50% of learners in apprenticeship.

The activity tackles major societal challenges that are at the heart of the current priorities of public policies in terms of integration and job retention.

"85% of jobs in 2030 do not yet exist and nearly 80,000 jobs in digital professions are vacant today in France due to a lack of suitable profiles. WF3's goal is to put people at the heart of these issues. Our training courses are for everyone. Digital technology is a real lever for inclusion, integration and employment.", declares Alain Assouline, CEO of WebForce3.

The Education Team at Financière de Courcelles is delighted to have supported WebForce3 in this growth capital transaction, thus strengthening its general expertise in Education and more specifically in the field of bootcamps.

List of advisors:

 

On the Sell-side:

  • Company: Alain Assouline, Nicolas Chagny, Sylviane Peretz
  • Sellers: Impact Partners (Thomas Delalande, Juliette Both), Odyssée Venture (Matthieu Boillet, Pierre Vandame)
  • M&A: Financière de Courcelles (Martine Depas, Ambroise Boissonnet, Antoine Mainini)
  • Legal: Cygler & Avocats (Steve Cygler, Olivier Coste, Vincent Houang), Backbone Avocats (Sébastien Burget, Olivier Betin)
  • Financial VDD: Exelmans (Eric Guedj, Benjamin Le Gal)

 

On the Buy-side:

  • Funds: Weinberg Capital Partners (WCP IMPACT DEV) - Sacha Talmon, Aude Wathier, Thomas Hélias
  • Legal: MBA Avocats (Igor Doumenc, Dorothée Traverse, Julien Brouwer, Alexandre Malek)
  • DD:
    • PWC TS (Philippe Serzec, Guillaume de Rancourt)
    • PWC Avocats (Nicolas Arfel, Eric Hickel, Aurélie Cluzel d'Andlau, Michael Chan, Fanny Marchiset, Sarah Dezes, Claire Pascal-Oury, Emily Davis de Courcy, Marie Diderotto, Léa Rudloff, Joanna Wereda)
    • PMSI (Rémi de Guilhermier, Aline Maresquier)
    • Digital4Better (Frédérick Marchand)
    • Tenzing (François André, Nicolas Vauclin, Sophie Boullais)

CITY-DROP, LA STARTUP FRANÇAISE DE LOCATION EN ALLER SIMPLE D’UTILITAIRES CONNECTÉS, RÉALISE UNE LEVÉE DE FONDS DE 3 MILLIONS D’EUROS AUPRÈS D’INTER INVEST CAPITAL

Paris, 7 October 2021,

"One-way van hire is too expensive! It was with this in mind that we decided to change things. Compressing costs by making the user responsible was the "win-win" solution!" Félix Nguyen, CEO and co-founder of City-Drop with Christophe Gerbeaud and Frédéric Dubois.

Founded in 2015, City-Drop's ambition is to transform the rental of commercial vehicles thanks to a model without a physical agency and completely digitalized, eliminating the "traditional counter steps" such as signing the contract or inspecting the vehicle. The entire customer journey is carried out in total autonomy via the company's website and mobile application, which allows the customer to geolocate, open and start the vehicle using their smartphone. This flexible model, adapted to medium and long distance journeys, allows City-Drop to offer ultra-competitive prices from 1€ and on average 30% cheaper than its main competitors, a better service as it is no longer necessary to bring the vehicle back to its point of departure, and therefore to reduce CO2 emissions by half.

City-Drop has rapidly recorded strong growth in its activity and more than 50,000 customers have already placed their trust in the company for the transport of goods on one-way journeys in France and Europe.

Today, the company is present in more than 50 cities, has a staff of around 20 and has doubled its turnover each year while remaining profitable since its creation.

Already present in France, the service will be exported to Spain at the end of this year, to Germany and Portugal by the end of 2022, and to ten European countries by 2025. At the same time, City-Drop's ambition is to electrify a quarter of its fleet by 2024 and reach 50% by 2026. This capital increase will enable the company to accelerate its growth so that it can establish itself on the French and European removal and mobility market. This investment will notably finance the fleet of connected vehicles, recruitment and the launch of new innovative services.

"The historical shareholders and the entire City-Drop team are delighted that Inter Invest Capital is supporting us and sharing our vision. We will go even faster and even further while preserving our DNA", says Frédéric Dubois.

