Apax Partners and Bpifrance in exclusive negotiations to acquire a stake in Groupe BTP Consultants

The management team led by Roland Le Roux, appointed Chairman of the group and Jean-François Baron, Chairman of the BTP Consultants entity, is investing significantly in this operation. The finalization of the transaction remains subject to the approval of the competition authorities.

With the support of Apax Partners and Bpifrance, the BTP Consultants Group aims to pursue its organic growth and to deploy a strategy of targeted acquisitions. To do this, the company intends to support its development in regions and in segments with high growth potential such as BIM (“Building Information Modeling”), the industrialization of construction, energy renovation, real estate diagnosis as well as other complementary activities. Apax Partners, one of the leaders in private equity in Europe, currently supports 22 companies and has 4 billion in assets under management, for recognized know-how of excellence that will be used for the benefit of Groupe BTP's expansion. Consultants, upon entry into the company's capital.

Specializing in the ICT sector (“Testing, Inspection and Certification”), the BTP Consultants Group has established itself as a technical reference for those involved in the building industry and the design of renovation projects. Created in 1996, the BTP Consultants Group offers a complete range of technical control services for construction, SPS (“Safety and Health Protection”) coordination, real estate diagnostics and project management assistance, as well as services linked to BIM.

The BTP Consultants Group employs over 500 people through a network of 24 agencies in France. With nearly 60 million euros in turnover and more than 6000 customers in its portfolio, the group is a major national player and holds a leading position in Île-de-France in its core businesses.

“We are taking an important step in the gradual transfer of the Group to its management. I am proud of the work accomplished by all the employees of the BTP Consultants Group and certain that the know-how of the investors and of the new management team will allow it to continue its growth based on customer culture and innovation. " underlines Patrick Vrignon, founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Groupe BTP Consultants.

Roland Le Roux, new Chairman of the BTP Consultants Group, Jean-François Baron and Rony Chebib, respectively Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BTP Consultants, welcome this operation: “With the entry into the capital of new shareholders, we are giving ourselves the means to strengthen the Group's development strategy. Apax Partners and Bpifrance share with us a real ambition to be a leader in our markets as well as a base of common values ​​which gives the BTP Consultants Group all its uniqueness. "

Isabelle Hermetet and Raphaël Bazin, Partner and Director at Apax Partners, specify: “In a sector that we know well, Groupe BTP Consultants has built a position of major player by relying on the competence of its employees and the quality of its services. We are delighted to support Roland Le Roux and his teams in this transmission which is part of a very entrepreneurial continuity and we are eager to bring our expertise to contribute to the group's further development. "

Francis Estellat, Senior Investment Director at Bpifrance, adds: “We are impressed by the growth trajectory of Groupe BTP Consultants, its management team and its strong entrepreneurial and innovation culture. With a solid reputation, the group benefits from the excellent know-how built up over the years by its teams. We are very happy to be able to support management in its ambitious strategy of growth and consolidation. "

Participants in the operation:

• Apax Partners Development: Isabelle Hermetet, Raphaël Bazin, Paul Carrincazeaux
• Bpifrance Investissement: Francis Estellat, Quentin Audibert

Buyer Tips:

• Corporate Lawyer: Hogan Lovells (Stéphane Huten, Arnaud Deparday, Alexandre Giacobbi, Pierre Faure)
• Financing Lawyer: Hogan Lovells (Alexander Premont, Luc Bontoux)
• Tax Lawyer: Hogan Lovells (Ludovic Geneston, Thomas Claudel)
• Social Lawyer: Chassany Watrelot & Associés (Julien Boucaud-Maitre)
• M&A: Capitalmind (Michel Degryck, Christopher Martin)
• Financial due diligence: Odéris (Aurélien Vion, Eddy Chagué, César Mullet, Matthieu Cocciantelli)
• Commercial due diligence: EY-Parthénon (Gianluigi Indino, Adrian Bocher, Elhoussein El Beghdadi)
• Insurance due diligence: Marsh (Margaux Rocher, Audrey Levy-Corcos, Charline Bretagne)

Advice Sellers:

• M&A: Sodica Corporate Finance (Thomas Lafont, Bastien Robert, Guillaume Queyrat)
• Legal advisor: Coblence Avocats (Alexandre Brugière and Barbara Chapron)
• Legal advisor to managers: Jeausserand Audouard (Elodie Cavazza and Maxime Aps)
• Financial advisor to managers: Natixis Wealth Management (Benjamin Lobel)

Debt:

• Idinvest Partners (Nicolas Nedelec, Olivier Sesbouë, Audrey Silber)