We are proud and excited to welcome Seth Greenwald in Advention’s New York Office. Seth joins us as a new Vice-President and will strengthen our operations in the USA as well as our expertise in Media & Entertainment.

David Maurizot, Advention’s Managing Director in China, has published an article on ‘Made in China 2025’, one of China’s current strategic plans, in the latest issue of EURObiz, the European Chamber of Commerce in China’s magazine.

The article is available online here: http://www.eurobiz.com.cn/made-in-china-2025-modernisation-with-chinese-characteristics/

Azulis Capital has acquired 22% of French consultancy Meotec, while the management team has retained the remainder.

Founder Richard Carons bought a 55% stake, while management retained around a quarter of the business.

The GP invested via Middle Market Fund V, which typically targets businesses with EV between €15-150m, providing equity tickets ranging between €10-15m, according to Unquote Data.

Founded in 2005, Meotec is a consulting firm, providing services such as project management, sales and logistics, and economic performance consulting. Based in Boulogne-Billancourt, the group generated a €30m turnover in 2017. The business employs 300 consultants.

Advention was recently on stage as the strategic advisory partner during the last ‘Grands Prix Private Equity Magazine 2018’ held at the Folies Bergères Theater in Paris in front of 700 guests from the private investment community.

LMB Aerospace, a Brive, France-based manufacturer of fans and electric engines for civil and military aeronautical applications (aircraft, helicopters, drones), has entered into exclusive talks to be acquired by the investment firm Raise Investissement, according to a company announcement.

PE firm MBO Partenaires, which has controlled a 80% stake since it bought the business from Honeywell in 2012, would re-invest in the transaction, alongside the management team, led by Thomas Bernard.

LMB Aerospace generates EUR 20m turnover and EUR 8m EBITDA.

Alban Neveux, Advention's Group Managing Director, talks about Advention's DNA and development projects for the future. The article is available here.

JJA, a leading French B2B product and service provider of home furnishing & goods, completed a partnership with TowerBrook to support the business in its international expansion strategy. TowerBrook has acquired a minority stake in JJA, via its Structured Opportunities fund (“TSO”). Jacques-Olivier Abiteboul, JJA’s CEO since 1999, retains the majority stake in the company and will continue, together with JJA’s management team, to lead the company, its strategy and operations.

Founded in 1976, JJA has grown steadily over the past 3 decades and, in recent years, has accelerated its development with double-digit annual sales growth. Headquartered in Blanc-Mesnil, JJA currently employs around 520 people and is highly regarded for the quality of its products and brands as well as for its operational, logistical and digital excellence. The Company has become a key partner to the main retail distribution channels in France in multiple product categories, ranging from home decoration to outdoor furniture, to kitchenware. In each category, JJA has developed its own well-recognized brands such as “Hespéride”, “Atmosphera” or “Secret de Gourmet” and offers to its retail clients a wide range of digital services to support their omni-channel capabilities.

Jacques-Olivier Abiteboul, JJA’s CEO and majority shareholder, seeks to continue JJA’s strong growth in France and at the same time accelerate its international expansion. The Company has partnered with TowerBrook because of TowerBrook’s deep expertise in the sector, its strong experience of supporting fast-growing companies and its ability to structure tailor-made solutions.

This investment follows a number of recent similar partnership transactions that TowerBrook has pursued with founder-led businesses such as OVH, La Maison Bleue and Gravity.

Advention Business Partners entre dans le club des cabinets de conseil en stratégie et top management à forte notoriété le classement annuel de la revue Décideurs Magazine:

Le classement complet est disponible en ligne ici: http://www.magazine-decideurs.com/classements/strategie-et-transformation-strategy-top-management-classement-2016-des-meilleurs-cabinets-de-conseil

Advention is a historical sponsor of the ‘CFNEWS Awards for External Growth’ organized in Paris for the past ten years.

For the first time this year,  this event was also held  in Lyon on December 6, 2017. Alban Neveux, Advention's Group Managing Director and a member of the jury delivered the Award in the ‘International Large Cap ’ category to the IPH Group.

Serge Chamblas, Vice-President at IPH and Alban Neveux, Group Managing Director at Advention:

Cerea Partenaire, the France-based private equity firm, has announced that its fund Cerea Capital II has acquired, from Azulis Capital, Store Novation (with its two main subsidiaries Sitour and Caracteres), a French leader in point-of-sale advertising solutions (signage, price labeling, merchandising, and in-store theater material), mainly for large-scale food retailers.

The article is available online here (in French): https://capitalfinance.lesechos.fr/transactions/cerea-partenaire-succede-a-azulis-dans-store-novation-47504.php

Alban Neveux co-authors a trilogy published by Advention in the L’Opinion newspaper regarding the financing of midsized firms and the launch of long term investment funds.

The article is available online here: http://www.lopinion.fr/edition/economie/rivaton-neveux-mironesco-promouvoir-fonds-industriels-long-terme-132905?0=

Alban Neveux, Advention's Group Managing Director, has co-written an article published by Advention in France’s leading business newspaper Les Echos on the financing of midsized firms in France.

The article is available online here: https://www.lesechos.fr/idees-debats/cercle/030514061233-le-financement-des-eti-doit-devenir-une-priorite-2110309.php

Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, S.A.S., a France-based private equity firm, through its fund, Cabestan Capital 2, has acquired a 40% stake in Studia SAS, a France-based IT engineering firm, for an undisclosed consideration. The investment will enable the development of Studia by strengthening its financial capacity to become the market leader of content management in France. Post transaction, the three founders of Studia will retain a 60% stake in the company. Studia intends to pursue its strategy of integrating complementary businesses, mostly through acquisitions.

The full press release is available here (in French).

The management of Potel & Chabot, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (acting on behalf of FPCI WINCH Capital 3) and AccorHotels have entered into exclusive negotiations with the shareholders of Potel & Chabot Group (majority shareholder: 21 Centrale Partners), to acquire the Group’s entire share capital.

By investing in an iconic brand, which enjoys an unrivalled position in France as well as enormous international potential, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners and AccorHotels will respectively hold 51% and 40% of the share capital. This transaction will provide Potel & Chabot Group with new development prospects.

Founded in 1820, Potel & Chabot Group, which generates revenues in excess of €100 million, has unparalleled expertise in the organization of tailor-made prestigious reception events. Through its two brands, over the years the Group has become the industry standard in both the luxury (Potel & Chabot) and premium (Saint Clair le Traiteur) segments. Its range covers three major, mainly B2B, activities: receptions for corporate and private clients, major sporting, industrial and cultural events (such as the French Open at Roland Garros, the Biennale des Antiquaires, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Saut Hermès), as well as the exclusive management of unique venues within the heart of Paris: Pavillon Vendôme, Pavillon Seine, Pavillon Kléber, Pavillon Gabriel, Hôtel d’Evreux, Pavillon Cambon Capucines and Pavillon Dauphine.

In addition to the resources provided by its two new investors, Potel & Chabot Group will also be able to leverage the business expertise of AccorHotels in order to jointly develop innovative and sophisticated F&B offers for MICE1 guests (either in hotels or private rentals) as well as for a local clientele, by making use of personalized concierge services.