"We very quickly embraced City-Drop's project. The company has developed an intelligent algorithm that makes the solution easy, economical and eco-responsible. We are particularly proud to help them deploy it as widely as possible in France and Europe" adds Julien Hugot, partner at Inter Invest Capital.

The participants in the CITY-DROP transaction

Capital Innovation / 1er tour

 


Groupe Atlantic, leader in thermal comfort acquires Hautec Wärmepumpen

Paris (France), 12 July 2021,

Groupe Atlantic, leader in thermal comfort acquires Hautec Wärmepumpen

Hautec, which was founded more than 40 years ago, is a German SME specializing in the design and the manufacturing of brine/water heat pumps for both residential (individual and collective housing) and industrial markets. The company’s headquarters and plant are based in Bedburg-Hau (North Rhine-Westphalia), a few kilometers away from the Dutch border.

Groupe Atlantic, which is headquartered in La Roche-sur-Yon (Vendée), is an innovative industrial large-cap company driven by strong family values. Atlantic is a leading supplier of boilers, water heaters, renewable energy-based equipment (heat pumps, solar and heat pump water heaters etc.), radiators, air conditioning and ventilation equipment. The Group serves both residential and industrial markets with reputed global and local brands such as Atlantic, Ideal, Thermor, Sauter, etc. Thanks to its 10,300 employees and its 28 industrial sites worldwide, the Group generated more than €2.2 bn in revenues in 2020. International development, especially in the DACH region, is a key strategic priority for Group Atlantic.

The Hautec Group has a very valuable position in the German brine/water heat pumps market. With this acquisition, Groupe Atlantic strengthens its position in this booming market with a bright future.

Financière de Courcelles has initiated the discussions with the target and advised Group Atlantic during the whole transaction process. This transaction confirms Financière de Courcelles’ ability to support its clients in their cross-border transactions with country-specific regulations. With its Augmented M&A® offer, FDC is one of the only French investment banks able of setting up tailor-made solutions (multi-country and multi-expertise) to support SMEs and large companies in their international growth.


TSG, the European leader of solutions and services to public and private energy distribution infrastructures for mobility, acquires Kälte Klimatechnik Manfred Wegner, a company based in Wismar, Germany

Paris (France), the 9th of July 2021, 

TSG, the European leader of solutions and services to public and private energy distribution infrastructures for mobility, acquires Kälte Klimatechnik Manfred Wegner, a company based in Wismar, Germany.

Wegner operates in Germany where it offers a complete range of maintenance and installation services in the refrigeration and air conditioning business. The footprint of the company mainly covers Northern and Eastern Germany with a strong market focus on food retail chains. Therefore, Wegner is an ideal partner for TSG in Germany to further develop its HVAC business.

In 2020, Wegner generated a 13 million EUR turnover with 98 people. With the acquisition of Wegner, TSG pursue its development and diversification strategy to offer a one-stop shop of innovative energy and retail solutions by supporting its historical customers expanding consumer offerings beyond refueling.

The acquisition of successful companies like Wegner is part of TSG Strategy to become the reference technical services provider to energy distribution networks, offering development opportunities to foster their local implantations while reinforcing their teams’ strengths with technically skilled people.

 

Both members of the international network Global M&A Partners “GMAP”, Financière de Courcelles in France and IOM in Germany, are very proud to advise TSG on this cross-border transaction and allow TSG to strengthen its footprint in Germany. FDC supports TSG in its European external growth roadmap, through FDC’s multi-buy-side advisory offer.

About Financière de Courcelles (FDC)

Financière de Courcelles is an independent investment bank specialising in Mergers and Acquisitions. Founding member of the Global M&A Partners network (more than 400 M&A professionals and more than 35 countries covered), FDC has a strong capability to support its clients internationally. FDC advises companies on mid-cap transactions in all sectors of the economy thanks to its dedicated teams of specialists.

About IOM

IOM is a leading independent M&A boutique focused on small and medium-sized companies with an enterprise value between 10 mEUR and 300 mEUR. The majority of its clients are entrepreneurs advised regarding corporate succession, while private equity clients and international strategic buyers constitute typical buy-side projects. The main sectors covered are Aerospace & Defense, Business Services, Chemicals, Consumer & Leisure, Food & Beverage, Healthcare, Industrial and TMT.

About Global M&A Partners (GMAP)

Established in 1999, Global M&A Partners is a leading international partnership of investment bankers specializing in mid-market transactions. We provide sector expertise, international scope, and deep local market knowledge and execution capabilities for our clients. We operate with local offices across 4 continents and have completed over 1,500 transactions during the last ten years, typically ranging from 50 mEUR to 500 mEUR.

