Transactions

FDC advised Sorégies Group in its investment in Ze Energy Series B funding round

Paris (France), 25 November 2021,

SORÉGIES Group is strengthening its strategic partnership with ZE ENERGY by becoming its cornerstone industrial shareholder.

Following the commissioning of the first hybrid solar power plant coupled with storage batteries in October 2020, and the signing of a 20-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement for 150 GWh p.a., this new step will allow Sorégies to position subsidy-less, monitored and controlled solar energy at the very heart of energy transition.

ZE ENERGY has a portfolio of projects of over 300 MW in solar PV plants and 120 MW in storage capacity. It targets, through deployment in five countries, a total power plant capacity of 800 MW and an operating battery capacity of over 300 MW by 2025, for an expected turnover of €60m.

FDC advised the SORÉGIES Group on this transaction.

by Financière de Courcelles

FDC continues to support TSG in its development plan with the acquisition of S2D in France

Paris (France), the 24th of November 2021,

S2D is a French-based company engaged in the design and installation of private fuel stations, mostly for industrial projects.

S2D operates in all part of France and works with experts in the supply, installation, and maintenance of technical fluid distribution equipment for professionals. The acquisition of S2D allows TSG France to strengthen its presence in the private fleet market and to position itself with industrial customers while expanding its product range to its existing customers to whom it will be able to offer the design, installation, and maintenance of lubricant dispensing equipment for their workshops and plants.

By joining TSG, a leader in France and Europe, S2D will benefit from TSG's network of agencies and technicians to expand its capabilities.

Financière de Courcelles is very proud to have advised TSG on both a cross-border transaction and a domestic one, that allow TSG to strengthen its footprint throughout Europe, thanks to its multi-buy-side advisory offer.

About TSG

TSG, the European leader in technical services for responsible mobility solution,  is a key enabler of the energy transition for mobility: with unequalled presence in 30 countries, TSG designs, builds and maintains all types of energy distribution infrastructures for mobility: electric vehicles charging network, GPL/LNG, hydrogen and also fuel / biofuel service stations. TSG offers a one-stop-shop (equipment sale, projects and maintenance services, digital payments and systems) for innovative energy and retail solutions. TSG serves all types of clients, in the public and private sectors from local authorities and retail to gas station networks and companies fleet installations. TSG has over 4,500 employees, and revenue by €700m in 2020. TSG’s technicians are uniquely skilled, with recognized expertise in all new mobility energy solutions: electric vehicles, hydrogen, biofuels and natural gas as well as related systems and payment services. TSG is a privately-held company, owned by its management and the entrepreneurial investment firm HLD.

by Financière de Courcelles

FDC continues to support TSG in its development plan with the acquisition of Gasodata in Portugal

Paris (France), the 24th of November 2021,

Gasodata is a Portuguese leader in systems & payment solutions and services for energy distribution networks offering distribution, installation and maintenance services for gas stations and private customers.

In 2020, Gasodata generated about 8 million EUR turnover with 80 employees. With Gasodata acquisition, TSG is reinforcing its presence in Portugal and pursues its ambition to enable the responsible mobility transition by offering its customers the wider and unequalled geographic footprint in Europe. TSG is convinced that Portuguese market also offers great development opportunities in the field of new energies for mobility including electric vehicles, gas and hydrogen and is willing to actively participate to that energy transition.

Gasodata senior management team led by Mario Ferreira and Carlos Hipolitto, remains in place to drive the promising future of Gasodata and develop its activities.

 

About TSG

TSG, the European leader in technical services for responsible mobility solution,  is a key enabler of the energy transition for mobility: with unequalled presence in 30 countries, TSG designs, builds and maintains all types of energy distribution infrastructures for mobility: electric vehicles charging network, GPL/LNG, hydrogen and also fuel / biofuel service stations. TSG offers a one-stop-shop (equipment sale, projects and maintenance services, digital payments and systems) for innovative energy and retail solutions. TSG serves all types of clients, in the public and private sectors from local authorities and retail to gas station networks and companies fleet installations. TSG has over 4,500 employees, and revenue by €700m in 2020. TSG’s technicians are uniquely skilled, with recognized expertise in all new mobility energy solutions: electric vehicles, hydrogen, biofuels and natural gas as well as related systems and payment services. TSG is a privately-held company, owned by its management and the entrepreneurial investment firm HLD.

by Financière de Courcelles

FDC advised Sorégies Group for the acquisition of a stake in Haulogy and the creation of a French joint venture

Paris (France), 18 November 2021,

HAULOGY, software publisher and operator of IT platforms for the energy sector based in Belgium, and SORÉGIES Group, an energy producer, active in distribution and supply of local renewable energies, announce a strategic partnership to jointly create a European leader in digital transformation for energy players and energy transition.

HAULOGY and SORÉGIES Group combine their expertise by offering innovative business platforms for the management of distribution networks, production and storage, flexibility services, supply coverage, energy supply, as well as for new models such as local energy loops. This flexible service offering, able to integrate into the customer ecosystem, facilitates the harmonization of market standards. It also optimizes data management and saves costs for operators.

At the conclusion of the equity investments in early 2022, HAULOGY and SORÉGIES Group will operate a French joint venture based in Poitiers (France). SORÉGIES Group will in parallel become the reference shareholder of HAULOGY. The French joint venture plans to create more than a hundred new jobs by 2025.

