Hivest Capital Partners leads the capital reorganization of Marchante SAS

Paris, November 16, 2023 – Hivest Capital Partners S.A.S. (“Hivest Capital“), an independent European private equity firm, has acquired a majority stake in Marchante SAS from the Marchante family as part of a capital reorganization designed to support the Group’s ambitions in the context of its strong growth. In addition to the significant reinvestment of the historical shareholder, the transaction enables the company’s main managers and executives to acquire a stake in the structure.

Founded in 2010, Marchante SAS is one of the world’s leading experts in the design of biaxially-stretched specialty plastic film production lines for a variety of cutting-edge industrial sectors (energy, electronics, telecommunications). The production lines designed by Marchante SAS are especially used to produce Lithium-Ion battery separators, technical films just a few microns thick and porous, a critical component in electric car batteries.

Employing nearly 70 people, the company focuses almost exclusively on exports – mainly to Asia – and benefits from a substantial order book, providing visibility on business for several years, in a context of ~+30% annual growth.

Hivest Capital, the Marchante family and the company’s management team aim to consolidate Marchante SAS’s current position in its market, pursue its organizational structuring, strengthen its financial and operational management, and expand its industrial partnerships.

Innocent Marchante, founding shareholder and Chairman of the company: “I am delighted to welcome Hivest Capital among the shareholders of our family group. Our shared entrepreneurial values have motivated our collaboration, proposed by Société Générale. We are well equipped to conquer market share and pursue our development.”

Sacha Gasy (Hivest Capital): “We are delighted to support Marchante SAS and its management in the continuation of this adventure, in order to fulfill the company’s considerable potential in an attractive market driven by the energy transition.”

About Marchante SAS
Based in Montmélian (Savoie), Marchante SAS is an industrial engineering company specializing in the design of biaxial plastic film production lines. Marchante SAS supplies industrial customers in some 30 countries in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

About Hivest Capital Partners
With c.€500m under management, Hivest Capital is an independent European private equity firm approved by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Hivest Capital invests in SMEs or mid-cap companies with a turnover between €50m and €500m, in the context of buyout or capital expansion projects. Hivest Capital’s objective is to help companies reach their full potential by implementing ambitious growth strategies and improving operational performance.

List of parties involved

Buy-side:

• Investor – Hivest Capital Partners: Axel Bonnassies, Cédric Lépée, Sacha Gasy, Pierre Irigoin
• Financing – Natixis Partners: Virginie Gasnier, Emmanuel Nogues
• Legal Counsel :
  • Moncey Avocats (corporate) : Guillaume Giuliani, Yann Fouquet-Michel, Bonnie Brenier o Moncey Avocats (financing): Jonathan Devillard, Florana Benabid, Diane Ferriol
  • Moncey Avocats (tax & structuring): Frédéric Bosc, Manon Vanbiervliet

• ESG due diligence – Sirsa: Baptiste Hetreau, Mathilde Rouquet

Sell-side:

• Sellers: SC MMI – Innocent Marchante
• M&A advisor – Société Générale CIB: Marc Dunoyer, Eric Kohler, Thibault de Limairac, Timothée Marion
• Legal counsel:
  • Aklea (corporate, tax) : Gilles Bazaille, Anne-Amélie Dussoge, Marion Malet, Garry Tassé, Sébastien Ruz
• Financial due diligence – Advance Capital: Olivier Poncin, Pierre Lamain
• Strategic due diligence – Neovian: Patrick Richer

Debt providers :

• Legal counsel – Agilys: Frédéricque Milotic, Perrine Labrusse

Contact

Hivest Capital Partners : Sacha GASY, 140 Boulevard Malesherbes – 75017 Paris, sacha@hivestcapital.com