About TSG

Located in 30 countries, TSG is the European leading provider of services and solutions for public and private mobility-related energy networks.  The TSG Group achieved a turnover of €650 million in 2020 and currently employs more than 4,000 people whose technical skills in energy and innovative technological solutions help its clients to design, build, maintain, manage, optimize and develop their energy distribution networks dedicated to mobility. With its recognized expertise in new mobility energies (electricity, natural gas, hydrogen and bio-fuels), TSG's mission is to support its clients in the transformation and maintenance of their energy distribution networks and to actively participate in the development of green and sustainable mobility.


Sale of DEVAN company to the German group Pulcra Chemicals

Paris (France), the 1st of July of 2021,

Financière de Courcelles (FDC) advised the Belgian private equity fund Pentahold on the sale of their shares in Devan Group, a specialist in innovative and sustainable solutions for the textile world, to the German group Pulcra Chemicals.

Devan is notably known for its numerous innovations in anti-microbial and anti-viral solutions under the brand name BI-OME, as well as its strong expertise in the field of thermoregulation, flame retardants and probiotics-based products. Over the past years, Devan has strongly invested in the development of bio-based and sustainable solutions for the textile sector.

Headquartered in Ronse, Belgium, Devan also operates offices in Portugal, United Kingdom, USA and a team in Shanghai (China) and realised more than € 15 m of turnover.

FDC organized and managed the M&A process and assisted Pentahold and Devan Management in the selection of Pulcra Chemicals’ industrial project, one of the European leaders in textile chemicals.

The merger of the two companies will appropriately position Pulcra Chemicals to address the customers’ constant evolving needs thanks to Devan innovative and sustainable solutions and hence accelerate Devan development in global textile markets.

Headquartered near Munich (Germany), Pulcra Chemicals employs approximately 1,000 people at 13 global sites and serves more than 3,000 customers in the field of textiles, fibers and leather processing products.

With Devan Group, Pulcra Chemicals has achieved its first-ever acquisition.

 

Sellers and advisors:

  • Company: Pentahold (Geert Vanderstappen, Karel Gielen), Devan Chemicals (Sven Ghyselinck, CEO ; Olivier Kiekens, CFO),
  • Lawyer: Argo Law (Bert Van Ingelghem, Mattias Verbeeck)
  • M&A: Financière de Courcelles (Audrey Gennequin), Capstan Corporate Finance (Serge Capier)

Acquiror and advisors:

  • Company: Pulcra Chemicals (Ümit Yaldiz)
  • Lawyer: PwC Legal (Pierre Queritet)

Quantum Capital Partners / Aviagroup Industries acquire CPP France

Paris (France), The 10th of June 2021,

Aviagroup Industries SAS, a company owned by funds managed by Quantum Capital Partners, has acquired 100% of the shares in CPP France SAS from the US-based aerospace company Consolidated Precision Products Corp. CPP France will be renamed into Aerocast SAS, its former company name.

Aerocast, located in Montierchaume, France, is a leading aluminium casting company to the aerospace & defense industry specialized in the so-called lost-wax or investment casting technology. The product portfolio comprises various structural parts for the application in civil and military aircrafts and helicopters and is key to the Aerospace supply-chain. The customer base consists of renown OEMs und Tier-1 suppliers from the aerospace industry.

Aviagroup is an international group of aerospace companies (Secan, Aviatube, Indraero Siren and SAM) with production sites in France and Morocco and around 1,000 employees in total. Aviagroup actively supports a close cooperation between the group members on operational, commercial and administrative level. As a consequence, Aviagroup is able to provide its customers complete and complex solutions in the areas of Thermal Management, Aluminum Tubes and Aerostructures. Aerocast will become part of the Aerostructures division and will complement the product offerings in terms of technology and application.

FDC advised Quantum Capital Partners / Aviagroup in this transaction, which secures the Aerospace supply-chain in the manufacturing of aluminum casting parts. The deal demonstrates FDC’s deep knowledge of the Aerospace sector, and strong commitment to the supply-chain consolidation process.


Aria Finance acquires its competitor SAH LEDUC to form a European leader in hydraulic cylinders

Paris (France), 29 April 2021,

Financière de Courcelles (FDC) advised the shareholders of SAH LEDUC – the Leduc family and BNP Paribas Développement – on the divestment of 100% of the shares to Aria Finance, owner of SAHGEV, another major industrial player in the hydraulic cylinders sector.