FDC advised the SORÉGIES Group on this transaction, the first for the Group in the digital field.

by Financière de Courcelles

AD Education, the European leader in Creative Arts Education, announces the arrival of a new school within the group:IMAAT, l’Institut des Médias avancés, des Arts & des Technologies

Paris (France), November 9th, 2021,

Financière de Courcelles advised the founder of IMAAT, Institut des Médias avancés, des Arts et des Technologies, in the sale of the school to AD Education, the European leader in creative training.

AD Education is opening a new chapter of its development in France by diversifying its creative training offer with the acquisition of IMAAT, l’Institut des Médias avancés, des Arts et des Technologies, a school dedicated to audiovisual professions with locations in Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Nice and Toulouse.

IMAAT was founded in 2015 by professionals from the audiovisual industry in order to guarantee, to students wishing to enter these professions, an educational program that is perfectly in line with the developments and changes in this sector, as well as successful in professional integration. The school offers BTS and Bachelor programs in Audio Production and Film Production.

"With AD Education, IMAAT joins with a group of schools of excellence and gives itself the human and material means to continue its development in the training offer in France for students in the very dynamic audiovisual sector. We are very happy to be part of the AD Education group", says Matthieu Boeche, Founder & CEO of IMAAT.

"We are delighted to welcome this new school which offers new fields of competences to students who are destined to evolve in the dynamic and creative audiovisual sector. The culture of excellence at the heart of the teaching, the high-tech equipment and the very strong relationships with the various private and institutional professional networks make IMAAT a reference that we are very happy to count among our establishments in France" announces Kevin Guenegan, President of AD Education.

The Education team at Financière de Courcelles is delighted to have supported IMAAT in this industrial operation, which confirms its leadership in the Education sector.

by Financière de Courcelles

FDC advised the shareholders of Taramm and Gamma-Tial on their sale to WeAre Group

Paris (France), 9 November 2021,

WeAre Group, a major player in the market for small and medium sized complex elementary parts for the Aerospace industry, has acquired a majority stake in the companies Taramm and Gamma-Tial.

The two production sites, located in the French regions of Ariège and Indre-et-Loire and currently employing 90 people, will enable the WeAre Group to complete its range of technologies and to have a unique know-how in the lost wax titanium casting market.

Taramm and Gamma-Tial combine a total of 18,500sqm of production space and operate a complete and modern machine park, including melting furnaces from 18 to 40 kg. Thanks to this acquisition, the
WeAre group will also have its own HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing), a rare and strategic asset in view of the increase in the aeronautical production rates.

FDC advised the family shareholders of Taramm and Gamma-Tial on this transaction, which secures the aeronautical subcontracting chain in the strategic field of manufacturing titanium castings.

This transaction (the second in which FDC has advised the family shareholders of a company acquired by the WeAre Group after the sale of Bouy in 2017) is an example of FDC's deep knowledge of the Aerospace sector, and its strong commitment to the ongoing process of consolidation of the subcontracting chain.

by Financière de Courcelles

FDC advised the shareholders of Immo City in a fundraising operation with Andera Partners

Paris (France), 09 november 2021,

FDC advised the shareholders of Immo City on a capital increase (between €10 and €20 million) with the smid-cap investment fund Andera Partners, which became a minority shareholder of the Group via its vehicle Andera Expansion 3.

Created in 1999 around the historic agency based on boulevard Voltaire in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, Immo City is today a property management group composed of 8 entities (and 9 agencies) located in Paris and its suburbs. In 22 years, the Group has built up a solid portfolio of condominiums and rental properties, thus positioning itself as a leader in the sector in the Paris area. With its 110 employees, Immo City records a turnover between €10 and 15 million, a portfolio of 24,000 condominium lots under management and nearly 800 property transactions and rentals each year.

Following a fundraising process led by FDC, the Group's shareholders have chosen Andera Partners as their financial partner. This summer, the smid-cap investment fund had already acquired an equity stake in the asset management firm Patrimmofi, as well as in Panhard Group in 2020, a property developer specializing in logistics real estate. This new financial partner will enable Immo City to pursue its external growth strategy in a market that is still very fragmented.

This transaction illustrates the ability of FDC to initiate transactions between the management of successful companies and relevant financial partners in order to help them build ambitious projects in terms of strategy and finance.

 

List of advisors:

Advisors to sellers:

  • Company: Immo City (David Giuly, Robin Soulier, Patrick Frigaux)
  • Legal: Jeausserand Audouard (David Lambert, Jean-Baptiste Afchain)
  • M&A: Financière de Courcelles (Matthieu de Baynast, Audrey Gennequin, Florian Jover, Yanis Alaoui)

Advisors to buyers:

  • Investment fund: Andera Partners (David Robin, Léopold Brichard, Victor Cabaud)
  • Legal: McDermott Will & Emery (Grégoire Andrieux , Antoine Ricol , Tess Souquet-Basiege , Côme de Saint-Vincent)
  • Social Due Diligence: Fidal (Lorraine Raimbert-Nusse)
  • Financial Due Diligence: Oderis (Julien Passerat, Paul Locatelli)
  • Strategic Due Diligence: CMI Stratégies (Nicolas Kandel, Simon Colboc, Nicola Virgata)

by Financière de Courcelles

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.

 

by Financière de Courcelles

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

by Financière de Courcelles

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

by Financière de Courcelles

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)

by Financière de Courcelles

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

 

by Financière de Courcelles