Sigma Gestion regains independence following ACG stake sale

Ellie Pullen
16 September 2014

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ACG Group has sold French private equity firm Sigma Gestion back to the GP’s four other shareholders.

Sigma Gestion became part of the ACG group in October 2011, when the latter acquired a 63% shareholding in the business. Members of Sigma Gestion's management – namely president Emmanuel Simmoneau, commercial director Vincent Lachene and investment director Guillaume Hemmerlé – and the family office Sigma held on to the remaining 37% stake.

ACG has now sold its stake back to the three management team members and Sigma, making Sigma Gestion an independent firm once more. The break-up is understood to have stemmed from diverging views around governance and strategy matters, notably with regards to Sigma Gestion's integration within the group.

Sigma Gestion has retained almost €200m in assets under management and intends to continue raising FIP and FCPI funds, as well as pursuing new avenues for investors such as the PEA-PME investment scheme.

ACG will now focus its retail efforts on Viveris Management, which it acquired in January 2012, months after the takeover of Sigma Gestion. Viveris currently has €700m in assets under management, which it deploys at a national level.