Founded in 1945, SAH LEDUC is family-owned company based in Ligné near Nantes in France. With more than 300 employees on 2 industrial sites, the company produces more than 230,000 cylinders per year and acts as an OEM for leading European manufacturers.

FDC organized and managed the M&A process and assisted Joël Leduc – CEO and majority shareholder – in the selection of Aria Finance’s industrial project.  The acquiring company is owned and managed by the Quivogne family and is based in the East of France. The group owns SAHGEV (70), SOGRAYDIS (70) and VRH (38), 3 industrial companies that are all operating on the hydraulic cylinders sector. This acquisition enables Aria Finance– which has a strong historical presence in the agricultural market – to diversify its range of products with larger cylinders and to target new sectors such as construction, building and public works, industrial handling, etc. The combination of these two complementary, medium-sized, family-owned groups will create a European industrial champion in hydraulic cylinders with a production capacity of more than €100 million in turnover.

This transaction confirms Financière de Courcelles’ ability to assist shareholders in the transmission of their family industrial groups and reinforces its renowned expertise in the hydraulic cylinders segment. With more than 10 deals in the West of France since 2015, this transaction also highlights the regional footprint of FDC.

List of the other advisors:

Advisors to sellers:

  • Legal: Valther law firm (Bruno Fiacre, Matthieu Labat-Labourdette)

Advisors to buyers:

  • Legal: BPS law firm (Olivier Pittet, Remy Tromenschlager)
  • Audit: Gamet audit firm (Emilie Moutaud)

Financière de Courcelles advises TSG, the European leader of solutions and services for energy distribution networks, in the acquisition of SITIM in Croatia, expert of infrastructures’ management and technical maintenance

Paris (France), the 26th of April 2021, 

TSG, the European leader of solutions and services to public and private energy distribution infrastructures for mobility, acquires SITIM, a company based in Zagreb / Croatia.

SITIM offers complete management, maintenance and support to infrastructures, integrating all engineering professions to enable the development and the implementation of concepts for technical Facility Management according to customers’ needs.

This acquisition is part of TSG strategy to become the referent technical services provider to energy distribution networks, offering development opportunities to foster its local implantations while reinforcing its teams with technical skilled people.

Financière de Courcelles team is very proud to have advised this international transaction, which allows TSG to strengthen its footprint in Central Europe, and to support TSG in its European external growth roadmap, thanks to its multi-buy-side offer.

 

About TSG

Located in 30 countries, TSG is the European leading provider of services and solutions for public and private mobility-related energy networks.  The TSG Group achieved a turnover of €650 million in 2020 and currently employs more than 4,000 people whose technical skills in energy and innovative technological solutions help its clients to design, build, maintain, manage, optimize and develop their energy distribution networks dedicated to mobility. With its recognized expertise in new mobility energies (electricity, natural gas, hydrogen and bio-fuels), TSG's mission is to support its clients in the transformation and maintenance of their energy distribution networks and to actively participate in the development of green and sustainable mobility.


Financière de Courcelles advises Sommet Education in the acquisition of Invictus Education Group, leading private education and training operator in South Africa

Paris (France), April 22nd, 2021,

Sommet Education, the worldwide network of first-class higher education hospitality and culinary arts schools, is acquiring a majority stake in Invictus Education Group, South African leading private education operator, alongside its historical shareholders. The signing of this transaction marks the start of a rapid expansion plan in South Africa and further African developments.

Sommet Education (Les Roches, Glion Institute of Higher Education, Ecole Ducasse) continues to consolidate its position as the leading network in hospitality education, with the acquisition of the Invictus Education Group. A new step forward for Sommet Education which is doubling its worldwide footprint bringing the number of its campuses worldwide from nine currently to seventeen and from 6,000 to 9,000 students. Sommet Education’s strategy leverages on expansion to support its growth through various types of opportunities, from acquisitions of local and regional hospitality education brands to investment in adjacent business lines or asset-light models.

Invictus Education is a leading private education network in South Africa, with four schools within the field of Hospitality Education and Training: International Hotel School, HS Gaming, Summit, SAE Institute Africa.

Financière de Courcelles team is very proud to have advised this international transaction which allows Sommet Education to consolidate its leading position in the Education Market while doubling its global footprint.